New International VersionAhab said to Elijah, “So you have found me, my enemy!” “I have found you,” he answered, “because you have sold yourself to do evil in the eyes of the LORD.
New Living Translation“So, my enemy, you have found me!” Ahab exclaimed to Elijah. “Yes,” Elijah answered, “I have come because you have sold yourself to what is evil in the LORD’s sight.
English Standard VersionAhab said to Elijah, “Have you found me, O my enemy?” He answered, “I have found you, because you have sold yourself to do what is evil in the sight of the LORD.
Berean Standard BibleWhen Elijah arrived, Ahab said to him, “So you have found me out, my enemy.” He replied, “I have found you out because you have sold yourself to do evil in the sight of the LORD.
King James BibleAnd Ahab said to Elijah, Hast 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.
New King James VersionSo Ahab said to Elijah, “Have you found me, O my enemy?” And he answered, “I have found you, because you have sold yourself to do evil in the sight of the LORD:
New American Standard BibleThen Ahab said to Elijah, “Have you found me, enemy of mine?” And he answered, “I have found you, because you have given yourself over to do evil in the sight of the LORD.
NASB 1995Ahab said to Elijah, “Have you found me, O my enemy?” And he answered, “I have found you, because you have sold yourself to do evil in the sight of the LORD.
NASB 1977And Ahab said to Elijah, “Have you found me, O my enemy?” And he answered, “I have found you, because you have sold yourself to do evil in the sight of the LORD.
Legacy Standard BibleAnd Ahab said to Elijah, “Have you found me, O my enemy?” And he answered, “I have found you, because you have sold yourself to do what is evil in the sight of Yahweh.
Amplified BibleAhab said to Elijah, “Have you found me, O my enemy?” And he answered, “I have found you, because you have sold yourself to do evil in the sight of the LORD.
Christian Standard BibleAhab said to Elijah, “So, my enemy, you’ve found me, have you? ” He replied, “I have found you because you devoted yourself to do what is evil in the LORD’s sight.
Holman Christian Standard BibleAhab said to Elijah, “So, you have caught me, my enemy.” He replied, “I have caught you because you devoted yourself to do what is evil in the LORD’s sight.
American Standard VersionAnd Ahab said to Elijah, Hast thou found me, O mine enemy? And he answered, I have found thee, because thou hast sold thyself to do that which is evil in the sight of Jehovah.
Contemporary English VersionAhab said, "So, my enemy, you found me at last." Elijah answered: Yes, I did! Ahab, you have managed to do everything the LORD hates.
English Revised VersionAnd Ahab said to Elijah, Hast thou found me, O mine enemy? And he answered, I have found thee: because thou hast sold thyself to do that which is evil in the sight of the LORD.
GOD'S WORD® TranslationAhab asked Elijah, "So you've found me, my enemy?" Elijah answered, "I found you. Because you sold yourself to do what the LORD considers evil.
Good News TranslationWhen Ahab saw Elijah, he said, "Have you caught up with me, my enemy?" "Yes, I have," Elijah answered. "You have devoted yourself completely to doing what is wrong in the LORD's sight.
International Standard VersionLater on, Ahab asked Elijah, "Have you found me, my enemy?" But Elijah answered, "I've found you because you sold yourself to do what the LORD considers to be evil!
NET BibleWhen Elijah arrived, Ahab said to him, "So, you have found me, my enemy!" Elijah replied, "I have found you, because you are committed to doing evil in the sight of the LORD.
New Heart English BibleAnd Ahab said to Elijah, "Have you found me, my enemy?" And he answered, "I have found you, because you have sold yourself to do that which is evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger.
Webster's Bible TranslationAnd Ahab said to Elijah, Hast thou found me, O my enemy? And he answered, I have found thee: because thou hast sold thyself to work evil in the sight of the LORD. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleWhen Elijah arrived, Ahab said to him, “So you have found me out, my enemy.” He replied, “I have found you out because you have sold yourself to do evil in the sight of the LORD.
World English BibleAhab said to Elijah, “Have you found me, my enemy?” He answered, “I have found you, because you have sold yourself to do that which is evil in Yahweh’s sight. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAnd Ahab says to Elijah, “Have you found me, O my enemy?” And he says, “I have found—because of your selling yourself to do evil in the eyes of YHWH;
Young's Literal Translation And Ahab saith unto Elijah, 'Hast thou found me, O mine enemy?' and he saith, 'I have found -- because of thy selling thyself to do the evil thing in the eyes of Jehovah;
Smith's Literal TranslationAnd Ahab will say to Elijah, Didst thou find me, O mine enemy? And he will say I found: because thou didst sell thyself to do evil in the eyes of Jehovah, Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd Achab said to Elias: Hast thou found me thy enemy? He said: I have found thee, because thou art sold, to do evil in the sight of the Lord.
Catholic Public Domain VersionAnd Ahab said to Elijah, “Have you discovered me to be your enemy?” And he said: “I have discovered you to have been sold, so that you would do evil in the sight of the Lord:
New American BibleAhab said to Elijah, “Have you found me out, my enemy?” He said, “I have found you. Because you have given yourself up to doing evil in the LORD’s sight,
New Revised Standard VersionAhab said to Elijah, “Have you found me, O my enemy?” He answered, “I have found you. Because you have sold yourself to do what is evil in the sight of the LORD, Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAnd Ahab said to Elijah, Have you found me, O my enemy? And he answered, I have found you because you have exalted yourself to do evil in the sight of the LORD.
Peshitta Holy Bible TranslatedAkhab said to Elyah, “You have found me, my enemy!” He said to him: “I have found you, because you have exalted yourself to do evil before LORD JEHOVAH! OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917And Ahab said to Elijah: 'Hast thou found me, O mine enemy?' And he answered: 'I have found thee; because thou hast given thyself over to do that which is evil in the sight of the LORD.
Brenton Septuagint TranslationAnd Achaab said to Eliu, Hast thou found me, mine enemy? and he said, I have found thee: because thou hast wickedly sold thyself to work evil in the sight of the Lord, to provoke him to anger;
Additional Translations ... Audio Bible
Context Elijah Denounces Ahab and Jezebel… 19Tell him that this is what the LORD says: ‘Have you not murdered a man and seized his land?’ Then tell him that this is also what the LORD says: ‘In the place where the dogs licked up the blood of Naboth, there also the dogs will lick up your blood—yes, yours!’ ” 20When Elijah arrived,Ahabsaidto him,“So you have found me out,my enemy.”He replied,“I have found you outbecauseyou have sold yourselfto doevilin the sightof the LORD.21This is what the LORD says: ‘I will bring calamity on you and consume your descendants; I will cut off from Ahab every male in Israel, both slave and free.…
Cross References 2 Samuel 12:7-9Then Nathan said to David, “You are that man! This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul. / I gave your master’s house to you and your master’s wives into your arms. I gave you the house of Israel and Judah, and if that was not enough, I would have given you even more. / Why then have you despised the command of the LORD by doing evil in His sight? You put Uriah the Hittite to the sword and took his wife as your own. You have slain him with the sword of the Ammonites.
2 Kings 9:26‘As surely as I saw the blood of Naboth and the blood of his sons yesterday, declares the LORD, so will I repay you on this plot of ground, declares the LORD.’ Now then, according to the word of the LORD, pick him up and throw him on the plot of ground.”
2 Kings 9:36-37So they went back and told Jehu, who replied, “This is the word of the LORD, which He spoke through His servant Elijah the Tishbite: ‘On the plot of ground at Jezreel the dogs will devour the flesh of Jezebel. / And Jezebel’s body will lie like dung in the field on the plot of ground at Jezreel, so that no one can say: This is Jezebel.’”
Micah 6:16You have kept the statutes of Omri and all the practices of Ahab’s house; you have followed their counsel. Therefore I will make you a desolation, and your inhabitants an object of contempt; you will bear the scorn of the nations.”
Isaiah 5:8Woe to you who add house to house and join field to field until no place is left and you live alone in the land.
Jeremiah 22:17“But your eyes and heart are set on nothing except your own dishonest gain, on shedding innocent blood, on practicing extortion and oppression.”
Ezekiel 22:12-13In you they take bribes to shed blood. You engage in usury, take excess interest, and extort your neighbors. But Me you have forgotten, declares the Lord GOD. / Now look, I strike My hands together against your unjust gain and against the blood you have shed in your midst.
Hosea 5:10The princes of Judah are like those who move boundary stones; I will pour out My fury upon them like water.
Amos 8:4-6Hear this, you who trample the needy, who do away with the poor of the land, / asking, “When will the New Moon be over, that we may sell grain? When will the Sabbath end, that we may market wheat? Let us reduce the ephah and increase the shekel; let us cheat with dishonest scales. / Let us buy the poor with silver and the needy for a pair of sandals, selling even the chaff with the wheat!”
Matthew 23:33You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape the sentence of hell?
Luke 11:39Then the Lord said, “Now you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness.
Luke 20:15-16So they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. What then will the owner of the vineyard do to them? / He will come and kill those tenants and give the vineyard to others.” And when the people heard this, they said, “May such a thing never happen!”
John 8:44You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out his desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, refusing to uphold the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, because he is a liar and the father of lies.
Acts 7:51-52You stiff-necked people with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit, just as your fathers did. / Which of the prophets did your fathers fail to persecute? They even killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One. And now you are His betrayers and murderers—
Romans 1:29-32They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed, and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, and malice. They are gossips, / slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant, and boastful. They invent new forms of evil; they disobey their parents. / They are senseless, faithless, heartless, merciless. ...
Treasury of Scripture And Ahab said to Elijah, Have you found me, O my enemy? And he answered, I have found you: because you have sold yourself to work evil in the sight of the LORD. Hast thou found me 1 Kings 18:17
And it came to pass, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said unto him,Art thou he that troubleth Israel? 1 Kings 22:8
And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat,There is yet one man, Micaiah the son of Imlah, by whom we may inquire of the LORD: but I hate him; for he doth not prophesy good concerning me, but evil. And Jehoshaphat said, Let not the king say so. 2 Chronicles 18:7,17
And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat,There is yet one man, by whom we may inquire of the LORD: but I hate him; for he never prophesied good unto me, but always evil: the sameis Micaiah the son of Imla. And Jehoshaphat said, Let not the king say so… thou hast sold 1 Kings 21:25
But there was none like unto Ahab, which did sell himself to work wickedness in the sight of the LORD, whom Jezebel his wife stirred up. 2 Kings 17:17
And they caused their sons and their daughters to pass through the fire, and used divination and enchantments, and sold themselves to do evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger. Isaiah 50:1
Thus saith the LORD, Whereis the bill of your mother's divorcement, whom I have put away? or which of my creditorsis it to whom I have sold you? Behold, for your iniquities have ye sold yourselves, and for your transgressions is your mother put away. to work 1 Kings 16:30
And Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD above all thatwere before him. 2 Kings 21:2
And he didthat which was evil in the sight of the LORD, after the abominations of the heathen, whom the LORD cast out before the children of Israel. 2 Chronicles 33:6
And he caused his children to pass through the fire in the valley of the son of Hinnom: also he observed times, and used enchantments, and used witchcraft, and dealt with a familiar spirit, and with wizards: he wrought much evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger. Jump to Previous AhabElijahEli'jahEnemyEvilEyesFaceFoundHaterSellingSightSoldThyselfWorkJump to Next AhabElijahEli'jahEnemyEvilEyesFaceFoundHaterSellingSightSoldThyselfWork1 Kings 21 1.Ahab being denied Naboth's vineyard, is grieved5.Jezebel writing letters against Naboth, he is condemned of blasphemy15.Ahab take possession of the vineyard17.Elijah denounces judgments against Ahab and Jezebel25.Wicked Ahab repenting, God defers the judgmentWhen Elijah arrivedElijah, a prominent prophet in Israel, often served as God's mouthpiece during the reign of King Ahab. His arrival signifies a divine intervention, as Elijah frequently confronted Ahab with messages from God. Elijah's presence is a reminder of God's active role in the affairs of Israel, often sending prophets to guide, warn, and correct His people. Elijah's previous encounters with Ahab, such as the confrontation on Mount Carmel (1 Kings 18), set the stage for this tense meeting. Ahab said to him, “So you have found me out, my enemy.”
Ahab's greeting to Elijah as "my enemy" reflects the king's perception of the prophet as a threat to his rule and personal desires. This animosity stems from Elijah's role in opposing Ahab's idolatry and injustices, particularly his promotion of Baal worship, influenced by his wife Jezebel. Ahab's acknowledgment of being "found out" suggests a guilty conscience and awareness of his wrongdoing, particularly in the context of the recent incident involving Naboth's vineyard (1 Kings 21:1-16). He replied, “I have found you out because you have sold yourself to do evil in the sight of the LORD.”
Elijah's response highlights Ahab's moral and spiritual corruption. The phrase "sold yourself" implies a deliberate choice to abandon God's commandments for personal gain, akin to a transaction where Ahab exchanged his integrity for power and wealth. This echoes the broader biblical theme of sin as a form of slavery (Romans 6:16-18). The "evil in the sight of the LORD" underscores the divine perspective on Ahab's actions, emphasizing that God's standards are the ultimate measure of right and wrong. This confrontation serves as a warning of impending judgment, aligning with the prophetic tradition of calling leaders to account for their actions. Persons / Places / Events 1. AhabThe king of Israel, known for his wickedness and idolatry, particularly influenced by his wife Jezebel. His reign is marked by significant moral and spiritual decline. 2. ElijahA prophet of the LORD, known for his boldness in confronting the sins of Israel and its leaders. He serves as God's mouthpiece, delivering messages of judgment and calls for repentance. 3. JezebelAhab's wife, notorious for promoting the worship of Baal and persecuting the prophets of the LORD. Her influence over Ahab leads to further corruption in Israel. 4. Naboth's VineyardThe event preceding this verse involves Ahab coveting Naboth's vineyard, leading to Naboth's unjust execution orchestrated by Jezebel. This act of injustice sets the stage for Elijah's confrontation with Ahab. 5. IsraelThe northern kingdom, where Ahab reigns. The spiritual state of Israel during Ahab's reign is one of apostasy and idolatry, drawing the nation away from the covenant with God. Teaching Points The Consequences of SinAhab's account illustrates the severe consequences of turning away from God and embracing evil. Sin leads to spiritual bondage and eventual judgment. The Role of ProphetsElijah's boldness in confronting Ahab serves as a reminder of the importance of speaking truth to power and standing firm in God's Word, even in the face of opposition. Influence and ResponsibilityAhab's susceptibility to Jezebel's influence highlights the importance of godly counsel and the dangers of allowing ungodly influences to shape our decisions. Repentance and AccountabilityThe confrontation between Elijah and Ahab underscores the need for repentance and accountability before God. True repentance involves acknowledging sin and turning back to God. God's Sovereignty and JusticeThe account affirms God's sovereignty and justice, assuring believers that He will ultimately address and rectify all wrongs. Lists and Questions Top 10 Lessons from 1 Kings 21
How did King Ahab's wickedness reveal his weakness?
How do we reconcile Hosea 1:4–5 with 2 Kings 10:30, where Jehu is commended, yet here his dynasty is condemned?
Does the swift eradication of Ahab’s lineage in 2 Kings 10:7, 11 align with historical records outside the Bible?
Why does 2 Chronicles 22:7 claim Ahaziah’s downfall was ordained by God through Jehu, yet other passages suggest human decisions and alliances led to his demise?(20) Hast thou found me, O mine enemy?--The cry is partly of dismay, partly of excuse. Ahab, having no word of defence to utter, endeavours to attribute Elijah's rebuke and condemnation to simple enmity, much as in 1Kings 18:17 he cries out "Art thou he that troubleth Israel?" The crushing answer is that the prophet came not because he was an enemy, but because Ahab had "sold himself"--had become a slave instead of a king--under the lust of desire and the temptation of Jezebel. Verse 20. - And Ahab said to Elijah, Hast thou found me [Not merely, "Hast thou found me out? hast thou surprised me in the very act?" though this meaning is not to be excluded, but also, "Has thy vengeance overtaken me?" מָאָצ is used in this sense 1 Samuel 23:17; Isaiah 10:10; Psalm 21:9. Ahab is so conscience stricken by the sudden apparition of Elijah, whom in all probability he had not seen or heard of since "the day of Carmel," and by his appearance on the scene at the very moment when he was entering on the fruit of his misdoing," in the very blossom of his sin," that he feels that judgment is already begun], Omine enemy? [No doubt the thought was present in Ahab's mind that Elijah had ever been opposed to him and thwarting him, but he does not dream (Von Gerlach, in Bahr) of justifying himself by ascribing Elijah's intervention to personal hatred towards himself. The sequel shows that he was thoroughly conscious of wrong-doing.] And he answered, I have found thee: because [not because I am thine enemy, but because] thou has sold thyself [or sellest thyself, i.e., surrenderest thyself wholly. The idea is clearly derived from the institutions of slavery, according to which the bondservant was wholly at his master's disposal and was bound to accomplish his will. Whether "the practice of men selling themselves into slavery" (Rawlinson) existed in that age may perhaps be doubted. We have the same thought in 2 Kings 17:17, and Romans 7:14] to work evil in the sight of the Lord. [We can readily gather from these words why the doom was denounced against Ahab, who had but a secondary share in the crime, rather than against Jezebel, its real perpetrator. It was because Ahab was the representative of God, God's minister of justice, etc. If he had not himself devised the death of Naboth; if he had, which is possible, remained in ignorance of the means by which Jezebel proposed to procure him the vineyard, he had nevertheless readily and gladly acquiesced in her infamous crime after its accomplishment, and was then reaping its fruits. And because he was the king, the judge, who, instead of punishing the evil doer, sanctioned and approved the deed, and who crowned a reign of idolatries and abominations with this shameful murder, the prophetic sentence is directed primarily against him.]
Parallel Commentaries ...
Hebrew When Elijah [arrived],אֵ֣לִיָּ֔הוּ(’ê·lî·yā·hū)Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 452:Elijah -- 'Yah is God', a well-known prophet of Israel, also three other IsraelitesAhabאַחְאָב֙(’aḥ·’āḇ)Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 256:Ahab -- 'father's brother', a king of Israel, also a false prophetsaidוַיֹּ֤אמֶר(way·yō·mer)Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559:To utter, sayto him,אֶל־(’el-)Preposition
Strong's 413:Near, with, among, to“So you have found me out,הַֽמְצָאתַ֖נִי(ham·ṣā·ṯa·nî)Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singular | first person common singular
Strong's 4672:To come forth to, appear, exist, to attain, find, acquire, to occur, meet, be presentmy enemy.”אֹיְבִ֑י(’ō·yə·ḇî)Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 341:Hating, an adversaryHe replied,וַיֹּ֣אמֶר(way·yō·mer)Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559:To utter, say“I have found [you] outמָצָ֔אתִי(mā·ṣā·ṯî)Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 4672:To come forth to, appear, exist, to attain, find, acquire, to occur, meet, be presentbecauseיַ֚עַן(ya·‘an)Adverb
Strong's 3282:Heed, purpose, to indicate the reason, causeyou have sold yourselfהִתְמַכֶּרְךָ֔(hiṯ·mak·ker·ḵā)Verb - Hitpael - Infinitive construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 4376:To sellto doלַעֲשׂ֥וֹת(la·‘ă·śō·wṯ)Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 6213:To do, makeevilהָרַ֖ע(hā·ra‘)Article | Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 7451:Bad, evilin the sightבְּעֵינֵ֥י(bə·‘ê·nê)Preposition-b | Noun - cdc
Strong's 5869:An eye, a fountainof the LORD.יְהוָֽה׃(Yah·weh)Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068:LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel
Links 1 Kings 21:20 NIV1 Kings 21:20 NLT1 Kings 21:20 ESV1 Kings 21:20 NASB1 Kings 21:20 KJV
1 Kings 21:20 BibleApps.com1 Kings 21:20 Biblia Paralela1 Kings 21:20 Chinese Bible1 Kings 21:20 French Bible1 Kings 21:20 Catholic Bible
OT History: 1 Kings 21:20 Ahab said to Elijah Have you found (1Ki iKi i Ki 1 Kg 1kg) |
