And it came to pass, when Jezebel heard that Naboth was stoned, and was dead, that Jezebel said to Ahab, Arise, take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, which he refused to give thee for money: for Naboth is not alive, but dead.

1 KINGS 21:15KJV
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1 Kings 21:15 (KJV)

What does 1 Kings 21:15 mean?

1 Kings 21:15 describes how Jezebel, after learning that Naboth had been killed by stoning, told her husband King Ahab to go and take possession of Naboth’s vineyard, since Naboth was now dead and could no longer refuse to sell it. This verse shows Jezebel’s role in making sure Ahab got what he wanted by removing Naboth as an obstacle.

In this verse, Jezebel is speaking to Ahab after orchestrating Naboth’s death. The setting is the aftermath of a plot where Naboth was falsely accused and executed so that Ahab could have his vineyard. Jezebel’s words reveal her control over the situation and her willingness to use ruthless means to achieve her goals.

The Hebrew behind 1 Kings 21:15

  • "Stoned" (סָקַל, saqal): This word means to kill someone by throwing stones, a method of execution in ancient Israel. Its use here underlines the severity and finality of Naboth’s fate.
  • "Possession" (יָרַשׁ, yarash): This verb means to take over or inherit property. Jezebel is telling Ahab to claim the vineyard as his own, treating Naboth’s death as a legal opportunity.
  • "Refused" (מָאֵן, ma'en): This word means to reject or decline. The verse reminds the reader that Naboth had previously refused to sell the vineyard, making Jezebel’s actions a direct response to that refusal.

Why 1 Kings 21:15 matters

  • This verse makes clear that Jezebel was the driving force behind Naboth’s death and Ahab’s acquisition of the vineyard, not just a passive bystander.
  • The verse highlights the abuse of power by those in authority, showing how Jezebel and Ahab manipulated the law for personal gain.
  • Understanding this verse helps explain the strong prophetic condemnation that follows in the rest of the chapter, as the injustice against Naboth becomes a turning point in the story of Ahab’s reign.

Where else these words appear

“Jezreelite” Hebrew H3158 · used in 8 verses

  • 1 Kings 21:1 And it came to pass after these things, that Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard, which was in Jezreel, hard by the palace of Ahab king of Samaria.
  • 1 Kings 21:6 And he said unto her, Because I spake unto Naboth the Jezreelite, and said unto him, Give me thy vineyard for money; or else, if it please thee, I will give thee another vineyard for it: and he answered, I will not give thee my vineyard.
  • 1 Kings 21:16 And it came to pass, when Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, that Ahab rose up to go down to the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, to take possession of it.

“Naboth” Hebrew H5022 · used in 18 verses

  • 1 Kings 21:1 And it came to pass after these things, that Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard, which was in Jezreel, hard by the palace of Ahab king of Samaria.
  • 1 Kings 21:7 And Jezebel his wife said unto him, Dost thou now govern the kingdom of Israel? arise, and eat bread, and let thine heart be merry: I will give thee the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.
  • 1 Kings 21:16 And it came to pass, when Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, that Ahab rose up to go down to the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, to take possession of it.

“Jezebel” Hebrew H348 · used in 19 verses

  • 1 Kings 16:31 And it came to pass, as if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that he took to wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Zidonians, and went and served Baal, and worshipped him.
  • 1 Kings 21:5 But Jezebel his wife came to him, and said unto him, Why is thy spirit so sad, that thou eatest no bread?
  • 2 Kings 9:7 And thou shalt smite the house of Ahab thy master, that I may avenge the blood of my servants the prophets, and the blood of all the servants of the LORD, at the hand of Jezebel.

“stoned” Hebrew H5619 · used in 20 verses

  • Exodus 8:26 And Moses said, It is not meet so to do; for we shall sacrifice the abomination of the Egyptians to the LORD our God: lo, shall we sacrifice the abomination of the Egyptians before their eyes, and will they not stone us?
  • Deuteronomy 13:10 And thou shalt stone him with stones, that he die; because he hath sought to thrust thee away from the LORD thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.
  • 2 Samuel 16:6 And he cast stones at David, and at all the servants of king David: and all the people and all the mighty men were on his right hand and on his left.