1 Kings 22:27
New International Version
and say, ‘This is what the king says: Put this fellow in prison and give him nothing but bread and water until I return safely.’”

New Living Translation
Give them this order from the king: ‘Put this man in prison, and feed him nothing but bread and water until I return safely from the battle!’”

English Standard Version
and say, ‘Thus says the king, “Put this fellow in prison and feed him meager rations of bread and water, until I come in peace.”’”

Berean Standard Bible
and tell them that this is what the king says: ‘Put this man in prison and feed him only bread and water until I return safely.’ ”

King James Bible
And say, Thus saith the king, Put this fellow in the prison, and feed him with bread of affliction and with water of affliction, until I come in peace.

New King James Version
and say, ‘Thus says the king: “Put this fellow in prison, and feed him with bread of affliction and water of affliction, until I come in peace.” ’ ”

New American Standard Bible
and say, ‘This is what the king says: “Put this man in prison, and feed him enough bread and water to survive until I return safely.”’”

NASB 1995
and say, ‘Thus says the king, “Put this man in prison and feed him sparingly with bread and water until I return safely."’”

NASB 1977
and say, ‘Thus says the king, “Put this man in prison, and feed him sparingly with bread and water until I return safely.”’”

Legacy Standard Bible
and say, ‘Thus says the king, “Put this man in prison and feed him sparingly with bread and water until I come back safely.”’”

Amplified Bible
and say, ‘Thus says the king, “Put this man in prison, and feed him sparingly with the bread and water until I return safely.”’”

Christian Standard Bible
and say, ‘This is what the king says: Put this guy in prison and feed him only a little bread and water until I come back safely.’ ”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
and say, ‘This is what the king says: Put this guy in prison and feed him only bread and water until I come back safely.’”

American Standard Version
and say, Thus saith the king, Put this fellow in the prison, and feed him with bread of affliction and with water of affliction, until I come in peace.

Contemporary English Version
Tell them to put him in prison and to give him nothing but bread and water until I come back safely."

English Revised Version
and say, Thus saith the king, Put this fellow in the prison, and feed him with bread of affliction and with water of affliction, until I come in peace.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Say, 'This is what the king says: Put this man in prison, and feed him nothing but bread and water until I come home safely.'"

Good News Translation
Tell them to throw him in prison and to put him on bread and water until I return safely."

International Standard Version
Give him this order: 'Place him in prison on survival rations of bread and water only until I come back safely.'"

Majority Standard Bible
and tell them that this is what the king says: ‘Put this man in prison and feed him only bread and water until I return safely.’”

NET Bible
Say, 'This is what the king says, "Put this man in prison. Give him only a little bread and water until I safely return."'"

New Heart English Bible
Say, 'Thus says the king, "Put this fellow in the prison, and feed him with bread of affliction and with water of affliction, until I come in peace."'"

Webster's Bible Translation
And say, Thus saith the king, Put this man in the prison, and feed him with bread of affliction, and with water of affliction, until I come in peace.

World English Bible
Say, ‘The king says, “Put this fellow in the prison, and feed him with bread of affliction and with water of affliction, until I come in peace.”’”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and you have said, Thus said the king: Place this one in the house of restraint, and cause him to eat bread of oppression, and water of oppression, until my coming in peace.”

Young's Literal Translation
and thou hast said, Thus said the king, Place ye this one in the house of restraint, and cause him to eat bread of oppression, and water of oppression, till my coming in peace.'

Smith's Literal Translation
And say, Thus said the king, Put this in the house of shutting up, and cause him to eat the bread of oppression and the waters of oppression till my coming in peace.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And tell them: Thus saith the king: Put this man in prison, and feed him with bread of affliction, and water of distress, till I return in peace.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And tell them: ‘Thus says the king: Put this man in prison, and sustain him with the bread of affliction, and with the water of distress, until I return in peace.’ ”

New American Bible
and say, ‘This is the king’s order: Put this man in prison and feed him scanty rations of bread and water until I come back in safety.’ ”

New Revised Standard Version
and say, ‘Thus says the king: Put this fellow in prison, and feed him on reduced rations of bread and water until I come in peace.’”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And say, Thus says the king: Put this fellow in the prison and feed him with bread of affliction and with water of affliction until I come in peace.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And say, ‘Thus says the King: throw this one into the house of prisoners and feed him bread to keep him alive and give him water to drink to keep him alive until I shall come in peace.’”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
and say: Thus saith the king: Put this fellow in the prison, and feed him with scant bread and with scant water, until I come in peace.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
and tell Joas the king's son to put this fellow in prison, and to feed him with bread of affliction and water of affliction until I return in peace.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Micaiah Prophesies Against Ahab
26And the king of Israel declared, “Take Micaiah and return him to Amon the governor of the city and to Joash the king’s son, 27and tell them that this is what the king says: ‘Put this man in prison and feed him only bread and water until I return safely.’” 28But Micaiah replied, “If you ever return safely, the LORD has not spoken through me.” Then he added, “Take heed, all you people!”…

Cross References
Jeremiah 38:6
So they took Jeremiah and dropped him into the cistern of Malchiah, the king’s son, which was in the courtyard of the guard. They lowered Jeremiah with ropes into the cistern, which had no water but only mud, and Jeremiah sank down into the mud.

2 Chronicles 18:26
and tell them that this is what the king says: ‘Put this man in prison and feed him only bread and water until I return safely.’”

Jeremiah 37:15-16
The officials were angry with Jeremiah, and they beat him and placed him in jail in the house of Jonathan the scribe, for it had been made into a prison. / So Jeremiah went into a cell in the dungeon and remained there a long time.

Matthew 5:10-12
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. / Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. / Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets before you.

Acts 5:18-19
and arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail. / But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out, saying,

Jeremiah 20:2
he had Jeremiah the prophet beaten and put in the stocks at the Upper Gate of Benjamin, which was by the house of the LORD.

Acts 12:4-7
He arrested him and put him in prison, handing him over to be guarded by four squads of four soldiers each. Herod intended to bring him out to the people after the Passover. / So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was fervently praying to God for him. / On the night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, with sentries standing guard at the entrance to the prison. ...

Jeremiah 32:2-3
At that time the army of the king of Babylon was besieging Jerusalem, and Jeremiah the prophet was imprisoned in the courtyard of the guard, which was in the palace of the king of Judah. / For Zedekiah king of Judah had imprisoned him, saying: “Why are you prophesying like this? You claim that the LORD says, ‘Behold, I am about to deliver this city into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he will capture it.

Matthew 10:17-18
But beware of men, for they will hand you over to their councils and flog you in their synagogues. / On My account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles.

Acts 16:23-26
And after striking them with many blows, they threw them into prison and ordered the jailer to guard them securely. / On receiving this order, he placed them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks. / About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. ...

Jeremiah 26:21-23
King Jehoiakim and all his mighty men and officials heard his words, and the king sought to put him to death. But when Uriah found out about it, he fled in fear and went to Egypt. / Then King Jehoiakim sent men to Egypt: Elnathan son of Achbor along with some other men. / They brought Uriah out of Egypt and took him to King Jehoiakim, who had him put to the sword and his body thrown into the burial place of the common people.

Luke 21:12
But before all this, they will seize you and persecute you. On account of My name they will deliver you to the synagogues and prisons, and they will bring you before kings and governors.

Jeremiah 36:26
Instead, the king commanded Jerahmeel, a son of the king, as well as Seraiah son of Azriel and Shelemiah son of Abdeel, to seize Baruch the scribe and Jeremiah the prophet. But the LORD had hidden them.

2 Timothy 3:12
Indeed, all who desire to live godly lives in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,

Jeremiah 29:26
‘The LORD has appointed you priest in place of Jehoiada, to be the chief officer in the house of the LORD, responsible for any madman who acts like a prophet—you must put him in stocks and neck irons.


Treasury of Scripture

And say, Thus said the king, Put this fellow in the prison, and feed him with bread of affliction and with water of affliction, until I come in peace.

Put this fellow

2 Chronicles 16:10
Then Asa was wroth with the seer, and put him in a prison house; for he was in a rage with him because of this thing. And Asa oppressed some of the people the same time.

2 Chronicles 18:25-27
Then the king of Israel said, Take ye Micaiah, and carry him back to Amon the governor of the city, and to Joash the king's son; …

Jeremiah 20:2
Then Pashur smote Jeremiah the prophet, and put him in the stocks that were in the high gate of Benjamin, which was by the house of the LORD.

bread of affliction

Deuteronomy 16:3
Thou shalt eat no leavened bread with it; seven days shalt thou eat unleavened bread therewith, even the bread of affliction; for thou camest forth out of the land of Egypt in haste: that thou mayest remember the day when thou camest forth out of the land of Egypt all the days of thy life.

Psalm 80:5
Thou feedest them with the bread of tears; and givest them tears to drink in great measure.

Psalm 102:9
For I have eaten ashes like bread, and mingled my drink with weeping,

until I come in peace

Luke 12:45,46
But and if that servant say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken; …

1 Thessalonians 5:2,3
For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night…

James 4:13,14
Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: …

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1 Kings 22
1. Ahab, seduced by false prophets, by Michaiah's word, is slain at Ramoth Gilead
37. The dogs lick up his blood, and Ahaziah succeeds him
41. Jehoshaphat's good reign
45. His acts
46. Jehoram succeeds him
51. Ahaziah's evil reign














and say
This phrase indicates a command, reflecting the authority of the speaker, King Ahab. In the Hebrew context, the word for "say" (אָמַר, 'amar) often conveys not just speech but a declaration of intent or purpose. It underscores the king's determination to assert his will, a common theme in monarchic narratives where the king's word is law.

This is what the king says
This phrase emphasizes the king's authority and the seriousness of the command. In ancient Near Eastern cultures, the king was seen as the ultimate earthly authority, often believed to be divinely appointed. The repetition of the king's words serves to reinforce his power and the expectation of obedience.

Put this man in prison
The act of imprisonment here is a demonstration of the king's power to control and punish. The Hebrew word for prison (בֵּית הַכֶּלֶא, beit hakkele) can also mean a house of confinement, indicating a place of restriction and punishment. This reflects the harsh realities of ancient justice systems where dissent was often met with severe consequences.

and feed him only bread and water
This phrase highlights the minimal sustenance provided, symbolizing deprivation and punishment. Bread and water were the most basic forms of nourishment, indicating a life of bare survival. In the biblical context, this treatment is a form of humiliation and a way to break the spirit of the imprisoned.

until I return safely
This phrase reveals King Ahab's expectation of a successful return, reflecting his confidence or perhaps arrogance. The Hebrew word for "safely" (שָׁלוֹם, shalom) is often translated as peace or well-being, indicating Ahab's desire for a favorable outcome. This expectation contrasts with the prophetic warnings he received, highlighting a tension between divine prophecy and human ambition.

(27) Bread of affliction . . .--Comp. Isaiah 30:20. This is a command of severe treatment, as well as scanty fare. Ahab's affectation of disbelief--which his subsequent conduct shows to be but affectation--simply draws down a plainer and sterner prediction, accompanied moreover, if our text be correct by an appeal to the whole assembly to bear witness of it. Of Micaiah's fate we know nothing; but it is hard to suppose that his bold and defiant testimony could escape the extreme penalty of death, when Ahab's fall gave opportunity of revival to the ruthlessness of Jezebel.

Verse 27. - And say [Heb. thou shalt say], Thus saith the king, Put this fellow in the prison [Heb. house of the prison. Bahr thinks that Micaiah had formerly been in arrest under Amon's charge, and now was to be committed to the prison proper. But more probably the words mean, "put him in the prison again." His superadded punishment was to be in the shape of prison diet. It is probable that it was owing to the presence of Jehoshaphat that Micaiah escaped with no severer sentence], and feed him with bread of affliction [or oppression, לָחַץ pressit; cf. Exodus 3:9; Numbers 22:25; 2 Kings 6:32], and with water of affliction [Josephus (Ant. 8:15. 4) relates that after Micaiah's prediction the king was in great suspense and fear, until Zedekiah deliberately smote him, in order to show that he was powerless to avenge an injury as the man of God did (1 Kings 13:4), and therefore no true prophet. This may be an "empty Rabbinical tradition" (Bahr), but we may be sure that Ahab did not hear Micaiah's words unmoved. He had had such convincing proofs of the foresight and powers of the Lord's prophets that he may well have trembled, even as he put on a bold front, and sent Micaiah back to the prison house], until I come in peace. [This looks like an effort to encourage himself and those around him. But it almost betrays his misgivings. He would have them think he had no fears.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
and tell them
וְאָמַרְתָּ֗ (wə·’ā·mar·tā)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

that this is what
כֹּ֚ה (kōh)
Adverb
Strong's 3541: Like this, thus, here, now

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

says:
אָמַ֣ר (’ā·mar)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

‘Put
שִׂ֥ימוּ (śî·mū)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural
Strong's 7760: Put -- to put, place, set

this [man]
זֶ֖ה (zeh)
Pronoun - masculine singular
Strong's 2088: This, that

in prison
בֵּ֣ית (bêṯ)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1004: A house

and feed him
וְהַאֲכִילֻ֨הוּ (wə·ha·’ă·ḵî·lu·hū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine plural | third person masculine singular
Strong's 398: To eat

only bread
לֶ֤חֶם (le·ḥem)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3899: Food, bread, grain

and water
וּמַ֣יִם (ū·ma·yim)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 4325: Water, juice, urine, semen

until
עַ֖ד (‘aḏ)
Preposition
Strong's 5704: As far as, even to, up to, until, while

I return
בֹּאִ֥י (bō·’î)
Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | first person common singular
Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go

safely.’”
בְשָׁלֽוֹם׃ (ḇə·šā·lō·wm)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7965: Safe, well, happy, friendly, welfare, health, prosperity, peace


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OT History: 1 Kings 22:27 And say Thus says the king Put (1Ki iKi i Ki 1 Kg 1kg)
1 Kings 22:26
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