Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version But the man of God answered the king, “Even if you were to give me half your possessions, I would not go with you, nor would I eat bread or drink water here. New Living Translation But the man of God said to the king, “Even if you gave me half of everything you own, I would not go with you. I would not eat or drink anything in this place. English Standard Version And the man of God said to the king, “If you give me half your house, I will not go in with you. And I will not eat bread or drink water in this place, Berean Standard Bible But the man of God replied, “If you were to give me half your possessions, I still would not go with you, nor would I eat bread or drink water in this place. Berean Literal Bible And the man of God said to the king, “If you were to give to me half of your house, I would not go in with you, nor would I eat bread nor drink water in this place. King James Bible And the man of God said unto the king, If thou wilt give me half thine house, I will not go in with thee, neither will I eat bread nor drink water in this place: New King James Version But the man of God said to the king, “If you were to give me half your house, I would not go in with you; nor would I eat bread nor drink water in this place. New American Standard Bible But the man of God said to the king, “If you were to give me half your house, I would not go with you, nor would I eat bread or drink water in this place. NASB 1995 But the man of God said to the king, “If you were to give me half your house I would not go with you, nor would I eat bread or drink water in this place. NASB 1977 But the man of God said to the king, “If you were to give me half your house I would not go with you, nor would I eat bread or drink water in this place. Legacy Standard Bible But the man of God said to the king, “If you were to give me half your house, I would not go with you, nor would I eat bread or drink water in this place. Amplified Bible But the man of God said to the king, “Even if you were to give me half your house (wealth), I would not go with you, nor would I eat bread or drink water in this place. Berean Annotated Bible But the man of God {Elohim} replied, “If you were to give me half your possessions, I still would not go with you, nor would I eat bread or drink water in this place. Christian Standard Bible But the man of God replied, “If you were to give me half your house, I still wouldn’t go with you, and I wouldn’t eat food or drink water in this place, Holman Christian Standard Bible But the man of God replied, “If you were to give me half your house, I still wouldn’t go with you, and I wouldn’t eat bread or drink water in this place, American Standard Version And the man of God said unto the king, If thou wilt give me half thy house, I will not go in with thee, neither will I eat bread nor drink water in this place; Contemporary English Version "No, I wouldn't go with you, even if you offered me half of your kingdom. I won't eat or drink here either. English Revised Version And the man of God said unto the king, If thou wilt give me half thine house, I will not go in with thee, neither will I eat bread nor drink water in this place: GOD'S WORD® Translation The man of God told the king, "Even if you gave me half of your palace, I would never go with you to eat or drink there. Good News Translation The prophet answered, "Even if you gave me half of your wealth, I would not go with you or eat or drink anything with you. International Standard Version But the man of God replied to the king, "Even if you were to offer me half of your house, I wouldn't go with you, and I'm sure not going to eat even a piece of bread or drink water in this place, NET Bible But the prophet said to the king, "Even if you were to give me half your possessions, I could not go with you and eat and drink in this place. New Heart English Bible The man of God said to the king, "Even if you gave me half of your house, I would not go in with you, neither would I eat bread nor drink water in this place; Webster's Bible Translation And the man of God said to the king, If thou wilt give me half thy house, I will not go in with thee, neither will I eat bread nor drink water in this place: Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleBut the man of God replied, “If you were to give me half your possessions, I still would not go with you, nor would I eat bread or drink water in this place. World English Bible The man of God said to the king, “Even if you gave me half of your house, I would not go in with you, neither would I eat bread nor drink water in this place; Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAnd the man of God says to the king, “If you give to me the half of your house, I do not go in with you, nor do I eat bread, nor do I drink water, in this place; Berean Literal Bible And the man of God said to the king, “If you were to give to me half of your house, I would not go in with you, nor would I eat bread nor drink water in this place. Young's Literal Translation And the man of God saith unto the king, 'If thou dost give to me the half of thine house, I do not go in with thee, nor do I eat bread, nor do I drink water, in this place; Smith's Literal Translation And the man of God will say to the king, If thou wilt give to me half thy house I will not go with thee, and I will not eat bread and I will not drink water in this place: Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd the man of God answered the king: If thou wouldst give me half thy house I will not go with thee, nor eat bread, nor drink water in this place: Catholic Public Domain Version And the man of God responded to the king: “Even if you will give me one half part of your house, I will not go with you, nor eat bread, nor drink water in this place. New American Bible The man of God said to the king, “If you gave me half your palace, I would not go with you, nor eat bread or drink water in this place. New Revised Standard Version But the man of God said to the king, “If you give me half your kingdom, I will not go in with you; nor will I eat food or drink water in this place. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa Bible- - - Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And the Prophet of God said to him: “If you give to me half of your house, I shall not enter the house with you, neither shall I eat bread nor shall I drink water in the place. OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917And the man of God said unto the king: 'If thou wilt give me half thy house, I will not go in with thee, neither will I eat bread nor drink water in this place. Brenton Septuagint Translation And the man of God said to the king, If thou shouldest give me the half of thine house, I would not go in with thee, neither will I eat bread, neither will I drink water in this place; for thus the Lord charged me by his word, saying, Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Jeroboam's Hand Withers…7Then the king said to the man of God, “Come home with me and refresh yourself, and I will give you a reward.” 8But the man of God replied, “If you were to give me half your possessions, I still would not go with you, nor would I eat bread or drink water in this place. 9For this is what I was commanded by the word of the LORD: ‘You must not eat bread or drink water or return by the way you came.’ ”… Cross References But the man of God replied, Daniel 3:16-18 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. / If the God whom we serve exists, then He is able to deliver us from the blazing fiery furnace and from your hand, O king. / But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden statue you have set up.” Acts 5:29 But Peter and the other apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than men. “If you were to give me half your possessions, Genesis 14:23 that I will not accept even a thread, or a strap of a sandal, or anything that belongs to you, lest you should say, ‘I have made Abram rich.’ 2 Kings 5:16 But Elisha replied, “As surely as the LORD lives, before whom I stand, I will not accept it.” And although Naaman urged him to accept it, he refused. Numbers 22:18 But Balaam replied to the servants of Balak, “If Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not do anything small or great to go beyond the command of the LORD my God. I still would not go with you, Numbers 22:13 So Balaam got up the next morning and said to Balak’s princes, “Go back to your homeland, because the LORD has refused to let me go with you.” Numbers 22:12 But God said to Balaam, “Do not go with them. You are not to curse this people, for they are blessed.” nor would I eat bread or drink water in this place. Exodus 34:28 So Moses was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights without eating bread or drinking water. He wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant—the Ten Commandments. Deuteronomy 9:9 When I went up on the mountain to receive the tablets of stone, the tablets of the covenant that the LORD made with you, I stayed on the mountain forty days and forty nights. I ate no bread and drank no water. Matthew 4:8-10 Again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. / “All this I will give You,” he said, “if You will fall down and worship me.” / “Away from Me, Satan!” Jesus told him. “For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve Him only.’” Daniel 5:17 In response, Daniel said to the king, “You may keep your gifts for yourself and give your rewards to someone else. Nevertheless, I will read the inscription for the king and interpret it for him. Acts 8:20 But Peter replied, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money! 2 Kings 5:15-16 Then Naaman and all his attendants went back to the man of God, stood before him, and declared, “Now I know for sure that there is no God in all the earth except in Israel. So please accept a gift from your servant.” / But Elisha replied, “As surely as the LORD lives, before whom I stand, I will not accept it.” And although Naaman urged him to accept it, he refused. Genesis 14:22-23 But Abram replied to the king of Sodom, “I have raised my hand to the LORD God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth, / that I will not accept even a thread, or a strap of a sandal, or anything that belongs to you, lest you should say, ‘I have made Abram rich.’ 1 Samuel 12:3 Here I am. Bear witness against me before the LORD and before His anointed: Whose ox or donkey have I taken? Whom have I cheated or oppressed? From whose hand have I accepted a bribe and closed my eyes? Tell me, and I will restore it to you.” 2 Corinthians 11:9 And when I was with you and in need, I was not a burden to anyone; for the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied my needs. I have refrained from being a burden to you in any way, and I will continue to do so. Treasury of Scripture And the man of God said to the king, If you will give me half your house, I will not go in with you, neither will I eat bread nor drink water in this place: If Numbers 22:18 And Balaam answered and said unto the servants of Balak, If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of the LORD my God, to do less or more. Numbers 24:13 If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the commandment of the LORD, to do either good or bad of mine own mind; but what the LORD saith, that will I speak? Exodus 5:3,6 And they said, The God of the Hebrews hath met with us: let us go, we pray thee, three days' journey into the desert, and sacrifice unto the LORD our God; lest he fall upon us with pestilence, or with the sword… go 2 Kings 5:16,26,27 But he said, As the LORD liveth, before whom I stand, I will receive none. And he urged him to take it; but he refused… Mark 6:11 And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear you, when ye depart thence, shake off the dust under your feet for a testimony against them. Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city. 2 Corinthians 11:9,10 And when I was present with you, and wanted, I was chargeable to no man: for that which was lacking to me the brethren which came from Macedonia supplied: and in all things I have kept myself from being burdensome unto you, and so will I keep myself… Jump to Previous Bread Drink Eat Food Half House Possessions Water WiltJump to Next Bread Drink Eat Food Half House Possessions Water Wilt1 Kings 13 1. Jeroboam's hand withers6. and at the prayer of the prophet is restored 7. The prophet departs from Bethel 11. An old prophet brings him back 20. He is reproved by God 23. slain by a lion 26. buried by the old prophet 31. who confirms the prophecy 33. Jeroboam's obstinacy But the man of God replied The "man of God" is a term used throughout the Old Testament to describe a prophet or someone who speaks on behalf of God. In this context, it refers to a prophet sent from Judah to Bethel to deliver a message against King Jeroboam's idolatrous altar. This phrase emphasizes the authority and divine commission of the prophet, highlighting his role as a messenger of God's will. If you were to give me half your possessions I still would not go with you nor would I eat bread or drink water in this place Persons / Places / Events 1. The Man of GodA prophet sent by God from Judah to Bethel to deliver a message against the altar King Jeroboam had set up. 2. King Jeroboam The first king of the northern kingdom of Israel, who led Israel into idolatry by setting up golden calves in Bethel and Dan. 3. Bethel A significant religious site in the northern kingdom where Jeroboam established one of his golden calves, leading Israel into sin. 4. The Altar The altar at Bethel, which was a focal point of idolatrous worship established by Jeroboam. 5. The Divine Command The instruction given by God to the man of God not to eat bread or drink water in Bethel, symbolizing separation from idolatry and disobedience. Teaching Points Obedience to God's CommandThe man of God's refusal to eat or drink in Bethel underscores the importance of adhering strictly to God's instructions, even when faced with tempting offers. Separation from Idolatry By not partaking in the king's hospitality, the man of God demonstrates the need for believers to separate themselves from practices and environments that lead to idolatry. Integrity in the Face of Temptation The man of God's steadfastness serves as a model for maintaining integrity and faithfulness to God's word, even when pressured by authority figures. The Cost of Discipleship The passage illustrates that following God's commands may require personal sacrifice and the rejection of worldly benefits. The Danger of Compromise The account warns against compromising one's faith and obedience to God for the sake of comfort or acceptance. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of 1 Kings 13:8?2. Why does the prophet refuse the king's offer in 1 Kings 13:8? 3. How does 1 Kings 13:8 demonstrate obedience to God's commands? 4. What other Bible stories emphasize rejecting worldly rewards for God's truth? 5. How can we apply the prophet's example of integrity in our lives today? 6. What does 1 Kings 13:8 teach about prioritizing God's will over personal gain? 7. Why did the man of God refuse the king's offer in 1 Kings 13:8? 8. What does 1 Kings 13:8 teach about obedience to God's commands? 9. How does 1 Kings 13:8 illustrate the theme of divine authority versus human authority? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from 1 Kings 13? 11. Why did God permit concubines in the Bible? 12. What does it profit to gain the world? 13. What lessons does the lying prophet story teach us? 14. Does God dwell in temples? (1 Kings 8:13 vs. Acts 7:48) What Does 1 Kings 13:8 Mean But the man of God replied• The speaker is an unnamed prophet sent by God to rebuke King Jeroboam’s idolatry (1 Kings 13:1–3). • By immediately answering, he shows he is listening to God, not the king’s messenger (cf. Acts 5:29). • “Man of God” underscores divine authority, comparable to titles given to Moses (Deuteronomy 33:1) and Elijah (2 Kings 1:9). • The contrast between a faithful messenger and an unfaithful king frames the whole chapter. If you were to give me half your possessions • The hypothetical offer stresses that no earthly reward can sway a servant of God (cf. Numbers 22:18; Daniel 5:17). • Refusing riches highlights integrity—God’s word is not for sale (Proverbs 15:27; 1 Timothy 6:10). • It illustrates Jesus’ later teaching: “What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul?” (Mark 8:36). I still would not go with you • The prophet had explicit orders: do not return the way you came or stay to eat (1 Kings 13:9). • Separation from corrupt worship protects against compromise (Psalm 1:1; 2 Corinthians 6:17). • His resolve models single-minded obedience; companionship can influence belief and behavior (Proverbs 13:20). Nor would I eat bread or drink water • Fasting underscores urgency and purity of the mission (Joel 2:12). • God’s word, not physical sustenance, is the prophet’s priority (Deuteronomy 8:3; Matthew 4:4). • Sharing a meal signified fellowship; declining food avoids endorsing Jeroboam’s apostasy (1 Corinthians 10:21). In this place • “This place” is Bethel, now polluted by golden-calf worship (1 Kings 12:28–33). • God’s judgment is hovering; staying would imply acceptance of idolatry (Deuteronomy 13:12-18). • Geography matters: where sin is celebrated, God often commands separation (Genesis 19:17; Revelation 18:4). summary 1 Kings 13:8 shows a prophet who prizes God’s command above riches, relationships, and even basic needs. His steadfast refusal teaches that true obedience rejects every enticement—material, social, or physical—when those enticements conflict with God’s revealed will. Verse 8. - And the man of God said unto the king, If thou wilt give me half thine house [cf. Numbers 22:18, of which, however, there is hardly a reminiscence. Obviously, half the contents or wealth of thy house], I will not go in with thee, neither will I eat bread nor drink water in this place.Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew But the manאִישׁ־ (’îš-) Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person of God הָֽאֱלֹהִים֙ (hā·’ĕ·lō·hîm) Article | Noun - masculine plural Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative replied, וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (way·yō·mer) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 559: To utter, say “If אִם־ (’im-) Conjunction Strong's 518: Lo!, whether?, if, although, Oh that!, when, not you were to give תִּתֶּן־ (tit·ten-) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular Strong's 5414: To give, put, set me half חֲצִ֣י (ḥă·ṣî) Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 2677: The half, middle your possessions, בֵיתֶ֔ךָ (ḇê·ṯe·ḵā) Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular Strong's 1004: A house I still would not לֹ֥א (lō) Adverb - Negative particle Strong's 3808: Not, no go אָבֹ֖א (’ā·ḇō) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go with you, עִמָּ֑ךְ (‘im·māḵ) Preposition | second person feminine singular Strong's 5973: With, equally with nor וְלֹֽא־ (wə·lō-) Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle Strong's 3808: Not, no would I eat אֹ֤כַל (’ō·ḵal) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular Strong's 398: To eat bread לֶ֙חֶם֙ (le·ḥem) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 3899: Food, bread, grain or drink אֶשְׁתֶּה־ (’eš·teh-) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular Strong's 8354: To imbibe water מַּ֔יִם (ma·yim) Noun - masculine plural Strong's 4325: Water, juice, urine, semen in this הַזֶּֽה׃ (haz·zeh) Article | Pronoun - masculine singular Strong's 2088: This, that place. בַּמָּק֖וֹם (bam·mā·qō·wm) Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 4725: A standing, a spot, a condition Links 1 Kings 13:8 NIV1 Kings 13:8 NLT 1 Kings 13:8 ESV 1 Kings 13:8 NASB 1 Kings 13:8 KJV 1 Kings 13:8 BibleApps.com 1 Kings 13:8 Biblia Paralela 1 Kings 13:8 Chinese Bible 1 Kings 13:8 French Bible 1 Kings 13:8 Catholic Bible OT History: 1 Kings 13:8 The man of God said to (1Ki iKi i Ki 1 Kg 1kg) |
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