1 Kings 21:3 net — But Naboth replied to Ahab,“The LORD forbid that I should sell you my ancestral inheritance.”

NET Bible

"But Naboth replied to Ahab,“The LORD forbid that I should sell you my ancestral inheritance.”"

— 1 Kings 21:3, NET Bible

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1 Kings 21:3 in Other Translations

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1 Kings 21 — Context

1

Ahab Murders Naboth After this the following episode took place. Naboth the Jezreelite owned a vineyard in Jezreel adjacent to the palace of King Ahab of Samaria.

2

Ahab said to Naboth,“Give me your vineyard so I can make a vegetable garden out of it, for it is adjacent to my palace. I will give you an even better vineyard in its place, or if you prefer, I will pay you silver for it.”

3

But Naboth replied to Ahab,“The LORD forbid that I should sell you my ancestral inheritance.”

4

So Ahab went into his palace, bitter and angry that Naboth the Jezreelite had said,“I will not sell to you my ancestral inheritance.” He lay down on his bed, pouted, and would not eat.

5

Then his wife Jezebel came in and said to him,“Why do you have a bitter attitude and refuse to eat?”

6

He answered her,“While I was talking to Naboth the Jezreelite, I said to him,‘Sell me your vineyard for silver, or if you prefer, I will give you another vineyard in its place.’ But he said,‘I will not sell you my vineyard.’”

1 Kings 21:3 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does 1 Kings 21:3 say?
1 Kings 21:3 in the NET Bible reads: “But Naboth replied to Ahab,“The LORD forbid that I should sell you my ancestral inheritance.””
Where is 1 Kings 21:3 in the Bible?
1 Kings 21:3 is found in the Old Testament, in the book of 1 Kings, chapter 21, verse 3.
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 21:3.
What translation should I read 1 Kings 21:3 in?
1 Kings 21:3 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 21:3?
1 Kings 21:3 reads (NET): “But Naboth replied to Ahab,“The LORD forbid that I should sell you my ancestral inheritance.”” 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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