1 Kings

1 Kings 20:31–34

³¹Then the servants of Ben-hadad said to him, “Look now, we have heard that the kings of the house of Israel are merciful. Let us go out to the king of Israel with sackcloth around our waists and ropes around our heads. Perhaps he will spare your life.”

³²So with sackcloth around their waists and ropes around their heads, they went to the king of Israel and said, “Your servant Ben-hadad says, ‘Please spare my life.’”

And the king answered, “Is he still alive? He is my brother.”

³³Now the men were looking for a sign of hope, and they quickly grasped at this word and replied, “Yes, your brother Ben-hadad.”

“Go and get him!” said the king.

Then Ben-hadad came out, and Ahab had him come up into his chariot.

³⁴Ben-hadad said to him, “I will restore the cities my father took from your father; you may set up your own marketplaces in Damascus, as my father did in Samaria.”

“By this treaty^d I release you,” Ahab replied. So he made a treaty with him and sent him away.

Footnotes

d 20:34 Forms of the Hebrew berit are translated in most passages as covenant; twice in this verse.

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 20:31

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Then the servants of	עֲבָדָיו֒	‘ă·ḇā·ḏāw	Noun - masculine plural construct; third person masculine singular	H5650 slave, servant
said	וַיֹּאמְר֣וּ	way·yō·mə·rū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H559 utter, say
to him	אֵלָיו֮	’ê·lāw	Preposition; third person masculine singular	H413 motion to
Look	הִנֵּֽה־	hin·nêh-	Interjection	H2009 lo! behold!
now	נָ֣א	nā	Interjection	H4994 I (we) pray, now
we have heard	שָׁמַ֔עְנוּ	šā·ma‘·nū	Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common plural	H8085 hear
that	כִּ֗י	kî	Conjunction	H3588 burning, branding
the kings	מַלְכֵי֙	mal·ḵê	Noun - masculine plural construct	H4428 king
of the house	בֵּ֣ית	bêṯ	Noun - masculine singular construct	H1004 house
of Israel	יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל	yiś·rā·’êl	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3478 Israel
are merciful	חֶ֖סֶד	ḥe·seḏ	Noun - masculine singular	H2617 goodness, kindness
Let us go out	וְנֵצֵא֙	wə·nê·ṣê	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect Cohortative if contextual - first person common plural	H3318 go or come out
to	אֶל־	’el-	Preposition	H413 motion to
the king	מֶ֣לֶךְ	me·leḵ	Noun - masculine singular construct	H4428 king
of Israel	יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל	yiś·rā·’êl	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3478 Israel
sackcloth	שַׂקִּ֨ים	śaq·qîm	Noun - masculine plural	H8242 sack, sackcloth
around our waists	בְּמָתְנֵ֜ינוּ	bə·mā·ṯə·nê·nū	Preposition-b; Noun - masculine dual construct; first person common plural	H4975 waist, loins
and ropes	וַחֲבָלִ֣ים	wa·ḥă·ḇā·lîm	Conjunctive waw; Noun - masculine plural	H2256 cord, territory, band
around our heads	בְּרֹאשֵׁ֗נוּ	bə·rō·šê·nū	Preposition-b; Noun - masculine singular construct; first person common plural	H7218 head
Perhaps	אוּלַ֖י	’ū·lay	Adverb	H194 peradventure, perhaps
he will spare	יְחַיֶּ֥ה	yə·ḥay·yeh	Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine singular	H2421 live
your life	נַפְשֶֽׁךָ׃	nap̄·še·ḵā	Noun - feminine singular construct; second person masculine singular	H5315 soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, appetite, emotion, and passion

1 Kings 20:32

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
So	וַיַּחְגְּרוּ֩	way·yaḥ·gə·rū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H2296 gird, gird on, gird oneself
sackcloth	שַׂקִּ֨ים	śaq·qîm	Noun - masculine plural	H8242 sack, sackcloth
around their waists	בְּמָתְנֵיהֶ֜ם	bə·mā·ṯə·nê·hem	Preposition-b; Noun - masculine dual construct; third person masculine plural	H4975 waist, loins
and ropes	וַחֲבָלִ֣ים	wa·ḥă·ḇā·lîm	Conjunctive waw; Noun - masculine plural	H2256 cord, territory, band
around their heads	בְּרָאשֵׁיהֶ֗ם	bə·rā·šê·hem	Preposition-b; Noun - masculine plural construct; third person masculine plural	H7218 head
they went	וַיָּבֹ֙אוּ֙	way·yā·ḇō·’ū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H935 come in, come, go in, go
to	אֶל־	’el-	Preposition	H413 motion to
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	וַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּ	way·yō·mə·rū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H559 utter, say
Your servant	עַבְדְּךָ֧	‘aḇ·də·ḵā	Noun - masculine singular construct; second person masculine singular	H5650 slave, servant
Ben-hadad	הֲדַ֛ד	hă·ḏaḏ	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H1130 Ben-Hadad
says	אָמַ֖ר	’ā·mar	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular	H559 utter, say
Please	נָ֣א	nā	Interjection	H4994 I (we) pray, now
spare	תְּחִֽי־	tə·ḥî-	Verb - Qal - Imperfect Jussive - third person feminine singular	H2421 live
my life	נַפְשִׁ֑י	nap̄·šî	Noun - feminine singular construct; first person common singular	H5315 soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, appetite, emotion, and passion
And	וַיֹּ֛אמֶר	way·yō·mer	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H559 utter, say
Is he still	הַעוֹדֶ֥נּוּ	ha·‘ō·w·ḏen·nū	Adverb; third person masculine singular	H5750 a going round, continuance
alive	חַ֖י	ḥay	Adjective - masculine singular	H2416 alive, living
He	הֽוּא׃	hū	Pronoun - third person masculine singular	H1931 he, she
is my brother	אָחִ֥י	’ā·ḥî	Noun - masculine singular construct; first person common singular	H251 brother

1 Kings 20:33

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Now the men	וְהָאֲנָשִׁים֩	wə·hā·’ă·nā·šîm	Conjunctive waw, Article; Noun - masculine plural	H582 man, mankind
were looking for a sign of hope	יְנַחֲשׁ֨וּ	yə·na·ḥă·šū	Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine plural	H5172 hiss, whisper, prognosticate
and they quickly	וַֽיְמַהֲר֜וּ	way·ma·hă·rū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H4116 hasten
grasped	וַיַּחְלְט֣וּ	way·yaḥ·lə·ṭū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H2480 snatch at
and replied	וַיֹּֽאמְרוּ֙	way·yō·mə·rū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H559 utter, say
Yes	אָחִ֣יךָ	’ā·ḥî·ḵā	Noun - masculine singular construct; second person masculine singular	H251 brother
your brother	אָחִ֣יךָ	’ā·ḥî·ḵā	Noun - masculine singular construct; second person masculine singular	H251 brother
Ben-hadad	הֲדַ֔ד	hă·ḏaḏ	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H1130 Ben-Hadad
Go	בֹּ֣אוּ	bō·’ū	Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural	H935 come in, come, go in, go
and get him	קָחֻ֑הוּ	qā·ḥu·hū	Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural; third person masculine singular	H3947 take
said	וַיֹּ֖אמֶר	way·yō·mer	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H559 utter, say
Then Ben-hadad	הֲדַ֔ד	hă·ḏaḏ	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H1130 Ben-Hadad
came out	וַיֵּצֵ֤א	way·yê·ṣê	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H3318 go or come out
and Ahab had him come up	וַֽיַּעֲלֵ֖הוּ	way·ya·‘ă·lê·hū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular; third person masculine singular	H5927 go up, ascend, climb
into	עַל־	‘al-	Preposition	H5921 height
his chariot	הַמֶּרְכָּבָֽה׃	ham·mer·kā·ḇāh	Article; Noun - feminine singular	H4818 chariot

1 Kings 20:34

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Ben-hadad said	וַיֹּ֣אמֶר	way·yō·mer	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H559 utter, say
to him	אֵלָ֡יו	’ê·lāw	Preposition; third person masculine singular	H413 motion to
I will restore	אָשִׁ֗יב	’ā·šîḇ	Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - first person common singular	H7725 turn back, return
the cities	הֶעָרִ֣ים	he·‘ā·rîm	Article; Noun - feminine plural	H5892 excitement
my father	אָבִי֩	’ā·ḇî	Noun - masculine singular construct; first person common singular	H1 father
took	לָֽקַח־	lā·qaḥ-	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular	H3947 take
from	מֵאֵ֨ת	mê·’êṯ	Preposition-m; Direct object marker	H854 with
your father	אָבִ֜יךָ	’ā·ḇî·ḵā	Noun - masculine singular construct; second person masculine singular	H1 father
you may set up	תָּשִׂ֨ים	tā·śîm	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular	H7760 put, place, set
your own	לְךָ֤	lə·ḵā	Preposition; second person masculine singular
marketplaces	וְ֠חוּצוֹת	wə·ḥū·ṣō·wṯ	Conjunctive waw; Noun - masculine plural	H2351 the outside
in Damascus	בְדַמֶּ֙שֶׂק֙	ḇə·ḏam·me·śeq	Preposition-b; Noun - proper - feminine singular	H1834 Damascus
as	כַּאֲשֶׁר־	ka·’ă·šer-	Preposition-k; Pronoun - relative	H834 particle of relation
my father	אָבִי֙	’ā·ḇî	Noun - masculine singular construct; first person common singular	H1 father
in Samaria	בְּשֹׁ֣מְר֔וֹן	bə·šō·mə·rō·wn	Preposition-b; Noun - proper - feminine singular	H8111 Shomeron
By this treaty	בַּבְּרִ֣ית	bab·bə·rîṯ	Preposition-b, Article; Noun - feminine singular	H1285 covenant
I	וַאֲנִ֖י	wa·’ă·nî	Conjunctive waw; Pronoun - first person common singular	H589 I
release you	אֲשַׁלְּחֶ֑ךָּ	’ă·šal·lə·ḥe·kā	Verb - Piel - Imperfect - first person common singular; second person masculine singular	H7971 send
So he made	וַיִּכְרָת־	way·yiḵ·rāṯ-	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H3772 cut off, cut down
a treaty	בְרִ֖ית	ḇə·rîṯ	Noun - feminine singular	H1285 covenant
with him	ל֥וֹ	lōw	Preposition; third person masculine singular
and sent him away	וַֽיְשַׁלְּחֵֽהוּ׃ס	way·šal·lə·ḥê·hū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular; third person masculine singular	H7971 send

Cross-references

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

1 Kings 20:31 Genesis 37:34 · 2 Samuel 3:31 · 1 Kings 20:23

1 Kings 20:32 1 Kings 20:3–6

1 Kings 20:34 1 Kings 15:20 · Isaiah 26:10 · 1 Kings 20:42

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.