1 Kings 20:28

KJV

And there came a man of God, and spake unto the king of Israel, and said, Thus saith the LORD, Because the Syrians have said, The LORD [is] God of the hills, but he [is] not God of the valleys, therefore will I deliver all this great multitude into thine hand, and ye shall know that I [am] the LORD.

KJV (with Strong's)

And there came {H5066} a man {H376} of God {H430}, and spake {H559} unto the king {H4428} of Israel {H3478}, and said {H559}, Thus saith {H559} the LORD {H3068}, Because the Syrians {H758} have said {H559}, The LORD {H3068} is God {H430} of the hills {H2022}, but he is not God {H430} of the valleys {H6010}, therefore will I deliver {H5414} all this great {H1419} multitude {H1995} into thine hand {H3027}, and ye shall know {H3045} that I am the LORD {H3068}.

Complete Jewish Bible

At this point, a man of God approached and said to the king of Isra'el, "Here is what ADONAI says: 'Because Aram said that ADONAI is a God of the hills but not a God of the valleys, I will hand over to you this entire huge army. Then you will know that I am ADONAI.'"

Berean Standard Bible

Then the man of God approached the king of Israel and said, “This is what the LORD says: ‘Because the Arameans think the LORD is a god of the hills and not of the valleys, I will deliver all this great army into your hand. Then you will know that I am the LORD.’”

American Standard Version

And a man of God came near and spake unto the king of Israel, and said, Thus saith Jehovah, Because the Syrians have said, Jehovah is a god of the hills, but he is not a god of the valleys; therefore will I deliver all this great multitude into thy hand, and ye shall know that I am Jehovah.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
First Kings 20:28 records a pivotal divine declaration, where the LORD, through an unnamed prophet, directly confronts and refutes the pagan Syrian misconception that His power is geographically confined. Following an initial Israelite victory in the mountainous terrain, the Syrians attributed their defeat to Yahweh being merely a "God of the hills." In response, God emphatically declares His intention to deliver their vast army into Israel's hands on the plains, stating His explicit purpose: "and ye shall know that I am the LORD." This pronouncement serves as a powerful assertion of God's universal sovereignty, omnipresence, and unique identity as the one true God, challenging the localized pagan deities and reinforcing His absolute authority over all creation and circumstances.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is strategically placed within a broader narrative detailing the ongoing military conflicts between the Northern Kingdom of Israel, under the spiritually compromised King Ahab, and Aram (Syria), led by King Ben-Hadad. The preceding narrative establishes Ben-Hadad's arrogant demands and an initial siege of Samaria, which God miraculously thwarts, granting Israel an unexpected victory in the surrounding hills ([1 Kings 20:13-21](/1_kings/20-13-21 "1 Kings 20:13-21 - God Grants Victory to Israel")). The Syrians, defeated but not utterly destroyed, then rationalize their loss by attributing it to Israel's God being a "god of the hills," presuming that a battle on the plains would yield a different outcome ([1 Kings 20:23-25](/1_kings/20-23-25 "1 Kings 20:23-25 - Syrian Misconception and Strategy")). God's direct pronouncement in [1 Kings 20:28](/1_kings/20-28 "1 Kings 20:28 - God's Universal Sovereignty Declared") is a direct theological response to this pagan error, setting the stage for the decisive second battle on the plains of Aphek. The passage underscores God's active involvement in Israel's affairs, often intervening despite the spiritual failings of its leadership, particularly King Ahab.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The ancient Near East was characterized by a prevalent polytheistic worldview, where various deities were often associated with specific geographical regions, natural phenomena, or national identities. For instance, Baal was frequently linked to storms and agricultural fertility, and Dagon to grain. The Syrian belief that the LORD was a "god of the hills" perfectly encapsulates this common pagan understanding, where gods possessed localized power and influence, limited by physical boundaries. This stands in stark contrast to the Israelite understanding of Yahweh as the transcendent, universal Creator God, whose dominion knows no bounds. The conflict itself transpired during the reign of King Ahab (c. 874-853 BC), a period marked by considerable political instability between Israel and its powerful Aramean neighbors. Ahab's reign was also notoriously defined by widespread Baal worship, heavily influenced by his Phoenician wife, Jezebel, making God's emphatic self-revelation in this context profoundly significant for both the pagan Syrians and the apostate Israelites.
* **Key Themes:** The overarching theme of [1 Kings 20:28](/1_kings/20-28 "1 Kings 20:28 - God's Universal Sovereignty Declared") is the **universal sovereignty of Yahweh** over all creation, explicitly refuting the pagan notion of localized deities. God's declaration, "I am the LORD," is a powerful assertion of His **unique divine identity** and **absolute authority**, distinguishing Him unequivocally from all other so-called gods. This act of deliverance serves as a profound **divine revelation**, intended not only to demonstrate His unparalleled power to the Syrians but also to remind the wavering Israelites of His unmatched might and unwavering faithfulness, even amidst their pervasive idolatry. It powerfully underscores the theme of **God's self-vindication** and the **refutation of paganism**, demonstrating that His power is not confined by human understanding, geographical boundaries, or any other limitation. This echoes earlier instances of God revealing His power to both Israel and foreign nations, such as in the plagues of Egypt, where Pharaoh was compelled to acknowledge the LORD's supremacy ([Exodus 9:16](/exodus/9-16 "Exodus 9:16 - God's Power Displayed to Pharaoh")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **LORD (Hebrew, _Yᵉhôvâh'_):** This is the sacred, covenant name of God, often transliterated as YHWH. It signifies God's self-existence, eternality, and His unique personal relationship with Israel as the covenant-keeping God. In this context, God's declaration "I am the LORD" (Hebrew: _Ani Yahweh_) is a profound statement of His singular, incomparable identity and absolute authority, directly challenging the notion of multiple, localized deities. It emphasizes His unchanging nature and His sovereign power over all creation, including both "hills" and "valleys," asserting His absolute supremacy.
* **know (Hebrew, _yâdaʻ'_):** This word implies far more than mere intellectual or factual assent; it denotes an experiential, intimate, and transformative knowledge. When God states "ye shall know that I am the LORD," He is not simply predicting an awareness of His name, but a profound, undeniable recognition of His true nature, power, and sovereignty, brought about through His mighty acts of judgment and deliverance. This knowledge is intended to lead to worship, obedience, and a proper, reverential understanding of His unique deity.
* **great (Hebrew, _gâdôwl'_):** This adjective describes the "multitude" of the Syrian army, emphasizing its formidable size and numerical superiority over Israel's forces. God's intention to deliver this "great multitude" into Israel's hand highlights the magnitude of His power and the certainty of His victory, making the subsequent declaration of His universal sovereignty even more impactful. It underscores that no force, however "great," can stand against the LORD.
* **multitude (Hebrew, _hâmôwn'_):** This noun refers to a large crowd, a noisy throng, or an abundance, specifically describing the vast Syrian army. The use of this term, coupled with "great," paints a vivid picture of the overwhelming odds Israel faced. God's promise to deliver this immense "multitude" serves as a direct counterpoint to the Syrian's perceived strength and a powerful demonstration that His power is not limited by numerical advantage or human might.
* **hand (Hebrew, _yâd'_):** In this context, "hand" is used figuratively to denote power, control, or dominion. God declares that He will deliver the Syrian army "into thine hand," meaning into Israel's power and control, signifying a complete and decisive victory. This emphasizes that the victory is not earned by Israel's strength but is a divine bestowal, an act of God's sovereign power.
* **hills (Hebrew, _har'_)...valleys (Hebrew, _ʻêmeq'_):** These terms are used here not merely as geographical features but as a **merism**, a literary device where two contrasting parts represent the whole. "Hills and valleys" collectively symbolize all terrains, all places, and by extension, all aspects of creation and human experience. The Syrian's profound theological error was their belief that God's power was limited to one type of terrain; God's response emphatically asserts His dominion over every conceivable domain, leaving no place or circumstance outside His sovereign reach.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And there came a man of God, and spake unto the king of Israel, and said, Thus saith the LORD,"**: This opening clause establishes the divine origin and absolute authority of the message. The "man of God" is an unnamed prophet, serving as God's direct, authoritative messenger, emphasizing that the subsequent declaration is not human wisdom, military strategy, or political maneuvering, but a direct, unadulterated word from Yahweh Himself. The recurring prophetic formula "Thus saith the LORD" underscores the divine imperative and the inerrancy of the message.
* **"Because the Syrians have said, The LORD [is] God of the hills, but he [is] not God of the valleys,"**: This clause precisely articulates the specific theological error and blasphemous claim of the Syrians. Their pagan worldview led them to compartmentalize divine power, limiting Yahweh to the mountainous regions where the first battle occurred. This demonstrates their fundamental misunderstanding of God's transcendent nature, viewing Him through the narrow, localized lens of their polytheistic deities, rather than as the omnipresent, universal Creator.
* **"therefore will I deliver all this great multitude into thine hand,"**: This is God's direct, sovereign, and decisive response to the Syrian's theological miscalculation. The phrase "all this great multitude" refers to the entire Syrian army, which was numerically superior to Israel's forces ([1 Kings 20:27](/1_kings/20-27 "1 Kings 20:27 - Israel's Small Army")). God explicitly states His intention to grant a complete and overwhelming victory to Israel, not based on Israel's merit, military strength, or King Ahab's faithfulness, but as a direct, undeniable demonstration of His unlimited power and sovereignty over all circumstances, terrains, and nations.
* **"and ye shall know that I [am] the LORD."**: This climactic declaration reveals God's ultimate, overarching purpose behind the impending victory. The "ye" here applies primarily to the Syrians, who will be forced to acknowledge Yahweh's true nature and supreme authority through their devastating defeat. However, it also serves as a crucial, corrective lesson for King Ahab and the Israelites, who, despite their covenant relationship with Yahweh, frequently succumbed to idolatry and doubted His power and faithfulness. This experiential knowledge of God's universal dominion was intended to lead to proper worship, exclusive devotion, and a profound recognition of His unique identity as the one true God.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several potent literary devices to convey its profound theological message with maximum impact. **Contrast** is central to the verse, highlighted by the explicit juxtaposition of "hills" and "valleys," which functions as a **merism** to symbolize the totality of the earth and all conceivable domains. This directly refutes the Syrian's limited and erroneous understanding of God's power. The entire verse is a prime example of **Divine Speech**, where God's direct words are conveyed through a prophet, lending absolute authority, infallibility, and weight to the message. There is also a strong element of **Irony** present: the Syrians' false theological premise (that God is limited to specific terrains) directly precipitates their downfall, serving as the very means by which God reveals His limitless and universal nature. Finally, the phrase "I am the LORD" is a powerful **Statement of Self-Revelation**, a recurring and foundational motif throughout the Old Testament that underscores God's unique, self-existent, incomparable, and covenantal identity.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
First Kings 20:28 profoundly articulates the foundational biblical truth of God's absolute and universal sovereignty. It serves as a powerful theological statement against any attempt to confine or limit the Creator and Sustainer of the universe. The Syrian's error was not merely a tactical misjudgment but a fundamental theological one, rooted in a polytheistic worldview that fragmented divine power across various localized deities. Yahweh's response unequivocally declares that He is not merely a national deity or a god of specific geographical features; He is the one true God whose dominion extends over all creation, all nations, and all circumstances. This truth is foundational to monotheism, asserting God's omnipresence and omnipotence, and it underpins the call for exclusive worship and unwavering trust in Him alone. The ultimate purpose of His actions, as revealed here, is always His self-revelation, ensuring that both His covenant people and the pagan nations "know" Him experientially as the unique and supreme LORD.

* [Psalm 139:7-10](/psalm/139-7-10 "Psalm 139:7-10 - God's Omnipresence and Inescapable Presence")
* [Isaiah 45:5-7](/isaiah/45-5-7 "Isaiah 45:5-7 - God is the Only God, Creator of All")
* [Jeremiah 23:23-24](/jeremiah/23-23-24 "Jeremiah 23:23-24 - God's Omnipresence, Filling Heaven and Earth")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The profound declaration in [1 Kings 20:28](/1_kings/20-28 "1 Kings 20:28 - God's Universal Sovereignty Declared") remains powerfully relevant for believers today, serving as a steadfast anchor for our faith in a world that often seeks to compartmentalize God or dismiss His active presence in certain areas of life. Just as the Syrians mistakenly confined God to the "hills," we too can subtly fall into the trap of believing God is more present or powerful in our "spiritual" lives than in our "secular" work, or more actively involved in times of blessing than in seasons of struggle. This verse shatters such misconceptions, reminding us that God's sovereignty extends over every "hill" of triumph and every "valley" of adversity. Whether we face challenges in our careers, relationships, health, finances, or any other domain, God is not limited by our circumstances, our location, or our perception of His reach. He is ever-present, infinitely powerful, and actively working to reveal His glory and nature. Our trials, like the battle on the plains, can become profound opportunities for us and for those around us to "know that I am the LORD." This truth calls us to trust Him implicitly, to worship Him without reservation, and to live with the unwavering conviction that no situation is beyond His control or outside His redemptive purposes.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what "valleys" or challenging circumstances in your life might you be subtly limiting God's power or presence, perhaps unconsciously?**
* **How does the truth of God's universal sovereignty impact your approach to prayer, especially concerning seemingly insurmountable problems or global crises?**
* **How can your life, both in its "hills" of success and its "valleys" of struggle, serve as a compelling testimony to others that the LORD is God over all?**

### FAQ
**What was the Syrian's specific misconception about God?**

Answer: The Syrians believed that the LORD, the God of Israel, was a localized deity whose power was confined to specific geographical regions, particularly the mountains or "hills" where the first battle took place. They thought that by moving the battle to the "valleys" or plains, they would be outside the LORD's domain and thus gain a tactical advantage. This reflected a common pagan belief in territorial gods, a worldview fundamentally opposed to Israel's understanding of Yahweh as the transcendent, universal God. This misunderstanding directly led to God's emphatic declaration of His universal sovereignty in [1 Kings 20:28](/1_kings/20-28 "1 Kings 20:28 - God is God of Hills and Valleys").

**Why was it important for Israel, and not just the Syrians, to "know" God through this event?**

Answer: While the immediate context addresses the Syrian's pagan misconception, the phrase "and ye shall know that I am the LORD" also profoundly impacts Israel. Under King Ahab's reign, Israel had largely turned to idolatry, particularly the worship of Baal. This victory, orchestrated by God, served as a powerful and undeniable reminder to the Israelites that Yahweh, their covenant God, was the one true, living, and sovereign God, far superior to any pagan deity. It was a call for them to return to true worship and to experientially understand God's unique identity and power, much like His self-revelation to Israel in [Exodus 6:7](/exodus/6-7 "Exodus 6:7 - God's Promise to Be Israel's God"). This event was a divine lesson for both the nations and God's own people.

**How does this verse relate to the concept of God's omnipresence?**

Answer: This verse directly affirms God's omnipresence by refuting the idea of geographical limitations on His power. The Syrian's belief that God was only a "God of the hills" implied He was absent or powerless in the "valleys." God's decisive victory in the valleys demonstrates unequivocally that His presence and power are not confined by any physical space, geographical feature, or human construct. He is equally present, active, and sovereign in all places and at all times, a profound truth beautifully articulated in passages like [Psalm 139:7-10](/psalm/139-7-10 "Psalm 139:7-10 - God's Omnipresence"). This reinforces that there is no place where one can escape His presence or where His power does not extend, affirming His boundless nature.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The declaration "ye shall know that I am the LORD" in [1 Kings 20:28](/1_kings/20-28 "1 Kings 20:28 - God's Universal Sovereignty Declared") finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. While God revealed His universal sovereignty through mighty acts in the Old Testament, these were but shadows pointing to the full and perfect revelation of His nature in His Son. Jesus, as the incarnate Word, is the visible image of the invisible God ([Colossians 1:15](/colossians/1-15 "Colossians 1:15 - Christ, the Image of God")), through whom all things were created, both in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible ([Colossians 1:16](/colossians/1-16 "Colossians 1:16 - Christ, Creator of All Things")). He is not merely the God of "hills" or "valleys," but the Lord over all creation, demonstrating His absolute authority over nature ([Mark 4:39](/mark/4-39 "Mark 4:39 - Jesus Calms the Storm")), sickness ([Matthew 8:16](/matthew/8-16 "Matthew 8:16 - Jesus Heals Many")), death ([John 11:43-44](/john/11-43-44 "John 11:43-44 - Jesus Raises Lazarus")), and sin ([Mark 2:10](/mark/2-10 "Mark 2:10 - Jesus Forgives Sins")). Through His perfect life, atoning death, and glorious resurrection, God's ultimate purpose—that all might "know" Him experientially and savingly—is realized. The Great Commission, to "make disciples of all nations" ([Matthew 28:19](/matthew/28-19 "Matthew 28:19 - The Great Commission")), is the New Testament extension of this Old Testament declaration, inviting people from every "hill" and "valley" of the earth to come to the saving knowledge of the one true God, revealed perfectly in Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all ([Acts 10:36](/acts/10-36 "Acts 10:36 - Jesus is Lord of All")).

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 20:13

And, behold, there came a prophet unto Ahab king of Israel, saying, Thus saith the LORD, Hast thou seen all this great multitude? behold, I will deliver it into thine hand this day; and thou shalt know that I [am] the LORD.

1 Kings 17:18

And she said unto Elijah, What have I to do with thee, O thou man of God? art thou come unto me to call my sin to remembrance, and to slay my son?

Ezekiel 36:21

But I had pity for mine holy name, which the house of Israel had profaned among the heathen, whither they went.

Ezekiel 36:23

And I will sanctify my great name, which was profaned among the heathen, which ye have profaned in the midst of them; and the heathen shall know that I [am] the LORD, saith the Lord GOD, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes.

Psalms 79:10

Wherefore should the heathen say, Where [is] their God? let him be known among the heathen in our sight [by] the revenging of the blood of thy servants [which is] shed.

Ezekiel 12:16

But I will leave a few men of them from the sword, from the famine, and from the pestilence; that they may declare all their abominations among the heathen whither they come; and they shall know that I [am] the LORD.

Ezekiel 36:32

Not for your sakes do I [this], saith the Lord GOD, be it known unto you: be ashamed and confounded for your own ways, O house of Israel.