1 Kings

1 Kings 20:39–42

³⁹As the king passed by, he cried out to the king: “Your servant had marched out into the middle of the battle, when suddenly a man came over with a captive and told me, ‘Guard this man! If he goes missing for any reason, your life will be exchanged for his life, or you will weigh out a talent of silver.^e’ ⁴⁰But while your servant was busy here and there, the man disappeared.”

And the king of Israel said to him, “So shall your judgment be; you have pronounced it on yourself.”

⁴¹Then the prophet quickly removed the bandage from his eyes, and the king of Israel recognized him as one of the prophets.

⁴²And the prophet said to the king, “This is what the LORD says: ‘Because you have let slip from your hand the man I had devoted to destruction,^f your life will be exchanged for his life, and your people for his people.’”

Footnotes

e 20:39 A talent is approximately 75.4 pounds or 34.2 kilograms of silver.
f 20:42 Forms of the Hebrew cherem refer to the giving over of things or persons to the LORD, either by destroying them or by giving them as an offering.

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 20:39

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
As the king	הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙	ham·me·leḵ	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H4428 king
passed by	עֹבֵ֔ר	‘ō·ḇêr	Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular	H5674 pass over, through, by, pass on
he	וְה֖וּא	wə·hū	Conjunctive waw; Pronoun - third person masculine singular	H1931 he, she
cried out	צָעַ֣ק	ṣā·‘aq	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular	H6817 cry, cry out, call
to	אֶל־	’el-	Preposition	H413 motion to
the king	הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ	ham·me·leḵ	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H4428 king
Your servant	עַבְדְּךָ֣׀	‘aḇ·də·ḵā	Noun - masculine singular construct; second person masculine singular	H5650 slave, servant
had marched out	יָצָ֣א	yā·ṣā	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular	H3318 go or come out
into the middle	בְקֶֽרֶב־	ḇə·qe·reḇ-	Preposition-b; Noun - masculine singular construct	H7130 inward part, midst
of the battle	הַמִּלְחָמָ֗ה	ham·mil·ḥā·māh	Article; Noun - feminine singular	H4421 battle, war
when suddenly	וְהִנֵּֽה־	wə·hin·nêh-	Conjunctive waw; Interjection	H2009 lo! behold!
a man	אִ֨ישׁ	’îš	Noun - masculine singular	H376 man
came over	סָ֜ר	sār	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular	H5493 turn aside
with	וַיָּבֵ֧א	way·yā·ḇê	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H935 come in, come, go in, go
a captive	אִ֗ישׁ	’îš	Noun - masculine singular	H376 man
and told	וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙	way·yō·mer	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H559 utter, say
me	אֵלַ֣י	’ê·lay	Preposition; first person common singular	H413 motion to
Guard	שְׁמֹר֙	šə·mōr	Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular	H8104 keep, watch, preserve
this	הַזֶּ֔ה	haz·zeh	Article; Pronoun - masculine singular	H2088 this, that
man	הָאִ֣ישׁ	hā·’îš	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H376 man
If	אִם־	’im-	Conjunction	H518 if
he goes missing	יִפָּקֵ֔ד	yip·pā·qêḏ	Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular	H6485 attend to, visit, muster, appoint
for any reason	הִפָּקֵד֙	hip·pā·qêḏ	Verb - Nifal - Infinitive absolute	H6485 attend to, visit, muster, appoint
your life	נַפְשְׁךָ֙	nap̄·šə·ḵā	Noun - feminine singular construct; second person masculine singular	H5315 soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, appetite, emotion, and passion
will be exchanged	וְהָיְתָ֤ה	wə·hā·yə·ṯāh	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person feminine singular	H1961 fall out, come to pass, become, be
for	תַּ֣חַת	ta·ḥaṯ	Preposition	H8478 the under part
his life	נַפְשׁ֔וֹ	nap̄·šōw	Noun - feminine singular construct; third person masculine singular	H5315 soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, appetite, emotion, and passion
or	א֥וֹ	’ōw	Conjunction	H176 or
you will weigh out	תִּשְׁקֽוֹל׃	tiš·qō·wl	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular	H8254 weigh
a talent	כִכַּר־	ḵik·kar-	Noun - feminine singular construct	H3603 a round
of silver	כֶּ֖סֶף	ke·sep̄	Noun - masculine singular	H3701 silver, money

1 Kings 20:40

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
But while your servant	עַבְדְּךָ֗	‘aḇ·də·ḵā	Noun - masculine singular construct; second person masculine singular	H5650 slave, servant
was	וַיְהִ֣י	way·hî	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H1961 fall out, come to pass, become, be
busy	עֹשֵׂ֥ה	‘ō·śêh	Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular construct	H6213 do, make
here	הֵ֛נָּה	hên·nāh	Adverb	H2007 they
and there	וָהֵ֖נָּה	wā·hên·nāh	Conjunctive waw; Adverb	H2007 they
disappeared	אֵינֶ֑נּוּ	’ê·nen·nū	Adverb; third person masculine singular	H369 nothing, nought
And the king	מֶֽלֶךְ־	me·leḵ-	Noun - masculine singular construct	H4428 king
of Israel	יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל	yiś·rā·’êl	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3478 Israel
said	וַיֹּ֨אמֶר	way·yō·mer	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H559 utter, say
to him	אֵלָ֧יו	’ê·lāw	Preposition; third person masculine singular	H413 motion to
So	כֵּ֥ן	kên	Adverb	H3651 right, veritable, honest
your judgment	מִשְׁפָּטֶ֖ךָ	miš·pā·ṭe·ḵā	Noun - masculine singular construct; second person masculine singular	H4941 judgment
you have pronounced it	חָרָֽצְתָּ׃	ḥā·rā·ṣə·tā	Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singular	H2782 cut, sharpen, decide
on yourself	אַתָּ֥ה	’at·tāh	Pronoun - second person masculine singular	H859 thou

1 Kings 20:41

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Then	וַיְמַהֵ֕ר	way·ma·hêr	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H4116 hasten
removed	וַיָּ֙סַר֙	way·yā·sar	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H5493 turn aside
the bandage	הָ֣אֲפֵ֔ר	hā·’ă·p̄êr	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H666 covering, bandage
from	מֵעַל	mē·ʿal	Preposition-m	H5921 height
his eyes	עֵינָ֑יו	‘ê·nāw	Noun - cdc; third person masculine singular	H5869 eye
and the king	מֶ֣לֶךְ	me·leḵ	Noun - masculine singular construct	H4428 king
of Israel	יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל	yiś·rā·’êl	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3478 Israel
recognized	וַיַּכֵּ֤ר	way·yak·kêr	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H5234 regard, recognize
him	אֹתוֹ֙	’ō·ṯōw	Direct object marker; third person masculine singular	H853 mark of the accusative
as	כִּ֥י	kî	Conjunction	H3588 burning, branding
one of the prophets	מֵֽהַנְּבִאִ֖ים	mê·han·nə·ḇi·’îm	Preposition-m, Article; Noun - masculine plural	H5030 spokesman, speaker, prophet

1 Kings 20:42

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
And	וַיֹּ֣אמֶר	way·yō·mer	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H559 utter, say
to	אֵלָ֗יו	’ê·lāw	Preposition; third person masculine singular	H413 motion to
This is what	כֹּ֚ה	kōh	Adverb	H3541 thus, here
the LORD	יְהוָ֔ה	Yah·weh	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3068 Yahweh
says	אָמַ֣ר	’ā·mar	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular	H559 utter, say
Because	יַ֛עַן	ya·‘an	Adverb	H3282 purpose, intention
you have let slip	שִׁלַּ֥חְתָּ	šil·laḥ·tā	Verb - Piel - Perfect - second person masculine singular	H7971 send
from your hand	מִיָּ֑ד	mî·yāḏ	Preposition-m; Noun - feminine singular	H3027 hand
the man	אִישׁ־	’îš-	Noun - masculine singular construct	H376 man
I had devoted to destruction	חֶרְמִ֖י	ḥer·mî	Noun - masculine singular construct; first person common singular	H2764 devoted thing
your life	נַפְשְׁךָ֙	nap̄·šə·ḵā	Noun - feminine singular construct; second person masculine singular	H5315 soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, appetite, emotion, and passion
will be exchanged	וְהָיְתָ֤ה	wə·hā·yə·ṯāh	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person feminine singular	H1961 fall out, come to pass, become, be
for	תַּ֣חַת	ta·ḥaṯ	Preposition	H8478 the under part
his life	נַפְשׁ֔וֹ	nap̄·šōw	Noun - feminine singular construct; third person masculine singular	H5315 soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, appetite, emotion, and passion
and your people	וְעַמְּךָ֖	wə·‘am·mə·ḵā	Conjunctive waw; Noun - masculine singular construct; second person masculine singular	H5971 people
for	תַּ֥חַת	ta·ḥaṯ	Preposition	H8478 the under part
his people	עַמּֽוֹ׃	‘am·mōw	Noun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine singular	H5971 people

Cross-references

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

1 Kings 20:39 2 Kings 10:24

1 Kings 20:42 1 Kings 22:31–37 · 2 Chronicles 18:33–34 · 1 Kings 20:39

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.