King James Version

What Does 1 Kings 20:35 Mean?

1 Kings 20:35 in the King James Version says “And a certain man of the sons of the prophets said unto his neighbour in the word of the LORD, Smite me, I pray thee. An...” — study this verse from 1 Kings chapter 20 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“And a certain man of the sons of the prophets said unto his neighbour in the word of the LORD, Smite me, I pray thee. And the man refused to smite him.”

1 Kings 20:35 · King James Version

Prayer

Context

33

Now the men did diligently observe whether any thing would come from him, and did hastily catch it: and they said, Thy brother Benhadad. Then he said, Go ye, bring him. Then Benhadad came forth to him; and he caused him to come up into the chariot.

34

And Benhadad said unto him, The cities, which my father took from thy father, I will restore; and thou shalt make streets for thee in Damascus, as my father made in Samaria. Then said Ahab, I will send thee away with this covenant. So he made a covenant with him, and sent him away.

35

And a certain man of the sons of the prophets said unto his neighbour in the word of the LORD, Smite me, I pray thee. And the man refused to smite him.

36

Then said he unto him, Because thou hast not obeyed the voice of the LORD, behold, as soon as thou art departed from me, a lion shall slay thee. And as soon as he was departed from him, a lion found him, and slew him.

37

Then he found another man, and said, Smite me, I pray thee. And the man smote him, so that in smiting he wounded him. so that: Heb. smiting and wounding

Read 1 Kings 20 full chapter

Commentaries4 scholars

KJV Study CommentaryPublic Domain
And a certain man of the sons of the prophets said unto his neighbour in the word of the LORD, Smite me, I pray thee. And the man refused to smite him.

This verse contributes to the broader narrative of ahab's wars with syria, within the book's focus on prophetic ministry of Elijah confronting Baalism. The prophetic office represents God's faithful witness even in apostasy, calling His people back to covenant faithfulness.

The Hebrew text reveals nuances important for understanding this passage's contribution to 1 Kings' theological message about kingship, covenant, and faithfulness to Yahweh. This verse demonstrates the consequences when God's people—especially their leaders—either follow or forsake the covenant established at Sinai.

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

First Kings was written during or after the Babylonian exile (6th century BCE), reflecting on the monarchy period (10th-9th centuries BCE) to explain why the kingdoms fell. Elijah's ministry (c. 860-850 BCE) occurred during Ahab's reign, a time of intense spiritual crisis in Israel.

Ancient Near Eastern kingship ideology viewed kings as divine representatives responsible for maintaining cosmic order through right worship. Archaeological discoveries from sites like Megiddo, Hazor, and Samaria confirm the historical reliability of 1 Kings' descriptions of building projects and administrative structures.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does this passage illustrate the importance of complete obedience to God's word without compromise?
  2. What does Elijah's ministry reveal about God's character and His commitment to His covenant people?
  3. How does this verse point toward or prepare for the coming of Christ and His eternal kingdom?

Compare 4 commentaries from different scholars and time periods for a richer understanding.

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 14 words
הָאִ֖ישׁ1 of 14

“man”

H376

a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)

אֶחָ֜ד2 of 14

“And a certain”

H259

properly, united, i.e., one; or (as an ordinal) first

מִבְּנֵ֣י3 of 14

“of the sons”

H1121

a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or

הַנְּבִיאִ֗ים4 of 14

“of the prophets”

H5030

a prophet or (generally) inspired man

אָמַ֧ר5 of 14

“said”

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

אֶל6 of 14
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

רֵעֵ֛הוּ7 of 14

“unto his neighbour”

H7453

an associate (more or less close)

בִּדְבַ֥ר8 of 14

“in the word”

H1697

a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause

יְהוָ֖ה9 of 14

“of the LORD”

H3068

(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god

לְהַכֹּתֽוֹ׃10 of 14

“Smite”

H5221

to strike (lightly or severely, literally or figuratively)

נָ֑א11 of 14
H4994

'i pray', 'now', or 'then'; added mostly to verbs (in the imperative or future), or to interjections, occasionally to an adverb or conjunction

וַיְמָאֵ֥ן12 of 14

“refused”

H3985

to refuse

הָאִ֖ישׁ13 of 14

“man”

H376

a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)

לְהַכֹּתֽוֹ׃14 of 14

“Smite”

H5221

to strike (lightly or severely, literally or figuratively)

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of 1 Kings. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

1 Kings 20:35 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to 1 Kings 20:35 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

1 Kings 13:17-182 Kings 2:152 Kings 4:11 Kings 20:37-38Jeremiah 27:2-31 Kings 13:1-2

Test Your Knowledge

1 Kings 20 QuizTest your knowledge of this chapter1 Kings Book QuizComprehensive quiz for the entire book

Continue Your Study

Read 1 Kings 20 with CommentaryAll 1 Kings ChaptersComplete 1 Kings QuizBible CharactersNave's Topical BibleAll Bible Quizzes