1 Kings 21:8
New International Version
So she wrote letters in Ahab’s name, placed his seal on them, and sent them to the elders and nobles who lived in Naboth’s city with him.

New Living Translation
So she wrote letters in Ahab’s name, sealed them with his seal, and sent them to the elders and other leaders of the town where Naboth lived.

English Standard Version
So she wrote letters in Ahab’s name and sealed them with his seal, and she sent the letters to the elders and the leaders who lived with Naboth in his city.

Berean Standard Bible
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.

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
And she wrote letters in Ahab’s name, sealed them with his seal, and sent the letters to the elders and the nobles who were dwelling in the city with Naboth.

New American Standard Bible
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 living with Naboth in his city.

NASB 1995
So she wrote letters in Ahab’s name and sealed them with his seal, and sent letters to the elders and to the nobles who were living with Naboth in his city.

NASB 1977
So she wrote letters in Ahab’s name and sealed them with his seal, and sent letters to the elders and to the nobles who were living with Naboth in his city.

Legacy Standard Bible
So she wrote letters in Ahab’s name and sealed them with his seal, and sent letters to the elders and to the nobles who were living with Naboth in his city.

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

Christian Standard Bible
So she wrote letters in Ahab’s name and sealed them with his seal. She sent the letters to the elders and nobles who lived with Naboth in his city.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
So she wrote letters in Ahab’s name and sealed them with his seal. She sent the letters to the elders and nobles who lived with Naboth in his city.

American Standard Version
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.

English Revised Version
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.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
So Jezebel wrote letters, signed them with Ahab's name, and sealed them with his seal. She sent them to the respected leaders and nobles living in Naboth's city.

Good News Translation
Then she wrote some letters, signed Ahab's name to them, sealed them with his seal, and sent them to the officials and leading citizens of Jezreel.

International Standard Version
So she wrote some memos in Ahab's name, set his personal seal to them, and sent them to the elders and nobles who lived with Naboth in his city.

Majority Standard Bible
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.

NET Bible
She wrote out orders, signed Ahab's name to them, and sealed them with his seal. She then sent the orders to the leaders and to the nobles who lived in Naboth's city.

New Heart English Bible
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.

Webster's Bible Translation
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 that were in his city, dwelling with Naboth.

World English Bible
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.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And she writes letters in the name of Ahab, and seals with his seal, and sends the letters to the elderly and to the nobles who are in his city, those dwelling with Naboth,

Young's Literal Translation
And she writeth letters in the name of Ahab, and sealeth with his seal, and sendeth the letters unto the elders, and unto the freemen, who are in his city, those dwelling with Naboth,

Smith's Literal Translation
And she will write letters in the name of Ahab, and seal with his seal; and she will send the letters to the old men, and to the nobles who were in his city dwelling with Naboth.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
So she wrote letter's in Achab's name, and sealed them with his ring, and sent them to the ancients, and the chief men that were in his city, and that dwelt with Naboth.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And so, she wrote letters in the name of Ahab, and she sealed these with his ring. And she sent to those greater by birth, and to the nobles who were in his city and living with Naboth.

New American Bible
So she wrote letters in Ahab’s name and, having sealed them with his seal, sent them to the elders and to the nobles who lived in the same city with Naboth.

New Revised Standard Version
So she wrote letters in Ahab’s name and sealed them with his seal; she sent the letters to the elders and the nobles who lived with Naboth in his city.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
So she wrote a letter in Ahab's name and sealed it with his ring, and sent the letter to the elders and to the nobles who dwelt in the city with Naboth.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And she wrote a letter in the name of Akhab and she sealed it with his ring, and she sent the letter to the Elders and to the Nobles who dwelt in the city with Nabuth.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
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.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And she wrote a letter in the name of Achaab, and sealed it with his seal, and sent the letter to the elders, and to the freemen who dwelt with Nabuthai.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Jezebel's Plot
8Then 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. 9In the letters she wrote: “Proclaim a fast and give Naboth a seat of honor among the people.…

Cross References
Esther 3:12-13
On the thirteenth day of the first month, the royal scribes were summoned and the order was written exactly as Haman commanded the royal satraps, the governors of each province, and the officials of each people, in the script of each province and the language of every people. It was written in the name of King Xerxes and sealed with the royal signet ring. / And the letters were sent by couriers to each of the royal provinces with the order to destroy, kill, and annihilate all the Jews—young and old, women and children—and to plunder their possessions on a single day, the thirteenth day of Adar, the twelfth month.

2 Samuel 11:14-15
The next morning David wrote a letter to Joab and sent it with Uriah. / In the letter he wrote: “Put Uriah at the front of the fiercest battle; then withdraw from him, so that he may be struck down and killed.”

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: / “When this letter arrives, since your master’s sons are with you and you have chariots and horses, a fortified city and weaponry, / select the best and most worthy son of your master, set him on his father’s throne, and fight for your master’s house.” ...

Jeremiah 36:10-12
From the chamber of Gemariah son of Shaphan the scribe, which was in the upper courtyard at the opening of the New Gate of the house of the LORD, Baruch read from the scroll the words of Jeremiah in the hearing of all the people. / When Micaiah son of Gemariah, the son of Shaphan, heard all the words of the LORD from the scroll, / he went down to the scribe’s chamber in the king’s palace, where all the officials were sitting: Elishama the scribe, Delaiah son of Shemaiah, Elnathan son of Achbor, Gemariah son of Shaphan, Zedekiah son of Hananiah, and all the other officials.

Nehemiah 6:5-7
The fifth time, Sanballat sent me this same message by his young servant, who had in his hand an unsealed letter / that read: “It is reported among the nations—and Geshem agrees—that you and the Jews are plotting to revolt, and this is why you are building the wall. According to these reports, you are to become their king, / and you have even appointed prophets in Jerusalem to proclaim on your behalf: ‘There is a king in Judah.’ Soon these rumors will reach the ears of the king. So come, let us confer together.”

Daniel 6:8-9
Therefore, O king, establish the decree and sign the document so that it cannot be changed—in accordance with the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed.” / Therefore King Darius signed the written decree.

Matthew 26:59-61
Now the chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were seeking false testimony against Jesus in order to put Him to death. / But they did not find any, though many false witnesses came forward. Finally two came forward / and declared, “This man said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days.’”

Acts 6:11-13
Then they prompted some men to say, “We heard Stephen speak words of blasphemy against Moses and against God.” / So they stirred up the people, elders, and scribes and confronted Stephen. They seized him and brought him before the Sanhedrin, / where they presented false witnesses who said, “This man never stops speaking against this holy place and against the law.

Mark 14:55-59
Now the chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were seeking testimony against Jesus to put Him to death, but they did not find any. / For many bore false witness against Jesus, but their testimony was inconsistent. / Then some men stood up and testified falsely against Him: ...

John 19:12-16
From then on, Pilate tried to release Him, but the Jews kept shouting, “If you release this man, you are no friend of Caesar. Anyone who declares himself a king is defying Caesar.” / When Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus out and sat on the judgment seat at a place called the Stone Pavement, which in Hebrew is Gabbatha. / It was the day of Preparation for the Passover, about the sixth hour. And Pilate said to the Jews, “Here is your King!” ...

Luke 23:2-5
And they began to accuse Him, saying, “We found this man subverting our nation, forbidding payment of taxes to Caesar, and proclaiming Himself to be Christ, a King.” / So Pilate asked Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?” “You have said so,” Jesus replied. / Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, “I find no basis for a charge against this man.” ...

Acts 24:1-9
Five days later the high priest Ananias came down with some elders and a lawyer named Tertullus, who presented to the governor their case against Paul. / When Paul had been called in, Tertullus opened the prosecution: “Because of you, we have enjoyed a lasting peace, and your foresight has brought improvements to this nation. / In every way and everywhere, most excellent Felix, we acknowledge this with all gratitude. ...

2 Samuel 15:10-12
Then Absalom sent spies throughout the tribes of Israel with this message: “When you hear the sound of the horn, you are to say, ‘Absalom reigns in Hebron!’” / Two hundred men from Jerusalem accompanied Absalom. They had been invited as guests and they went along innocently, for they knew nothing about the matter. / While Absalom was offering the sacrifices, he sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David’s counselor, to come from his hometown of Giloh. So the conspiracy gained strength, and Absalom’s following kept increasing.

2 Chronicles 18:21-22
And he replied, ‘I will go out and be a lying spirit in the mouths of all his prophets.’ ‘You will surely entice him and prevail,’ said the LORD. ‘Go and do it.’ / So you see, the LORD has put a lying spirit in the mouths of these prophets of yours, and the LORD has pronounced disaster against you.”

Psalm 64:5-6
They hold fast to their evil purpose; they speak of hiding their snares. “Who will see them?” they say. / They devise injustice and say, “We have perfected a secret plan.” For the inner man and the heart are mysterious.


Treasury of Scripture

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 that were in his city, dwelling with Naboth.

she wrote

2 Samuel 11:14,15
And it came to pass in the morning, that David wrote a letter to Joab, and sent it by the hand of Uriah…

2 Chronicles 32:17
He wrote also letters to rail on the LORD God of Israel, and to speak against him, saying, As the gods of the nations of other lands have not delivered their people out of mine hand, so shall not the God of Hezekiah deliver his people out of mine hand.

Ezra 4:7,8,11
And in the days of Artaxerxes wrote Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest of their companions, unto Artaxerxes king of Persia; and the writing of the letter was written in the Syrian tongue, and interpreted in the Syrian tongue…

the elders

Numbers 11:16
And the LORD said unto Moses, Gather unto me seventy men of the elders of Israel, whom thou knowest to be the elders of the people, and officers over them; and bring them unto the tabernacle of the congregation, that they may stand there with thee.

Deuteronomy 16:18,19
Judges and officers shalt thou make thee in all thy gates, which the LORD thy God giveth thee, throughout thy tribes: and they shall judge the people with just judgment…

Deuteronomy 21:1-9
If one be found slain in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee to possess it, lying in the field, and it be not known who hath slain him: …

the nobles

1 Kings 21:1
And it came to pass after these things, that Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard, which was in Jezreel, hard by the palace of Ahab king of Samaria.

2 Kings 10:1-7,11
And Ahab had seventy sons in Samaria. And Jehu wrote letters, and sent to Samaria, unto the rulers of Jezreel, to the elders, and to them that brought up Ahab's children, saying, …

Jump to Previous
Ahab Ahab's Authority Chiefs City Dwelling Dwelt Elders Freemen Letters Naboth Naboth's Nobles Placed Responsible Seal Sealed Sealeth Stamp Stamped Writeth Wrote
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Ahab Ahab's Authority Chiefs City Dwelling Dwelt Elders Freemen Letters Naboth Naboth's Nobles Placed Responsible Seal Sealed Sealeth Stamp Stamped Writeth Wrote
1 Kings 21
1. Ahab being denied Naboth's vineyard, is grieved
5. Jezebel writing letters against Naboth, he is condemned of blasphemy
15. Ahab take possession of the vineyard
17. Elijah denounces judgments against Ahab and Jezebel
25. Wicked Ahab repenting, God defers the judgment














Then she wrote letters
The act of writing letters in ancient times was a significant means of communication, often used for official or legal matters. The Hebrew word for "wrote" is "כָּתַב" (katav), which implies a formal and deliberate action. Jezebel's decision to write letters indicates a premeditated plan, showcasing her manipulative nature. In a broader biblical context, writing is often associated with authority and permanence, as seen in the writing of the Ten Commandments on stone tablets.

in Ahab’s name
Using Ahab's name signifies the usurpation of his authority. In ancient Near Eastern culture, a name carried the weight of one's identity and power. By writing in Ahab's name, Jezebel not only deceives the recipients but also abuses the king's authority for her own purposes. This act reflects a deeper spiritual truth about the misuse of God-given authority and the importance of integrity in leadership.

sealed them with his seal
Seals in the ancient world were symbols of authenticity and ownership. The Hebrew word for "seal" is "חוֹתָם" (chotam), which was often a signet ring or a stamp used to imprint a unique mark. By sealing the letters with Ahab's seal, Jezebel ensures that the letters carry the king's unquestionable authority. This act of sealing is reminiscent of the biblical concept of being sealed by the Holy Spirit, which signifies God's ownership and protection over believers.

and sent them to the elders and nobles
The elders and nobles were the leaders and decision-makers within the community. The Hebrew term for "elders" is "זְקֵנִים" (z'kenim), indicating those with wisdom and experience. "Nobles" refers to those of high social standing and influence. Jezebel's targeting of these individuals highlights her strategic approach to ensure her plan's success. It also underscores the responsibility of leaders to act justly and resist corruption.

who lived in Naboth’s city
Naboth's city, Jezreel, was a significant location in Israel's history. The mention of Naboth's city personalizes the narrative, reminding readers of the individual lives affected by the actions of those in power. It serves as a poignant reminder of the biblical principle that God sees and cares for the oppressed and that justice will ultimately prevail.

(8) Sealed them with his seal--with the name, or token, of the king, engraved on stone, and impressed (see Job 38:14) on a lump of clay attached to the letter. The sealing (as the modern sense of "signature" implies) was the pledge of authenticity and authority. (See Genesis 38:18; Nehemiah 9:38; Nehemiah 10:1; Esther 3:10; Esther 3:12, Daniel 6:17, &c.) The use of the seal--ordinarily worn or carried on the person--implies Ahab's knowledge that something is being done in his name, into which he takes care not to inquire. . . . Verse 8. - So she wrote letters [Heb. writings] in Ahab's name, and sealed them with his seal [The use of the seal, for the purpose of authentication, is of great antiquity. Some of the Egyptian signets are more than 4,000 years old. Their use in the age of the patriarchs is attested by Genesis 38:15 and Genesis 41:42; their importance is proved by the text, by Esther 3:10; Esther 8:2, 8, 10 (cf. "Herod," 3:128); Daniel 6:17; Jeremiah 32:10, 54; Haggai 2:23, etc. Whether this seal - which does not necessarily prove that those who used it could not write - was impressed upon the writings themselves according to the modern practice of the East, or upon a piece of clay (Job 38:14), which was then attached to the letter by strings, we have no means of knowing. The use of Ahab's seal affords a strong presumption that he was privy to her designs (Bahr), but of this we cannot be absolutely certain], and sent the letters unto the elders [see Deuteronomy 16:18] and to the nobles [same word Nehemiah 2:16; Nehemiah 4:13; Ecclesiastes 10:17] that were in his city, dwelling [or inhabitants, as in ver. 11] with Naboth.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Then [Jezebel] wrote
וַתִּכְתֹּ֤ב (wat·tiḵ·tōḇ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 3789: To grave, to write

letters
סְפָרִים֙ (sə·p̄ā·rîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 5612: A missive, document, writing, book

in Ahab’s
אַחְאָ֔ב (’aḥ·’āḇ)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 256: Ahab -- 'father's brother', a king of Israel, also a false prophet

name,
בְּשֵׁ֣ם (bə·šêm)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 8034: A name

sealed them
בְּחֹתָמ֑וֹ (bə·ḥō·ṯā·mōw)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 2856: To seal, affix a seal, seal up

with his seal,
וַתַּחְתֹּ֖ם (wat·taḥ·tōm)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 2368: A seal, signet ring

and sent
וַתִּשְׁלַ֣ח (wat·tiš·laḥ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 7971: To send away, for, out

[them]
סְפָרִ֗ים (sə·p̄ā·rîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 5612: A missive, document, writing, book

to
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

the elders
הַזְקֵנִ֤ים‪‬ (haz·qê·nîm)
Article | Adjective - masculine plural
Strong's 2205: Old

and nobles
הַֽחֹרִים֙ (ha·ḥō·rîm)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 2715: White, pure, noble

who
אֲשֶׁ֣ר (’ă·šer)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

lived
הַיֹּשְׁבִ֖ים (hay·yō·šə·ḇîm)
Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural
Strong's 3427: To sit down, to dwell, to remain, to settle, to marry

with
אֶת־ (’eṯ-)
Preposition
Strong's 854: Nearness, near, with, by, at, among

Naboth
נָבֽוֹת׃ (nā·ḇō·wṯ)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 5022: Naboth -- a Jezreelite

in his city.
בְּעִיר֔וֹ (bə·‘î·rōw)
Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 5892: Excitement


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OT History: 1 Kings 21:8 So she wrote letters in Ahab's name (1Ki iKi i Ki 1 Kg 1kg)
1 Kings 21:7
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