42 He said to the king, "This is what the Lord says: 'You have set free a man I had determined should die.[1] Therefore it is your life for his life, your people for his people.' "

Other Translations of 1 Kings 20:42

King James Version

42 And he said unto him, Thus saith the Lord, Because thou hast let go out of thy hand a man whom I appointed to utter destruction, therefore thy life shall go for his life, and thy people for his people.

English Standard Version

42 And he said to him, "Thus says the Lord, 'Because you have let go out of your hand the man whom I had devoted to destruction,That is, set apart (devoted) as an offering to the Lord (for destruction) therefore your life shall be for his life, and your people for his people.'"

The Message

42 The man said to the king, "God's word: Because you let a man go who was under sentence by God, it's now your life for his, your people for his."

New King James Version

42 Then he said to him, "Thus says the Lord: 'Because you have let slip out of your hand a man whom I appointed to utter destruction, therefore your life shall go for his life, and your people for his people.' "

New Living Translation

42 The prophet said to him, "This is what the Lord says: Because you have spared the man I said must be destroyed, now you must die in his place, and your people will die instead of his people."

Matthew Henry's Commentary on 1 Kings 20:42

Commentary on 1 Kings 20:31-43

(Read 1 Kings 20:31-43)

This encouragement sinners have to repent and humble themselves before God; Have we not heard, that the God of Israel is a merciful God? Have we not found him so? That is gospel repentance, which flows from an apprehension of the mercy of God, in Christ; there is forgiveness with him. What a change is here! The most haughty in prosperity often are most abject in adversity; an evil spirit will thus affect a man in both these conditions. There are those on whom, like Ahab, success is ill bestowed; they know not how to serve either God or their generation, or even their own true interests with their prosperity: Let favour be showed to the wicked, yet will he not learn righteousness. The prophet designed to reprove Ahab by a parable. If a good prophet were punished for sparing his friend and God's when God said, Smite, of much sorer punishment should a wicked king be thought worthy, who spared his enemy and God's, when God said, Smite. Ahab went to his house, heavy and displeased, not truly penitent, or seeking to undo what he had done amiss; every way out of humour, notwithstanding his victory. Alas! many that hear the glad tidings of Christ, are busy and there till the day of salvation is gone.