1 Kings 16:18 When Zimri saw that the city was captured, he entered the citadel of the royal palace and burned it down upon himself. So he died

◄ 1 Kings 16:18 ►

New International Version
When Zimri saw that the city was taken, he went into the citadel of the royal palace and set the palace on fire around him. So he died,

New Living Translation
When Zimri saw that the city had been taken, he went into the citadel of the palace and burned it down over himself and died in the flames.

English Standard Version
And when Zimri saw that the city was taken, he went into the citadel of the king’s house and burned the king’s house over him with fire and died,

Berean Standard Bible
When Zimri saw that the city was captured, he entered the citadel of the royal palace and burned it down upon himself. So he died

King James Bible
And it came to pass, when Zimri saw that the city was taken, that he went into the palace of the king's house, and burnt the king's house over him with fire, and died,

New King James Version
And it happened, when Zimri saw that the city was taken, that he went into the citadel of the king’s house and burned the king’s house down upon himself with fire, and died,

New American Standard Bible
When Zimri saw that the city was taken, he went into the citadel of the king’s house and burned the king’s house over himself with fire, and died,

NASB 1995
When Zimri saw that the city was taken, he went into the citadel of the king’s house and burned the king’s house over him with fire, and died,

NASB 1977
And it came about, when Zimri saw that the city was taken, that he went into the citadel of the king’s house and burned the king’s house over him with fire, and died,

Legacy Standard Bible
Now it happened that when Zimri saw that the city was captured, he went into the citadel of the king’s house and burned the king’s house over him with fire, and died,

Amplified Bible
When Zimri saw that the city was taken, he went into the fortress of the king’s palace; and while inside, he set fire to the king’s palace and died,

Christian Standard Bible
When Zimri saw that the city was captured, he entered the citadel of the royal palace and burned it down over himself. He died

Holman Christian Standard Bible
When Zimri saw that the city was captured, he entered the citadel of the royal palace and burned it down over himself. He died

American Standard Version
And it came to pass, when Zimri saw that the city was taken, that he went into the castle of the king's house, and burnt the king's house over him with fire, and died,

Contemporary English Version
When Zimri saw that the town was captured, he ran into the strongest part of the palace and killed himself by setting it on fire.

English Revised Version
And it came to pass, when Zimri saw that the city was taken, that he went into the castle of the king's house, and burnt the king's house over him with fire, and died,

GOD'S WORD® Translation
When Zimri saw that the city had been captured, he went into the stronghold in the royal palace and burned down the palace over his own head. He died

Good News Translation
When Zimri saw that the city had fallen, he went into the palace's inner fortress, set the palace on fire, and died in the flames.

International Standard Version
When Zimri observed that the city had been captured, he retreated into the king's palace, set fire to the citadel, and died when the palace burned down around him

Majority Standard Bible
When Zimri saw that the city was captured, he entered the citadel of the royal palace and burned it down upon himself. So he died

NET Bible
When Zimri saw that the city was captured, he went into the fortified area of the royal palace. He set the palace on fire and died in the flames.

New Heart English Bible
It happened, when Zimri saw that the city was taken, that he went into the citadel of the king's house, and burnt the king's house over him with fire, and died,

Webster's Bible Translation
And it came to pass, when Zimri saw that the city was taken, that he went into the palace of the king's house, and burnt the king's house over him with fire, and died,

World English Bible
When Zimri saw that the city was taken, he went into the fortified part of the king’s house and burned the king’s house over him with fire, and died,

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
And it comes to pass, at Zimri’s seeing that the city has been captured, that he comes into a high place of the house of the king, and burns the house of the king over himself with fire, and he dies,

Young's Literal Translation
And it cometh to pass, at Zimri's seeing that the city hath been captured, that he cometh in unto a high place of the house of the king, and burneth over him the house of the king with fire, and dieth,

Smith's Literal Translation
And it will be when Zimri saw that the city was taken, and he will come to the fortress of the king's house, and he will burn over him the king's house with fire, and he will die,

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
And Zambri seeing that the city was about to be taken, went into the palace and burnt himself with the king's house: and he died

Catholic Public Domain Version
Then Zimri, seeing that the city was about to be taken, entered the palace, and he set fire to himself along with the royal house. And he died

New American Bible
When Zimri saw that the city was captured, he entered the citadel of the king’s house and burned it down over him. He died

New Revised Standard Version
When Zimri saw that the city was taken, he went into the citadel of the king’s house; he burned down the king’s house over himself with fire, and died—

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
And when Zimri saw that the city was taken, he went into the shrine of the king's house and burned the king's house over him with fire, and died,

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And when Zemri saw that Terzah was crushed, he entered the shrine of the house of the King by himself, and they burned the house of the King over him in fire and he died

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
And it came to pass, when Zimri saw that the city was taken, that he went into the castle of the king's house, and burnt the king's house over him with fire, and died;

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And it came to pass when Zambri saw that his city was taken, that he goes into the inner chamber of the house of the king, and burnt the king's house over him, and died.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

Zimri Reigns in Israel
…17Then Omri and all the Israelites marched up from Gibbethon and besieged Tirzah. 18 When Zimri saw that the city was captured, he entered the citadel of the royal palace and burned it down upon himself. So he died 19because of the sins he had committed, doing evil in the sight of the LORD and following the example of Jeroboam and the sin he had committed and had caused Israel to commit.…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

2 Kings 9:27
When King Ahaziah of Judah saw this, he fled up the road toward Beth-haggan. And Jehu pursued him, shouting, “Shoot him too!” So they shot Ahaziah in his chariot on the Ascent of Gur, near Ibleam, and he fled to Megiddo and died there.

Judges 9:54
He quickly called his armor-bearer, saying, “Draw your sword and kill me, lest they say of me, ‘A woman killed him.’” So Abimelech’s armor-bearer ran his sword through him, and he died.

2 Samuel 17:23
When Ahithophel saw that his advice had not been followed, he saddled his donkey and set out for his house in his hometown. He put his affairs in order and hanged himself. So he died and was buried in his father’s tomb.

2 Kings 1:2-4
Now Ahaziah had fallen through the lattice of his upper room in Samaria and injured himself. So he sent messengers and instructed them: “Go inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron, whether I will recover from this injury.” / But the angel of the LORD said to Elijah the Tishbite, “Go up to meet the messengers of the king of Samaria and ask them, ‘Is it because there is no God in Israel that you are on your way to inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron?’ / Therefore this is what the LORD says: ‘You will not get up from the bed on which you are lying. You will surely die.’” So Elijah departed.

2 Kings 10:4
But they were terrified and reasoned, “If two kings could not stand against him, how can we?”

2 Kings 15:25
Then his officer, Pekah son of Remaliah, conspired against him along with Argob, Arieh, and fifty men of Gilead. And at the citadel of the king’s palace in Samaria, Pekah struck down and killed Pekahiah and reigned in his place.

2 Kings 25:7
And they slaughtered the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes. Then they put out his eyes, bound him with bronze shackles, and took him to Babylon.

1 Samuel 31:4-5
Then Saul said to his armor-bearer, “Draw your sword and run me through with it, or these uncircumcised men will come and run me through and torture me!” But his armor-bearer was terrified and refused to do it. So Saul took his own sword and fell on it. / When his armor-bearer saw that Saul was dead, he too fell on his own sword and died with him.

2 Samuel 1:9-10
Then he begged me, ‘Stand over me and kill me, for agony has seized me, but my life still lingers.’ / So I stood over him and killed him, because I knew that after he had fallen he could not survive. And I took the crown that was on his head and the band that was on his arm, and I have brought them here to my lord.”

2 Kings 23:29-30
During Josiah’s reign, Pharaoh Neco king of Egypt marched up to help the king of Assyria at the Euphrates River. King Josiah went out to confront him, but Neco faced him and killed him at Megiddo. / From Megiddo his servants carried his body in a chariot, brought him to Jerusalem, and buried him in his own tomb. Then the people of the land took Jehoahaz son of Josiah, anointed him, and made him king in place of his father.

Matthew 27:5
So Judas threw the silver into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself.

Acts 1:18
(Now with the reward for his wickedness Judas bought a field; there he fell headlong and burst open in the middle, and all his intestines spilled out.

Revelation 9:6
In those days men will seek death and will not find it; they will long to die, but death will escape them.

John 12:25
Whoever loves his life will lose it, but whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.

Matthew 10:39
Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.

Treasury of Scripture

And it came to pass, when Zimri saw that the city was taken, that he went into the palace of the king's house, and burnt the king's house over him with fire, and died.

and burnt the king's house

Judges 9:54
Then he called hastily unto the young man his armourbearer, and said unto him, Draw thy sword, and slay me, that men say not of me, A woman slew him. And his young man thrust him through, and he died.

1 Samuel 31:4,5
Then said Saul unto his armourbearer, Draw thy sword, and thrust me through therewith; lest these uncircumcised come and thrust me through, and abuse me. But his armourbearer would not; for he was sore afraid. Therefore Saul took a sword, and fell upon it…

2 Samuel 17:23
And when Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not followed, he saddled his ass, and arose, and gat him home to his house, to his city, and put his household in order, and hanged himself, and died, and was buried in the sepulchre of his father.

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Burned Burneth Burning Burnt Captured Castle Citadel City Died Dieth End Fire Head High House Inner King's Palace Room Royal Zimri Zimri's

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1 Kings 16

1. Jehu's prophecy against Baasha
5. Elah succeeds him
8. Zimri, conspiring against Elah, succeeds him
11. Zimri executes Jehu's prophecy
15. Omri, made king by the soldiers, forces Zimri desperately to burn himself
21. The kingdom being divided, Omri prevails against Tibni
23. Omri builds Samaria
25. His wicked reign
27. Ahab succeeds him
29. Ahab's most wicked reign
34. Joshua's curse upon Hiel the builder of Jericho

Berean Study Bible

When Zimri saw
The name "Zimri" in Hebrew (זִמְרִי) means "my music" or "my praise." Zimri was a commander in the army of Israel who conspired against King Elah and took the throne by force. His reign was short-lived, lasting only seven days. The phrase "when Zimri saw" indicates a moment of realization and desperation. In the broader biblical narrative, this moment reflects the consequences of rebellion against God's ordained leadership and the futility of human ambition when it is not aligned with divine will.

that the city was taken
The city referred to here is Tirzah, which was the capital of the northern kingdom of Israel before Samaria. The phrase "the city was taken" signifies a complete military defeat. Historically, this reflects the instability and constant power struggles within the northern kingdom, which often led to rapid changes in leadership. Theologically, it underscores the vulnerability of a nation that has turned away from God, as Israel had done by this time.

he went into the citadel of the royal palace
The "citadel" (Hebrew: בִּירָה, birah) was a fortified part of the palace, often used as a last refuge during sieges. Zimri's retreat into the citadel symbolizes his final attempt to hold onto power and life. The royal palace represents the seat of earthly power and authority, which Zimri had unlawfully seized. This act of retreating into the citadel can be seen as a metaphor for the false security that earthly power provides when it is not grounded in righteousness.

and set the palace on fire around him
This phrase describes Zimri's act of self-destruction. Setting the palace on fire was both a literal and symbolic act of despair. In ancient times, fire was often used as a means of purification or judgment. Here, it represents the ultimate judgment on Zimri's rebellion and the destructive nature of sin. Theologically, it serves as a warning of the self-destructive consequences of living in opposition to God's commandments.

So he died
The brevity of this phrase underscores the finality of Zimri's actions. His death marks the end of his brief and tumultuous reign. In the biblical context, death is often seen as the ultimate consequence of sin, as stated in Romans 6:23, "For the wages of sin is death." Zimri's death serves as a cautionary tale about the fleeting nature of power and the inevitable judgment that comes from living a life contrary to God's will. It reminds believers of the importance of seeking God's guidance and aligning one's life with His purposes.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(18) The palace of the king's house.--The same phrase is found in 2Kings 15:25. The word here rendered "palace" evidently means (as is clear from its derivation) "the high place," or "citadel," of the building. Some render it the "harem," with which the curious rendering (??????) of the LXX.--signifying properly a cave or "lurking-place"--may perhaps, agree. But this is not suggested by the word itself. This desperate act of Zimri, which has many parallels in Eastern history, seems to indicate that there was held to be something especially treasonable, and therefore unpardonable, in his assassination of Elah. (See 1Kings 16:20, and 2Kings 9:31.)

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 18. - And it came to pass, when Zimri saw that the city was taken [the meaning is probably that which Josephus gives: "When he saw that the city had none to defend it," or possibly, "when he saw that a breach was made"], that he went into the palace [אַרְמון citadel, fortress, from תךעט סעתלא אָרַם. So Gesen., Keil, Bight, al. The palace, no doubt, consisted of a string of buildings (1 Kings 7:2-9) of which this was the highest and strongest part. Ewald thinks that the harem - a word which has almost the same radicals ? or women's apartment, is meant - the most secluded portion of the great palace (Josephus understands it to mean "the inmost part"), and hence infers, as also from 2 Kings 9:31, that the women of the palace had willingly submitted to the effeminate murderer of their lord, and that even the queen-mother had made advances towards him (vol. 4. p. 36). But, as Bight remarks there is nothing of this in the text, and Zimri's desperate act rather shows daring and contempt of death than effeminacy or sensuality. And 2 Kings 15:25 (cf. Psalm 122:7) seems to point to a stronghold rather than a seraglio] of the king's house, and burnt the king's house [probably the palace which Jereboam had built. Ewald thinks it was this structure gave Tirzah its reputation for beauty; Song of Solomon 6:4] over him with fire [According to the Syriac, the besiegers set fire to the palace. Similarly Jarchi. But the text is decisive. The parallel deed of Sardanapalus will occur to all readers. Rawlinson also refers to Herod. 1:176, and 7:107], and died. [This word is intimately connected with the verse following. But there is no need to rearrange the verses. The text, as it stands, conveys clearly enough that Zimri's tragical death was a retribution for his sins. Bahr remarks that of Elah and Zimri we learn nothing, apart from the fact that they held to the sin of Jeroboam, except how they died.]

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

When Zimri
זִמְרִי֙ (zim·rî)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 2174: Zimri -- four Israelites

saw
כִּרְא֤וֹת (kir·’ō·wṯ)
Preposition-k | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 7200: To see

that
כִּֽי־ (kî-)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

the city
הָעִ֔יר (hā·‘îr)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 5892: Excitement

was captured,
נִלְכְּדָ֣ה (nil·kə·ḏāh)
Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 3920: To catch, to capture, occupy, to choose, to cohere

he entered
וַיָּבֹ֖א (way·yā·ḇō)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go

the citadel
אַרְמ֣וֹן (’ar·mō·wn)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 759: A citadel

of the royal
הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ (ham·me·leḵ)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4428: A king

palace
בֵּית־ (bêṯ-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1004: A house

and burned it down
וַיִּשְׂרֹ֨ף (way·yiś·rōp̄)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 8313: To be, on fire

on himself.
עָלָ֧יו (‘ā·lāw)
Preposition | third person masculine singular
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

So he died
וַיָּמֹֽת׃ (way·yā·mōṯ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 4191: To die, to kill

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OT History: 1 Kings 16:18 It happened when Zimri saw that (1Ki iKi i Ki 1 Kg 1kg)