Bible Strands
1 Kings 21:3
But Naboth replied, “The LORD forbid that I should give you the inheritance of my fathers.”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Naboth addresses King Ahab immediately after the monarch proposes to purchase or exchange his family vineyard. The dialogue occurs at the precise moment Ahab attempts to acquire the land adjacent to his palace.
The words — The Hebrew term חָלִ֤ילָה (cha.Lilah) literally means "far be it" and serves as a formal negation. It combines with מֵֽ/יהוָ֔ה (me./Yah.weh), "from Yahweh," to create an oath formula declaring the requested action impossible.
The thread — The refusal to alienate ancestral property aligns with the inheritance retention mandated in Numbers 36:7 and the land's status as Yahweh's in Leviticus 25:23. The prohibition against rulers seizing property by force is later restated in Ezekiel 46:18.
Why it lands — The text establishes ancestral land as a non-negotiable trust rather than a transactional asset. A reader must acknowledge that political authority does not override inherited covenant boundaries.
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 Naboth said to Ahab, The Lord forbid it me, that I should give the inheritance of my fathers unto thee.
Cross-references
- Numbers 36:7 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.
- Leviticus 25:23 The land must not be sold permanently, because it is Mine, and you are but foreigners and residents with Me.
- 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.’”
- Genesis 44:7 “Why does my lord say these things?” they asked. “Your servants could not possibly do such a thing.
- Genesis 44:17 But Joseph replied, “Far be it from me to do this. The man who was found with the cup will be my slave. The rest of you may return to your father in peace.”
- Joshua 22:29 Far be it from us to rebel against the LORD and turn away from Him today by building an altar for burnt offerings, grain offerings, or sacrifices, other than the altar of the LORD our God, which stands before His tabernacle.”
- Joshua 24:16 The people replied, “Far be it from us to forsake the LORD to serve other gods!
- 1 Samuel 12:23 As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD by ceasing to pray for you. And I will continue to teach you the good and right way.
- 1 Samuel 24:6 So he said to his men, “The LORD forbid that I should do such a thing to my master, the LORD’s anointed. May I never lift my hand against him, since he is the LORD’s anointed.”
- 1 Chronicles 11:19 saying, “Far be it from me, my God, to do this! How can I drink the blood of these men who risked their lives?” Because they had brought it at the risk of their lives, David refused to drink it. Such were the exploits of the three mighty men.