1 Kings 21:27

27 When Ahab heard these words, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and fasted. He lay in sackcloth and went around meekly.

1 Kings 21:27 in Other Translations

King James Version (KJV)
27 And it came to pass, when Ahab heard those words, that he rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his flesh, and fasted, and lay in sackcloth, and went softly.
English Standard Version (ESV)
27 And when Ahab heard those words, he tore his clothes and put sackcloth on his flesh and fasted and lay in sackcloth and went about dejectedly.
New Living Translation (NLT)
27 But when Ahab heard this message, he tore his clothing, dressed in burlap, and fasted. He even slept in burlap and went about in deep mourning.
The Message Bible (MSG)
27 When Ahab heard what Elijah had to say, he ripped his clothes to shreds, dressed in penitential rough burlap, and fasted. He even slept in coarse burlap pajamas. He tiptoed around, quiet as a mouse.
American Standard Version (ASV)
27 And it came to pass, when Ahab heard those words, that he rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his flesh, and fasted, and lay in sackcloth, and went softly.
GOD'S WORD Translation (GW)
27 When Ahab heard these things, he tore his clothes [in distress] and dressed in sackcloth. He fasted, lay in sackcloth, and walked around depressed.
Holman Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
27 When Ahab heard these words, he tore his clothes, put sackcloth over his body, and fasted. He lay down in sackcloth and walked around subdued.
New International Reader's Version (NIRV)
27 When Ahab heard what Elijah had said, he tore his clothes. He put on black clothes. He went without eating. He even slept in his clothes. He went around looking sad.

1 Kings 21:27 Meaning and Commentary

Ver. 27 And it came to pass when Ahab heard these words
Delivered in ( 1 Kings 21:21-24 ) ,

that he rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon, his flesh,
tore off his clothes, and stripped himself of all, even of his very shirt, and put sackcloth on his bare flesh, a coarse cloth made of hair, and such as sacks are made with:

and fasted,
how long it is not said:

and lay in sackcloth;
in the night on his bed, would have no linen on him day nor night:

and went softly:
step by step, as persons mourning, grieving, and pensive, do; the Targum renders it "barefoot", and so Jarchi.

1 Kings 21:27 In-Context

25 (There was never anyone like Ahab, who sold himself to do evil in the eyes of the LORD, urged on by Jezebel his wife.
26 He behaved in the vilest manner by going after idols, like the Amorites the LORD drove out before Israel.)
27 When Ahab heard these words, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and fasted. He lay in sackcloth and went around meekly.
28 Then the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite:
29 “Have you noticed how Ahab has humbled himself before me? Because he has humbled himself, I will not bring this disaster in his day, but I will bring it on his house in the days of his son.”

Cross References 2

  • 1. S Genesis 37:34; 2 Samuel 3:31; 2 Kings 6:30; S Jeremiah 4:8
  • 2. Isaiah 38:15
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