1 Kings 21:9
New International Version
In those letters she wrote: “Proclaim a day of fasting and seat Naboth in a prominent place among the people.

New Living Translation
In her letters she commanded: “Call the citizens together for a time of fasting, and give Naboth a place of honor.

English Standard Version
And she wrote in the letters, “Proclaim a fast, and set Naboth at the head of the people.

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

King James Bible
And she wrote in the letters, saying, Proclaim a fast, and set Naboth on high among the people:

New King James Version
She wrote in the letters, saying, Proclaim a fast, and seat Naboth with high honor among the people;

New American Standard Bible
Now she had written in the letters, saying, “Proclaim a fast and seat Naboth at the head of the people;

NASB 1995
Now she wrote in the letters, saying, “Proclaim a fast and seat Naboth at the head of the people;

NASB 1977
Now she wrote in the letters, saying, “Proclaim a fast, and seat Naboth at the head of the people;

Legacy Standard Bible
And she wrote in the letters, saying, “Call for a fast and seat Naboth at the head of the people;

Amplified Bible
Now in the letters she wrote, “Proclaim a fast and seat Naboth at the head of the people;

Christian Standard Bible
In the letters, she wrote: Proclaim a fast and seat Naboth at the head of the people.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
In the letters, she wrote: Proclaim a fast and seat Naboth at the head of the people.

American Standard Version
And she wrote in the letters, saying, Proclaim a fast, and set Naboth on high among the people:

English Revised Version
And she wrote in the letters, saying, Proclaim a fast, and set Naboth on high among the people:

GOD'S WORD® Translation
In these letters she wrote: "Announce a fast. Seat Naboth as leader of the people.

Good News Translation
The letters said: "Proclaim a day of fasting, call the people together, and give Naboth the place of honor.

International Standard Version
In the memos, she wrote the following directives: "Proclaim a public fast and seat Naboth in the front row.

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

NET Bible
This is what she wrote: "Observe a time of fasting and seat Naboth in front of the people.

New Heart English Bible
She wrote in the letters, saying, "Proclaim a fast, and set Naboth on high among the people.

Webster's Bible Translation
And she wrote in the letters, saying, Proclaim a fast, and set Naboth on high among the people:

World English Bible
She wrote in the letters, saying, “Proclaim a fast, and set Naboth on high among the people.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and she writes in the letters, saying, “Proclaim a fast, and cause Naboth to sit at the head of the people,

Young's Literal Translation
and she writeth in the letters, saying, 'Proclaim a fast, and cause Naboth to sit at the head of the people,

Smith's Literal Translation
And she will write in the letters, Saying, Call a fast; set Naboth in the head of the people:
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And this was the tenor of the letters: Proclaim a fast, and make Naboth sit among the chief of the people,

Catholic Public Domain Version
And this was the judgment of the letters: “Proclaim a fast, and cause Naboth to sit among the first rulers of the people.

New American Bible
This is what she wrote in the letters: “Proclaim a fast and set Naboth at the head of the people.

New Revised Standard Version
She wrote in the letters, “Proclaim a fast, and seat Naboth at the head of the assembly;
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And she wrote in the letter, saying, Proclaim a fast and set Naboth on high among the people;

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And she wrote in the letter:”Decree a fast and set Nabuth above the people.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And she wrote in the letters, saying: 'Proclaim a fast, and set Naboth at the head of the people;

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And it was written in the letters, saying, Keep a fast, and set Naboth in a chief place among the people.

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. 10But 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.”…

Cross References
Exodus 20:16
You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

Deuteronomy 19:15-21
A lone witness is not sufficient to establish any wrongdoing or sin against a man, regardless of what offense he may have committed. A matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses. / If a false witness testifies against someone, accusing him of a crime, / both parties to the dispute must stand in the presence of the LORD, before the priests and judges who are in office at that time. ...

Proverbs 6:16-19
There are six things that the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to Him: / haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, / a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that run swiftly to evil, ...

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.

Psalm 27:12
Do not hand me over to the will of my foes, for false witnesses rise up against me, breathing out violence.

Psalm 35:11
Hostile witnesses come forward; they make charges I know nothing about.

Isaiah 5:23
who acquit the guilty for a bribe and deprive the innocent of justice.

Jeremiah 7:9
Will you steal and murder, commit adultery and perjury, burn incense to Baal, and follow other gods that you have not known,

Ezekiel 22:6-12
See how every prince of Israel within you has used his power to shed blood. / Father and mother are treated with contempt. Within your walls the foreign resident is exploited, the fatherless and the widow are oppressed. / You have despised My holy things and profaned My Sabbaths. ...

Micah 6:12
For the wealthy of the city are full of violence, and its residents speak lies; their tongues are deceitful in their mouths.

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: ...

Luke 23:2
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.”

John 18:29-30
So Pilate went out to them and asked, “What accusation are you bringing against this man?” / “If He were not a criminal,” they replied, “we would not have handed Him over to you.”

Romans 13:9
The commandments “Do not commit adultery,” “Do not murder,” “Do not steal,” “Do not covet,” and any other commandments, are summed up in this one decree: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”


Treasury of Scripture

And she wrote in the letters, saying, Proclaim a fast, and set Naboth on high among the people:

Proclaim a fast

Genesis 34:13-17
And the sons of Jacob answered Shechem and Hamor his father deceitfully, and said, because he had defiled Dinah their sister: …

Isaiah 58:4
Behold, ye fast for strife and debate, and to smite with the fist of wickedness: ye shall not fast as ye do this day, to make your voice to be heard on high.

Matthew 2:8
And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.

on high among [heb] in the top of

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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














In the letters she wrote
The phrase "In the letters she wrote" indicates the premeditated and deliberate nature of Jezebel's actions. The Hebrew root for "letters" (סֵפֶר, sefer) often refers to written documents or scrolls, suggesting an official and authoritative communication. This highlights the misuse of power and authority, as Jezebel, the queen, manipulates the legal system for her own ends. Historically, letters were a primary means of communication for royal decrees, emphasizing the gravity and formality of her conspiracy.

Proclaim a fast
The command to "Proclaim a fast" is deeply ironic and hypocritical. Fasting in the Hebrew tradition was a time of repentance and seeking God's favor, often in times of crisis or judgment. The Hebrew word for "fast" (צוֹם, tzom) signifies abstaining from food for spiritual purposes. Jezebel's use of a fast as a pretext for her plot against Naboth is a perversion of a sacred practice, turning a spiritual act into a tool for deceit and murder. This reflects the moral corruption present in the kingdom under Ahab and Jezebel's rule.

and give Naboth a seat of honor among the people
The phrase "and give Naboth a seat of honor among the people" is a strategic move in Jezebel's scheme. The Hebrew word for "seat of honor" (רֹאשׁ, rosh) can mean "head" or "chief," indicating a place of prominence. By placing Naboth in a position of honor, Jezebel sets the stage for false accusations, as it would draw public attention to him. This tactic of elevating Naboth before his downfall is reminiscent of the way false witnesses were used in other biblical narratives to bring about unjust outcomes. It underscores the theme of false appearances and the manipulation of justice for personal gain.

(9) Proclaim a fast.--This might be only to cover all that was to be so foully done with a cloak of religious observance, or, perhaps more probably, to imply that some secret sin had been committed, which would draw down vengeance on the whole city, and so to prepare for the false accusation. There is a like ambiguity as to the explanation of the command, "set Naboth on high," as either an exaltation of pretended honour, or the "lifting up his head" (Genesis 40:20) for accusation. It may be noted that the whole scheme implies a return of the people to at least the outward observance of the Law of the Lord.

Verse 9. - And she wrote in the letters, saying Proclaim a fast [The object of this ordinance was to give the impression that the city was labouring under, or threatened with, a curse, because of some undiscovered sin (2 Samuel 21:1; Joshua 9:11; Deuteronomy 21:9), which must be removed or averted by public humiliation. Cf. Joel 1:14; Joel 2:12; 1 Samuel 7:6; 2 Chronicles 20:3)], and set Naboth on high among the people. [Heb. at the head of the people. Keil, al. interpret, bring him into the court of justice, as defendant before all the people." And certainly הושִׁיבוּ here, and in the next verse - where it is used of the witnesses (cf. ver. 13) - means, make to sit; which looks as if judicial procedure were intended. But "at the head of the people "rather suggests that in the public assembly, which marked the fast (Joel 2:15), Naboth was assigned the most distinguished place. The reason for this is obvious, viz., to give a colour of impartiality to the proceedings. As Grotius, Ne odio damnasse crederentur, quem ipsi honoraverunt. It would also accord with the popular idea of retributive justice that Naboth should be denounced in the very hour of his triumph and exaltation. Josephus, however, says that it was because of his high birth that this position was assigned him.]

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
In the letters
בַּסְּפָרִ֖ים (bas·sə·p̄ā·rîm)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 5612: A missive, document, writing, book

she wrote:
וַתִּכְתֹּ֥ב (wat·tiḵ·tōḇ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 3789: To grave, to write

“Proclaim
קִֽרְאוּ־ (qir·’ū-)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural
Strong's 7121: To call, proclaim, read

a fast
צ֔וֹם (ṣō·wm)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 6685: Fasting, a fast

and give
וְהוֹשִׁ֥יבוּ (wə·hō·wō·šî·ḇū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine plural
Strong's 3427: To sit down, to dwell, to remain, to settle, to marry

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

a seat of honor
בְּרֹ֥אשׁ (bə·rōš)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 7218: The head

among the people.
הָעָֽם׃ (hā·‘ām)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5971: A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock


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OT History: 1 Kings 21:9 She wrote in the letters saying Proclaim (1Ki iKi i Ki 1 Kg 1kg)
1 Kings 21:8
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