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New King James Version

1 Kings 21:27

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.

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.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
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.
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 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 Then the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying, 18 "Arise, go down to meet Ahab king of Israel, who lives in Samaria. There he is, in the vineyard of Naboth, where he has gone down to take possession of it. 19 You shall speak to him, saying, "Thus says the LORD: "Have you murdered and also taken possession?"' And you shall speak to him, saying, "Thus says the LORD: "In the place where dogs licked the blood of Naboth, dogs shall lick your blood, even yours.""' 20 So Ahab said to Elijah, "Have you found me, O my enemy?" And he answered, "I have found you, because you have sold yourself to do evil in the sight of the LORD: 21 "Behold, I will bring calamity on you. I will take away your posterity, and will cut off from Ahab every male in Israel, both bond and free. 22 I will make your house like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah, because of the provocation with which you have provoked Me to anger, and made Israel sin.' 23 And concerning Jezebel the Lord also spoke, saying, 'The dogs shall eat Jezebel by the wall 2 Kings 9:36).">[fn] of Jezreel.' 24 The dogs shall eat whoever belongs to Ahab and dies in the city, and the birds of the air shall eat whoever dies in the field." 25 But there was no one like Ahab who sold himself to do wickedness in the sight of the LORD, because Jezebel his wife stirred him up. 26 And he behaved very abominably in following idols, according to all that the Amorites had done, whom the LORD had cast out 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
And it came to pass at that time that Abimelech and Phichol, the commander of his army, spoke to Abraham, saying, "God is with you in all that you do.
Genesis 21:23
Now therefore, swear to me by God that you will not deal falsely with me, with my offspring, or with my posterity; but that according to the kindness that I have done to you, you will do to me and to the land in which you have dwelt."
Genesis 21:28
And Abraham set seven ewe lambs of the flock by themselves.
Genesis 21:31
Therefore he called that place Beersheba, [fn] because the two of them swore an oath there.
Genesis 31:44
Now therefore, come, let us make a covenant, you and I, and let it be a witness between you and me."
1 Samuel 18:3
Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul.
Proverbs 17:8
A present is a precious stone in the eyes of its possessor; Wherever he turns, he prospers.
Proverbs 18:16
A man's gift makes room for him, And brings him before great men.
Proverbs 18:24
24 A man who has friends must himself be friendly, [fn] But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
Proverbs 21:14
A gift in secret pacifies anger,And a bribe behind the back, [fn] strong wrath.

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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