1 Kings 13:4

Translations

Modern

Now when King Jeroboam, who was at the altar in Bethel, heard the word that the man of God had cried out against it, he stretched out his hand and said, “Seize him!” But the hand he stretched out toward him withered, so that he could not pull it back.

Traditional

And it came to pass, when king Jeroboam heard the saying of the man of God, which had cried against the altar in Beth–el, that he put forth his hand from the altar, saying, Lay hold on him. And his hand, which he put forth against him, dried up, so that he could not pull it in again to him.

Literal

And it came to pass, when the king heard the saying of the man of God who cried out against the altar in Bethel, that Jeroboam stretched out his hand from the altar, saying, “Seize him!” And his hand withered that he stretched out toward him, so that he could not pull it back to himself.

Latin

Cumque audisset rex sermonem hominis Dei quem inclamaverat contra altare in Bethel, extendit manum suam de altari, dicens: Apprehendite eum. Et exaruit manus ejus quam extenderat contra eum, nec valuit retrahere eam ad se.

Original

Hebrew

English

Now when King Jeroboam, who was at the altar in Bethel, heard the word that the man of God had cried out against it, he stretched out his hand and said, “Seize him!” But the hand he stretched out toward him withered, so that he could not pull it back.

Notes

1 Kings 13:4–5

Jeroboam's shoulder and arm became paralyzed, and the prophecy about the altar came true. This showed God's power and his unhappiness with Jeroboam's false religion.

1 Kings 13:1–10

The story of the unnamed man of God who spoke against Jeroboam’s false altar at Bethel shows the authority of God’s word. This prophecy even gave a personal name connected with an event that would happen much later (2 Kings 23:15–20).

Other examples are Isaiah’s prophecy of Cyrus as a future ruler (Isaiah 44:28; 45:1) and Micah’s prophecy that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2). Prophecies like these give assurance that God is in control of history and knows all things (see Isaiah 42:9).

Theme notes and profiles

Jeroboam I Prophets in 1 Kings The Plagues

Events

Reign of Jeroboam I

Related verses

Revelation 11:5
If anyone wants to harm them, fire proceeds from their mouths and devours their enemies. In this way, anyone who wants to harm them must be killed.
2 Chronicles 18:25–27
And the king of Israel declared, “Take Micaiah and return him to Amon the governor of the city and to Joash the king’s son,
2 Chronicles 25:15–16
Therefore the anger of the LORD burned against Amaziah, and He sent him a prophet, who said, “Why have you sought this people’s gods, which could not deliver them from your hand?”
Luke 3:19–20
But when he rebuked Herod the tetrarch regarding his brother’s wife Herodias and all the evils he had done,
John 18:6
When Jesus said, “I am He,” they drew back and fell to the ground.
Matthew 26:57
Those who had arrested Jesus led Him away to the house of Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and elders had gathered.
Matthew 25:40
And the King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you did for Me.’
Jeremiah 26:8–11
…and as soon as he had finished telling all the people everything the LORD had commanded him to say, the priests and prophets and all the people seized him, shouting, “You must surely die!
John 13:20
Truly, truly, I tell you, whoever receives the one I send receives Me, and whoever receives Me receives the One who sent Me.”
Jeremiah 38:4–6
Then the officials said to the king, “This man ought to die, for he is discouraging the warriors who remain in this city, as well as all the people, by speaking such words to them; this man is not seeking the well-being of these people, but their ruin.”
2 Chronicles 16:10
Asa was angry with the seer and became so enraged over this matter that he put the man in prison. And at the same time Asa oppressed some of the people.
Amos 7:10–17
Then Amaziah the priest of Bethel sent word to Jeroboam king of Israel, saying, “Amos has conspired against you in the midst of the house of Israel. The land cannot bear all his words,

Parallels

2 Kings 23:4–20 2 Chronicles 34:3–7

People

Jeroboam: First king of the northern kingdom of Israel

Places

Bethel: Important city in Israel, associated with Abraham and Jacob

Glossary

Ashes False Prophets Kings, Books of First and Second Pekahiah Prophets, False

Topics

Afflictions and Adversities: Benefits of, Illustrated Beth-El: A City North of Jerusalem: Prophecies Against the Idolatrous Altars At Calf: Prophecies Against the Golden Calves at Beth-El Forgiveness: The Prophet of Judah Forgives Jeroboam Intercession: Answered: The Prophet of Israel, for the Restoration of Jeroboam's Withered Hand Jeroboam: First King of Israel After the Revolt: Hand of, Paralyzed Judgments: The Prophet of Judah, for Disobedience Judgments: Upon Individuals - Exemplified: Jeroboam Miracles Wrought Through Servants of God: The Prophet of Judah: Jeroboam's Hand Withered Miracles: Catalogue of Jeroboam's Hand Withered Presumption: Jeroboam Reproof: Faithfulness in a Prophet of Judah, of Jeroboam Rulers: Wicked: Jeroboam, Perverting the True Worship Sign: Given to Jeroboam

1 Kings 13:4

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