What does 1 Kings 20:9 mean?
ESV: So he said to the messengers of Ben-hadad, "Tell my lord the king, ‘All that you first demanded of your servant I will do, but this thing I cannot do.’" And the messengers departed and brought him word again.
NIV: So he replied to Ben-Hadad’s messengers, "Tell my lord the king, ‘Your servant will do all you demanded the first time, but this demand I cannot meet.’ " They left and took the answer back to Ben-Hadad.
NASB: So he said to the messengers of Ben-hadad, 'Tell my lord the king, 'Everything that you sent as a demand to your servant at the first, I will do; but this thing I cannot do.' Then the messengers departed, and brought him word again.
CSB: So he said to Ben-hadad’s messengers, "Say to my lord the king, ‘Everything you demanded of your servant the first time, I will do, but this thing I cannot do.’" So the messengers left and took word back to him.
NLT: So Ahab told the messengers from Ben-hadad, 'Say this to my lord the king: ‘I will give you everything you asked for the first time, but I cannot accept this last demand of yours.’' So the messengers returned to Ben-hadad with that response.
KJV: Wherefore he said unto the messengers of Benhadad, Tell my lord the king, All that thou didst send for to thy servant at the first I will do: but this thing I may not do. And the messengers departed, and brought him word again.
NKJV: Therefore he said to the messengers of Ben-Hadad, “Tell my lord the king, ‘All that you sent for to your servant the first time I will do, but this thing I cannot do.’ ” And the messengers departed and brought back word to him.
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Chapter Summary:
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Book Summary:
This was originally the first half of a combined text. First Kings records the end of David's reign and the rule of Solomon. After this, the kingdom is split in two. The northern nation of Israel no longer submits to the king of the southern nation, called Judah. The prophet Elijah first appears in this book. The kings mostly fail to honor the Lord. They participate in idolatry and other sins. This will eventually result in their conquest and exile, as depicted throughout the books of Chronicles.
Accessed 6/7/2026 11:26:29 PM
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