And there came in two men, children of Belial, and sat before him: and the men of Belial witnessed against him, even against Naboth, in the presence of the people, saying, Naboth did blaspheme God and the king. Then they carried him forth out of the city, and stoned him with stones, that he died.

1 KINGS 21:13KJV
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1 Kings 21:13 (KJV)

What does 1 Kings 21:13 mean?

1 Kings 21:13 describes how two men, called "children of Belial," falsely accused Naboth of blaspheming God and the king in front of the people. Because of their testimony, Naboth was taken outside the city and killed by stoning.

This verse takes place during King Ahab’s reign in Israel. Jezebel, Ahab’s wife, arranged for these false witnesses to accuse Naboth so that Ahab could take Naboth’s vineyard. The phrase "children of Belial" means wicked or worthless men, showing that these witnesses were corrupt and their testimony was a lie. The public accusation and execution were meant to make the killing seem lawful, even though it was a grave injustice.

The Hebrew behind 1 Kings 21:13

  • בְּנֵי בְּלִיַּעַל (benei beliya‘al) — "children of Belial": This phrase means "worthless" or "lawless" men. In this context, it underlines that the accusers had no moral integrity and were willing to lie for personal gain.
  • בֵּרֵךְ (barekh) — translated here as "blaspheme": This word can mean "to bless," but in certain contexts, especially legal ones, it is used as a euphemism for "curse" or "blaspheme." This shows the seriousness of the charge against Naboth, as blasphemy was a capital offense.
  • סָקַל (saqal) — "stoned": This verb means to execute someone by throwing stones, a common form of capital punishment in ancient Israel for serious crimes like blasphemy.

Why 1 Kings 21:13 matters

  • 1 Kings 21:13 highlights how legal procedures could be twisted by those in power to commit injustice while appearing to follow the law.
  • The verse shows the seriousness of false witness in Israelite society, especially when it leads to someone’s death.
  • This event sets up the rest of the chapter, where God responds to this injustice through the prophet Elijah, showing that such evil does not go unnoticed.