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Friday, June 27th, 2025
the Week of Proper 7 / Ordinary 12
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Read the Bible

Myles Coverdale Bible

1 Kings 21:27

But whan Achab herde these wordes, he rete his clothes, & put a sack cloth on his body, & fasted, and slepte in sack cloth, and wente aboute hanginge downe his heade.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Afflictions and Adversities;   Elijah;   Fasting;   Repentance;   Women;   Thompson Chain Reference - Clothes Rent;   Clothing;   Conviction of Sin;   Dead, the;   Fasting;   Joy-Sorrow;   Mourning;   Penitence-Impenitence;   Rending of Clothes;   Repentance;   Self-Indulgence-Self-Denial;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Afflictions of the Wicked, the;   Fasting;   Repentance;   Sackcloth;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Jezebel;   Jezreel;   Joram or Jehoram;   Mourning;   Naboth;   Vine;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Dress;   Fasting;   Sackcloth;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Destroy, Destruction;   Fast, Fasting;   Forgiveness;   Humility;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Dress;   Fast;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Ahab;   Sackcloth;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Festivals;   Flesh;   Kings, 1 and 2;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Fasting;   Government;   Justice;   Sackcloth;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Jehu ;   Jezebel ;   Sackcloth;   The Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary - Naboth;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Elijah;   Fasts;   Sackcloth;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Fasts;   Sackcloth,;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Prophets;   Sackcloth;   Urim and Thummim;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Kingdom of Israel;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Fast;   Flesh;   Jehu;   Naboth;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Atonement;   Fasting and Fast-Days;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
When Ahab heard these words, he tore his clothes, put sackcloth over his body, and fasted. He lay down in sackcloth and walked around subdued.
Hebrew Names Version
It happened, when Ach'av heard those words, that he tore his clothes, and put sackcloth on his flesh, and fasted, and lay in sackcloth, and went softly.
King James Version
And it came to pass, when Ahab heard those words, that he rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his flesh, and fasted, and lay in sackcloth, and went softly.
English Standard Version
And when Ahab heard those words, he tore his clothes and put sackcloth on his flesh and fasted and lay in sackcloth and went about dejectedly.
New Century Version
After Elijah finished speaking, Ahab tore his clothes. He put on rough cloth, fasted, and even slept in the rough cloth to show how sad and upset he was.
New English Translation
When Ahab heard these words, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth, and fasted. He slept in sackcloth and walked around dejected.
Amplified Bible
Now when Ahab heard these words [of Elijah], he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and fasted, and he lay in sackcloth and went about dejectedly (mourning).
New American Standard Bible
Yet it came about, when Ahab heard these words, that he tore his clothes and put on sackcloth and fasted, and he lay in sackcloth and went about despondently.
Geneva Bible (1587)
Nowe when Ahab heard those wordes, he rent his clothes, & put sackcloth vpon him and fasted, and lay in sackecloth and went softely.
Legacy Standard Bible
Now it happened when Ahab heard these words, that he tore his clothes and put on sackcloth and fasted, and he lay in sackcloth and went about despondently.
Complete Jewish Bible
Ach'av, on hearing these words, tore his clothes, put sackcloth on himself and fasted. He slept in the sackcloth and went about dejectedly.
Darby Translation
And it came to pass when Ahab heard these words, that he rent his garments, and put sackcloth upon his flesh, and fasted, and lay in sackcloth, and went softly.
Easy-to-Read Version
When Ahab heard what Elijah said, he tore his clothes to show how sad he was. Then he put on sackcloth and refused to eat. He even slept in these clothes. He was very sad and upset.
George Lamsa Translation
And when Ahab heard these words, he tore his clothes and put sackcloth upon his body and fasted and lay in sackcloth and walked barefooted.
Good News Translation
When Elijah finished speaking, Ahab tore his clothes, took them off, and put on sackcloth. He refused food, slept in the sackcloth, and went about gloomy and depressed.
Lexham English Bible
When Ahab heard these words, he tore his clothes and put sackcloth over his flesh, fasted, lay in the sackcloth, and went about dejectedly.
Literal Translation
And it happened, when Ahab heard these words, he tore his garments, and put sackcloth on his flesh, and fasted, and lay in sackcloth, and went softly.
American Standard Version
And it came to pass, when Ahab heard those words, that he rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his flesh, and fasted, and lay in sackcloth, and went softly.
Bible in Basic English
Hearing these words, Ahab, in great grief, put haircloth on his flesh and went without food, sleeping in haircloth, and going about quietly.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And it fortuned, that whe Ahab heard those wordes, he rent his clothes, and put sackcloth about his flesh, and fasted, and lay in sackcloth & wene bare foote.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
And it came to pass, when Ahab heard those words, that he rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his flesh, and fasted, and lay in sackcloth, and went softy.
King James Version (1611)
And it came to passe when Ahab heard those wordes, that hee rent his clothes, and put sackecloth vpon his flesh, and fasted, and lay in sackcloth, and went softly.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And the children of Israel were numbered, and came to meet them: and Israel encamped before them as two little flocks of goats, but Syria filled the land.
English Revised Version
And it came to pass, when Ahab heard those words, that he rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his flesh, and fasted, and lay in sackcloth, and went softly.
Berean Standard Bible
When Ahab heard these words, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth, and fasted. He lay down in sackcloth and walked around meekly.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Therfor whanne Achab hadde herd these wordis, he to-rente his cloth, and hilide his fleisch with an hayre, and he fastide, and slepte in a sak, and yede with the heed cast doun.
Young's Literal Translation
And it cometh to pass, at Ahab's hearing these words, that he rendeth his garments, and putteth sackcloth on his flesh, and fasteth, and lieth in sackcloth, and goeth gently.
Update Bible Version
And it came to pass, when Ahab heard those words, that he rent his clothes, and put sackcloth on his flesh, and fasted, and lay in sackcloth, and went softly.
Webster's Bible Translation
And it came to pass, when Ahab heard those words, that he rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his flesh, and fasted, and lay in sackcloth, and went softly.
World English Bible
It happened, when Ahab heard those words, that he tore his clothes, and put sackcloth on his flesh, and fasted, and lay in sackcloth, and went softly.
New King James Version
So it was, when Ahab heard those words, that he tore his clothes and put sackcloth on his body, and fasted and lay in sackcloth, and went about mourning.
New Living Translation
But when Ahab heard this message, he tore his clothing, dressed in burlap, and fasted. He even slept in burlap and went about in deep mourning.
New Life Bible
When Ahab heard these words, he tore his clothes and dressed in cloth made from hair, and would not eat. He lay dressed in cloth made from hair, and went about very sad.
New Revised Standard
When Ahab heard those words, he tore his clothes and put sackcloth over his bare flesh; he fasted, lay in the sackcloth, and went about dejectedly.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And it came to pass, when Ahab heard these words, that he rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his flesh, and fasted, - and lay in sackcloth, and went softly.
Douay-Rheims Bible
And when Achab had heard these words, he rent his garments, and put haircloth upon his flesh, and fasted, and slept in sackcloth, and walked with his head cast down.
Revised Standard Version
And when Ahab heard those words, he rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his flesh, and fasted and lay in sackcloth, and went about dejectedly.
THE MESSAGE
When Ahab heard what Elijah had to say, he ripped his clothes to shreds, dressed in penitential rough burlap, and fasted. He even slept in coarse burlap pajamas. He tiptoed around, quiet as a mouse.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
It came about when Ahab heard these words, that he tore his clothes and put on sackcloth and fasted, and he lay in sackcloth and went about despondently.

Contextual Overview

17 But the worde of the LORDE came to Elias the The?bite, and sayde: 18 Get the vp, and go downe to mete Achab the kynge of Israel, which is at Samaria: beholde, he is in Naboths vynyarde, in to the which he is gone downe to take possession of it, 19 and talke thou with him, and speake: Thus sayeth the LORDE: Thou hast slayne, and taken in possession. And thou shalt talke morouer vnto him, and saye: Thus sayeth the LORDE: Euen in the place where the dogges licked vp Naboths bloude, shall the dogges licke thy bloude also. 20 And Achab sayde vnto Elias: Hast thou euer founde me thine enemye? He saide: Yee, I haue founde the, because thou art euen solde to do euell in the sighte of the LORDE. 21 Beholde, I wyll brynge mysfortune vpon the, and take awaye thy posterite, and wil rote out from Achab, euen him that maketh water agaynst the wall, and him that is shut vp and lefte behynde in Israel: 22 and thy house wyll I make as the house of Ieroboam ye sonne of Nebat, and as the house of Baesa the sonne of Ahia, because of ye prouocacion wherwhith thou hast prouoked me vnto wrath, and made Israel to synne. 23 And ouer Iesabel spake the LORDE also and sayde: The dogges shal deuoure Iesabel in ye felde of Iesrael. 24 Who so of Achab dyeth in ye cite, him shal the dogges eate vp: and who so dyeth in the felde, the foules vnder the heauen shall eate him vp. 25 So cleane solde to do myschefe in ye sighte of the LORDE hath no man bene, as Achab: for his Iesabel hath so disceaued him, 26 and he maketh him selfe a greate abhominacion, that he goeth after Idols, acordige vnto all as dyd the Amorites, whom the LORDE expelled before the children of Israel.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

he rent: Genesis 37:34, 2 Kings 6:30, 2 Kings 18:37, Jonah 3:6

lay in sackcloth: 2 Samuel 12:17, Job 16:15, Isaiah 22:12, Isaiah 58:5-8, Joel 1:13

went softly: Isaiah 38:15

Reciprocal: Exodus 33:4 - and no 2 Samuel 21:10 - took sackcloth 1 Kings 20:31 - put sackcloth 1 Kings 22:8 - Let not the 2 Kings 19:1 - covered 1 Chronicles 21:16 - clothed Job 42:6 - repent Psalms 35:13 - humbled Ecclesiastes 3:7 - time to rend Jeremiah 26:3 - that I Jeremiah 34:15 - ye Jeremiah 36:24 - nor rent Jeremiah 48:37 - upon the loins Daniel 6:18 - and passed Joel 2:13 - your garments Jonah 3:10 - God saw Matthew 6:16 - be Matthew 18:30 - but Matthew 27:4 - I have sinned Acts 24:25 - Felix

Cross-References

Genesis 21:22
At the same tyme talked Abimelech and Phicol his chefe captayne with Abraham, and sayde: God is with the in all that thou doest.
Genesis 21:23
Therfore sweare now vnto me by God, that thou wilt not hurt me, ner my children, ner my childers children: but that thou shalt shewe vnto me (and to the londe wherin thou art a straunger) the same kyndnesse that I haue done vnto the.
Genesis 21:28
And Abraham set seuen lambes by them selues.
Genesis 21:31
Therfore is the place called Berseba, because they sware there both together.
Genesis 31:44
Now therfore come on, let vs make a couenaunt (I & thou) which maye be a wytnesse betwene me and the.
1 Samuel 18:3
And Ionathas and Dauid made a couenaunt together, for he loued him as his owne soule.
Proverbs 17:8
Liberalite is a precious stone vnto him that hath it, for where so euer he becometh, he prospereth.
Proverbs 18:16
Liberalite bryngeth a man to honor and worshipe, & setteth him amonge greate men.
Proverbs 18:24
A frende that delyteth in loue, doth a man more fredshipe, and sticketh faster vnto him then a brother.
Proverbs 21:14
A preuy rewarde pacifieth displeasure, and a gifte in the bosome stilleth furiousnesse.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Ver. 27 And it came to pass when Ahab heard these words,.... Delivered in 1 Kings 21:21,

that he rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon, his flesh, tore off his clothes, and stripped himself of all, even of his very shirt, and put sackcloth on his bare flesh, a coarse cloth made of hair, and such as sacks are made with:

and fasted, how long it is not said:

and lay in sackcloth; in the night on his bed, would have no linen on him day nor night:

and went softly: step by step, as persons mourning, grieving, and pensive, do; the Targum renders it "barefoot", and so Jarchi.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

The repentance of Ahab resembles that of the Ninevites Jonah 3:5. It has the same outward signs - fasting and sackcloth - and it has much the same inward character. It springs, not from love, nor from hatred of sin, but from fear of the consequences of sin. It is thus, although sincere and real while it lasts, shallow and exceedingly short-lived. God, however, to mark His readiness to receive the sinner who turns to Him, accepted the imperfect offering (as He likewise accepted the penitence of the Ninevites), and allowed it to delay the execution of the sentence 1 Kings 21:29. So the penitence of the Ninevites put off the fall of Nineveh for a century.

And lay in sackcloth - In this particular he seems to have gone beyond the usual practice. We do not read elsewhere of mourners passing the night in sackcloth.

And went softly - “As if he had no heart to go about any business” (Patrick).

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 1 Kings 21:27. He rent his clothes — He was penetrated with sorrow, and that evidently unfeigned.

Put sackcloth upon his flesh — He humbled himself before God and man.

And fasted — He afflicted his body for his soul's benefit.

Lay in sackcloth — Gave the fullest proof that his repentance was real.

And went softly.Walked barefooted; so the Chaldee, Syriac, and Arabic. The Vulgate has demisso capite, "with his head hanging down." Houbigant translates went groaning. Jarchi says that the word אט at, used here, signifies to be unshod. This is its most likely sense. All these things prove that Ahab's repentance was genuine; and God's approbation of it puts it out of doubt. The slow and measured pace which always accompanies deep and reflective sorrow is also alluded to by AEschylus, where the Chorus are thus shortly addressed on the defeat of Xerxes. - AESCH. Pers. 1073.

Γοασθ ' ἁβροβαται

"With light and noiseless step lament."


 
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