1 Kings 13:17
New International Version
I have been told by the word of the LORD: ‘You must not eat bread or drink water there or return by the way you came.’”

New Living Translation
For the LORD gave me this command: ‘You must not eat or drink anything while you are there, and do not return to Judah by the same way you came.’”

English Standard Version
for it was said to me by the word of the LORD, ‘You shall neither eat bread nor drink water there, nor return by the way that you came.’”

Berean Standard Bible
For I have been told by the word of the LORD: ‘You must not eat bread or drink water there or return by the way you came.’”

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
For I have been told by the word of the LORD, ‘You shall not eat bread nor drink water there, nor return by going the way you came.’ ”

New American Standard Bible
For a command came to me by the word of the LORD: ‘You shall not eat bread, nor drink water there; do not return by going the way that you came.’”

NASB 1995
“For a command came to me by the word of the LORD, ‘You shall eat no bread, nor drink water there; do not return by going the way which you came.’”

NASB 1977
“For a command came to me by the word of the LORD, ‘You shall eat no bread, nor drink water there; do not return by going the way which you came.’”

Legacy Standard Bible
For a word came to me by the word of Yahweh, ‘You shall eat no bread, nor drink water there; do not return by going the way which you came.’”

Amplified Bible
For I was told by the word of the LORD, ‘You shall not eat bread nor drink water there, nor shall you return by going the way that you came.’”

Christian Standard Bible
For a message came to me by the word of the LORD: ‘You must not eat food or drink water there or go back by the way you came.’ ”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
for a message came to me by the word of the LORD: ‘You must not eat bread or drink water there or go back by the way you came.’”

American Standard Version
for it was said to me by the word of Jehovah, Thou shalt eat no bread nor drink water there, nor turn again to go by the way that thou camest.

Contemporary English Version
The LORD warned me not to eat or drink or to go home the same way I came."

English Revised Version
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.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
When the LORD spoke to me, he told me not to eat or drink there or go back on the road I took to get there."

Good News Translation
because the LORD has commanded me not to eat or drink a thing, and not to return home the same way I came."

International Standard Version
because I've been given a command in the form of this message from the LORD: 'You are to eat no food, drink no water, and do not return to Judah by traveling the way by which you go there.'"

Majority Standard Bible
For I have been told by the word of the LORD: ‘You must not eat bread or drink water there or return by the way you came.’”

NET Bible
For the LORD gave me strict orders, 'Do not eat or drink there; do not go back the way you came.'"

New Heart English Bible
For it was said to me by the word of the LORD, 'You shall eat no bread nor drink water there, nor turn again to go by the way that you came.'"

Webster's Bible Translation
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.

World English Bible
For it was said to me by Yahweh’s word, ‘You shall eat no bread or drink water there, and don’t turn again to go by the way that you came.’”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
for [there is] a word to me by the word of YHWH, You do not eat bread nor drink water there [and] you do not return to go in the way in which you came.”

Young's Literal Translation
for a word is unto me by the word of Jehovah, Thou dost not eat bread nor drink there water, thou dost not turn back to go in the way in which thou camest.'

Smith's Literal Translation
For it was spoken to me by the word of Jehovah, Thou shalt not eat bread and thou shalt not drink water there, thou shalt not turn back to go in the way which thou wentest in it.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Because the Lord spoke to me in the word of the Lord, saying: Thou shalt not eat bread, and thou shalt not drink water there, nor return by the way thou wentest.

Catholic Public Domain Version
For the Lord has spoken to me, by the word of the Lord, saying, “You shall not eat bread, and you shall not drink water in that place, nor shall you return by the way that you arrived.”

New American Bible
“for I was told by the word of the LORD: You shall not eat bread or drink water there, and do not go back the way you came.”

New Revised Standard Version
for it was said to me by the word of the LORD: You shall not eat food or drink water there, or return by the way that you came.”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
- - -

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Because thus it was told me by the word of LORD JEHOVAH:“ you shall not eat bread there and you shall not drink water there, neither shall you return on the road by which you came.”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
For it was said to me by the word of the LORD: Thou shalt eat no bread nor drink water there, nor turn back to go by the way that thou camest.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
For thus the Lord commanded me by word, saying, Eat not bread there, and drink not water, and return not thither by the way by which thou camest.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Old Prophet and the Man of God
16But the man replied, “I cannot return with you or eat bread or drink water with you in this place. 17For I have been told by the word of the LORD: ‘You must not eat bread or drink water there or return by the way you came.’” 18Then the prophet replied, “I too am a prophet like you, and an angel spoke to me by the word of the LORD, saying, ‘Bring him back with you to your house, so that he may eat bread and drink water.’ ” The old prophet was lying to him,…

Cross References
1 Samuel 15:22-23
But Samuel declared: “Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obedience to His voice? Behold, obedience is better than sacrifice, and attentiveness is better than the fat of rams. / For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance is like the wickedness of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, He has rejected you as king.”

Numbers 22:12
But God said to Balaam, “Do not go with them. You are not to curse this people, for they are blessed.”

Deuteronomy 13:1-5
If a prophet or dreamer of dreams arises among you and proclaims a sign or wonder to you, / and if the sign or wonder he has spoken to you comes about, but he says, “Let us follow other gods (which you have not known) and let us worship them,” / you must not listen to the words of that prophet or dreamer. For the LORD your God is testing you to find out whether you love Him with all your heart and with all your soul. ...

Jeremiah 23:16
This is what the LORD of Hosts says: “Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you. They are filling you with false hopes. They speak visions from their own minds, not from the mouth of the LORD.

Galatians 1:8-9
But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be under a curse! / As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be under a curse!

Matthew 7:15-20
Beware of false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. / By their fruit you will recognize them. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? / Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. ...

2 Corinthians 11:13-15
For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ. / And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. / It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their actions.

1 John 4:1
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God. For many false prophets have gone out into the world.

Acts 5:29
But Peter and the other apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than men.

Matthew 4:4
But Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

Isaiah 30:21
And whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear this command behind you: “This is the way. Walk in it.”

Proverbs 4:27
Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your feet away from evil.

John 14:15
If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.

John 15:10
If you keep My commandments, you will remain in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and remain in His love.

1 John 2:3-4
By this we can be sure that we have come to know Him: if we keep His commandments. / If anyone says, “I know Him,” but does not keep His commandments, he is a liar, and the truth is not in him.


Treasury of Scripture

For it was said to me by the word of the LORD, You shall eat no bread nor drink water there, nor turn again to go by the way that you came.

It was [heb] a word was

1 Kings 13:1
And, behold, there came a man of God out of Judah by the word of the LORD unto Bethel: and Jeroboam stood by the altar to burn incense.

1 Kings 20:35
And a certain man of the sons of the prophets said unto his neighbour in the word of the LORD, Smite me, I pray thee. And the man refused to smite him.

1 Thessalonians 4:15
For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.

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1 Kings 13
1. Jeroboam's hand withers
6. and at the prayer of the prophet is restored
7. The prophet departs from Bethel
11. An old prophet brings him back
20. He is reproved by God
23. slain by a lion
26. buried by the old prophet
31. who confirms the prophecy
33. Jeroboam's obstinacy














For I have been told by the word of the LORD
This phrase underscores the authority and divine origin of the message received by the man of God. The "word of the LORD" in Hebrew is "דְּבַר־יְהוָה" (davar-YHWH), which signifies a direct communication from God, often delivered through prophets. This highlights the seriousness and sacredness of the command, emphasizing that it is not a mere suggestion but a divine mandate. In the historical context, prophets were the mouthpieces of God, and their messages were to be heeded with utmost reverence.

You must not eat bread or drink water there
This command is a test of obedience and separation. The prohibition against eating or drinking in that place signifies a call to remain spiritually pure and untainted by the practices or influences of the idolatrous society in Bethel. In the Hebrew culture, sharing a meal was a sign of fellowship and agreement, so abstaining from eating or drinking was a way to maintain spiritual integrity and distance from the sinfulness of the place.

or return by the way you came
This instruction serves as a symbolic act of complete separation and non-association with the idolatrous practices of the northern kingdom. By not returning the same way, the man of God demonstrates a break from the past and a commitment to a new path directed by God. This also serves as a metaphor for repentance and transformation, where one does not return to former ways of sin but moves forward in obedience to God's commands.

Verse 17. - For it was said to me [Heb. a word to me] by [Heb. in] 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.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
For
כִּֽי־ (kî-)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

I
אֵלַי֙ (’ê·lay)
Preposition | first person common singular
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

have been told
דָבָ֤ר (ḏā·ḇār)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1697: A word, a matter, thing, a cause

by the word
בִּדְבַ֣ר (biḏ·ḇar)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1697: A word, a matter, thing, a cause

of the LORD:
יְהוָ֔ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3069: YHWH

‘You must not
לֹֽא־ (lō-)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

eat
תֹאכַ֣ל (ṯō·ḵal)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 398: To eat

bread
לֶ֔חֶם (le·ḥem)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3899: Food, bread, grain

or drink
תִשְׁתֶּ֥ה (ṯiš·teh)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 8354: To imbibe

water
מָ֑יִם (mā·yim)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 4325: Water, juice, urine, semen

there
שָׁ֖ם (šām)
Adverb
Strong's 8033: There, then, thither

or return
תָשׁ֣וּב (ṯā·šūḇ)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 7725: To turn back, in, to retreat, again

by the way
בַּדֶּ֖רֶךְ (bad·de·reḵ)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - common singular
Strong's 1870: A road, a course of life, mode of action

you came.’”
לָלֶ֔כֶת (lā·le·ḵeṯ)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 1980: To go, come, walk


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OT History: 1 Kings 13:17 For it was said to me (1Ki iKi i Ki 1 Kg 1kg)
1 Kings 13:16
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