And it came to pass, when Ahab heard those words, that he rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his flesh, and fasted, and lay in sackcloth, and went softly.

1 KINGS 21:27KJV
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1 Kings 21:27 (KJV)

What does 1 Kings 21:27 mean?

1 Kings 21:27 describes King Ahab responding to a severe warning from God with visible signs of distress and humility. His actions show that he takes the warning seriously: he tears his clothes, wears rough sackcloth, and goes without food.

Ahab has just heard Elijah’s warning about the consequences of his actions against Naboth. Sackcloth was coarse material associated with mourning or distress. Wearing it against his skin and sleeping in it made Ahab’s response more than a brief public gesture.

The Hebrew behind 1 Kings 21:27

  • “heard” — שָׁמַע (shamaʿ): This can mean to hear or listen. Here it introduces Ahab’s response to the words he has just received.
  • “softly” — אַט (ʾat): This can mean slowly or gently. Ahab’s manner of walking adds a subdued movement to the other signs of distress.

Why 1 Kings 21:27 matters

  • Ahab’s response follows a direct warning, not a general change of mood. The phrase “when Ahab heard those words” connects his actions to Elijah’s message after Naboth’s death.
  • The surrounding passage identifies Ahab’s conduct as humbling himself. In verse 29, God points out to Elijah that Ahab has humbled himself and announces a delay in the disaster against Ahab’s house.

Where else these words appear

“softly” Hebrew H328 · used in 6 verses

  • Genesis 33:14 Let my lord, I pray thee, pass over before his servant: and I will lead on softly, according as the cattle that goeth before me and the children be able to endure, until I come unto my lord unto Seir.
  • 2 Samuel 18:5 And the king commanded Joab and Abishai and Ittai, saying, Deal gently for my sake with the young man, even with Absalom. And all the people heard when the king gave all the captains charge concerning Absalom.
  • Isaiah 8:6 Forasmuch as this people refuseth the waters of Shiloah that go softly, and rejoice in Rezin and Remaliah's son;

“fasted” Hebrew H6684 · used in 17 verses

  • Judges 20:26 Then all the children of Israel, and all the people, went up, and came unto the house of God, and wept, and sat there before the LORD, and fasted that day until even, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD.
  • 2 Samuel 12:21 Then said his servants unto him, What thing is this that thou hast done? thou didst fast and weep for the child, while it was alive; but when the child was dead, thou didst rise and eat bread.
  • Nehemiah 1:4 And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven,

“sackcloth” Hebrew H8242 · used in 46 verses

  • Genesis 37:34 And Jacob rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his loins, and mourned for his son many days.
  • Esther 4:1 When Mordecai perceived all that was done, Mordecai rent his clothes, and put on sackcloth with ashes, and went out into the midst of the city, and cried with a loud and a bitter cry;
  • Isaiah 58:5 Is it such a fast that I have chosen? a day for a man to afflict his soul? is it to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the LORD?

“rent” Hebrew H7167 · used in 60 verses

  • Genesis 37:29 And Reuben returned unto the pit; and, behold, Joseph was not in the pit; and he rent his clothes.
  • 1 Kings 11:11 Wherefore the LORD said unto Solomon, Forasmuch as this is done of thee, and thou hast not kept my covenant and my statutes, which I have commanded thee, I will surely rend the kingdom from thee, and will give it to thy servant.
  • 2 Chronicles 34:27 Because thine heart was tender, and thou didst humble thyself before God, when thou heardest his words against this place, and against the inhabitants thereof, and humbledst thyself before me, and didst rend thy clothes, and weep before me; I have even heard thee also, saith the LORD.