1 Kings 22:34

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible

But, a certain man, drawing a bow in his innocence, smote the king of Israel, between the shoulder-joints and the coat of mail, - wherefore he said to his charioteer - Turn thy hand, and convey me out of the host, for I am sore wounded.

Parallel Translations

Update Bible Version
And a certain man drew his bow at a venture, and smote the king of Israel between the joints of the armor: therefore he said to the driver of his chariot, Turn your hand, and carry me out of the host; for I am critically wounded.

New Living Translation
An Aramean soldier, however, randomly shot an arrow at the Israelite troops and hit the king of Israel between the joints of his armor. "Turn the horses and get me out of here!" Ahab groaned to the driver of his chariot. "I'm badly wounded!"

English Revised Version
And a certain man drew his bow at a venture, and smote the king of Israel between the joints of the harness: wherefore he said unto the driver of his chariot, Turn thine hand, and carry me out of the host; for I am sore wounded.

New Century Version
By chance, a soldier shot an arrow, but he hit Ahab king of Israel between the pieces of his armor. King Ahab said to his chariot driver, "Turn around and get me out of the battle, because I am hurt!"

New English Translation
Now an archer shot an arrow at random, and it struck the king of Israel between the plates of his armor. The king ordered his charioteer, "Turn around and take me from the battle line, because I'm wounded."

Webster's Bible Translation
And a [certain] man drew a bow at a venture, and smote the king of Israel between the joints of the harness: wherefore he said to the driver of his chariot, Turn thy hand, and carry me out of the host; for I am wounded.

World English Bible
A certain man drew his bow at a venture, and struck the king of Israel between the joints of the armor: therefore he said to the driver of his chariot, Turn your hand, and carry me out of the host; for I am severely wounded.

Amplified Bible
But one man drew a bow at random and struck the king of Israel in a joint of the armor. So he said to the driver of his chariot, "Turn around and take me out of the fight, because I have been seriously wounded."

English Standard Version
But a certain man drew his bow at random and struck the king of Israel between the scale armor and the breastplate. Therefore he said to the driver of his chariot, "Turn around and carry me out of the battle, for I am wounded."

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Sotheli sum man bente a bowe, and dresside an arowe in to vncerteyn, and bi hap he smoot the kyng of Israel bitwixe the lunge and the stomak. And the kyng seide to his charietere, Turne thin hond, and cast me out of the oost, for Y am woundid greuousli.

Berean Standard Bible
However, a certain man drew his bow without taking special aim, and he struck the king of Israel between the joints of his armor. So the king said to his charioteer, "Turn around and take me out of the battle, for I am badly wounded!"

Contemporary English Version
However, during the fighting a soldier shot an arrow without even aiming, and it hit Ahab where two pieces of his armor joined. He shouted to his chariot driver, "I've been hit! Get me out of here!"

American Standard Version
And a certain man drew his bow at a venture, and smote the king of Israel between the joints of the armor: wherefore he said unto the driver of his chariot, Turn thy hand, and carry me out of the host; for I am sore wounded.

Bible in Basic English
And a certain man sent an arrow from his bow without thought of its direction, and gave the king of Israel a wound where his breastplate was joined to his clothing; so he said to the driver of his war-carriage, Go to one side and take me away out of the army, for I am badly wounded.

Complete Jewish Bible
However, one soldier shot an arrow at random and struck the king of Isra'el between his lower armor and his breastplate. So the king said to his chariot-driver, "Turn the reins, and take me out of the fighting; I'm collapsing from my wounds."

Darby Translation
And a man drew a bow at a venture, and smote the king of Israel between the fastenings and the corslet. And he said to his charioteer, Turn thy hand, and drive me out of the camp; for I am wounded.

Easy-to-Read Version
Then a soldier in the distance pulled back as far as he could on his bow and shot an arrow into the air. The arrow happened to hit the king of Israel in a small hole where his armor was fastened together. King Ahab said to his chariot driver, "I've been hit! Turn the chariot around and take me off the battlefield!"

JPS Old Testament (1917)
And a certain man drew his bow at a venture, and smote the king of Israel between the lower armour and the breastplate; wherefore he said unto the driver of his chariot: 'Turn thy hand, and carry me out of the host; for I am sore wounded.'

King James Version (1611)
And a certaine man drew a bow at a venture, and smote the king of Israel betweene the ioynts of the harnesse: wherefore hee sayd vnto the driuer of his charet, Turne thine hand, and cary me out of the hoste, for I am wounded.

New Life Bible
But a certain man happened to shoot an arrow and hit the king of Israel between the parts of his battle-clothes. So Ahab said to the driver of his war-wagon, "Turn around and take me out of the battle. For I am hurt."

New Revised Standard
But a certain man drew his bow and unknowingly struck the king of Israel between the scale armor and the breastplate; so he said to the driver of his chariot, "Turn around, and carry me out of the battle, for I am wounded."

Geneva Bible (1587)
Then a certaine man drewe a bow mightily and smote the King of Israel betweene the ioyntes of his brigandine. Wherefore he sayde vnto his charet man, Turne thine hand and cary me out of the hoste: for I am hurt.

George Lamsa Translation
And a certain man drew his bow toward him at a venture and smote the king of Israel between the joints of the breastplate; wherefore the king said to the driver of his chariot, Turn around and carry me out of the army; for the pangs of death have come upon me.

Good News Translation
By chance, however, a Syrian soldier shot an arrow which struck King Ahab between the joints of his armor. "I'm wounded!" he cried out to his chariot driver. "Turn around and pull out of the battle!"

Douay-Rheims Bible
And a certain man bent his bow, shooting at a venture, and chanced to strike the king of Israel, between the lungs and the stomach. But he said to the driver of his chariot: Turn thy hand, and carry me out of the army, for I am grievously wounded.

Revised Standard Version
But a certain man drew his bow at a venture, and struck the king of Israel between the scale armor and the breastplate; therefore he said to the driver of his chariot, "Turn about, and carry me out of the battle, for I am wounded."

Bishop's Bible (1568)
And a certayne man drewe a bowe ignorantly, & smote the king of Israel betweene the ribbes and his harnesse: Wherfore he sayd vnto the driuer of his charettes, Turne thy hand, and cary me out of the hoast, for I am hurt.

Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And one drew a bow with a good aim, and smote the king of Israel between the lungs and the breast-plate: and he said to his charioteer, Turn thine hands, and carry me away out of the battle, for I am wounded.

Christian Standard Bible®
But a man drew his bow without taking special aim and struck the king of Israel through the joints of his armor. So he said to his charioteer, “Turn around and take me out of the battle, for I am badly wounded!”

Hebrew Names Version
A certain man drew his bow at a venture, and struck the king of Yisra'el between the joints of the armor: therefore he said to the driver of his chariot, Turn your hand, and carry me out of the host; for I am severely wounded.

King James Version
And a certain man drew a bow at a venture, and smote the king of Israel between the joints of the harness: wherefore he said unto the driver of his chariot, Turn thine hand, and carry me out of the host; for I am wounded.

Lexham English Bible
But another man drew his bow fully and struck the king of Israel between the armor scales and the breastplate; so he said to his chariot driver, "Turn the chariot and bring me out from the camp, for I am wounded."

Literal Translation
And a man drew a bow in his simplicity, and he struck the king of Israel between the joints and the breastplate. And he said to his charioteer, Turn your hand and take me out from the host, for I have been wounded.

Young's Literal Translation
And a man hath drawn with a bow, in his simplicity, and smiteth the king of Israel between the joinings and the coat of mail, and he saith to his charioteer, `Turn thy hand, and take me out from the camp, for I have become sick.'

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
A certayne man bended his bowe harde, and shott the kynge of Israel betwene the mawe and ye longes. And he sayde vnto his charetman: Turne thine hade, and cary me out of the hoost, for I am wounded.

THE MESSAGE
Just then someone, without aiming, shot an arrow randomly into the crowd and hit the king of Israel in the chink of his armor. The king told his charioteer, "Turn back! Get me out of here—I'm wounded."

New American Standard Bible
Now one man drew his bow at random and struck the king of Israel in a joint of the armor. So he said to the driver of his chariot, "Turn around and take me out of the battle, for I am severely wounded."

New King James Version
Now a certain man drew a bow at random, and struck the king of Israel between the joints of his armor. So he said to the driver of his chariot, "Turn around and take me out of the battle, for I am wounded."

New American Standard Bible (1995)
Now a certain man drew his bow at random and struck the king of Israel in a joint of the armor. So he said to the driver of his chariot, "Turn around and take me out of the fight; for I am severely wounded."

Legacy Standard Bible
Now a certain man drew his bow at random and struck the king of Israel in a joint of the armor. So he said to the driver of his chariot, "Turn around and take me out of the fight, for I am severely wounded."

Contextual Overview

²⁹ So the king of Israel went up, with Jehoshaphat king of Judah, unto Ramoth-gilead. ³⁰ And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat - I am about to disguise myself, and enter into the battle, thou, therefore, put on thy robes. So the king of Israel disguised himself, and entered into the battle. ³¹ Now, the king of Syria, had commanded the captains of chariots which he had, thirty and two, saying, Ye shall not fight with small or great, - save with the king of Israel alone. ³² And it came to pass, when the chariot-captains saw Jehoshaphat, that, they, said: Surely it is, the king of Israel! But, when they turned aside against him to fight, Jehoshaphat cried out. ³³ And it came to pass, when the chariot-captains saw that it was, not the king of Israel, that they turned back, from pursuing him. ³⁴ But, a certain man, drawing a bow in his innocence, smote the king of Israel, between the shoulder-joints and the coat of mail, - wherefore he said to his charioteer - Turn thy hand, and convey me out of the host, for I am sore wounded. ³⁵ But the battle increased that day, and, the king, was propped up in the chariot, before the Syrians, - and died in the evening, and so the blood of the wound ran out into the hollow of the chariot. ³⁶ And a loud cry went through the host, at the going in of the sun, saying - Every man to his own city! and every man to his own land! ³⁷ So the king died, and was brought into Samaria, - and they buried the king, in Samaria. ³⁸ And, when the chariot was washed out at the pool of Samaria, the dogs lapped up his blood, also, the harlots, bathed there , - according to the word of Yahweh which he had spoken.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

at a venture: Heb. in his simplicity, 2 Samuel 15:11

and smote: 1 Samuel 17:49, 2 Kings 9:24

joints of the harness: Heb. joints and the breast-plate, Revelation 9:9

wounded: Heb. made sick, 2 Chronicles 18:30, 2 Chronicles 35:23, *marg. Micah 6:13

Reciprocal: 1 Samuel 28:8 - disguised 1 Samuel 31:3 - archers hit him 1 Kings 22:17 - as sheep 2 Kings 1:2 - was sick 2 Kings 8:29 - sick 2 Chronicles 18:16 - as sheep 2 Chronicles 18:33 - a certain man 2 Chronicles 35:22 - but disguised Psalms 64:7 - shall they be wounded Proverbs 29:1 - General Ecclesiastes 8:12 - a sinner

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And a certain man drew a bow at a venture,.... Not aiming at the king of Israel, or knowing whereabout he was. In the Targum on

2 Chronicles 18:33, this man is said to be Naaman, the general of the army of the king of Syria, and so Jarchi here; but though he did this in his simplicity, as the word signifies, without any intention to smite any particular person; yet God directed the arrow to the man he had marked for destruction, and neither his disguise, nor coat of mail, could secure from that:

and smote the king of Israel between the joints of the harness: of which the pieces of armour on him were joined together, the higher and lower parts of it, the breastplate, and what covered the belly; and though these were joined as close as they were capable of joining them in those times, yet the arrow, guided by divine Providence, found its way into his body:

wherefore he said unto the driver of his chariot, turn thine hand; or hands, with which he held the reins, and turn the horses on one side:

and carry me out of the host; where the battle was hottest, to a place more remote and private, that he might have the wound examined, and the blood stopped, and return again, as it seems he did:

for I am wounded; or rather "I am sick" s, or ill, as the Targum; somewhat out of order, and therefore chose to retire a little while; not caring it should be known that he was smitten and wounded, lest his soldiers should be disheartened.

s החליתי "aegrotare factus sum", Vatablus; "aegrotus factus sum", Junius & Tremellius.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

At a venture - literally, as in the margin, i. e. without intent to kill the king.

Between the joints of the harness - literally, as in the margin. The “joints” were probably pieces of armor which attached the breast-plate to the helmet or to the greaves. The arrow entered between the breastplate and one of these “joints.” breastplates made of metal scales were common both in Egypt and Assyria.

Turn thine hand - literally, “turn thy hands.” The driver of a chariot, both in Egypt and Assyria, held the reins with his two hands.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 34. Drew a bow at a venture — It is supposed that he shot, as the archers in general did, not aiming at any person in particular.

The word לתמו lethummo, which we translate in his simplicity, has been variously understood; in his integrity, his uprightness; in his perfection; i.e., to the utmost of his skill and strength. This is most probably the meaning; and may imply both aim and power, having his butt full in view. In cases where the archers wished to do the greatest execution, they bent their bows, and pulled till the subtending string drew back the arrow up to its head. This they could not do always, because it required their whole strength; and they could not put forth their utmost effort each time and continue to discharge many shots. Our old national ballad of the Chevy-chace mentions the slaying of Sir Hugh Montgomery, who had slain Earl Percy, in nearly the same way that Ahab appears to have been shot: -

"And thus did both these nobles die,

Whose courage none could stain:

An English archer then perceived

His noble lord was slain,

Who had a bow bent in his hand

Made of a trusty tree;

An arrow, of a cloth-yard long,

Up to the head drew he;

Against Sir Hugh Montgomery then

So right his shaft he set,

The gray goose wing that was thereon

In his heart's blood was wet."

Between the joints of the harness — "Between the cuirass and the lower part of the helmet;" and then the arrow must pass through the neck, just above the breast: or "between the cuirass and the cuissarts;" and then the arrow must pass through the abdomen, or just where the armour of the thighs joins to that which covers the breast and belly.

The Vulgate has Inter pulmonem et stomachum; "Between the lungs and the stomach;" consequently, in the region of the heart.