1 Kings 21:3

Translations

Modern

But Naboth replied, “The LORD forbid that I should give you the inheritance of my fathers.”

Traditional

And Naboth said to Ahab, The Lord forbid it me, that I should give the inheritance of my fathers unto thee.

Literal

And Naboth said to Ahab, “Far be it from me, by YHWH, to give the inheritance of my fathers to you.”

Latin

Cui respondit Naboth: Propitius sit mihi Dominus, ne dem hæreditatem patrum meorum tibi.

Original

Hebrew

English

But Naboth replied, “The LORD forbid that I should give you the inheritance of my fathers.”

Notes

1 Kings 21:2–3

Naboth turned down Ahab's generous offer to buy or trade land for his vineyard. Naboth wanted to sell, but the law required inherited property to remain with the original family or tribe (Leviticus 25:23–28; Numbers 36:7–9). Unlike kings of nearby nations who could take any property they wanted (1 Samuel 8:11–17), Ahab had to follow Israel's law.

1 Kings 21:1–16

The writer shares another event where King Ahab reacted with anger and sulking (1 Kings 20:43; 21:4).

Theme notes and profiles

Ahab Elijah Jezebel Anger Apostasy and Renewal Social Justice The Righteous Suffer

Related verses

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.’”
Romans 3:31
Do we, then, nullify the law by this faith? Certainly not! Instead, we uphold the law.
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.”
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.”
Job 27:5
I will never say that you are right; I will maintain my integrity until I die.
Romans 3:6
Certainly not! In that case, how could God judge the world?
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.”
Genesis 44:7
“Why does my lord say these things?” they asked. “Your servants could not possibly do such a thing.
1 Corinthians 6:15
Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and unite them with a prostitute? Never!
Romans 3:4
Certainly not! Let God be true and every man a liar. As it is written: “So that You may be proved right when You speak and victorious when You judge.”

People

Ahab: Wicked king of Israel; husband of Jezebel Naboth: Jezreelite vineyard owner, unjustly killed by Ahab and Jezebel

Glossary

Ahab (King) Ammi Archaeology and the Bible Jezebel Jezreel (Place) Jezreelite Kings, Books of First and Second Naboth Queen Witness

Topics

Covetousness: Ahab Covetousness: Ahab, in Desiring Naboth's Vineyard Dishonesty: Ahab Confiscates Naboth's Vineyard Indictments: Naboth on the Charge of Blasphemy Inheritance: Unclassified Scriptures Relating To King: Profiting From: Confiscations of Property Naboth: His Vineyard Forcibly Taken by Ahab; Stoned at the Instigation of Jezebel Women: Jezebel, in Her Conspiracy Against Naboth, to Cheat Him out of his Vineyard

1 Kings 21:3

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