And, behold, there came a man of God out of Judah by the word of the LORD unto Bethel: and Jeroboam stood by the altar to burn incense.

1 KINGS 13:1KJV
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1 Kings 13:1 (KJV)

What does 1 Kings 13:1 mean?

1 Kings 13:1 describes how a man sent by God from Judah arrived at Bethel, following a command from the LORD, while King Jeroboam was standing by the altar to burn incense. This sets the scene for a confrontation between a prophet and the king during an act of worship that was not approved by God.

The verse introduces an unnamed "man of God" who comes from the southern kingdom of Judah to Bethel in the northern kingdom, where Jeroboam is leading worship at an altar. The situation is tense because Jeroboam had set up alternative worship sites, which was against the traditional worship in Jerusalem. The verse signals that a significant message or event is about to unfold, involving God's direct intervention in the northern kingdom's religious practices.

The Hebrew behind 1 Kings 13:1

  • "man" (אִישׁ, ish): This word simply means "man," but in this context, "man of God" marks him as a prophet or messenger, someone with a special commission from God.
  • "God" (אֱלֹהִים, elohim): Used here in the phrase "man of God," it emphasizes that the authority and message of this man come from the true God, not from any local or false deity.
  • "word" (דָּבָר, davar): The man comes "by the word of the LORD," meaning he is acting under direct divine instruction, not his own initiative.
  • "LORD" (יְהוָה, YHWH): This is the personal name of Israel’s God, highlighting that the message and authority are from the covenant God of Israel, not just any god.
  • "Bethel" (בֵּית־אֵל, Beit-El): The location is significant because Bethel was one of the main centers of unauthorized worship set up by Jeroboam.

Why 1 Kings 13:1 matters

  • This verse highlights the seriousness of Jeroboam’s actions in setting up alternative worship, showing that God responds directly to such changes through His prophets.
  • It introduces a dramatic encounter that will challenge the king’s authority and the legitimacy of the new religious practices in the northern kingdom.
  • The mention of "by the word of the LORD" underlines that true prophetic authority comes from God’s command, not from human ambition or tradition.