Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version So Ahab went home, sullen and angry because Naboth the Jezreelite had said, “I will not give you the inheritance of my ancestors.” He lay on his bed sulking and refused to eat. New Living Translation So Ahab went home angry and sullen because of Naboth’s answer. The king went to bed with his face to the wall and refused to eat! English Standard Version And Ahab went into his house vexed and sullen because of what Naboth the Jezreelite had said to him, for he had said, “I will not give you the inheritance of my fathers.” And he lay down on his bed and turned away his face and would eat no food. Berean Standard Bible So Ahab went to his palace, sullen and angry because Naboth the Jezreelite had told him, “I will not give you the inheritance of my fathers.” He lay down on his bed, turned his face away, and refused to eat. Berean Literal Bible And Ahab went into his house sullen and angry because of the word that Naboth the Jezreelite had spoken to him. For he had said, “I will not give to you the inheritance of my fathers.” And he lay down on his bed, and he turned away his face and would not eat food. King James Bible And Ahab came into his house heavy 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. New King James Version So Ahab went into his house sullen and displeased because of the word which Naboth the Jezreelite had spoken to him; for he had said, “I will not give you the inheritance of my fathers.” And he lay down on his bed, and turned away his face, and would eat no food. New American Standard Bible So Ahab entered his house sullen and furious because of the answer that Naboth the Jezreelite had given to him, since he said, “I will not give you the inheritance of my fathers.” And he lay down on his bed and turned his face away, and ate no food. NASB 1995 So Ahab came into his house sullen and vexed because of the word which Naboth the Jezreelite had spoken to him; for he said, “I will not give you the inheritance of my fathers.” And he lay down on his bed and turned away his face and ate no food. NASB 1977 So Ahab came into his house sullen and vexed because of the word which Naboth the Jezreelite had spoken to him; for he said, “I will not give you the inheritance of my fathers.” And he lay down on his bed and turned away his face and ate no food. Legacy Standard Bible So Ahab came into his house sullen and enraged because of the word which Naboth the Jezreelite had spoken to him; for he said, “I will not give you the inheritance of my fathers.” And he lay down on his bed and turned away his face and ate no food. Amplified Bible So Ahab [already upset by the Lord’s message] came into his house [feeling more] resentful and sullen because of what Naboth the Jezreelite had said to him; for he had said, “I will not give you the inheritance of my fathers.” And he lay down on his bed and turned away his face, and would not eat any food. Berean Annotated Bible So Ahab (father's brother) went to his palace, sullen and angry because Naboth (fruits) the Jezreelite had told him, “I will not give you the inheritance of my fathers. He lay down on his bed, turned his face away, and refused to eat. Christian Standard Bible So Ahab went to his palace resentful and angry because of what Naboth the Jezreelite had told him. He had said, “I will not give you my ancestors’ inheritance.” He lay down on his bed, turned his face away, and didn’t eat any food. Holman Christian Standard Bible So Ahab went to his palace resentful and angry because of what Naboth the Jezreelite had told him. He had said, “I will not give you my fathers’ inheritance.” He lay down on his bed, turned his face away, and didn’t eat any food. American Standard Version And Ahab came into his house heavy 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. Contemporary English Version So Ahab went home, angry and depressed because of what Naboth had told him. He lay on his bed, just staring at the wall and refusing to eat a thing. English Revised Version And Ahab came into his house heavy 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. GOD'S WORD® Translation Resentful and upset, Ahab went home because of what Naboth from Jezreel had told him. ( [Naboth had said,] "I will not give you what I inherited from my ancestors.") So Ahab lay on the couch, turned his face [from everyone], and refused to eat. Good News Translation Ahab went home, depressed and angry over what Naboth had said to him. He lay down on his bed, facing the wall, and would not eat. International Standard Version Ahab went back to his palace, sullen and in a foul mood, because Naboth the Jezreelite had turned down Ahab's offer by saying "I will not transfer my ancestors' inheritance to you!" He laid down on his bed, curled up with his face to the wall, and refused to eat. NET Bible So Ahab went into his palace, bitter and angry that Naboth the Jezreelite had said, "I will not sell to you my ancestral inheritance." He lay down on his bed, pouted, and would not eat. New Heart English Bible Ahab came into his house sullen and angry because of the word which Naboth the Jezreelite had spoken to him; for he had said, "I will not give you the inheritance of my fathers." He laid himself down on his bed, and turned away his face, and would eat no bread. Webster's Bible Translation And Ahab came into his house heavy 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 himself down upon his bed, and turned away his face, and would eat no bread. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleSo Ahab went to his palace, sullen and angry because Naboth the Jezreelite had told him, “I will not give you the inheritance of my fathers.” He lay down on his bed, turned his face away, and refused to eat. World English Bible Ahab came into his house sullen and angry because of the word which Naboth the Jezreelite had spoken to him, for he had said, “I will not give you the inheritance of my fathers.” He laid himself down on his bed, and turned away his face, and would eat no bread. Literal Translations Literal Standard Versionand Ahab comes to his house, sulky and angry, because of the word that Naboth the Jezreelite has spoken to him when he says, “I do not give the inheritance of my fathers to you,” and he lies down on his bed, and turns around his face, and has not eaten bread. Berean Literal Bible And Ahab went into his house sullen and angry because of the word that Naboth the Jezreelite had spoken to him. For he had said, “I will not give to you the inheritance of my fathers.” And he lay down on his bed, and he turned away his face and would not eat food. Young's Literal Translation and Ahab cometh in unto his house, sulky and wroth, because of the word that Naboth the Jezreelite hath spoken unto him when he saith, 'I do not give to thee the inheritance of my fathers,' and he lieth down on his bed, and turneth round his face, and hath not eaten bread. Smith's Literal Translation And Ahab will come to his house rebellious and angry for the word that Naboth the Jezreelite spake to him: and he will say, I will not give to thee the inheritance of my fathers. And he will lie down upon his bed and turn away his face, and not eat bread. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd Achab came into his house angry and fretting, because of the word that Naboth the Jezrahelite had spoken to him, saying: I will not give thee the inheritance of my fathers. And casting himself upon his bed, he turned away his face to the wall, and would eat no bread. Catholic Public Domain Version Then Ahab went into his house, angry and gnashing his teeth over the word that Naboth, the Jezreelite, had spoken to him, saying, “I will not give you the inheritance of my fathers.” And casting himself on his bed, he turned away his face to the wall, and he would not eat bread. New American Bible Ahab went home disturbed and angry at the answer Naboth the Jezreelite had given him: “I will not give you my ancestral heritage.” Lying down on his bed, he turned away and would not eat. New Revised Standard Version Ahab went home resentful and sullen because of what Naboth the Jezreelite had said to him; for he had said, “I will not give you my ancestral inheritance.” He lay down on his bed, turned away his face, and would not eat. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAnd Ahab went to his house sad and displeased because of the word which Naboth the Jezreelite had spoken to him; for he had said, I will not give you the inheritance of my fathers. And he laid him down on his bed and turned away his face and would eat no food. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And Akhab went on to his house, as it was grievous to him, and he was angry concerning the answer that Nabuth the Yizreilite spoke to him: “I am not giving you the inheritance of my fathers!” And he lay on his bed, and he turned his face and he did not eat bread. OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917And Ahab came into his house sullen 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. Brenton Septuagint Translation And the spirit of Achaab was troubled, and he lay down upon his bed, and covered his face, and ate no bread. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Naboth's Vineyard…3But Naboth replied, “The LORD forbid that I should give you the inheritance of my fathers.” 4So Ahab went to his palace, sullen and angry because Naboth the Jezreelite had told him, “I will not give you the inheritance of my fathers.” He lay down on his bed, turned his face away, and refused to eat. 5Soon his wife Jezebel came in and asked, “Why are you so sullen that you refuse to eat?”… Cross References So Ahab went to his palace, 1 Kings 20:43 Sullen and angry, the king of Israel went home to Samaria. Esther 6:12 Then Mordecai returned to the king’s gate. But Haman rushed home, with his head covered in grief. Matthew 19:22 When the young man heard this, he went away in sorrow, because he had great wealth. sullen and angry Genesis 4:5-6 but He had no regard for Cain and his offering. So Cain became very angry, and his countenance fell. / “Why are you angry,” said the LORD to Cain, “and why has your countenance fallen? Jonah 4:1 Jonah, however, was greatly displeased, and he became angry. Luke 15:28 The older son became angry and refused to go in. So his father came out and pleaded with him. because Naboth the Jezreelite had told him, Numbers 27:7-11 “The daughters of Zelophehad speak correctly. You certainly must give them property as an inheritance among their father’s brothers and transfer their father’s inheritance to them. / Furthermore, you shall say to the Israelites, ‘If a man dies and leaves no son, you are to transfer his inheritance to his daughter. / If he has no daughter, give his inheritance to his brothers. … Numbers 36:7-9 No inheritance in Israel may be transferred from tribe to tribe, because each of the Israelites is to retain the inheritance of the tribe of his fathers. / Every daughter who possesses an inheritance from any Israelite tribe must marry within a clan of the tribe of her father, so that every Israelite will possess the inheritance of his fathers. / No inheritance may be transferred from one tribe to another, for each tribe of Israel must retain its inheritance.” Leviticus 25:23-24 The land must not be sold permanently, because it is Mine, and you are but foreigners and residents with Me. / Thus for every piece of property you possess, you must provide for the redemption of the land. “I will not give you the inheritance of my fathers.” Proverbs 22:28 Do not move an ancient boundary stone which your fathers have placed. Proverbs 23:10-11 Do not move an ancient boundary stone or encroach on the fields of the fatherless, / for their Redeemer is strong; He will take up their case against you. Ezekiel 46:18 The prince must not take any of the inheritance of the people by evicting them from their property. He is to provide an inheritance for his sons from his own property, so that none of My people will be displaced from his property.’” He lay down on his bed, 1 Kings 19:4 while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He sat down under a broom tree and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, LORD,” he said. “Take my life, for I am no better than my fathers.” Psalm 6:6 I am weary from groaning; all night I flood my bed with weeping and drench my couch with tears. Job 7:13-14 When I think my bed will comfort me and my couch will ease my complaint, / then You frighten me with dreams and terrify me with visions, turned his face away, 2 Kings 20:2 Then Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the LORD, saying, Treasury of Scripture And Ahab came into his house heavy and displeased because of the word which Naboth the Jezreelite had spoken to him: for he had said, I will not give you the inheritance of my fathers. And he laid him down on his bed, and turned away his face, and would eat no bread. heavy Job 5:2 For wrath killeth the foolish man, and envy slayeth the silly one. Isaiah 57:20,21 But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt… Jonah 4:1,9 But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was very angry… I will not 1 Kings 21:3 And Naboth said to Ahab, The LORD forbid it me, that I should give the inheritance of my fathers unto thee. Numbers 22:13,14 And Balaam rose up in the morning, and said unto the princes of Balak, Get you into your land: for the LORD refuseth to give me leave to go with you… And he laid him Genesis 4:5-8 But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell… 2 Samuel 13:2,4 And Amnon was so vexed, that he fell sick for his sister Tamar; for she was a virgin; and Amnon thought it hard for him to do any thing to her… Ecclesiastes 6:9 Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire: this is also vanity and vexation of spirit. Jump to Previous Ahab Angry Bed Bread Displeased Eat Face Fathers Heavy House Inheritance Jezreelite Laid Naboth Sullen Turned WordJump to Next Ahab Angry Bed Bread Displeased Eat Face Fathers Heavy House Inheritance Jezreelite Laid Naboth Sullen Turned Word1 Kings 21 1. Ahab being denied Naboth's vineyard, is grieved5. Jezebel writing letters against Naboth, he is condemned of blasphemy 15. Ahab take possession of the vineyard 17. Elijah denounces judgments against Ahab and Jezebel 25. Wicked Ahab repenting, God defers the judgment So Ahab went to his palace Ahab, the king of Israel, retreats to his palace, indicating a place of power and authority. The palace, likely located in Samaria, serves as a symbol of Ahab's royal status. This action follows his unsuccessful attempt to acquire Naboth's vineyard, highlighting his inability to exercise his kingly power to fulfill personal desires. The palace, a place of luxury and decision-making, contrasts with Ahab's emotional state. sullen and angry because Naboth the Jezreelite had told him “I will not give you the inheritance of my fathers.” He lay down on his bed, turned his face away, and refused to eat. Persons / Places / Events 1. AhabThe king of Israel, known for his weak character and susceptibility to his wife Jezebel's influence. His reaction in this verse shows his immaturity and self-centeredness. 2. Naboth A Jezreelite who owned a vineyard that Ahab desired. Naboth's refusal to sell his ancestral inheritance to Ahab is rooted in the Mosaic Law, which prohibited the permanent sale of family land. 3. Jezreel A city in the northern kingdom of Israel, where Naboth's vineyard was located. It was a significant location for several biblical events. 4. Inheritance of my fathers Refers to the land that Naboth inherited from his ancestors, which was meant to remain within the family as per the Law of Moses. 5. Event Ahab's reaction to Naboth's refusal to sell his vineyard, which sets the stage for Jezebel's subsequent plot to have Naboth killed. Teaching Points The Danger of CovetousnessAhab's desire for Naboth's vineyard illustrates the destructive nature of covetousness. As believers, we must guard our hearts against desiring what belongs to others, recognizing that such desires can lead to sin. Respect for God's Law Naboth's refusal to sell his vineyard is a testament to his respect for God's law. We should strive to uphold God's commandments, even when pressured by those in authority. Handling Disappointment Ahab's reaction to disappointment is immature and self-centered. As Christians, we should learn to handle disappointment with grace and trust in God's provision. Influence of Ungodly Counsel Ahab's susceptibility to Jezebel's influence highlights the importance of surrounding ourselves with godly counsel. We must be cautious of who we allow to influence our decisions. The Consequences of Sin Ahab's covetousness and subsequent actions lead to severe consequences. This serves as a reminder that sin has repercussions, not only for ourselves but also for those around us. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of 1 Kings 21:4?2. How does Ahab's reaction in 1 Kings 21:4 reflect a lack of contentment? 3. What can we learn about coveting from Ahab's behavior in 1 Kings 21:4? 4. How does Ahab's sulking compare to Philippians 4:11's teaching on contentment? 5. In what ways can we guard against envy in our own lives today? 6. How should we respond when our desires conflict with God's will? 7. Why did Ahab react so strongly to Naboth's refusal in 1 Kings 21:4? 8. What does Ahab's behavior in 1 Kings 21:4 reveal about his character? 9. How does 1 Kings 21:4 illustrate the dangers of covetousness? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from 1 Kings 21? 11. What is the significance of Jezreel in history? 12. How historically credible is the claim that Solomon's kingdom spanned from the Euphrates to Egypt (1 Kings 4:21)? 13. How do we explain the sudden divine mercy shown to Ahab in 1 Kings 21:27-29 when his earlier actions were so thoroughly condemned? 14. How did King Ahab's wickedness reveal his weakness? What Does 1 Kings 21:4 Mean So Ahab went to his palace• Ahab retreats to the place where he should have been exercising righteous leadership, yet he carries his sinful desire for Naboth’s vineyard with him. 1 Kings 20:43 shows an identical pattern earlier: “Sullen and angry, the king of Israel went home to Samaria”. Instead of dealing with disappointment before the LORD (Psalm 62:8), he nurses it in private, allowing covetousness (Exodus 20:17) to fester. sullen and angry • “Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who does not control his temper” (Proverbs 25:28). • Anger unchecked blinds the heart (James 1:20); Ahab’s pout is not mere moodiness—it signals rebellion against God’s law and providence. because Naboth the Jezreelite had told him • The king’s wrath is directed at a righteous man who simply obeyed Scripture. Coveting what belongs to another violates the Tenth Commandment (Exodus 20:17) and foreshadows the murderous plot that follows (1 John 3:15). “I will not give you the inheritance of my fathers.” • Naboth’s refusal rests on God’s clear command: “The land must not be sold permanently, because the land is Mine” (Leviticus 25:23; see Numbers 36:7; Ezekiel 46:18). • Naboth’s conviction highlights godly courage; Ahab’s reaction spotlights selfish kingship that disregards covenant boundaries (Deuteronomy 19:14). He lay down on his bed • Instead of seeking God, Ahab collapses into self-pity. Contrast David, who lay on the ground fasting over sin and judgment (2 Samuel 12:16). One posture is repentance; the other is resentment. turned his face away • Turning the face can signal earnest prayer, as with Hezekiah (2 Kings 20:2), but Ahab does it to avoid accountability. He quite literally turns from light (John 3:20) and stews in darkness. and refused to eat • Biblical fasting seeks God (Joel 2:12); Ahab’s food strike manipulates people. It is “worldly grief” that “produces death” (2 Corinthians 7:10). Jezebel will exploit this display, proving that unrepentant sulking invites further sin (James 1:15). summary Ahab’s reaction in 1 Kings 21:4 exposes the anatomy of covetousness: desire denied (the vineyard), emotions indulged (sullen anger), and will surrendered to sin (passive manipulation). Naboth stands on God’s word; Ahab collapses over thwarted lust. The verse warns that unchecked coveting distorts judgment, poisons relationships, and opens the door for greater evil, while also affirming that fidelity to God’s commands—no matter the pressure—remains the believer’s safe ground. Verse 4. - And Ahab came into his house [At Samaria, as we gather from vers. 18, 14, 16, etc.] heavy and displeased [Heb. sullen and angry; same words as in 1 Kings 20:43. Ewald thinks that we have here a clear reference to that passage] because of the word which Naboth the Jezreellte had spoken to him: for [Heb. and] he had said, I will not give thee the inheritance of my fathers. And he laid him down upon his bed [Rawlinson understands this to mean the couch on which the Orientals recline at meals. And מִטָּה is used with this meaning in Esther 1:6 Ezekiel 23:41, and elsewhere. But "his bed" seems rather to point to his private chamber; see on ver. 5], and turned away his face [The Vulgate adds ad parietem. Cf. 2 Kings 20:2; from which place it may have been unconsciously introduced here], and would eat no bread. [Keil contends that" this childish mode of giving expression to his displeasure shows very clearly that Ahab was a man sold under sin (ver. 20), who only wanted the requisite energy to display the wickedness of his heart in vigorous action;" but whether this is a just inference from these words may well be questioned. It rather shows that so little did he meditate evil that he accepted the refusal of Naboth as conclusive, and gave way to childish grief.Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew So Ahabאַחְאָ֨ב (’aḥ·’āḇ) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 256: Ahab -- 'father's brother', a king of Israel, also a false prophet went וַיָּבֹא֩ (way·yā·ḇō) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go to אֶל־ (’el-) Preposition Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to his palace, בֵּית֜וֹ (bê·ṯōw) Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular Strong's 1004: A house sullen סַ֣ר (sar) Adjective - masculine singular Strong's 5620: Stubborn, resentful, sullen, implacable and angry וְזָעֵ֗ף (wə·zā·‘êp̄) Conjunctive waw | Adjective - masculine singular Strong's 2198: Angry because עַל־ (‘al-) Preposition Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against Naboth נָבוֹת֙ (nā·ḇō·wṯ) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 5022: Naboth -- a Jezreelite the Jezreelite הַיִּזְרְעֵאלִ֔י (hay·yiz·rə·‘ê·lî) Article | Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 3158: Jezreelite -- an inhabitant of Jezreel had told him, דִּבֶּ֣ר (dib·ber) Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 1696: To arrange, to speak, to subdue “I will not לֹֽא־ (lō-) Adverb - Negative particle Strong's 3808: Not, no give אֶתֵּ֥ן (’et·tên) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular Strong's 5414: To give, put, set you לְךָ֖ (lə·ḵā) Preposition | second person masculine singular Strong's Hebrew the inheritance נַחֲלַ֣ת (na·ḥă·laṯ) Noun - feminine singular construct Strong's 5159: Something inherited, occupancy, an heirloom, an estate, patrimony, portion of my fathers.” אֲבוֹתָ֑י (’ă·ḇō·w·ṯāy) Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common singular Strong's 1: Father He lay down וַיִּשְׁכַּב֙ (way·yiš·kaḇ) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 7901: To lie down on עַל־ (‘al-) Preposition Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against his bed, מִטָּת֔וֹ (miṭ·ṭā·ṯōw) Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular Strong's 4296: A bed, for, sleeping, eating, a sofa, litter, bier turned his face פָּנָ֖יו (pā·nāw) Noun - common plural construct | third person masculine singular Strong's 6440: The face away, וַיַּסֵּ֥ב (way·yas·sêḇ) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 5437: To turn about, go around, surround and refused וְלֹֽא־ (wə·lō-) Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle Strong's 3808: Not, no to eat. אָ֥כַל (’ā·ḵal) Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 398: To eat Links 1 Kings 21:4 NIV1 Kings 21:4 NLT 1 Kings 21:4 ESV 1 Kings 21:4 NASB 1 Kings 21:4 KJV 1 Kings 21:4 BibleApps.com 1 Kings 21:4 Biblia Paralela 1 Kings 21:4 Chinese Bible 1 Kings 21:4 French Bible 1 Kings 21:4 Catholic Bible OT History: 1 Kings 21:4 Ahab came into his house sullen (1Ki iKi i Ki 1 Kg 1kg) |
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