1 Kings 20:32 Meaning and Explanation
“So they girded sackcloth on their loins, and put ropes on their heads, and came to the king of Israel, and said, Thy servant Benhadad saith, I pray thee, let me live. And he said, Is he yet alive? he is my brother.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →The servants come in sackcloth pleading for Ben-hadad's life, and Ahab unexpectedly calls him 'my brother.'
What Does 1 Kings 20:32 Mean?
The plan is carried out. Clad in sackcloth and ropes, the servants come pleading, 'let me live.' Ahab's reaction is startling. Far from executing the man who besieged his capital, he asks almost warmly, 'Is he yet alive? he is my brother.'
Ahab's 'brother' reveals a misplaced kindness toward a man God had given into his hand for judgment. Mercy is a high virtue, but here it is bestowed without reference to God's purpose. The king extends a fraternal hand where the LORD had pronounced a sentence. The episode will show that even kindness, when it overrides the word of God, becomes disobedience.
Frequently Asked Questions About 1 Kings 20:32
What does 1 Kings 20:32 mean?
The servants come in sackcloth pleading for Ben-hadad's life, and Ahab unexpectedly calls him 'my brother.'