1 Kings 20:38 web — So the prophet departed, and waited for the king by the way, and disguised himself with his headband over his eyes.

World English Bible

"So the prophet departed, and waited for the king by the way, and disguised himself with his headband over his eyes."

— 1 Kings 20:38, World English Bible

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1 Kings 20:38 in Other Translations

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1 Kings 20 — Context

35

A certain man of the sons of the prophets said to his fellow by the word of Yahweh, "Please strike me!" The man refused to strike him.

36

Then he said to him, "Because you have not obeyed the voice of Yahweh, behold, as soon as you are departed from me, a lion shall kill you." As soon as he was departed from him, a lion found him, and killed him.

37

Then he found another man, and said, "Please strike me." The man struck him, smiting and wounding him.

38

So the prophet departed, and waited for the king by the way, and disguised himself with his headband over his eyes.

39

As the king passed by, he cried to the king; and he said, "Your servant went out into the midst of the battle; and behold, a man turned aside, and brought a man to me, and said, 'Guard this man! If by any means he be missing, then your life shall be for his life, or else you shall pay a talent of silver.'

40

As your servant was busy here and there, he was gone." The king of Israel said to him, "So your judgment shall be; yourself have decided it."

41

He hurried, and took the headband away from his eyes; and the king of Israel recognized that he was of the prophets.

1 Kings 20:38 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does 1 Kings 20:38 say?
1 Kings 20:38 in the World English Bible reads: “So the prophet departed, and waited for the king by the way, and disguised himself with his headband over his eyes.”
Where is 1 Kings 20:38 in the Bible?
1 Kings 20:38 is found in the Old Testament, in the book of 1 Kings, chapter 20, verse 38.
Who wrote 1 Kings?
1 Kings is traditionally attributed to Anonymous (traditionally Jeremiah). It was written c. 561–538 BC.
What is the book of 1 Kings about?
1 Kings tells of Solomon's wisdom and the building of the temple, then the painful division of the kingdom after his death. The northern kingdom plunges into idolatry under a series of wicked kings until the prophet Elijah is raised up to call Israel back to the LORD.
What are the major themes of 1 Kings?
1 Kings explores themes including Wisdom, Temple, Divided Kingdom, Idolatry, Prophecy. These themes shape the meaning and context of 1 Kings 20:38.
What translation should I read 1 Kings 20:38 in?
1 Kings 20:38 is available on GodsGoodBook in the King James Version (KJV), American Standard Version (ASV), World English Bible (WEB), NET Bible, Young's Literal Translation, Darby Bible, Douay-Rheims Bible, and the Bible in Basic English. Each translation reflects different translation philosophies — use the translation picker on this page to compare them, or browse our full translations directory.
How can I memorize 1 Kings 20:38?
1 Kings 20:38 reads (WEB): “So the prophet departed, and waited for the king by the way, and disguised himself with his headband over his eyes.” Read it aloud, break it into short phrases, repeat each phrase three times before adding the next, then put the phrases together. Reading it in multiple translations (above) often helps the meaning settle.
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