1 Kings 20:42 Meaning and Explanation
“And he said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Because thou hast let go out of thy hand a man whom I appointed to utter destruction, therefore thy life shall go for his life, and thy people for his people.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The prophet declares the LORD's sentence: because Ahab released the man God had appointed for destruction, his life and people will answer for it.
What Does 1 Kings 20:42 Mean?
The prophet delivers the verdict with the chapter's defining formula, 'Thus saith the LORD.' Because Ahab 'let go' the man God had 'appointed to utter destruction,' the sentence is exchanged: 'thy life shall go for his life, and thy people for his people.' Ahab's misplaced mercy carries a grievous cost.
The lesson is searching. God's deliverance came with God's word, and to set that word aside -- even out of seeming kindness -- is to fall under judgment. Mercy is precious, but it cannot override the revealed will of God. The verse calls every reader to take seriously what the LORD has spoken, for obedience, not our own reasoning, is the path of life.
1 Kings 20:42 in the Original Language
charam (חָרַם), 'utter destruction' -- to devote something irrevocably to God, here in judgment, beyond human discretion to spare.
Frequently Asked Questions About 1 Kings 20:42
What does 1 Kings 20:42 mean?
The prophet declares the LORD's sentence: because Ahab released the man God had appointed for destruction, his life and people will answer for it.