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Sunday, August 24th, 2025
the Week of Proper 16 / Ordinary 21
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Read the Bible

King James Version (1611 Edition)

1 Kings 21:8

So shee wrote letters in Ahabs name, and sealed them with his seale, and sent the letters vnto the Elders, and to the Nobles that were in his citie dwelling with Naboth.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Confiscation;   Conspiracy;   Covetousness;   Dishonesty;   Falsehood;   Forgery;   Government;   Indictments;   Jezebel;   Judge;   King;   Naboth;   Perjury;   Seal;   Usurpation;   Women;   Thompson Chain Reference - Elders;   Jezebel;   Leaders;   Letters;   Nobles;   Queens;   Religious;   Seal;   Treachery;   Women;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Murder;   Seals;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Jezebel;   Jezreel;   Justice;   Letters;   Naboth;   Rings;   Seal, Sealing;   Vine;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Ahab;   Jezebel;   King;   Lie;   Ruler;   Steal;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Government;   Leadership;   Punishment;   Seal;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Writing;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Epistle;   Judges;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Book(s);   Esdraelon;   Festivals;   Kings, 1 and 2;   Letter;   Naboth;   Queen;   Seal;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Elder;   Government;   Jezebel;   Justice;   Seal, Signet;   Writing;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Trial-At-Law;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Jezebel ;   Jezreelite, Jezreelitess ;   Naboth ;   The Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary - Naboth;   Seal;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Elijah;   Jezebel;   Seal;   Writing;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Seal;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Rings;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Babylonish Captivity, the;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Blindness, Judicial;   Epistle;   Jezebel;   Jezreel;   Judge;   Naboth;   Name;   Noble;   Seal;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
So she wrote letters in Ahab’s name and sealed them with his seal. She sent the letters to the elders and nobles who lived with Naboth in his city.
Hebrew Names Version
So she wrote letters in Ach'av's name, and sealed them with his seal, and sent the letters to the Zakenim and to the nobles who were in his city, [and] who lived with Navot.
King James Version
So she wrote letters in Ahab's name, and sealed them with his seal, and sent the letters unto the elders and to the nobles that were in his city, dwelling with Naboth.
English Standard Version
So she wrote letters in Ahab's name and sealed them with his seal, and she sent the letters to the elders and the leaders who lived with Naboth in his city.
New Century Version
So Jezebel wrote some letters, signed Ahab's name to them, and used his own seal to seal them. Then she sent them to the elders and important men who lived in Naboth's town.
New English Translation
She wrote out orders, signed Ahab's name to them, and sealed them with his seal. She then sent the orders to the leaders and to the nobles who lived in Naboth's city.
Amplified Bible
So she wrote letters in Ahab's name and sealed them with his seal, and sent them to the elders and nobles who lived with Naboth in his city.
New American Standard Bible
So she wrote letters in Ahab's name and sealed them with his seal, and sent the letters to the elders and to the nobles who were living with Naboth in his city.
Geneva Bible (1587)
So she wrote letters in Ahabs name, and sealed them with his seale, and sent the letters vnto the Elders, and to the nobles that were in his citie dwelling with Naboth.
Legacy Standard Bible
So she wrote letters in Ahab's name and sealed them with his seal, and sent letters to the elders and to the nobles who were living with Naboth in his city.
Contemporary English Version
Jezebel wrote a letter to each of the leaders of the town where Naboth lived. In the letters she said: Call everyone together and tell them to go without eating today. When they come together, give Naboth a seat at the front. Have two liars sit across from him and swear that Naboth has cursed God and the king. Then take Naboth outside and stone him to death! She signed Ahab's name to the letters and sealed them with his seal. Then she sent them to the town leaders.
Complete Jewish Bible
So she wrote letters in Ach'av's name, sealed them with his seal and sent the letters to the leaders and notables of the city where Navot lived.
Darby Translation
And she wrote a letter in Ahab's name, and sealed it with his seal, and sent the letter to the elders and to the nobles that were in his city, dwelling with Naboth.
Easy-to-Read Version
Then Jezebel wrote some letters. She signed Ahab's name to them and used his seal to seal the letters. Then she sent them to the elders and important men who lived in the same town as Naboth.
George Lamsa Translation
So she wrote a letter in Ahabs name and sealed it with his ring, and sent the letter to the elders and to the nobles who dwelt in the city with Naboth.
Good News Translation
Then she wrote some letters, signed Ahab's name to them, sealed them with his seal, and sent them to the officials and leading citizens of Jezreel.
Lexham English Bible
So she wrote letters in the name of Ahab and sealed them with his seal. She sent the letters to the elders and the nobles who were dwelling with Naboth in his city.
Literal Translation
And she wrote letters in the name of Ahab, and sealed with his seal, and sent the letters to the elders and to the nobles of his city, dwelling with Naboth.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
And she wrote a letter vnder Achabs name, and sealed it with his signet, and sent it vnto ye Elders and rulers in his cite, which dwelt aboute Naboth,
American Standard Version
So she wrote letters in Ahab's name, and sealed them with his seal, and sent the letters unto the elders and to the nobles that were in his city, and that dwelt with Naboth.
Bible in Basic English
So she sent a letter in Ahab's name, stamped with his stamp, to the responsible men and the chiefs who were in authority with Naboth.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And so she wrote a letter in Ahabs name, and sealed it with his seale, and sent the letter vnto the elders, and to the nobles that were in his citie dwelling with Naboth.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
So she wrote letters in Ahab's name, and sealed them with his seal, and sent the letters unto the elders and to the nobles that were in his city, and that dwelt with Naboth.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And the elders and all the people said to him, Hearken not, and consent not.
English Revised Version
So she wrote letters in Ahab’s name, and sealed them with his seal, and sent the letters unto the elders and to the nobles that were in his city, [and] that dwelt with Naboth.
Berean Standard Bible
Then Jezebel wrote letters in Ahab's name, sealed them with his seal, and sent them to the elders and nobles who lived with Naboth in his city.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Therfor sche wroot lettris in the name of Achab, and seelide tho with the ryng of hym; and sche sente to the grettere men in birthe, and to the beste men, that weren in the citee of hym, and dwelliden with Naboth.
Young's Literal Translation
And she writeth letters in the name of Ahab, and sealeth with his seal, and sendeth the letters unto the elders, and unto the freemen, who are in his city, those dwelling with Naboth,
Update Bible Version
So she wrote letters in Ahab's name, and sealed them with his seal, and sent the letters to the elders and to the nobles that were in his city, [and] that dwelt with Naboth.
Webster's Bible Translation
So she wrote letters in Ahab's name, and sealed [them] with his seal, and sent the letters to the elders and to the nobles that [were] in his city, dwelling with Naboth.
World English Bible
So she wrote letters in Ahab's name, and sealed them with his seal, and sent the letters to the elders and to the nobles who were in his city, [and] who lived with Naboth.
New King James Version
And she wrote letters in Ahab's name, sealed them with his seal, and sent the letters to the elders and the nobles who were dwelling in the city with Naboth.
New Living Translation
So she wrote letters in Ahab's name, sealed them with his seal, and sent them to the elders and other leaders of the town where Naboth lived.
New Life Bible
So she wrote letters in Ahab's name and put the mark of his name on them. She sent letters to the leaders and the king's sons who were living with Naboth in his city.
New Revised Standard
So she wrote letters in Ahab's name and sealed them with his seal; she sent the letters to the elders and the nobles who lived with Naboth in his city.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
So she wrote letters, in the name of Ahab, and sealed them with his signet-ring, - and sent the letters unto the elders, and unto the nobles who were in his city, dwelling with Naboth.
Douay-Rheims Bible
So she wrote letters in Achab’s name, and sealed them with his ring, and sent them to the ancients, and the chief men that were in his city, and that dwelt with Naboth.
Revised Standard Version
So she wrote letters in Ahab's name and sealed them with his seal, and she sent the letters to the elders and the nobles who dwelt with Naboth in his city.
THE MESSAGE
She wrote letters over Ahab's signature, stamped them with his official seal, and sent them to the elders in Naboth's city and to the civic leaders. She wrote "Call for a fast day and put Naboth at the head table. Then seat a couple of stool pigeons across from him who, in front of everybody will say, ‘You! You blasphemed God and the king!' Then they'll throw him out and stone him to death."
New American Standard Bible (1995)
So she wrote letters in Ahab's name and sealed them with his seal, and sent letters to the elders and to the nobles who were living with Naboth in his city.

Contextual Overview

5 But Iezebel his wife came to him, and said vnto him, Why is thy spirit so sad, that thou eatest no bread? 6 And he said vnto her, Because I spake vnto Naboth the Iezreelite, and said vnto him, Giue mee thy vineyard for money, or else if it please thee, I will giue thee another vineyard for it: And he answered, I wil not giue thee my vineyard. 7 And Iezebel his wife saide vnto him, Doest thou now gouerne the kingdome of Israel? Arise, and eate bread, and let thine heart bee merrie: I will giue thee the vineyard of Naboth the Iezreelite. 8 So shee wrote letters in Ahabs name, and sealed them with his seale, and sent the letters vnto the Elders, and to the Nobles that were in his citie dwelling with Naboth. 9 And she wrote in the letters, saying, Proclaime a fast, and set Naboth on high among the people: 10 And set two men, sonnes of Belial before him, to beare witnes against him, saying, Thou diddest blaspheme God and the king: and then carie him out, and stone him that he may die. 11 And the men of his citie, euen the Elders and the Nobles who were the inhabitants in his citie, did as Iezebel had sent vnto them, and as it was written in the letters which she had sent vnto them. 12 They proclaimed a fast, and set Naboth on high among the people. 13 And there came in two men, children of Belial, and sate before him: and the men of Belial witnessed against him, euen against Naboth, in the presence of the people, saying, Naboth did blaspheme God and the king. Then they caried him foorth out of the citie, and stoned him with stones, that hee died. 14 Then they sent to Iezebel, saying, Naboth is stoned, and is dead.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

she wrote: 2 Samuel 11:14, 2 Samuel 11:15, 2 Chronicles 32:17, Ezra 4:7, Ezra 4:8, Ezra 4:11, Nehemiah 6:5, Esther 3:12-15, Esther 8:8-13

the elders: Numbers 11:16, Deuteronomy 16:18, Deuteronomy 16:19, Deuteronomy 21:1-9

the nobles: 1 Kings 21:1, 2 Kings 10:1-7, 2 Kings 10:11

Reciprocal: Exodus 24:11 - nobles Deuteronomy 1:17 - ye shall not Ruth 4:2 - the elders 1 Kings 21:12 - General 2 Kings 9:22 - the whoredoms 2 Kings 10:6 - General Esther 8:10 - in the king Jeremiah 29:25 - Because Matthew 26:59 - sought Acts 26:12 - with

Cross-References

Genesis 19:3
And he pressed vpon them greatly, and they turned in vnto him, and entred into his house: and he made them a feast, and did bake vnleauened bread, and they did eate.
Genesis 26:30
And he made them a feast, and they did eate and drinke.
Genesis 29:22
And Laban gathered together all the men of the place, and made a feast.
Genesis 40:20
And it came to passe the third day, which was Pharaohs birth day, that hee made a feast vnto all his seruaunts: and he lifted vp by the head of the chiefe Butler, and of the chiefe Baker among his seruants.
Judges 14:10
So his father went downe vnto the woman, and Samson made there a feast: for so vsed the young men to doe.
Judges 14:12
And Samson said vnto them, I will now put foorth a riddle vnto you: if you can certeinly declare it me, within the seuen dayes of the feast, and finde it out, then I will giue you thirtie sheetes, and thirtie change of garments:
1 Samuel 1:22
But Hannah went not vp; for shee said vnto her husband, I will not goe vp vntill the childe be weaned, and then I will bring him, that he may appeare before the Lord, and there abide for euer.
1 Samuel 25:36
And Abigail came to Nabal, and behold, he held a feast in his house like the feast of a king; & Nabals heart was merry within him, for hee was very drunken: wherefore shee tolde him nothing, lesse or more, vntill the morning light.
2 Samuel 3:20
So Abner came to Dauid to Hebron, and twenty men with him: and Dauid made Abner, and the men that were with him, a feast.
1 Kings 3:15
And Solomon awoke, and behold, it was a dreame: and he came to Ierusalem, and stood before the Arke of the Couenant of the Lord, and offered vp burnt offerings, and offered peace offerings, and made a feast to all his seruants.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

So she wrote letters in Ahab's name, and sealed them with his seal,.... He giving her leave, no doubt, to take his seal; though she might not communicate her scheme to him, lest he should object to it:

and sent the letters unto the elders, and to the nobles that were in his city dwelling with Naboth: to the chief magistrates of the city of Jezreel, where Naboth dwelt.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Seal - The seal is a very ancient invention. Judah’s signet and Pharaoh’s signet-ring are mentioned in Genesis Genesis 38:18; Genesis 41:42. Signets of Egyptian kings have been found which are referred to about 2000 B.C. Sennacherib’s signet, and an impression of Sargon’s, are still extant. There can be no doubt that in the East, from a very remote antiquity, kings had seals and appended them to all documents which they set forth under their authority. (Compare also Esther 3:12; Esther 8:8; Daniel 6:17). The Hebrew mode of sealing seems to have been by attaching a lump of clay to the document, and impressing the seal thereupon Job 38:14.

His city - i. e., Jezreel 1 Kings 21:1. The mode in which it is spoken of here, and in 1 Kings 21:11, seems to imply that it was not the city from which Jezebel wrote. The court was evidently at this time residing at Samaria 1 Kings 20:43; and Ahab may either have met Naboth there, or have gone down (compare 1 Kings 21:16) to Jezreel to make his request, and then, on being refused, have returned to Samaria. The distance is not more than seven miles.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 1 Kings 21:8. She wrote letters in Ahab's name — She counterfeited his authority by his own consent; and he lent his signet to stamp that authority.


 
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