1 Kings

1 Kings 20:16–22

¹⁶They marched out at noon while Ben-hadad and the 32 kings allied with him were in their tents getting drunk. ¹⁷And the young officers of the district governors marched out first.

Now Ben-hadad had sent out scouts, who reported to him, “Men are marching out of Samaria.”

¹⁸“If they have marched out in peace,” he said, “take them alive. Even if they have marched out for war, take them alive.”

¹⁹Meanwhile, these young officers of the district governors marched out of the city, with the army behind them, ²⁰and each one struck down his opponent. So the Arameans fled, with the Israelites in pursuit. But Ben-hadad king of Aram escaped on horseback with the cavalry.

²¹Then the king of Israel marched out and attacked the horses and chariots, inflicting a great slaughter on the Arameans.

²²Afterward, the prophet approached the king of Israel and said, “Go and strengthen your position, and take note what you must do, for in the spring^c the king of Aram will come up against you.”

Footnotes

c 20:22 Literally at the turn of the year; similarly in verse 26

Read all of 1 Kings 20

Word by word

Each English word or phrase beside the Hebrew it translates, in the order of the English. Choose a number to open that word’s study.

1 Kings 20:16

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
They marched out	וַיֵּצְא֖וּ	way·yê·ṣə·’ū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H3318 go or come out
at noon	בַּֽצָּהֳרָ֑יִם	baṣ·ṣā·ho·rā·yim	Preposition-b, Article; Noun - masculine plural	H6672 midday, noon
while Ben-hadad	הֲדַד֩	hă·ḏaḏ	Conjunctive waw; Noun - proper - masculine singular	H1130 Ben-Hadad
and the 32	שְׁלֹשִֽׁים־	šə·lō·šîm-	Number - common plural	H7970 thirty
kings	וְהַמְּלָכִ֛ים	wə·ham·mə·lā·ḵîm	Conjunctive waw, Article; Noun - masculine plural	H4428 king
allied	עֹזֵ֥ר	‘ō·zêr	Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular	H5826 help, succour
with him	אֹתֽוֹ׃	’ō·ṯōw	Direct object marker; third person masculine singular	H853 mark of the accusative
were in their tents	בַּסֻּכּ֗וֹת	bas·suk·kō·wṯ	Preposition-b, Article; Noun - feminine plural	H5521 thicket, booth
getting	שֹׁתֶ֨ה	šō·ṯeh	Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular	H8354 drink
drunk	שִׁכּ֜וֹר	šik·kō·wr	Adjective - masculine singular	H7910 drunken

1 Kings 20:17

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
And the young officers	נַעֲרֵ֛י	na·‘ă·rê	Noun - masculine plural construct	H5288 a shaking, scattering
of the district	הַמְּדִינ֖וֹת	ham·mə·ḏî·nō·wṯ	Article; Noun - feminine plural	H4082 province
governors	שָׂרֵ֥י	śā·rê	Noun - masculine plural construct	H8269 chieftain, chief, ruler, official, captain, prince
marched out first	וַיֵּצְא֗וּ	way·yê·ṣə·’ū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H3318 go or come out
Now Ben-hadad	הֲדַ֗ד	hă·ḏaḏ	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H1130 Ben-Hadad
had sent out scouts	וַיִּשְׁלַ֣ח	way·yiš·laḥ	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H7971 send
who reported	וַיַּגִּ֤ידוּ	way·yag·gî·ḏū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H5046 be conspicuous
to him	לוֹ֙	lōw	Preposition; third person masculine singular
Men	אֲנָשִׁ֕ים	’ă·nā·šîm	Noun - masculine plural	H582 man, mankind
are marching out	יָצְא֖וּ	yā·ṣə·’ū	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural	H3318 go or come out
of Samaria	מִשֹּׁמְרֽוֹן׃	miš·šō·mə·rō·wn	Preposition-m; Noun - proper - feminine singular	H8111 Shomeron

1 Kings 20:18

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
If	אִם־	’im-	Conjunction	H518 if
they have marched out	יָצָ֖אוּ	yā·ṣā·’ū	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural	H3318 go or come out
in peace	לְשָׁל֥וֹם	lə·šā·lō·wm	Preposition-l; Noun - masculine singular	H7965 completeness, soundness, welfare, peace
he said	וַיֹּ֛אמֶר	way·yō·mer	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H559 utter, say
take them	תִּפְשׂ֣וּם	tip̄·śūm	Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural; third person masculine plural	H8610 lay hold of, wield
alive	חַיִּ֑ים	ḥay·yîm	Adjective - masculine plural	H2416 alive, living
Even if	וְאִ֧ם	wə·’im	Conjunction	H518 if
they have marched out	יָצָ֖אוּ	yā·ṣā·’ū	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural	H3318 go or come out
for war	לְמִלְחָמָ֛ה	lə·mil·ḥā·māh	Preposition-l; Noun - feminine singular	H4421 battle, war
take them	תִּפְשֽׂוּם׃	tip̄·śūm	Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural; third person masculine plural	H8610 lay hold of, wield
alive	חַיִּ֥ים	ḥay·yîm	Adjective - masculine plural	H2416 alive, living

1 Kings 20:19

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Meanwhile	וְאֵ֙לֶּה֙	wə·’êl·leh	Conjunctive waw; Pronoun - common plural	H428 these
these	וְאֵ֙לֶּה֙	wə·’êl·leh	Conjunctive waw; Pronoun - common plural	H428 these
young officers	נַעֲרֵ֖י	na·‘ă·rê	Noun - masculine plural construct	H5288 a shaking, scattering
of the district	הַמְּדִינ֑וֹת	ham·mə·ḏî·nō·wṯ	Article; Noun - feminine plural	H4082 province
governors	שָׂרֵ֣י	śā·rê	Noun - masculine plural construct	H8269 chieftain, chief, ruler, official, captain, prince
marched out	יָצְא֣וּ	yā·ṣə·’ū	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural	H3318 go or come out
of	מִן־	min-	Preposition	H4480 out of, from, on account of, off, on the side of, since, above, than, so that not
the city	הָעִ֔יר	hā·‘îr	Article; Noun - feminine singular	H5892 excitement
with the army	וְהַחַ֖יִל	wə·ha·ḥa·yil	Conjunctive waw, Article; Noun - masculine singular	H2428 strength, efficiency, wealth, army
behind them	אַחֲרֵיהֶֽם׃	’a·ḥă·rê·hem	Preposition; third person masculine plural	H310 behind

1 Kings 20:20

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
and each	אִ֣ישׁ	’îš	Noun - masculine singular	H376 man
one struck down	וַיַּכּוּ֙	way·yak·kū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H5221 smite
his opponent	אִישׁ֔וֹ	’î·šōw	Noun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine singular	H376 man
So the Arameans	אֲרָ֔ם	’ă·rām	Noun - proper - feminine singular	H758 Aram
fled	וַיָּנֻ֣סוּ	way·yā·nu·sū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H5127 flee, escape
with the Israelites	יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל	yiś·rā·’êl	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3478 Israel
in pursuit	וַֽיִּרְדְּפֵ֖ם	way·yir·də·p̄êm	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular; third person masculine plural	H7291 pursue, chase, persecute
But Ben-hadad	הֲדַד֙	hă·ḏaḏ	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H1130 Ben-Hadad
king	מֶ֣לֶךְ	me·leḵ	Noun - masculine singular construct	H4428 king
of Aram	אֲרָ֔ם	’ă·rām	Noun - proper - feminine singular	H758 Aram
escaped	וַיִּמָּלֵ֗ט	way·yim·mā·lêṭ	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Nifal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H4422 slip away
on	עַל־	‘al-	Preposition	H5921 height
horseback	ס֖וּס	sūs	Noun - masculine singular	H5483 swallow or swift
with the cavalry	וּפָרָשִֽׁים׃	ū·p̄ā·rā·šîm	Conjunctive waw; Noun - masculine plural	H6571 horse, steed

1 Kings 20:21

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Then the king	מֶ֣לֶךְ	me·leḵ	Noun - masculine singular construct	H4428 king
of Israel	יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל	yiś·rā·’êl	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3478 Israel
marched out	וַיֵּצֵא֙	way·yê·ṣê	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H3318 go or come out
and attacked	וַיַּ֥ךְ	way·yaḵ	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H5221 smite
the horses	הַסּ֖וּס	has·sūs	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H5483 swallow or swift
and chariots	הָרָ֑כֶב	hā·rā·ḵeḇ	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H7393 chariotry, chariot, mill-stone
inflicting	וְהִכָּ֥ה	wə·hik·kāh	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular	H5221 smite
a great	גְדוֹלָֽה׃	ḡə·ḏō·w·lāh	Adjective - feminine singular	H1419 great
slaughter	מַכָּ֥ה	mak·kāh	Noun - feminine singular	H4347 blow, wound, slaughter
on the Arameans	בַאֲרָ֖ם	ḇa·’ă·rām	Preposition-b; Noun - proper - feminine singular	H758 Aram

1 Kings 20:22

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Afterward	הַנָּבִיא֙	han·nā·ḇî	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H5030 spokesman, speaker, prophet
the prophet	הַנָּבִיא֙	han·nā·ḇî	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H5030 spokesman, speaker, prophet
approached	וַיִּגַּ֤שׁ	way·yig·gaš	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H5066 draw near, approach
the king	מֶ֣לֶךְ	me·leḵ	Noun - masculine singular construct	H4428 king
of Israel	יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל	yiś·rā·’êl	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3478 Israel
and said	וַיֹּ֤אמֶר	way·yō·mer	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H559 utter, say
Go	לֵ֣ךְ	lêḵ	Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular	H1980 go, come, walk
and strengthen	הִתְחַזַּ֔ק	hiṯ·ḥaz·zaq	Verb - Hitpael - Imperative - masculine singular	H2388 be or grow firm, strong, strengthen
and take note	וְדַ֥ע	wə·ḏa‘	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular	H3045 know
what	אֲשֶֽׁר־	’ă·šer-	Pronoun - relative	H834 particle of relation
you must do	תַּעֲשֶׂ֑ה	ta·‘ă·śeh	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular	H6213 do, make
for	כִּ֚י	kî	Conjunction	H3588 burning, branding
in the spring	לִתְשׁוּבַ֣ת	liṯ·šū·ḇaṯ	Preposition-l; Noun - feminine singular construct	H8666 return, answer
the king	מֶ֥לֶךְ	me·leḵ	Noun - masculine singular construct	H4428 king
of Aram	אֲרָ֖ם	’ă·rām	Noun - proper - feminine singular	H758 Aram
will come up	עֹלֶ֥ה	‘ō·leh	Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular	H5927 go up, ascend, climb
against you	עָלֶֽיךָ׃ס	‘ā·le·ḵā	Preposition; second person masculine singular	H5921 height

Cross-references

Other passages that speak to the same thing. Point at one to read it.

1 Kings 20:18 2 Kings 14:8–12

1 Kings 20:22 2 Samuel 11:1 · 1 Kings 20:26 · 1 Kings 20:13 · 1 Chronicles 20:1

Cross-references from OpenBible.info, used under CC BY 4.0. The best-supported references for each verse are shown.

Scripture text: Berean Standard Bible.