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New Living Translation
1 Kings 20:11
The king of Israel sent back this answer: "A warrior putting on his sword for battle should not boast like a warrior who has already won."
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- InternationalParallel Translations
Christian Standard Bible®
The king of Israel answered, “Say this: ‘Don’t let the one who puts on his armor boast like the one who takes it off.’”
The king of Israel answered, “Say this: ‘Don’t let the one who puts on his armor boast like the one who takes it off.’”
Hebrew Names Version
The king of Yisra'el answered, Tell him, Don't let him who girds on [his armor] boast himself as he who puts it off.
The king of Yisra'el answered, Tell him, Don't let him who girds on [his armor] boast himself as he who puts it off.
King James Version
And the king of Israel answered and said, Tell him, Let not him that girdeth on his harness boast himself as he that putteth it off.
And the king of Israel answered and said, Tell him, Let not him that girdeth on his harness boast himself as he that putteth it off.
English Standard Version
And the king of Israel answered, "Tell him, ‘Let not him who straps on his armor boast himself as he who takes it off.'"
And the king of Israel answered, "Tell him, ‘Let not him who straps on his armor boast himself as he who takes it off.'"
New Century Version
Ahab answered, "Tell Ben-Hadad, ‘The man who puts on his armor should not brag. It's the man who lives to take it off who has the right to brag.'"
Ahab answered, "Tell Ben-Hadad, ‘The man who puts on his armor should not brag. It's the man who lives to take it off who has the right to brag.'"
New English Translation
The king of Israel replied, "Tell him the one who puts on his battle gear should not boast like one who is taking it off."
The king of Israel replied, "Tell him the one who puts on his battle gear should not boast like one who is taking it off."
Amplified Bible
The king of Israel answered, "Tell him, 'A man who puts on [his armor to go to battle] should not boast like the man who takes it off [after the battle has been won].'"
The king of Israel answered, "Tell him, 'A man who puts on [his armor to go to battle] should not boast like the man who takes it off [after the battle has been won].'"
New American Standard Bible
Then the king of Israel replied, "Tell him, 'He who straps on his weapons had better not boast like one who takes them off.'"
Then the king of Israel replied, "Tell him, 'He who straps on his weapons had better not boast like one who takes them off.'"
Geneva Bible (1587)
And the King of Israel answered, and sayd, Tell him, Let not him that girdeth his harneis, boast himselfe, as he that putteth it off.
And the King of Israel answered, and sayd, Tell him, Let not him that girdeth his harneis, boast himselfe, as he that putteth it off.
Legacy Standard Bible
Then the king of Israel answered and said, "Speak to him, ‘Let not him who girds on his armor boast like him who takes it off.'"
Then the king of Israel answered and said, "Speak to him, ‘Let not him who girds on his armor boast like him who takes it off.'"
Contemporary English Version
Ahab then answered, "Benhadad, don't brag before the fighting even begins. Wait and see if you live through it."
Ahab then answered, "Benhadad, don't brag before the fighting even begins. Wait and see if you live through it."
Complete Jewish Bible
The king of Isra'el answered, "Tell him: ‘He who is putting on his armor shouldn't boast as if he were taking it off!'"
The king of Isra'el answered, "Tell him: ‘He who is putting on his armor shouldn't boast as if he were taking it off!'"
Darby Translation
And the king of Israel answered and said, Tell [him], Let not him that girdeth on boast himself as he that putteth off!
And the king of Israel answered and said, Tell [him], Let not him that girdeth on boast himself as he that putteth off!
Easy-to-Read Version
King Ahab answered, "Tell Ben-Hadad that the man who puts on his armor should not boast as much as the man who lives long enough to take it off."
King Ahab answered, "Tell Ben-Hadad that the man who puts on his armor should not boast as much as the man who lives long enough to take it off."
George Lamsa Translation
And the king of Israel answered and said, Let him talk; nevertheless, the one who ties a knot is not more able than the one who can untie it.
And the king of Israel answered and said, Let him talk; nevertheless, the one who ties a knot is not more able than the one who can untie it.
Good News Translation
King Ahab answered, "Tell King Benhadad that a real soldier does his bragging after a battle, not before it."
King Ahab answered, "Tell King Benhadad that a real soldier does his bragging after a battle, not before it."
Lexham English Bible
The king of Israel answered and said, "Tell him, ‘Let not him who girds on his armor boast as one who takes off his armor.'"
The king of Israel answered and said, "Tell him, ‘Let not him who girds on his armor boast as one who takes off his armor.'"
Literal Translation
And the king of Israel answered and said, Tell him , Do not let him that girds on boast himself like one who loosens his armor .
And the king of Israel answered and said, Tell him , Do not let him that girds on boast himself like one who loosens his armor .
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
But ye kynge of Israel answered, & sayde: Tell him, Let not him yt putteth on ye harnes, make his boast like him yt hath put it of
But ye kynge of Israel answered, & sayde: Tell him, Let not him yt putteth on ye harnes, make his boast like him yt hath put it of
American Standard Version
And the king of Israel answered and said, Tell him, Let not him that girdeth on his armor boast himself as he that putteth it off.
And the king of Israel answered and said, Tell him, Let not him that girdeth on his armor boast himself as he that putteth it off.
Bible in Basic English
And the king of Israel said in answer, Say to him, The time for loud talk is not when a man is putting on his arms, but when he is taking them off.
And the king of Israel said in answer, Say to him, The time for loud talk is not when a man is putting on his arms, but when he is taking them off.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And the king of Israel aunswered, and sayd: Tell him, let not him that putteth on his harnesse boast him selfe, as he that putteth it of.
And the king of Israel aunswered, and sayd: Tell him, let not him that putteth on his harnesse boast him selfe, as he that putteth it of.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
And the king of Israel answered and said: 'Tell him: Let not him that girdeth on his armour boast himself as he that putteth it off.'
And the king of Israel answered and said: 'Tell him: Let not him that girdeth on his armour boast himself as he that putteth it off.'
King James Version (1611)
And the king of Israel answered, and said, Tell him, Let not him that girdeth on his harnesse, boast himselfe, as he that putteth it off.
And the king of Israel answered, and said, Tell him, Let not him that girdeth on his harnesse, boast himselfe, as he that putteth it off.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And the men of his city, the elders, and the nobles who dwelt in his city, did as Jezabel sent to them, and as it had been written in the letters which she sent to them.
And the men of his city, the elders, and the nobles who dwelt in his city, did as Jezabel sent to them, and as it had been written in the letters which she sent to them.
English Revised Version
And the king of Israel answered and said, tell him, Let not him that girdeth on [his armour] boast himself as he that putteth it off.
And the king of Israel answered and said, tell him, Let not him that girdeth on [his armour] boast himself as he that putteth it off.
Berean Standard Bible
And the king of Israel replied, "Tell him: 'The one putting on his armor should not boast like one taking it off.'"
And the king of Israel replied, "Tell him: 'The one putting on his armor should not boast like one taking it off.'"
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And the kyng of Israel answeride, and seide, Seie ye to hym, A gird man, `that is, he that goith to batel, haue not glorie euenli as a man vngird.
And the kyng of Israel answeride, and seide, Seie ye to hym, A gird man, `that is, he that goith to batel, haue not glorie euenli as a man vngird.
Young's Literal Translation
And the king of Israel answereth and saith, `Speak ye: let not him who is girding on boast himself as him who is loosing [his armour].'
And the king of Israel answereth and saith, `Speak ye: let not him who is girding on boast himself as him who is loosing [his armour].'
Update Bible Version
And the king of Israel answered and said, Tell him, Don't let him that girds on [his armor] boast himself as he that puts it off.
And the king of Israel answered and said, Tell him, Don't let him that girds on [his armor] boast himself as he that puts it off.
Webster's Bible Translation
And the king of Israel answered and said, Tell [him], Let not him that girdeth on [his harness] boast himself as he that putteth it off.
And the king of Israel answered and said, Tell [him], Let not him that girdeth on [his harness] boast himself as he that putteth it off.
World English Bible
The king of Israel answered, Tell him, Don't let him who girds on [his armor] boast himself as he who puts it off.
The king of Israel answered, Tell him, Don't let him who girds on [his armor] boast himself as he who puts it off.
New King James Version
So the king of Israel answered and said, "Tell him, "Let not the one who puts on his armor boast like the one who takes it off."'
So the king of Israel answered and said, "Tell him, "Let not the one who puts on his armor boast like the one who takes it off."'
New Life Bible
The king of Israel answered and said, "Tell him, ‘Let not him who dresses in battle-clothes talk with pride like him who takes them off.'"
The king of Israel answered and said, "Tell him, ‘Let not him who dresses in battle-clothes talk with pride like him who takes them off.'"
New Revised Standard
The king of Israel answered, "Tell him: One who puts on armor should not brag like one who takes it off."
The king of Israel answered, "Tell him: One who puts on armor should not brag like one who takes it off."
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And the king of Israel responded and said: Tell him, - Let not, him that girdeth, boast himself like him, that looseneth.
And the king of Israel responded and said: Tell him, - Let not, him that girdeth, boast himself like him, that looseneth.
Douay-Rheims Bible
And the king of Israel answering, said: Tell him: Let not the girded boast himself as the ungirded.
And the king of Israel answering, said: Tell him: Let not the girded boast himself as the ungirded.
Revised Standard Version
And the king of Israel answered, "Tell him, 'Let not him that girds on his armor boast himself as he that puts it off.'"
And the king of Israel answered, "Tell him, 'Let not him that girds on his armor boast himself as he that puts it off.'"
THE MESSAGE
The king of Israel countered, "Think about it—it's easier to start a fight than end one."
The king of Israel countered, "Think about it—it's easier to start a fight than end one."
New American Standard Bible (1995)
Then the king of Israel replied, "Tell him, 'Let not him who girds on his armor boast like him who takes it off.'"
Then the king of Israel replied, "Tell him, 'Let not him who girds on his armor boast like him who takes it off.'"
Contextual Overview
1 About that time King Ben-hadad of Aram mobilized his army, supported by the chariots and horses of thirty-two allied kings. They went to besiege Samaria, the capital of Israel, and launched attacks against it. 2 Ben-hadad sent messengers into the city to relay this message to King Ahab of Israel: "This is what Ben-hadad says: 3 ‘Your silver and gold are mine, and so are your wives and the best of your children!'" 4 "All right, my lord the king," Israel's king replied. "All that I have is yours!" 5 Soon Ben-hadad's messengers returned again and said, "This is what Ben-hadad says: ‘I have already demanded that you give me your silver, gold, wives, and children. 6 But about this time tomorrow I will send my officials to search your palace and the homes of your officials. They will take away everything you consider valuable!'" 7 Then Ahab summoned all the elders of the land and said to them, "Look how this man is stirring up trouble! I already agreed with his demand that I give him my wives and children and silver and gold." 8 "Don't give in to any more demands," all the elders and the people advised. 9 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. 10 Then Ben-hadad sent this message to Ahab: "May the gods strike me and even kill me if there remains enough dust from Samaria to provide even a handful for each of my soldiers."
Bible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
Let not him: etc. This was no doubt a proverbial mode of expression. Jonathan renders it: "Let not him who girds himself, and goes down to battle, boast as one who has conquered and returned from it." 1 Samuel 14:6, 1 Samuel 14:12, 1 Samuel 14:13, 1 Samuel 17:44-47, Proverbs 27:1, Ecclesiastes 9:11, Isaiah 10:15, Isaiah 10:16, Matthew 26:33-35, Matthew 26:75
harness: The word harness is an obsolete word for armour, derived from the French harnois. See note on Exodus 13:18.
Reciprocal: Judges 4:10 - at his Judges 8:6 - General Judges 8:24 - because Judges 9:29 - would to God 2 Samuel 2:31 - three hundred 1 Kings 20:16 - Benhadad 2 Kings 3:21 - put on armour Job 41:8 - General Psalms 10:5 - he puffeth Proverbs 14:16 - the fool Isaiah 8:9 - gird Jeremiah 9:23 - neither Daniel 3:19 - he spake Matthew 26:40 - What Luke 14:31 - General Romans 1:30 - boasters Romans 11:18 - Boast not 1 Corinthians 13:4 - vaunteth not itself
Cross-References
Genesis 12:12
When the Egyptians see you, they will say, ‘This is his wife. Let's kill him; then we can have her!'
When the Egyptians see you, they will say, ‘This is his wife. Let's kill him; then we can have her!'
Genesis 20:1
Abraham moved south to the Negev and lived for a while between Kadesh and Shur, and then he moved on to Gerar. While living there as a foreigner,
Abraham moved south to the Negev and lived for a while between Kadesh and Shur, and then he moved on to Gerar. While living there as a foreigner,
Genesis 20:4
But Abimelech had not slept with her yet, so he said, "Lord, will you destroy an innocent nation?
But Abimelech had not slept with her yet, so he said, "Lord, will you destroy an innocent nation?
Genesis 22:12
"Don't lay a hand on the boy!" the angel said. "Do not hurt him in any way, for now I know that you truly fear God. You have not withheld from me even your son, your only son."
"Don't lay a hand on the boy!" the angel said. "Do not hurt him in any way, for now I know that you truly fear God. You have not withheld from me even your son, your only son."
Genesis 26:7
When the men who lived there asked Isaac about his wife, Rebekah, he said, "She is my sister." He was afraid to say, "She is my wife." He thought, "They will kill me to get her, because she is so beautiful."
When the men who lived there asked Isaac about his wife, Rebekah, he said, "She is my sister." He was afraid to say, "She is my wife." He thought, "They will kill me to get her, because she is so beautiful."
Genesis 42:18
On the third day Joseph said to them, "I am a God-fearing man. If you do as I say, you will live.
On the third day Joseph said to them, "I am a God-fearing man. If you do as I say, you will live.
Nehemiah 5:15
The former governors, in contrast, had laid heavy burdens on the people, demanding a daily ration of food and wine, besides forty pieces of silver. Even their assistants took advantage of the people. But because I feared God, I did not act that way.
The former governors, in contrast, had laid heavy burdens on the people, demanding a daily ration of food and wine, besides forty pieces of silver. Even their assistants took advantage of the people. But because I feared God, I did not act that way.
Job 1:1
There once was a man named Job who lived in the land of Uz. He was blameless—a man of complete integrity. He feared God and stayed away from evil.
There once was a man named Job who lived in the land of Uz. He was blameless—a man of complete integrity. He feared God and stayed away from evil.
Job 28:28
And this is what he says to all humanity: ‘The fear of the Lord is true wisdom; to forsake evil is real understanding.'"
And this is what he says to all humanity: ‘The fear of the Lord is true wisdom; to forsake evil is real understanding.'"
Psalms 14:4
Will those who do evil never learn? They eat up my people like bread and wouldn't think of praying to the Lord .
Will those who do evil never learn? They eat up my people like bread and wouldn't think of praying to the Lord .
Gill's Notes on the Bible
Ver. 11 And the king of Israel answered and said,.... Very mildly and very wisely:
tell him, let not him that girdeth on his harness boast himself as he that putteth it off; that is, he that prepares for the battle as he that has got the victory; the sense is, let no man triumph before the battle is over and the victory won; the events of war are uncertain; the battle is not always to the strong.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible
Ahabâs reply has the air of a proverb, with which Orientals always love to answer a foe.
Clarke's Notes on the Bible
Verse 1 Kings 20:11. Let not him that girdeth on — This was no doubt a proverbial mode of expression. Jonathan translates, "Tell him, Let not him who girds himself and goes down to the battle, boast as he who has conquered and returned from it."
