1 Kings 13:21

And he cried unto the man of God that came from Judah, saying, Thus saith the LORD, Forasmuch as thou hast disobeyed the mouth of the LORD, and hast not kept the commandment which the LORD thy God commanded thee,

And he cried {H7121} unto the man {H376} of God {H430} that came {H935} from Judah {H3063}, saying {H559}, Thus saith {H559} the LORD {H3068}, Forasmuch as {H3282} thou hast disobeyed {H4784} the mouth {H6310} of the LORD {H3068}, and hast not kept {H8104} the commandment {H4687} which the LORD {H3068} thy God {H430} commanded {H6680} thee,

and he cried to the man of God who had come from Y'hudah, "Here is what ADONAI says: 'Since you rebelled against the word of ADONAI and didn't obey the mitzvah ADONAI your God gave you,

and the prophet cried out to the man of God who had come from Judah, “This is what the LORD says: ‘Because you have defied the word of the LORD and have not kept the commandment that the LORD your God gave you,

and he cried unto the man of God that came from Judah, saying, Thus saith Jehovah, Forasmuch as thou hast been disobedient unto the mouth of Jehovah, and hast not kept the commandment which Jehovah thy God commanded thee,

Commentary

1 Kings 13:21 marks a pivotal and tragic moment in the story of the unnamed "man of God from Judah." This verse records the old prophet of Bethel, who had just deceived the man of God, now delivering a divine judgment against him. It highlights the severe consequences of disobeying a direct command from the LORD.

Context of 1 Kings 13:21

The narrative leading up to this verse is fraught with spiritual tension. The man of God had been sent by the LORD to denounce King Jeroboam's idolatrous altar at Bethel, delivering a powerful prophecy that was immediately confirmed by a miraculous sign (1 Kings 13:4-6). Crucially, God had given him a strict command: he was not to eat or drink in Bethel, nor was he to return by the same way he came (1 Kings 13:9). However, an old prophet living in Bethel, motivated by unclear intentions, lied to the man of God, claiming an angel had instructed him to bring him back to eat and drink (1 Kings 13:18). The man of God, despite having received a clear word from God, succumbed to this deception. Verse 21 is the moment the old prophet, now supernaturally compelled by God, declares the judgment for this disobedience.

Key Themes and Messages

  • The Gravity of Disobedience: The primary message is the absolute seriousness of disobeying a direct command from God. Even if one is deceived, the responsibility for obedience ultimately rests with the individual.
  • Unwavering Divine Word: God's word and commandments are immutable. Once a clear instruction is given, it cannot be overridden by subsequent, contradictory claims, even if they appear to be from a divine source. This emphasizes the importance of spiritual discernment.
  • Divine Sovereignty in Judgment: Ironically, the very prophet who facilitated the man of God's disobedience is used by God to pronounce the judgment. This underscores God's complete control and His ability to use any means to fulfill His purposes and execute justice.
  • Consequences of Compromise: The story serves as a stark warning against compromising clear divine instructions, even out of weariness, hunger, or misplaced trust in another's supposed prophetic word. The consequence for the man of God was death (1 Kings 13:24).

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "disobeyed the mouth of the LORD" is significant. It emphasizes that the man of God's transgression was not against a general principle but against a direct, explicit, and personal command spoken by God Himself. The term "mouth of the LORD" signifies the ultimate authority and source of the commandment, leaving no room for misinterpretation regarding its divine origin.

Practical Application

This tragic account offers profound lessons for believers today:

  • Prioritize God's Clear Word: We must always hold God's written Word (the Bible) as the supreme authority. Any new "revelation" or advice that contradicts what God has clearly commanded should be rejected, regardless of its source.
  • Cultivate Discernment: The story underscores the need for spiritual discernment (1 John 4:1). Not every voice that claims to speak for God truly does. Believers must be grounded in Scripture to test all things.
  • The Seriousness of Obedience: God takes obedience seriously. Our walk with Him is defined by our willingness to follow His commands, not just our ability to perform great works or deliver powerful messages. As 1 Samuel 15:22 states, "To obey is better than sacrifice."
  • Personal Responsibility: While the old prophet was culpable for his deception, the man of God was ultimately responsible for his own choice to disobey God's clear instruction. We are accountable for our actions and adherence to God's truth.
Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • 2 Samuel 12:9 (2 votes)

    Wherefore hast thou despised the commandment of the LORD, to do evil in his sight? thou hast killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and hast taken his wife [to be] thy wife, and hast slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon.

  • 2 Samuel 12:11 (2 votes)

    Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will raise up evil against thee out of thine own house, and I will take thy wives before thine eyes, and give [them] unto thy neighbour, and he shall lie with thy wives in the sight of this sun.

  • Esther 6:13 (2 votes)

    And Haman told Zeresh his wife and all his friends every [thing] that had befallen him. Then said his wise men and Zeresh his wife unto him, If Mordecai [be] of the seed of the Jews, before whom thou hast begun to fall, thou shalt not prevail against him, but shalt surely fall before him.

  • 1 Samuel 15:19 (2 votes)

    Wherefore then didst thou not obey the voice of the LORD, but didst fly upon the spoil, and didst evil in the sight of the LORD?

  • Revelation 3:19 (2 votes)

    As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.

  • 1 Kings 13:17 (2 votes)

    For it was said to me by the word of the LORD, Thou shalt eat no bread nor drink water there, nor turn again to go by the way that thou camest.

  • Genesis 3:7 (2 votes)

    And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they [were] naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.