And Naboth said to Ahab, The LORD forbid it me, that I should give the inheritance of my fathers unto thee.

1 KINGS 21:3KJV
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1 Kings 21:3 (KJV)

What does 1 Kings 21:3 mean?

1 Kings 21:3 records Naboth’s refusal to give King Ahab his family vineyard, saying that the LORD forbids him from giving away the inheritance passed down from his ancestors. Naboth’s answer shows his deep respect for God’s law and the importance of keeping his family’s land.

In this verse, Naboth is speaking directly to King Ahab, who has asked to buy or trade for Naboth’s vineyard. The situation is tense because Ahab is the king, but Naboth stands firm, explaining that the land is not just property but a sacred trust from his fathers. Naboth’s response is rooted in the belief that giving away this inheritance would go against God’s commands for Israel about keeping ancestral land within the family.

The Hebrew behind 1 Kings 21:3

  • יְהוָה (YHWH, transliterated “Yahweh” or “the LORD”): This is the personal name of Israel’s God, highlighting that Naboth’s decision is based on his relationship with God, not just personal preference or tradition.
  • נַחֲלָה (naḥălāh, “inheritance”): This word means more than just property; it refers to land passed down through generations, showing why Naboth feels bound by duty to keep it in his family.
  • אָבוֹת (’avot, “fathers”): This points to Naboth’s ancestors, emphasizing the generational connection and the idea that the land is a family trust, not just a possession he can sell.

Why 1 Kings 21:3 matters

  • This verse clarifies that Naboth’s refusal is not stubbornness or disrespect toward the king, but obedience to God’s law about family inheritance.
  • It highlights the tension between royal authority and ordinary people’s faithfulness to God’s commands, setting the stage for the conflict in the rest of the chapter.
  • Understanding Naboth’s reasoning helps explain why his answer is so firm, and why the story becomes a key example of justice and injustice in Israel’s history.

Where else these words appear

“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 21:8 So she wrote letters in Ahab's name, and sealed them with his seal, and sent the letters unto the elders and to the nobles that were in his city, dwelling with Naboth.
  • 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.

“forbid” Hebrew H2486 · used in 19 verses

  • Genesis 18:25 That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?
  • 1 Samuel 12:23 Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you the good and the right way:
  • 1 Samuel 26:11 The LORD forbid that I should stretch forth mine hand against the LORD'S anointed: but, I pray thee, take thou now the spear that is at his bolster, and the cruse of water, and let us go.

“Ahab” Hebrew H256 · used in 81 verses

  • 1 Kings 16:28 So Omri slept with his fathers, and was buried in Samaria: and Ahab his son reigned in his stead.
  • 1 Kings 21:4 And Ahab came into his house heavy and displeased because of the word which Naboth the Jezreelite had spoken to him: for he had said, I will not give thee the inheritance of my fathers. And he laid him down upon his bed, and turned away his face, and would eat no bread.
  • 2 Kings 9:8 For the whole house of Ahab shall perish: and I will cut off from Ahab him that pisseth against the wall, and him that is shut up and left in Israel: