And say, Thus saith the king, Put this fellow in the prison, and feed him with bread of affliction and with water of affliction, until I come in peace.
1 KINGS 22:27KJVWhat does 1 Kings 22:27 mean?
1 Kings 22:27 records an order from the king to imprison a man and give him only the bare minimum for survival—bread and water associated with suffering—until the king returns safely. The verse shows the king’s intent to punish and isolate someone he sees as an opponent or threat.
In this setting, King Ahab is speaking about the prophet Micaiah, who had just delivered an unwelcome prophecy. Ahab commands his officials to put Micaiah in prison and feed him “bread of affliction and water of affliction,” meaning meager, harsh rations. This harsh treatment underscores the king’s anger at Micaiah’s message and his desire to silence dissent.
The Hebrew behind 1 Kings 22:27
- “Bread of affliction” uses the Hebrew לֶחֶם (lechem, “bread”) and לַחַץ (lachatz, “affliction” or “distress”). This phrase means food given in hardship, not ordinary bread, highlighting the intent to make Micaiah suffer.
- “Water of affliction” uses מַיִם (mayim, “water”) and again לַחַץ (lachatz, “affliction”). The repetition of “affliction” for both bread and water emphasizes the severity and discomfort of Micaiah’s imprisonment.
- The Hebrew for “prison” here is בֵּית הַכֶּלֶא (beit hakkele’, “house of confinement”), which refers to a place of restraint or captivity, not just any holding cell.
Why 1 Kings 22:27 matters
- This verse clarifies how ancient kings could use imprisonment and deprivation as tools to control or punish prophets who challenged their authority.
- The harshness of the order highlights the tension between true prophecy and royal power, a theme running throughout the chapter.
- Understanding the original words for “affliction” and “prison” helps modern readers grasp the real severity of Micaiah’s treatment, which is more than just being jailed—it is intended as active suffering.