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Read the Bible
New Living Translation
1 Kings 20:18
"Take them alive," Ben-hadad commanded, "whether they have come for peace or for war."
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Concordances:
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- InternationalParallel Translations
Christian Standard Bible®
So he said, “If they have marched out in peace, take them alive, and if they have marched out for battle, take them alive.”
So he said, “If they have marched out in peace, take them alive, and if they have marched out for battle, take them alive.”
Hebrew Names Version
He said, Whether they are come out for shalom, take them alive, or whether they are come out for war, taken them alive.
He said, Whether they are come out for shalom, take them alive, or whether they are come out for war, taken them alive.
King James Version
And he said, Whether they be come out for peace, take them alive; or whether they be come out for war, take them alive.
And he said, Whether they be come out for peace, take them alive; or whether they be come out for war, take them alive.
English Standard Version
He said, "If they have come out for peace, take them alive. Or if they have come out for war, take them alive."
He said, "If they have come out for peace, take them alive. Or if they have come out for war, take them alive."
New Century Version
Ben-Hadad said, "They may be coming to fight, or they may be coming to ask for peace. In either case capture them alive."
Ben-Hadad said, "They may be coming to fight, or they may be coming to ask for peace. In either case capture them alive."
New English Translation
He ordered, "Whether they come in peace or to do battle, take them alive."
He ordered, "Whether they come in peace or to do battle, take them alive."
Amplified Bible
And he said, "Whether they have come out for peace or for war, take them alive."
And he said, "Whether they have come out for peace or for war, take them alive."
New American Standard Bible
Then he said, "If they have come out for peace, take them alive; or if they have come out for war, take them alive as well."
Then he said, "If they have come out for peace, take them alive; or if they have come out for war, take them alive as well."
Geneva Bible (1587)
And he sayde, Whether they be come out for peace, take them aliue: or whether they bee come out to fight, take them yet aliue.
And he sayde, Whether they be come out for peace, take them aliue: or whether they bee come out to fight, take them yet aliue.
Legacy Standard Bible
Then he said, "If they have come out for peace, take them alive; or if they have come out for war, take them alive."
Then he said, "If they have come out for peace, take them alive; or if they have come out for war, take them alive."
Contemporary English Version
"Take them alive!" Benhadad ordered. "I don't care if they have come out to fight or to surrender."
"Take them alive!" Benhadad ordered. "I don't care if they have come out to fight or to surrender."
Complete Jewish Bible
He said, "Whether they have come out for peace or for war, take them alive."
He said, "Whether they have come out for peace or for war, take them alive."
Darby Translation
And he said, Whether they be come out for peace, take them alive; or whether they be come out for war, take them alive.
And he said, Whether they be come out for peace, take them alive; or whether they be come out for war, take them alive.
Easy-to-Read Version
So Ben-Hadad said, "They might be coming to fight or they might be coming to ask for peace. Capture them alive."
So Ben-Hadad said, "They might be coming to fight or they might be coming to ask for peace. Capture them alive."
George Lamsa Translation
And he said, Whether they have come out for peace, take them alive; or whether they have come out for war, take them alive.
And he said, Whether they have come out for peace, take them alive; or whether they have come out for war, take them alive.
Good News Translation
He ordered, "Take them alive, no matter whether they are coming to fight or to ask for peace."
He ordered, "Take them alive, no matter whether they are coming to fight or to ask for peace."
Lexham English Bible
Then he said, "If they have come out for peace, seize them alive; and if they have come out for war, seize them alive."
Then he said, "If they have come out for peace, seize them alive; and if they have come out for war, seize them alive."
Literal Translation
And he said, If they have come out for peace, seize them alive; and if they have come to battle, seize them alive.
And he said, If they have come out for peace, seize them alive; and if they have come to battle, seize them alive.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
He sayde: Take them alyue, whether they be come forth for peace, or for warre.
He sayde: Take them alyue, whether they be come forth for peace, or for warre.
American Standard Version
And he said, Whether they are come out for peace, take them alive; or whether they are come out for war, take them alive.
And he said, Whether they are come out for peace, take them alive; or whether they are come out for war, take them alive.
Bible in Basic English
And he said, If they have come out for peace, take them living, and if they have come out for war, take them living.
And he said, If they have come out for peace, take them living, and if they have come out for war, take them living.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
He sayde: Whether they be come out for peace, take them alyue: or whether they be come out to fight, take them yet alyue.
He sayde: Whether they be come out for peace, take them alyue: or whether they be come out to fight, take them yet alyue.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
And he said: 'Whether they are come out for peace, take them alive; or whether they are come out for war, take them alive.'
And he said: 'Whether they are come out for peace, take them alive; or whether they are come out for war, take them alive.'
King James Version (1611)
And he said, Whether they be come out for peace, take them aliue: or whether they be come out for warre, take them aliue.
And he said, Whether they be come out for peace, take them aliue: or whether they be come out for warre, take them aliue.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
Arise, and go down to meet Achaab king of Israel, who is in Samaria, for he is in the vineyard of Nabuthai, for he has gone down thither to take possession of it.
Arise, and go down to meet Achaab king of Israel, who is in Samaria, for he is in the vineyard of Nabuthai, for he has gone down thither to take possession of it.
English Revised Version
And he said, Whether they be come out for peace, take them alive; or whether they be come out for war, take them alive.
And he said, Whether they be come out for peace, take them alive; or whether they be come out for war, take them alive.
Berean Standard Bible
"If they have marched out in peace," he said, "take them alive. Or if they have marched out for war, take them alive."
"If they have marched out in peace," he said, "take them alive. Or if they have marched out for war, take them alive."
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And he seide, Whether thei comen for pees, take ye hem quyke; whether to fiyte, take ye hem quyke.
And he seide, Whether thei comen for pees, take ye hem quyke; whether to fiyte, take ye hem quyke.
Young's Literal Translation
And he saith, `If for peace they have come out -- catch them alive; and if for battle they have come out -- alive catch them.'
And he saith, `If for peace they have come out -- catch them alive; and if for battle they have come out -- alive catch them.'
Update Bible Version
And he said, Whether they have come out for peace, take them alive, or whether they have come out for war, take them alive.
And he said, Whether they have come out for peace, take them alive, or whether they have come out for war, take them alive.
Webster's Bible Translation
And he said, Whether they have come out for peace, take them alive; or whether they have come out for war, take them alive.
And he said, Whether they have come out for peace, take them alive; or whether they have come out for war, take them alive.
World English Bible
He said, Whether they are come out for peace, take them alive, or whether they are come out for war, taken them alive.
He said, Whether they are come out for peace, take them alive, or whether they are come out for war, taken them alive.
New King James Version
So he said, "If they have come out for peace, take them alive; and if they have come out for war, take them alive."
So he said, "If they have come out for peace, take them alive; and if they have come out for war, take them alive."
New Life Bible
Then he said, "If they have come out for peace or for war, take them alive."
Then he said, "If they have come out for peace or for war, take them alive."
New Revised Standard
He said, "If they have come out for peace, take them alive; if they have come out for war, take them alive."
He said, "If they have come out for peace, take them alive; if they have come out for war, take them alive."
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And he said - If, peaceably, they have come, take them alive, - or, if, fighting, they have come, alive, take ye them.
And he said - If, peaceably, they have come, take them alive, - or, if, fighting, they have come, alive, take ye them.
Douay-Rheims Bible
And he said: Whether they come for peace, take them alive: or whether they come to fight, take them alive.
And he said: Whether they come for peace, take them alive: or whether they come to fight, take them alive.
Revised Standard Version
He said, "If they have come out for peace, take them alive; or if they have come out for war, take them alive."
He said, "If they have come out for peace, take them alive; or if they have come out for war, take them alive."
THE MESSAGE
He said, "If they've come in peace, take them alive as hostages; if they've come to fight, the same—take them alive as hostages."
He said, "If they've come in peace, take them alive as hostages; if they've come to fight, the same—take them alive as hostages."
New American Standard Bible (1995)
Then he said, "If they have come out for peace, take them alive; or if they have come out for war, take them alive."
Then he said, "If they have come out for peace, take them alive; or if they have come out for war, take them alive."
Contextual Overview
12 Ahab's reply reached Ben-hadad and the other kings as they were drinking in their tents. "Prepare to attack!" Ben-hadad commanded his officers. So they prepared to attack the city. 13 Then a certain prophet came to see King Ahab of Israel and told him, "This is what the Lord says: Do you see all these enemy forces? Today I will hand them all over to you. Then you will know that I am the Lord ." 14 Ahab asked, "How will he do it?" And the prophet replied, "This is what the Lord says: The troops of the provincial commanders will do it." "Should we attack first?" Ahab asked. "Yes," the prophet answered. 15 So Ahab mustered the troops of the 232 provincial commanders. Then he called out the rest of the army of Israel, some 7,000 men. 16 About noontime, as Ben-hadad and the thirty-two allied kings were still in their tents drinking themselves into a stupor, 17 the troops of the provincial commanders marched out of the city as the first contingent. As they approached, Ben-hadad's scouts reported to him, "Some troops are coming from Samaria." 18 "Take them alive," Ben-hadad commanded, "whether they have come for peace or for war." 19 But Ahab's provincial commanders and the entire army had now come out to fight. 20 Each Israelite soldier killed his Aramean opponent, and suddenly the entire Aramean army panicked and fled. The Israelites chased them, but King Ben-hadad and a few of his charioteers escaped on horses. 21 However, the king of Israel destroyed the other horses and chariots and slaughtered the Arameans.
Bible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
1 Samuel 2:3, 1 Samuel 2:4, 1 Samuel 14:11, 1 Samuel 14:12, 1 Samuel 17:44, 2 Kings 14:8-12, Proverbs 18:12
Reciprocal: Judges 9:40 - he fled before 1 Samuel 17:42 - disdained 1 Kings 12:18 - flee to Jerusalem 2 Kings 10:14 - Take them alive 2 Kings 18:23 - I will deliver Nehemiah 4:3 - Tobiah Proverbs 14:16 - the fool Isaiah 36:8 - and I Jeremiah 46:17 - Pharaoh
Cross-References
Genesis 12:17
But the Lord sent terrible plagues upon Pharaoh and his household because of Sarai, Abram's wife.
But the Lord sent terrible plagues upon Pharaoh and his household because of Sarai, Abram's wife.
Genesis 16:2
So Sarai said to Abram, "The Lord has prevented me from having children. Go and sleep with my servant. Perhaps I can have children through her." And Abram agreed with Sarai's proposal.
So Sarai said to Abram, "The Lord has prevented me from having children. Go and sleep with my servant. Perhaps I can have children through her." And Abram agreed with Sarai's proposal.
Genesis 20:7
Now return the woman to her husband, and he will pray for you, for he is a prophet. Then you will live. But if you don't return her to him, you can be sure that you and all your people will die."
Now return the woman to her husband, and he will pray for you, for he is a prophet. Then you will live. But if you don't return her to him, you can be sure that you and all your people will die."
Genesis 30:2
Then Jacob became furious with Rachel. "Am I God?" he asked. "He's the one who has kept you from having children!"
Then Jacob became furious with Rachel. "Am I God?" he asked. "He's the one who has kept you from having children!"
1 Samuel 1:6
So Peninnah would taunt Hannah and make fun of her because the Lord had kept her from having children.
So Peninnah would taunt Hannah and make fun of her because the Lord had kept her from having children.
1 Samuel 5:10
So they sent the Ark of God to the town of Ekron, but when the people of Ekron saw it coming they cried out, "They are bringing the Ark of the God of Israel here to kill us, too!"
So they sent the Ark of God to the town of Ekron, but when the people of Ekron saw it coming they cried out, "They are bringing the Ark of the God of Israel here to kill us, too!"
Gill's Notes on the Bible
And he said, whether they be come out for peace,.... To propose terms of peace:
take them alive; make them prisoners, which was contrary to the laws of nations:
or whether they be come out for war, take them alive; he made no doubt of their being easily taken; but he would not have them be put to death, that he might examine them, and know the state of things in Samaria, and what Ahab intended to do, that he might take his measures accordingly.
Clarke's Notes on the Bible
Verse 1 Kings 20:18. Take them alive. — He was confident of victory. Do not slay them; bring them to me, they may give us some useful information.
