1 Kings 21:8

6 Ahab answered, “Because I spoke to Naboth the Jezreelite and told him, ‘Give me your vineyard for silver, or if you wish, I will give you another vineyard in its place.’ And he replied, ‘I will not give you my vineyard!’”

7 But his wife Jezebel said to him, “Do you not reign over Israel? Get up, eat some food, and be cheerful, for I will get you the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.”

Then Jezebel wrote letters in Ahab’s name, sealed them with his seal, and sent them to the elders and nobles who lived with Naboth in his city.

9 In the letters she wrote: “Proclaim a fast and give Naboth a seat of honor among the people.

10 But seat two scoundrels opposite him and have them testify, ‘You have cursed both God and the king!’ Then take him out and stone him to death.”

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
Then Jezebel wrote letters in Ahab’s name, sealed them with his seal, and sent them to the elders and nobles who lived with Naboth in his city.
KJV
So she wrote letters in Ahab’s name, and sealed them with his seal, and sent the letters unto the elders and to the nobles that were in his city, dwelling with Naboth.
WEB
So she wrote letters in Ahab’s name and sealed them with his seal, and sent the letters to the elders and to the nobles who were in his city, who lived with Naboth.
ASV
So she wrote letters in Ahab`s name, and sealed them with his seal, and sent the letters unto the elders and to the nobles that were in his city, [and] that dwelt with Naboth.
DARBY
And she wrote a letter in Ahab's name, and sealed it with his seal, and sent the letter to the elders and to the nobles that were in his city, dwelling with Naboth.
BLB
And she wrote letters in the name of Ahab and sealed [them] with his seal, and she sent the letters to the elders and to the nobles who [were] dwelling in the city with Naboth.
ÅB
Så skrev hun et brev i Akabs navn og satte segl på det med hans signetring; og hun sendte brevet til de eldste og fornemste i hans by, de som bodde sammen med Nabot.
OTB
Så skrev hun brev i Akabs navn, forseglet dem med hans segl, og sendte dem til de eldste og fornemme som bodde i Nabots by.
B1930
Så skrev hun et brev i Akabs navn og satte segl på det med hans signetring; og hun sendte brevet til de eldste og fornemste i hans by, de som bodde sammen med Nabot.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Ezra 4:7–8

    And in the days of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest of his associates wrote a letter to Artaxerxes. It was written in Aramaic and then translated.

    Read in context
  • Numbers 11:16

    Then the LORD said to Moses, “Bring Me seventy of the elders of Israel known to you as leaders and officers of the people. Bring them to the Tent of Meeting and have them stand there with you.

    Read in context
  • 2 Kings 10:11

    So Jehu killed everyone in Jezreel who remained of the house of Ahab, as well as all his great men and close friends and priests, leaving him without a single survivor.

    Read in context
  • Esther 8:8–13

    Now you may write in the king’s name as you please regarding the Jews, and seal it with the royal signet ring. For a decree that is written in the name of the king and sealed with the royal signet ring cannot be revoked.”

    Read in context
  • Deuteronomy 16:18–19

    You are to appoint judges and officials for your tribes in every town that the LORD your God is giving you. They are to judge the people with righteous judgment.

    Read in context
  • 2 Samuel 11:14–15

    The next morning David wrote a letter to Joab and sent it with Uriah.

    Read in context
  • 2 Kings 10:1–7

    Now Ahab had seventy sons in Samaria. So Jehu wrote letters and sent them to Samaria to the officials of Jezreel, to the elders, and to the guardians of the sons of Ahab, saying:

    Read in context
  • Deuteronomy 21:1–9

    If one is found slain, lying in a field in the land that the LORD your God is giving you to possess, and it is not known who killed him,

    Read in context