1 Kings 20:31
New English Translation
31 His advisers[a] said to him, “Look, we have heard that the kings of the Israelite dynasty are kind.[b] Allow us to put sackcloth around our waists and ropes on our heads[c] and surrender[d] to the king of Israel. Maybe he will spare our lives.”
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 1 Kings 20:31 tn Or “servants.”
- 1 Kings 20:31 tn Heb “that the kings of the house of Israel, that kings of kindness [are] they.” Or “merciful” rather than “kind.” The word used here often means “devoted” or “loyal.” Perhaps the idea is that the Israelite kings are willing to make treaties with other kings.
- 1 Kings 20:31 sn Sackcloth was worn as a sign of sorrow and repentance. The precise significance of the ropes on the head is uncertain, but it probably was a sign of submission. These actions were comparable to raising a white flag on the battlefield or throwing in the towel in a boxing match.
- 1 Kings 20:31 tn Heb “go out.”
1 Kings 20:31
New International Version
31 His officials said to him, “Look, we have heard that the kings of Israel are merciful.(A) Let us go to the king of Israel with sackcloth(B) around our waists and ropes around our heads. Perhaps he will spare your life.”
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