📖 1 Kings — Chapter 21 (KJV)
Read the complete King James Version chapter below, then explore the passage sections, check what you remember, and keep your private study notes.
Scripture source: Project Gutenberg KJV, ebook 10.
1 Kings 21:1 And it came to pass Rafter these things, that Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard, which was in Jezreel, hard by the palace of Ahab king of Samaria.
1 Kings 21:2 And Ahab spake unto Naboth, saying, RGive me thy vineyard, that I may have it for a garden of herbs, because it is near unto my house: and I will give thee for it a better vineyard than it; or, if it Tseem good to thee, I will give thee the worth of it in money.
1 Kings 21:3 And Naboth said to Ahab, RThe LORD forbid it me, that I should give the inheritance of my fathers unto thee.
1 Kings 21:4 And Ahab came into his house Rheavy and displeased because of the word which Naboth the Jezreelite had spoken to him: for he had said, I will not give thee the inheritance of my fathers. And he laid him down upon his bed, and turned away his face, and would eat no bread.
1 Kings 21:5 But RJezebel his wife came to him, and said unto him, Why is thy spirit so sad, that thou eatest no bread?
1 Kings 21:6 And he said unto her, RBecause I spake unto Naboth the Jezreelite, and said unto him, Give me thy vineyard for money; or else, if it please thee, I will give thee another vineyard for it: and he answered, I will not give thee my vineyard.
1 Kings 21:7 And Jezebel his wife said unto him, RDost thou now govern the kingdom of Israel? arise, and eat bread, and let thine heart be merry: I will give thee the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.
1 Kings 21:8 So Rshe wrote letters in Ahab’s name, and sealed them with his seal, and sent the letters unto the elders and to the nobles that were in his city, dwelling with Naboth.
1 Kings 21:9 And she wrote in the letters, saying, RProclaim a fast, and set Naboth Ton high among the people:
1 Kings 21:10 And set Rtwo men, sons of Belial, before him, to bear witness against him, saying, Thou didst blaspheme God and the king. And then carry him out, and stone him, that he may die.
1 Kings 21:11 And the men of his city, even the elders and the nobles who were the inhabitants in his city, Rdid as Jezebel had sent unto them, and as it was written in the letters which she had sent unto them.
1 Kings 21:12 RThey proclaimed a fast, and set Naboth on high among the people.
1 Kings 21:13 And there came in two men, children of Belial, and sat before him: and Rthe men of Belial witnessed against him, even against Naboth, in the presence of the people, saying, Naboth did blaspheme God and the king. Then they carried him forth out of the city, and stoned him with stones, that he died.
1 Kings 21:14 Then they sent to Jezebel, saying, RNaboth is stoned, and is dead.
1 Kings 21:15 And it came to pass, when Jezebel heard that Naboth was stoned, and was dead, that Jezebel said to Ahab, RArise, take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, which he refused to give thee for money: for Naboth is not alive, but dead.
1 Kings 21:16 And it came to pass, when Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, that RAhab rose up to go down to the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, to take possession of it.
1 Kings 21:17 RAnd the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying,
1 Kings 21:18 Arise, go down to meet Ahab king of Israel, Rwhich is in Samaria: behold, he is in the vineyard of Naboth, whither he is gone down to possess it.
1 Kings 21:19 And thou shalt speak unto him, saying, Thus saith the LORD, RHast thou killed, and also taken possession? And thou shalt speak unto him, saying, Thus saith the LORD, In the place where dogs licked the blood of Naboth shall dogs lick thy blood, even thine.
1 Kings 21:20 And Ahab said to Elijah, RHast thou found me, O mine enemy? And he answered, I have found thee: because thou hast sold thyself to work evil in the sight of the LORD.
1 Kings 21:21 RBehold, I will bring evil upon thee, and will take away thy posterity, and will cut off from Ahab him that pisseth against the wall, and him that is shut up and left in Israel,
1 Kings 21:22 And will Rmake thine house like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah, for the provocation wherewith thou hast provoked me to anger, and made Israel to sin.
1 Kings 21:23 And of Jezebel also spake the LORD, saying, The dogs shall eat Jezebel by the Twall of Jezreel.
1 Kings 21:24 Him that dieth of Ahab in the city the dogs shall eat; and him that dieth in the field shall the fowls of the air eat.
1 Kings 21:25 RBut there was none like unto Ahab, which did sell himself to work wickedness in the sight of the LORD, whom Jezebel his wife Tstirred up.
1 Kings 21:26 And he did Rvery abominably in following idols, according to all things as did the Amorites, whom the LORD cast out before the children of Israel.
1 Kings 21:27 And it came to pass, when Ahab heard those words, that Rhe rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his flesh, and fasted, and lay in sackcloth, and went softly.
1 Kings 21:28 And the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying,
1 Kings 21:29 RSeest thou how Ahab humbleth himself before me? because he humbleth himself before me, I will not bring the evil in his days: but in his son’s days will I bring the evil upon his house.
📚 Study This Chapter
📖 What We’re Reading
1 Kings 21:1–7 — Ahab covets Naboth’s inheritance
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
Ahab wants Naboth’s vineyard near his palace and offers money or an exchange. Naboth refuses because it is his fathers’ inheritance before the LORD. Ahab sulks, and Jezebel promises to secure the property. Royal desire is set against another person’s rightful commitment and boundaries.
Key Truth: Another person’s refusal does not justify taking what you want.
Check What You Remember
1. Who owned the vineyard? (1 Kings 21:1)
Find it in 1 Kings 21:1 (KJV).
2. Where was it situated? (1 Kings 21:1)
Find it in 1 Kings 21:1 (KJV).
3. What did Naboth call the land he refused to surrender? (1 Kings 21:3)
Find it in 1 Kings 21:3 (KJV).
📖 What We’re Reading
1 Kings 21:8–16 — False witnesses enable murder and seizure
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
Jezebel uses Ahab’s name and seal to order a sham accusation, a public fast, and Naboth’s death. The local leaders comply, and Ahab takes possession. Religious ceremony and official procedure conceal injustice; their appearance does not make the accusation true.
Key Truth: Authority and religious forms must never be used to hide falsehood.
Check What You Remember
1. Who wrote the letters in Ahab’s name? (1 Kings 21:8)
Find it in 1 Kings 21:8 (KJV).
2. How many false witnesses were arranged? (1 Kings 21:10)
Find it in 1 Kings 21:10 (KJV).
3. What did Ahab take possession of after the killing? (1 Kings 21:16)
Find it in 1 Kings 21:16 (KJV).
📖 What We’re Reading
1 Kings 21:17–29 — Elijah announces judgment and Ahab humbles himself
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
The LORD sends Elijah to confront Ahab’s killing and seizure. Judgment is announced against the house and Jezebel. Ahab tears his clothes, wears sackcloth, and fasts; God takes notice and delays the household’s calamity. Humbling himself matters, but it does not erase Naboth’s loss or make the injustice acceptable.
Key Truth: Receive correction humbly without minimizing harm done to others.
Check What You Remember
1. Which prophet confronted Ahab? (1 Kings 21:17)
Find it in 1 Kings 21:17 (KJV).
2. What did Ahab put on after hearing judgment? (1 Kings 21:27)
Find it in 1 Kings 21:27 (KJV).
3. In whose days was the household judgment delayed to occur? (1 Kings 21:29)
Find it in 1 Kings 21:29 (KJV).
Related Scripture (KJV)
Exodus 20:17 — The command against coveting helps illuminate Ahab’s desire for Naboth’s property.
This related passage is selected for its connection with this chapter. It is separate from the chapter text.
Reflect and Apply
Where do you need to respect someone’s rightful boundary? Consider whether disappointment is leading you toward pressure, manipulation, or excuse-making.
Advanced Questions and Answers
Study this chapter’s wording, patterns, contrasts, and meaning in greater depth.
1. Why does Naboth refuse Ahab’s offer of another vineyard or money?
2. How does Jezebel use apparent public procedure to arrange the wrong?
3. What connects Ahab’s possession with the killing in Elijah’s charge?
4. How does the narrator describe Jezebel’s influence on Ahab?
5. What changes the timing of the announced household judgment?
Notes
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