1 Kings 21

All 29 verses in the Clear Bible Translation. Tap a verse to compare the KJV and read what it means.

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1. 1After these events, Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard in Jezreel, close to the palace of Ahab, king of Samaria.
2. 2Ahab approached Naboth and said, "Give me your vineyard so I can use it for a garden of herbs, since it's right next to my house. I'll give you a better vineyard in exchange, or if you prefer, I'll pay you its worth in money."
3. 3But Naboth told Ahab, "The LORD forbid that I should hand over my family's inheritance to you!"
4. 4Ahab went home feeling heavy and displeased because of what Naboth the Jezreelite had said to him: that he would not give him the inheritance of his fathers. Ahab lay down on his bed, turned away his face, and refused to eat.
5. 5His wife Jezebel came to him and asked, "Why is your spirit so sad that you won't eat?"
6. 6He told her, "I spoke to Naboth the Jezreelite and said, 'Give me your vineyard for money, or if it pleases you, I will give you another vineyard for it.' But he answered, 'I will not give you my vineyard.'"
7. 7Jezebel, his wife, said to him, "Do you now rule over the kingdom of Israel? Get up, eat some food, and be cheerful. I will give you the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite."
8. 8So she wrote letters in Ahab's name, sealed them with his seal, and sent them to the elders and nobles who lived in Naboth's city.
9. 9In the letters she wrote, "Proclaim a fast, and set Naboth on high among the people."
10. 10And set two men, sons of Belial, before him to testify against him, saying, 'You blasphemed God and the king.' Then carry him out and stone him, that he may die.
11. 11The men of Naboth's city, including the elders and the nobles who lived there, did exactly as Jezebel had instructed them in the letters she sent.
12. 12They proclaimed a fast and placed Naboth in a prominent position among the people.
13. 13Then two wicked men came in and sat before Naboth. The wicked men testified against Naboth in front of the people, saying, 'Naboth cursed God and the king.' Then they carried him out of the city and stoned him with stones, and he died.
14. 14Then they sent word to Jezebel: "Naboth has been stoned. He's dead."
15. 15As soon as Jezebel heard that Naboth was dead, she told Ahab, "Get up and take possession of the vineyard that Naboth the Jezreelite refused to sell you. Naboth isn't alive anymore — he's dead."
16. 16When Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, he got up and went down to Naboth's vineyard to claim it as his own.
17. 17Then the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite:
18. 18Arise, go down to meet King Ahab of Israel, who is in Samaria. He is in Naboth's vineyard, where he has gone to take possession of it.
19. 19Tell him, 'This is what the LORD says: Have you killed and also taken possession?' Then tell him, 'This is what the LORD says: In the place where dogs licked Naboth's blood, dogs will lick your blood—yes, yours.'
20. 20Ahab said to Elijah, "So you've found me, my enemy." Elijah answered, "I have found you, because you have sold yourself to work evil in the sight of the LORD."
21. 21Look, I will bring disaster on you, take away your descendants, and cut off from Ahab every man who urinates against a wall, both the confined and the free in Israel.
22. 22I will make your house like the house of Jeroboam son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha son of Ahijah, because you have provoked me to anger and made Israel to sin.
23. 23The LORD also spoke about Jezebel: "Dogs will devour Jezebel by the wall of Jezreel."
24. 24"Any of Ahab's family who dies in the city will be eaten by dogs, and any who dies in the open country will be eaten by birds."
25. 25There was no one like Ahab, who sold himself to do wickedness in the sight of the LORD, stirred up by his wife Jezebel.
26. 26He acted very abominably by following idols, just as the Amorites had done, whom the LORD cast out before the children of Israel.
27. 27When Ahab heard these words, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth against his skin, fasted, lay in sackcloth, and walked around quietly.
28. 28Then the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite:
29. 29Do you see how Ahab has humbled himself before me? Because he has humbled himself before me, I will not bring the disaster in his days, but I will bring the disaster upon his house in his son's days.