Then said he unto him, Because thou hast not obeyed the voice of the LORD, behold, as soon as thou art departed from me, a lion shall slay thee. And as soon as he was departed from him, a lion found him, and slew him.

1 KINGS 20:36KJV
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1 Kings 20:36 (KJV)

What does 1 Kings 20:36 mean?

1 Kings 20:36 describes how a prophet tells a man that, because he did not obey God’s command, a lion will kill him as soon as he leaves. The verse then records that this happens exactly as the prophet said: the man departs, a lion finds him, and kills him.

In this scene, a prophet (a messenger of God) speaks to another man who had refused to follow a specific instruction. The prophet declares a consequence for this disobedience, making it clear that the punishment comes directly from God. The story highlights the seriousness of obeying God’s voice in the events surrounding King Ahab and the aftermath of a battle.

The Hebrew behind 1 Kings 20:36

  • "obeyed" (שָׁמַע, shamaʿ): This word means to listen or pay attention, but it often carries the sense of obeying or responding to what is heard. The emphasis is not just on hearing God’s voice, but on acting according to it.
  • "voice" (קוֹל, qol): This word means voice or sound and here refers specifically to the command or instruction from the LORD. It underscores that the message ignored was not just human advice, but a direct word from God.
  • "lion" (אֲרִיֵּה, ariyeh): The lion is a symbol of danger and judgment in the Hebrew Bible. Its sudden appearance and lethal action show that the consequence is both immediate and unstoppable, reinforcing the seriousness of the offense.
  • "slay" (נָכָה, nakah): This word means to strike or kill. Its use here is blunt and final, making clear that the punishment is not just a warning but results in death.

Why 1 Kings 20:36 matters

  • This verse shows that God’s instructions, delivered through His prophets, are not suggestions but commands with real consequences for disobedience.
  • The immediate fulfillment of the prophet’s words demonstrates the authority of God’s message and the reliability of His warnings.
  • The story sets the stage for the larger narrative about King Ahab’s own disobedience and the consequences that follow, highlighting a theme of accountability before God.

Where else these words appear

“him” Hebrew H681 · used in 57 verses

  • Genesis 39:10 And it came to pass, as she spake to Joseph day by day, that he hearkened not unto her, to lie by her, or to be with her.
  • 1 Kings 4:12 Baana the son of Ahilud; to him pertained Taanach and Megiddo, and all Bethshean, which is by Zartanah beneath Jezreel, from Bethshean to Abelmeholah, even unto the place that is beyond Jokneam:
  • Proverbs 8:30 Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him;

“lion” Hebrew H738 · used in 72 verses

  • Genesis 49:9 Judah is a lion's whelp: from the prey, my son, thou art gone up: he stooped down, he couched as a lion, and as an old lion; who shall rouse him up?
  • 2 Kings 17:26 Wherefore they spake to the king of Assyria, saying, The nations which thou hast removed, and placed in the cities of Samaria, know not the manner of the God of the land: therefore he hath sent lions among them, and, behold, they slay them, because they know not the manner of the God of the land.
  • Jeremiah 2:30 In vain have I smitten your children; they received no correction: your own sword hath devoured your prophets, like a destroying lion.