1 Kings 13:25

KJV

And, behold, men passed by, and saw the carcase cast in the way, and the lion standing by the carcase: and they came and told [it] in the city where the old prophet dwelt.

KJV (with Strong's)

And, behold, men {H582} passed by {H5674}, and saw {H7200} the carcase {H5038} cast {H7993} in the way {H1870}, and the lion {H738} standing {H5975} by {H681} the carcase {H5038}: and they came {H935} and told {H1696} it in the city {H5892} where the old {H2205} prophet {H5030} dwelt {H3427}.

Complete Jewish Bible

In time, people passed by and saw the corpse lying in the road with the lion standing next to it; and they came and told about it in the city where the old prophet lived.

Berean Standard Bible

And there were men passing by who saw the body lying in the road with the lion standing beside it, and they went and reported this in the city where the old prophet lived.

American Standard Version

And, behold, men passed by, and saw the body cast in the way, and the lion standing by the body; and they came and told it in the city where the old prophet dwelt.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
First Kings 13:25 vividly depicts the public discovery of the prophet from Judah's lifeless body, slain by a lion as a divine judgment for his disobedience. This scene, witnessed by passersby, underscores the immediate and undeniable consequences of defying God's explicit command, even for those called to serve Him. The unusual detail of the lion standing passively beside the carcass, without devouring it or harming the accompanying donkey, serves as a powerful testament to the supernatural nature of the event, ensuring its public recognition and setting the stage for the old prophet's subsequent actions.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse immediately follows the prophet from Judah's death in [1 Kings 13:24](/1-kings/13-24 "1 Kings 13:24 - The Prophet's Death"). The narrative arc of [1 Kings 13](/1-kings/13 "1 Kings 13 - The Prophet from Judah") begins with God commissioning a nameless prophet from Judah to deliver a stern prophecy against King Jeroboam's idolatrous altar at Bethel. Crucially, God issues a strict command: the prophet is not to eat, drink, or return by the same way (cf. [1 Kings 13:9](/1-kings/13-9 "1 Kings 13:9 - God's Command to the Prophet")). After successfully delivering his message, he is deceived by an old prophet from Bethel, who falsely claims to have received a divine message countermanding God's original instruction. The prophet from Judah's subsequent disobedience leads directly to his death by a lion. Verse 25 highlights the public nature of this divine judgment, as "men passed by" and observed the unusual scene—a dead body, a lion, and an unharmed donkey—making the consequence undeniable and widely known, thus preparing for the old prophet's response to the tragedy he orchestrated.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The events of [1 Kings 13](/1-kings/13 "1 Kings 13 - The Prophet from Judah") unfold in the early days of the divided monarchy, specifically during the reign of Jeroboam I in the northern kingdom of Israel. Jeroboam had established alternative worship sites at Bethel and Dan, complete with golden calves, to prevent his people from returning to Jerusalem for worship, thereby securing his political power (cf. [1 Kings 12:26-33](/1-kings/12-26 "1 Kings 12:26-33 - Jeroboam's Idolatry")). This act was a grave sin against the Mosaic covenant. Prophets in ancient Israel served as God's direct messengers, often performing symbolic acts and delivering divine pronouncements. Their authority rested entirely on their faithfulness to God's word. The cultural understanding of the time would have recognized the lion as a powerful, dangerous predator, making its passive presence beside the carcass highly unusual and indicative of supernatural intervention. Such a public display of divine judgment would have been understood as a clear sign from God, reinforcing the gravity of disobedience and the authenticity of the prophet's initial message against Jeroboam's idolatry.
* **Key Themes:** The passage powerfully articulates several key themes. Foremost is the **Gravity of Divine Command and Consequence**, emphasizing that God's word is not to be trifled with, even by His own messengers. The prophet's death, orchestrated by a lion that acts contrary to its nature, underscores that disobedience carries severe, divinely appointed penalties (cf. [Deuteronomy 28:15](/deuteronomy/28-15 "Deuteronomy 28:15 - Consequences of Disobedience")). This event also highlights **God's Absolute Sovereignty over Creation**, demonstrating His control not only over human affairs but also over the natural world, even wild beasts, to accomplish His purposes (cf. [Psalm 104:21](/psalms/104-21 "Psalm 104:21 - Lions Seeking Prey from God")). Furthermore, the theme of **Public Witness and Divine Validation** is prominent. The discovery by "men passed by" ensures that the judgment is not a private affair but a public spectacle, validating the prophet's initial message against Jeroboam's idolatry and serving as a stark warning against both disobedience and deception, especially from those who claim to speak for God (cf. [Deuteronomy 13:1-5](/deuteronomy/13-1 "Deuteronomy 13:1-5 - Warning Against False Prophets")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Behold (Hebrew, _hinneh'_):** This interjection serves as an exclamation, drawing immediate and emphatic attention to what follows. It signals something unexpected, surprising, or highly significant. In this context, it highlights the astonishing and unusual nature of the scene discovered by the passersby—a dead body, a lion, and an unharmed donkey, all together—underscoring that this was no ordinary animal attack but a divinely orchestrated event.
* **Carcase (Hebrew, _nevelah'_):** This term refers specifically to a dead body, often one that is unburied or left exposed. Its use here emphasizes the prophet's death and the public display of his body, signifying the finality of the judgment and the unusual circumstance of the lion's presence without consuming it, which would have been its natural behavior.
* **Standing by (Hebrew, _'amad al'_):** The phrase "standing by" indicates the lion's passive, watchful posture. This is crucial because it defies the natural predatory instinct to devour prey. The lion's unusual behavior reinforces the supernatural element of the event, confirming that it was an instrument of divine judgment rather than merely a hungry beast.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And, behold, men passed by":** This opening clause immediately introduces the element of public discovery. The use of "behold" (as analyzed above) draws attention to the surprising nature of the scene. The "men passed by" indicates ordinary travelers or villagers, emphasizing that the event was not hidden but was made visible to common people, ensuring its widespread knowledge.
* **"and saw the carcase cast in the way":** The discovery of the prophet's "carcase" (dead body) lying on the road confirms his death. The phrase "cast in the way" suggests an exposed, perhaps unceremonious, end, making the scene even more striking and confirming the prophet's fate.
* **"and the lion standing by the carcase":** This is the most extraordinary detail. A lion, a predator, is "standing by" its kill, not devouring it. This unnatural behavior is a clear sign that the lion is not acting out of hunger but as an instrument of divine will, fulfilling God's judgment precisely as foretold in [1 Kings 13:24](/1-kings/13-24 "1 Kings 13:24 - The Lion's Judgment"). This detail also implies the presence of the donkey, which is mentioned in the preceding verse as also being unharmed, further emphasizing the miraculous nature of the scene.
* **"and they came and told [it] in the city where the old prophet dwelt":** The passersby's immediate action of reporting the incident to the city where the deceptive old prophet lived ensures that the consequences of the prophet from Judah's disobedience, and by extension, the old prophet's deception, are brought directly to the attention of those most involved and affected. This public announcement serves to validate God's word and the severity of the judgment.

#### Literary Devices
The narrative of [1 Kings 13:25](/1-kings/13-25 "1 Kings 13:25 - The Public Discovery") employs several potent literary devices. **Irony** is prominent, as a prophet, a messenger of God, is killed by a wild animal, yet the animal acts in a way that defies its natural instincts, serving as a controlled instrument of divine judgment rather than a random predator. This highlights the precise and supernatural nature of the punishment. **Symbolism** is also at play, with the lion representing God's sovereign power and His capacity to use any part of creation, even fearsome beasts, to enforce His will and execute judgment. The passive stance of the lion, alongside the unharmed donkey, creates a striking visual **Paradox** that emphasizes the supernatural orchestration of the event, setting it apart from a mere accident. Furthermore, the public discovery by "men passed by" and their subsequent report functions as a form of **Public Proclamation**, ensuring that the tragic consequences of disobedience and deception are not hidden but become a widely known testimony to God's unwavering justice.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
The scene in [1 Kings 13:25](/1-kings/13-25 "1 Kings 13:25 - The Public Discovery") serves as a stark theological declaration of God's absolute holiness and the non-negotiable nature of His commands. It underscores that disobedience, even when stemming from deception, carries severe consequences, especially for those entrusted with divine revelation. The controlled nature of the lion's action—killing but not consuming, and sparing the donkey—highlights God's precise justice, demonstrating that His judgment is not random but purposeful, designed to uphold His word and reveal His sovereignty. This event serves as a solemn warning against both willful transgression and the dangers of spiritual deception, reminding believers to hold fast to the clear word of God above all other voices.

* [Numbers 23:19](/numbers/23-19 "Numbers 23:19 - God is Not a Man")
* [Proverbs 14:12](/proverbs/14-12 "Proverbs 14:12 - A Way That Seems Right")
* [Hebrews 12:29](/hebrews/12-29 "Hebrews 12:29 - Our God is a Consuming Fire")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The tragic narrative of the prophet from Judah, culminating in his public discovery in [1 Kings 13:25](/1-kings/13-25 "1 Kings 13:25 - The Public Discovery"), offers profound and enduring lessons for believers today. It is a sobering reminder that God's commands are not arbitrary suggestions but divine directives, and disobedience carries real, often severe, consequences, even for those who have previously served Him faithfully. This account challenges us to cultivate a deep and unwavering commitment to God's revealed Word, discerning all counsel, even from seemingly spiritual sources, against the unchanging truth of Scripture. It compels us to be vigilant against deception, recognizing that even well-intentioned individuals can be misled or become instruments of falsehood. Ultimately, it calls us to a life of humble obedience, trusting in God's perfect wisdom and justice, and to understand that our spiritual walk is not a private affair but often bears public witness to the character of God.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the unusual behavior of the lion in this passage challenge your understanding of God's sovereignty over creation?**
* **In what ways might we, like the prophet from Judah, be susceptible to deception, even when we believe we are serving God?**
* **What does this account teach us about the gravity of God's commands and the importance of unwavering obedience?**
* **How does the public nature of the prophet's demise in this verse speak to the public witness of our own lives of faith or disobedience?**

### FAQ
**Why didn't the lion eat the prophet's body or harm the donkey?**

Answer: The lion's unusual behavior—killing but not consuming the body, and not harming the accompanying donkey—is a critical detail that underscores the supernatural nature of the event. This was not a random act of predation but a divinely orchestrated judgment. The lion acted as an instrument of God's will, specifically tasked with executing the judgment for the prophet's disobedience (as foretold in [1 Kings 13:24](/1-kings/13-24 "1 Kings 13:24 - The Prophet's Disobedience and Death")). Its passive stance and the safety of the donkey served as a clear sign to all who witnessed the scene that this was an act of God, not a natural occurrence, thereby validating the prophet's original message and the severity of the divine command. It ensured that the public understood this was a direct consequence of defying God's word.

**What was the significance of the public discovery of the prophet's body?**

Answer: The public discovery by "men passed by" was highly significant. It ensured that the prophet's death and the unusual circumstances surrounding it became widely known, especially in "the city where the old prophet dwelt." This public revelation served multiple purposes. First, it validated the prophet's initial, authentic message against Jeroboam's altar, as God's judgment on His disobedient messenger demonstrated the seriousness of His word. Second, it exposed the consequences of the old prophet's deception, bringing his complicity into the light. Third, it acted as a powerful, visible warning to all about the dangers of disobedience to God's explicit commands and the perils of false prophecy. God often uses public displays to teach profound spiritual truths and to confirm His authority, as seen in other biblical accounts (e.g., [Numbers 16:31-35](/numbers/16-31 "Numbers 16:31-35 - Korah's Rebellion and Judgment")).

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The tragic narrative of the prophet from Judah, culminating in his public demise in [1 Kings 13:25](/1-kings/13-25 "1 Kings 13:25 - The Public Discovery"), powerfully underscores the gravity of divine command and the dire consequences of disobedience. While the prophet's failure highlights humanity's inability to perfectly obey God's law, it simultaneously points to the ultimate fulfillment found in Jesus Christ. Unlike the prophet who succumbed to deception and disobedience, Jesus lived a life of perfect, unwavering obedience to His Father's will, even to the point of death on the cross (cf. [Philippians 2:8](/philippians/2-8 "Philippians 2:8 - Christ's Humility and Obedience")). Where the prophet faced judgment for his transgression, Christ, the true Lamb of God, bore the judgment for the sins of humanity, becoming the ultimate sacrifice that takes away the sin of the world (cf. [John 1:29](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God")). The lion in [1 Kings 13](/1-kings/13 "1 Kings 13 - The Prophet from Judah") acted as an instrument of divine judgment, but Christ, the [Lion of the Tribe of Judah](/revelation/5-5 "Revelation 5:5 - The Lion of Judah"), is the One who has triumphed over sin and death, offering salvation and eternal life to all who believe (cf. [Revelation 5:5](/revelation/5-5 "Revelation 5:5 - The Lion of Judah")). The public display of the prophet's death served as a warning; the public display of Christ's crucifixion and resurrection serves as the ultimate declaration of God's justice satisfied and His love revealed, inviting all to find reconciliation and life in Him (cf. [Romans 5:8](/romans/5-8 "Romans 5:8 - God's Love Demonstrated")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

1 Kings 13:11

¶ Now there dwelt an old prophet in Bethel; and his sons came and told him all the works that the man of God had done that day in Bethel: the words which he had spoken unto the king, them they told also to their father.