1 Kings 20:13

11 And the king of Israel replied, “Tell him: ‘The one putting on his armor should not boast like one taking it off.’”

12 Ben-hadad received this message while he and the kings were drinking in their tents, and he said to his servants, “Take your positions.” So they stationed themselves against the city.

Meanwhile a prophet approached Ahab king of Israel and declared, “This is what the LORD says: ‘Do you see this entire great army? Behold, I will deliver it into your hand this very day, and you will know that I am the LORD.’”

14 “By whom?” Ahab asked. And the prophet replied, “This is what the LORD says: ‘By the young officers of the district governors.’” “Who will start the battle?” asked Ahab. “You will,” answered the prophet.

15 So Ahab assembled the young officers of the district governors, and there were 232 men. And after them, he assembled the rest of the Israelite troops, 7,000 in all.

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
Meanwhile a prophet approached Ahab king of Israel and declared, “This is what the LORD says: ‘Do you see this entire great army? Behold, I will deliver it into your hand this very day, and you will know that I am the LORD.’”
KJV
And, behold, there came a prophet unto Ahab king of Israel, saying, Thus saith the LORD, Hast thou seen all this great multitude? behold, I will deliver it into thine hand this day; and thou shalt know that I am the LORD.
WEB
Behold, a prophet came near to Ahab king of Israel, and said, “The LORD says, ‘Have you seen all this great multitude? Behold, I will deliver it into your hand today. Then you will know that I am the LORD.’”
ASV
And, behold, a prophet came near unto Ahab king of Israel, and said, Thus saith Jehovah, Hast thou seen all this great multitude? behold, I will deliver it into thy hand this day; and thou shalt know that I am Jehovah.
DARBY
And behold, a prophet drew near to Ahab king of Israel, and said, Thus saith Jehovah: Hast thou seen all this great multitude? behold, I will deliver it into thy hand this day; and thou shalt know that I am Jehovah.
BLB
And behold, one prophet approached unto Ahab king of Israel and said, “Thus says YHWH: ‘Have you seen all this great multitude? Behold, I will deliver it into your hand today, and you shall know that I [am] YHWH.’”
ÅB
Da trådte en profet fram til Akab, Israels konge, og sa: Så sier Herren: Ser du hele denne store mengde? Jeg gir den idag i din hånd, og du skal kjenne at jeg er Herren.
OTB
Da kom en profet til Ahab, Israels konge, og sa: "Dette sier Herren: Har du sett denne store hæren? Jeg vil overgi den i din hånd i dag, og du skal vite at jeg er Herren."
B1930
Da trådte en profet frem til Akab, Israels konge, og sa: Så sier Herren: Ser du hele denne store mengde? Jeg gir den idag i din hånd, og du skal kjenne at jeg er Herren.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • 1 Kings 20:28

    Then the man of God approached the king of Israel and said, “This is what the LORD says: ‘Because the Arameans think the LORD is a god of the hills and not of the valleys, I will deliver all this great army into your hand. Then you will know that I am the LORD.’”

    Read in context
  • Ezekiel 20:22

    But I withheld My hand and acted for the sake of My name, so that it would not be profaned in the eyes of the nations in whose sight I had brought them out.

    Read in context
  • Isaiah 37:20

    And now, O LORD our God, save us from his hand, so that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that You alone, O LORD, are God.”

    Read in context
  • Isaiah 7:1–9

    Now in the days that Ahaz son of Jotham, the son of Uzziah, was king of Judah, Rezin king of Aram marched up to wage war against Jerusalem. He was accompanied by Pekah son of Remaliah the king of Israel, but he could not overpower the city.

    Read in context
  • 2 Kings 7:1

    Then Elisha said, “Hear the word of the LORD! This is what the LORD says: ‘About this time tomorrow at the gate of Samaria, a seah of fine flour will sell for a shekel, and two seahs of barley will sell for a shekel.’”

    Read in context
  • Ezekiel 20:14

    But I acted for the sake of My name, so that it would not be profaned in the eyes of the nations in whose sight I had brought them out.

    Read in context
  • Joel 3:17

    Then you will know that I am the LORD your God, who dwells in Zion, My holy mountain. Jerusalem will be holy, never again to be overrun by foreigners.

    Read in context
  • Exodus 16:12

    “I have heard the grumbling of the Israelites. Tell them, ‘At twilight you will eat meat, and in the morning you will be filled with bread. Then you will know that I am the LORD your God.’”

    Read in context