1 Kings 21:14

KJV

Then they sent to Jezebel, saying, Naboth is stoned, and is dead.

KJV (with Strong's)

Then they sent {H7971} to Jezebel {H348}, saying {H559}, Naboth {H5022} is stoned {H5619}, and is dead {H4191}.

Complete Jewish Bible

then sent a message to Izevel, "Navot has been stoned to death."

Berean Standard Bible

Then they sent word to Jezebel: “Naboth has been stoned to death.”

American Standard Version

Then they sent to Jezebel, saying, Naboth is stoned, and is dead.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
1 Kings 21:14 delivers the chilling and concise confirmation of Naboth's judicial murder to Queen Jezebel, marking the successful culmination of her ruthless plot. This pivotal verse serves as the immediate precursor to divine judgment, highlighting the profound depths of royal corruption and the perversion of justice in the pursuit of selfish desire, setting the stage for Elijah's prophetic confrontation with King Ahab.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is the grim climax of the Naboth's Vineyard narrative in [1 Kings 21](/1_kings/21 "1 Kings 21 - Naboth's Vineyard"). It immediately follows Jezebel's meticulously orchestrated scheme, detailed in [1 Kings 21:8-13](/1_kings/21-8 "1 Kings 21:8-13 - Jezebel's Plot Against Naboth"), where she manipulates the legal system by forging letters in Ahab's name, commanding the elders and nobles of Jezreel to arrange a false accusation of blasphemy and treason against Naboth. The preceding verses establish Ahab's covetous desire for Naboth's ancestral vineyard and his sulking refusal to act, prompting Jezebel's decisive and wicked intervention. The verse's stark report of Naboth's death directly precipitates the divine intervention in [1 Kings 21:17-29](/1_kings/21-17 "1 Kings 21:17-29 - Elijah Confronts Ahab"), where the prophet Elijah is dispatched by God to pronounce severe judgment upon Ahab and Jezebel's house for this heinous act of injustice.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The narrative unfolds within the northern kingdom of Israel during the reign of King Ahab (c. 874-853 BC), a period marked by significant syncretism and the aggressive promotion of Baal worship by Queen Jezebel, a Phoenician princess. Israelite law, as codified in the Torah, strictly prohibited the permanent sale of inherited land, ensuring family patrimony and tribal allotments remained intact (cf. [Leviticus 25:23-28](/leviticus/25-23 "Leviticus 25:23-28 - Laws Concerning Land Redemption")). Naboth's refusal to sell his vineyard was thus a principled stand rooted in his covenantal obligations. Jezebel's method of execution, stoning, was the prescribed punishment for blasphemy and treason (cf. [Leviticus 24:16](/leviticus/24-16 "Leviticus 24:16 - Punishment for Blasphemy")), making her perversion of justice particularly egregious. She exploited sacred legal and religious customs, including declaring a fast, to lend a veneer of legitimacy to a premeditated murder, demonstrating the profound corruption of both royal and judicial authority.
* **Key Themes:** The account of Naboth's vineyard profoundly illustrates several critical themes. Firstly, it exposes the **abuse of power** and **gross injustice** perpetrated by the monarchy, where royal authority is leveraged to violate divine law and human rights for personal gain. Jezebel's actions are a stark embodiment of **ruthless depravity** and a blatant rejection of Yahweh's covenantal principles, showcasing her character as a formidable antagonist to God's prophets and laws, as seen throughout [1 Kings](/1_kings/1 "The Book of 1 Kings"). Secondly, the narrative underscores the **consequences of sin**, particularly covetousness (cf. [Exodus 20:17](/exodus/20-17 "Exodus 20:17 - The Tenth Commandment")) and murder (cf. [Exodus 20:13](/exodus/20-13 "Exodus 20:13 - The Sixth Commandment")). While Ahab's initial desire was the catalyst, Jezebel's murderous scheme brought swift divine judgment upon their house, demonstrating God's unwavering commitment to justice for the oppressed (cf. [Psalm 82:3-4](/psalm/82-3 "Psalm 82:3-4 - Defend the Weak")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Stoned (Hebrew, _sāqal'_):** This verb, meaning "to stone" or "to pelt with stones," refers to a specific form of capital punishment in ancient Israel, typically reserved for severe offenses such as blasphemy, idolatry, or violating the Sabbath. Its use here immediately signals that Naboth was executed under the guise of legal process, even though the accusations were fabricated. The method of execution underscores the public, communal nature of the "justice" meted out, making the perversion of law even more shocking as it implicated the entire community in a false judgment.
* **Dead (Hebrew, _mēt'_):** This simple adjective conveys absolute finality. In the context of the message to Jezebel, "dead" signifies the complete and irreversible success of her plot. There is no ambiguity, no possibility of reversal. Naboth's life has been extinguished, and with it, his claim to the vineyard, clearing the path for Ahab's covetous desire to be fulfilled. The starkness of the word emphasizes the brutal efficiency and cold-heartedness of the perpetrators.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Then they sent to Jezebel, saying,"**: This opening clause indicates the immediate communication of the outcome of Jezebel's plot. "They" refers to the elders and nobles of Jezreel, who acted on Jezebel's forged instructions. The swiftness of the message highlights the efficiency with which the corrupt judicial process was carried out and the eagerness of the perpetrators to report their "success" to the queen, underscoring their complicity and fear of her authority.
* **"Naboth is stoned,"**: This declarative statement confirms the method of execution. It is a terse, factual report, devoid of emotion, reflecting the cold bureaucratic nature of the crime. The passive voice ("is stoned") subtly shifts the focus from the perpetrators to the victim's fate, yet the reader understands the active role of the false witnesses and the community in carrying out this perversion of justice.
* **"and is dead."**: This concluding phrase provides the ultimate confirmation of the plot's success. The simple, direct declaration of Naboth's death leaves no room for doubt. It signifies the complete removal of the obstacle to Ahab's desire and the full execution of Jezebel's murderous will. The two clauses together form a complete report of the deed, ready for Jezebel's reception and subsequent action.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several potent literary devices. **Brevity** and **conciseness** are paramount, delivering the grim news with stark efficiency, mirroring the cold, calculated nature of the crime. The report is devoid of emotional commentary, making the injustice even more chilling. There is a profound sense of **irony** in the use of stoning, a method of execution prescribed by divine law for true transgressions, being perverted to commit murder based on false accusations. This highlights the complete inversion of justice under Ahab and Jezebel's rule. Furthermore, the verse serves as a powerful instance of **foreshadowing**, as the immediate consequence of this reported death is the arrival of divine judgment, signaling that this "success" for Jezebel is, in fact, the catalyst for the downfall of her house.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
1 Kings 21:14 stands as a stark testament to the insidious nature of sin, particularly when unchecked power enables covetousness to escalate into murder and the perversion of justice. It vividly portrays the clash between human wickedness and divine righteousness, reminding us that God is a God of justice who sees and responds to the cries of the oppressed. The narrative underscores the sanctity of life and the importance of upholding truth and righteousness, even in the face of overwhelming corruption. While human systems may fail and the innocent may suffer, this verse, in its immediate context, serves as a powerful reminder that God's judgment is certain and that no act of injustice goes unnoticed by the divine eye.

* [Deuteronomy 32:35](/deuteronomy/32-35 "Deuteronomy 32:35 - Vengeance is Mine, I will repay")
* [Psalm 94:20-23](/psalm/94-20 "Psalm 94:20-23 - God Judges the Unjust")
* [Proverbs 11:21](/proverbs/11-21 "Proverbs 11:21 - The Wicked Will Not Go Unpunished")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The tragic account of Naboth's vineyard, culminating in the stark report of his death in 1 Kings 21:14, serves as a timeless cautionary tale for all who seek to live justly and faithfully. It compels us to examine our own hearts for the seeds of covetousness, recognizing how seemingly small desires can, if unchecked, metastasize into destructive actions. Moreover, it challenges us to consider our role in upholding justice within our communities and beyond. Are we complicit through silence when we witness injustice, or do we stand for truth, even when it is costly? The narrative reminds us that true authority comes from God, and those entrusted with power are accountable to Him for how they wield it. Ultimately, it calls us to cultivate a deep reverence for God's law and a compassionate heart for the vulnerable, knowing that God champions the cause of the oppressed and will ultimately bring all hidden deeds to light.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the story of Naboth's vineyard challenge my understanding of justice and power in the world today?**
* **In what ways might unchecked desires or covetousness manifest in my own life, and what steps can I take to counter them?**
* **What role do I have, as an individual or part of a community, in speaking out against injustice or supporting those who are marginalized?**

### FAQ
**What was Naboth's crime, and why was he stoned?**

Answer: Naboth's "crime" was entirely fabricated. He was falsely accused of two capital offenses under Israelite law: "cursing God and the king" (blasphemy and treason). This accusation was orchestrated by Queen Jezebel through corrupt elders and "sons of Belial" (worthless men) who bore false witness against him. Stoning was the prescribed punishment for such offenses, lending a veneer of legal legitimacy to what was, in fact, a premeditated judicial murder designed to seize his ancestral vineyard, which Naboth had righteously refused to sell to King Ahab (as per [Leviticus 25:23](/leviticus/25-23 "Leviticus 25:23 - Land Inheritance Laws")).

**How does Jezebel's role in this event reflect her character?**

Answer: Jezebel's actions in the Naboth's vineyard narrative, particularly her orchestration of his murder, profoundly reveal her ruthless, manipulative, and idolatrous character. As a Phoenician princess, she had no regard for the covenant laws of Israel or the God of Israel. Her willingness to forge letters in Ahab's name, subvert the legal system, and commit murder for a piece of land demonstrates her depravity, her absolute control over Ahab, and her aggressive opposition to Yahwism. This event solidifies her reputation as one of the most wicked figures in the Old Testament, a woman utterly devoid of moral conscience or fear of God, as further evidenced by her persecution of God's prophets (cf. [1 Kings 18:4](/1_kings/18-4 "1 Kings 18:4 - Jezebel Kills the Prophets")).

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The unjust murder of Naboth, an innocent man condemned by false witnesses and a perverted legal system for the selfish gain of the powerful, finds its ultimate and profound fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Just as Naboth was "stoned and is dead" through a corrupted judicial process, Jesus, the truly innocent one, was condemned by false accusations and crucified outside the city walls, a death akin to stoning in its public shame and brutality (cf. [John 19:16-18](/john/19-16 "John 19:16-18 - Jesus Crucified")). While Naboth's death was a tragic injustice leading to divine judgment on his oppressors, Christ's death, though supremely unjust from a human perspective, was the divinely ordained sacrifice for the sins of humanity (cf. [Isaiah 53:5-6](/isaiah/53-5 "Isaiah 53:5-6 - The Suffering Servant")). The vineyard, coveted by Ahab, represents earthly possessions and desires that lead to death; in contrast, Jesus offers true and eternal life, a spiritual inheritance that cannot be taken away (cf. [1 Peter 1:3-4](/1_peter/1-3 "1 Peter 1:3-4 - A Living Hope")). Through His unjust suffering and death, Christ exposed the depths of human sin and the perversion of justice, yet simultaneously inaugurated God's perfect justice and mercy, conquering sin and death, and establishing a kingdom where righteousness truly dwells (cf. [Romans 5:8](/romans/5-8 "Romans 5:8 - God Demonstrates His Love")).

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

2 Samuel 11:14

¶ And it came to pass in the morning, that David wrote a letter to Joab, and sent [it] by the hand of Uriah.

2 Samuel 11:24

And the shooters shot from off the wall upon thy servants; and [some] of the king's servants be dead, and thy servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also.

Ecclesiastes 5:8

If thou seest the oppression of the poor, and violent perverting of judgment and justice in a province, marvel not at the matter: for [he that is] higher than the highest regardeth; and [there be] higher than they.

Ecclesiastes 8:14

¶ There is a vanity which is done upon the earth; that there be just [men], unto whom it happeneth according to the work of the wicked; again, there be wicked [men], to whom it happeneth according to the work of the righteous: I said that this also [is] vanity.