Bible Strands
1 Kings 13:20
While they were sitting at the table, the word of the LORD came to the prophet who had brought him back,
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — While the man of God and the old prophet sit together at a meal, a divine message interrupts them. The word reaches the old prophet who had disobeyed God's command to bring the man of God back to Bethel.
The words — The phrase דְּבַר־יְהוָה (de.var-Yah.weh) translates literally as "word of Yahweh." The verb וַיְהִי (va.y.hi) here functions as "came," marking the sudden arrival of the divine communication.
The thread — This sudden arrival of divine speech parallels Numbers 23:5 and Numbers 23:16, where Yahweh initiates communication with Balaam. The pattern of God delivering a message to a prophet appears in other prophetic accounts, though the text does not describe the mechanism as placing words in a mouth.
Why it lands — The text records an immediate interruption of a forbidden meal by divine authority. It demands recognition that prophetic obedience cannot be negotiated, even when social bonds or hospitality are invoked.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And it came to pass, as they sat at the table, that the word of the Lord came unto the prophet that brought him back:
Cross-references
- Numbers 23:5 Then the LORD put a message in Balaam’s mouth, saying, “Return to Balak and give him this message.”
- Numbers 23:16 And the LORD met with Balaam and put a message in his mouth, saying, “Return to Balak and speak what I tell you.”
- Numbers 24:4 the prophecy of one who hears the words of God, who sees a vision from the Almighty, who bows down with eyes wide open:
- Numbers 24:16 the prophecy of one who hears the words of God, who has knowledge from the Most High, who sees a vision from the Almighty, who bows down with eyes wide open:
- Matthew 7:22 Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’
- John 11:51 Caiaphas did not say this on his own. Instead, as high priest that year, he was prophesying that Jesus would die for the nation,
- 1 Corinthians 13:2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have absolute faith so as to move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.