1 Kings 13 · Verse 20

1 Kings 13:20

And it came to pass, as they sat at the table, that the word of the Lord came unto the prophet that brought him back:
1 Kings 13:20, King James Version

1 Kings 13:20 in other translations

BSBWhile they were sitting at the table, the word of the LORD came to the prophet who had brought him back,
WEBAs they sat at the table, the LORD’s word came to the prophet who brought him back;
ASVAnd it came to pass, as they sat at the table, that the word of Jehovah came unto the prophet that brought him back;
YLTAnd it cometh to pass--they are sitting at the table--and a word of Jehovah is unto the prophet who brought him back,
DARBYAnd it came to pass as they sat at the table, that the word of Jehovah came to the prophet that brought him back;
BBEBut while they were seated at the table, the word of the Lord came to the prophet who had taken him back;
WebsterAnd it came to pass, as they sat at the table, that the word of the LORD came to the prophet that brought him back:

What does 1 Kings 13:20 mean?

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 20 The word of the Lord came unto the prophet that brought him back - "A great clamor," says Dr. Kennicott, "has been raised against this part of the history, on account of God's denouncing sentence on the true prophet by the mouth of the false prophet: but if we examine with attention the original words here, they will be found to signify either he who brought him back; or, whom he had brought back; for the very same words, אשר השיבו asher heshibo, occur again in 1Kgs 13:23, where they are now translated, whom he had brought back; and where they cannot be translated otherwise. This being the case, we are at liberty to consider the word of the Lord as delivered to the true prophet thus brought back; and then the sentence is pronounced by God himself, calling to him out of heaven, as in Gen 22:11. And that this doom was thus pronounced by God, not by the false prophet, we are assured in 1Kgs 13:26 : 'The Lord hath delivered him unto the lion, according to the word of the Lord which He spake unto him.' Josephus expressly asserts that the sentence was declared by God to the true prophet." The Arabic asserts the same.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 1 Kings 13:11-22

The old prophet's conduct proves that he was not really a godly man. When the change took place under Jeroboam, he preferred his ease and interest to his religion. He took a very bad method to bring the good prophet back. It was all a lie. Believers are most in danger of being drawn from their duty by plausible pretences of holiness. We may wonder that the wicked prophet went unpunished, while the holy man of God…

Read the full comment on 1 Kings 13:11-22 →

1 Kings 13:20 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וַיְהִ֕יvay.Hiand it wasH1961
הֵ֥םhemtheyH1992
יֹשְׁבִ֖יםyo.she.Vim[were] sittingH3427
אֶל\־'el-toH413
הַשֻּׁלְחָ֑ן\ \פha.shul.Chanthe tableH7979
וַֽיְהִי֙vay.Hiand it cameH1961
דְּבַר\־de.var-[the] word ofH1697
יְהוָ֔הYah.wehYahwehH3068
אֶל\־'el-toH413
הַנָּבִ֖יאha.na.Vi'the prophetH5030
אֲשֶׁ֥ר'a.SherwhoH834
הֱשִׁיבֽוֹ\׃he.shi.Vohe had brought back himH7725

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for 1 Kings 13:20

  • Numbers 23:5

    And the Lord put a word in Balaam’s mouth, and said, Return unto Balak, and thus thou shalt speak.

  • Matthew 7:22

    Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

  • Numbers 24:16-24

    He hath said, which heard the words of God, and knew the knowledge of the most High, which saw the vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance, but having his eyes open: I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth. And Edom shall be a possession, Seir also shall be a possession for his enemies; and Israel shall do valiantly. Out of Jacob shall come he that shall have dominion, and shall destroy him that remaineth of the city. …

  • 1 Corinthians 13:2

    And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.

  • Numbers 23:16

    And the Lord met Balaam, and put a word in his mouth, and said, Go again unto Balak, and say thus.

  • Numbers 24:4

    He hath said, which heard the words of God, which saw the vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance, but having his eyes open:

  • John 11:51

    And this spake he not of himself: but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation;

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
the word of the Lord."A great clamour," says Dr. Kennicott, "has been raised against this part of history, on account of God's denouncing sentence on the true prophet by the mouth of the false prophet; but if we examine with attention the original words here, they will be found to signify either he who brought him back, or, whom he had brought back; for the very same words, {asher heshivo,} occur again, ver. 23, where they are now translated, whom he had brought back; and where they cannot be translated otherwise. This being the case, we are at liberty to consider the words of the Lord as delivered to the true prophet, thus brought back; and then the sentence is pronounced by God himself, calling to him out of heaven, as in Ge 22:11. And that this doom was thus pronounced by God, not by the false prophet, we are assured in ver. 26. 'The Lord hath delivered him unto the lion, according to the word of the Lord, which He spake unto him.' Josephus [and also the Arabic] asserts, that the sentence was declared by God to the true prophet."
Nu 23:5,16; 24:4,16-24; Mt 7:22; Joh 11:51; 1Co 13:2

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • 1 Kings 13:19

    So he went back with him, and did eat bread in his house, and drank water.

  • 1 Kings 13:20

    And it came to pass, as they sat at the table, that the word of the Lord came unto the prophet that brought him back:

  • 1 Kings 13:21

    And he cried unto the man of God that came from Judah, saying, Thus saith the Lord, Forasmuch as thou hast disobeyed the mouth of the Lord, and hast not kept the commandment which the Lord thy God commanded thee,

Read all of 1 Kings 13

1 Kings 13:20 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y aconteció que, estando ellos á la mesa, fué palabra de Jehová al profeta que le había hecho volver;
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et il arriva, comme ils étaient assis à table, que la parole de l’ Éternel vint au prophète qui l’avait ramené;
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und es geschah, während sie zu Tische saßen, da geschah das Wort Jehovas zu dem Propheten, der ihn zurückgebracht hatte.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Cumque sederent ad mensam, factus est sermo Domini ad prophetam qui reduxerat eum.