1 Kings 13:3 That day the man of God gave a sign, saying, "The LORD has spoken this sign: 'Surely the altar will be split apart, and the ashes upon it will be poured out.'"

◄ 1 Kings 13:3 ►

New International Version
That same day the man of God gave a sign: “This is the sign the LORD has declared: The altar will be split apart and the ashes on it will be poured out.”

New Living Translation
That same day the man of God gave a sign to prove his message. He said, “The LORD has promised to give this sign: This altar will split apart, and its ashes will be poured out on the ground.”

English Standard Version
And he gave a sign the same day, saying, “This is the sign that the LORD has spoken: ‘Behold, the altar shall be torn down, and the ashes that are on it shall be poured out.’”

Berean Standard Bible
That day the man of God gave a sign, saying, “The LORD has spoken this sign: ‘Surely the altar will be split apart, and the ashes upon it will be poured out.’”

King James Bible
And he gave a sign the same day, saying, This is the sign which the LORD hath spoken; Behold, the altar shall be rent, and the ashes that are upon it shall be poured out.

New King James Version
And he gave a sign the same day, saying, “This is the sign which the LORD has spoken: Surely the altar shall split apart, and the ashes on it shall be poured out.”

New American Standard Bible
Then he gave a sign on the same day, saying, “This is the sign which the LORD has spoken: ‘Behold, the altar shall be torn to pieces and the ashes which are on it shall be poured out.’”

NASB 1995
Then he gave a sign the same day, saying, “This is the sign which the LORD has spoken, ‘Behold, the altar shall be split apart and the ashes which are on it shall be poured out.’”

NASB 1977
Then he gave a sign the same day, saying, “This is the sign which the LORD has spoken, ‘Behold, the altar shall be split apart and the ashes which are on it shall be poured out.’”

Legacy Standard Bible
Then he gave a miraculous sign the same day, saying, “This is the miraculous sign which Yahweh has spoken, ‘Behold, the altar shall be torn apart and the ashes which are on it shall be poured out.’”

Amplified Bible
And he gave a sign the same day, saying, “This is the sign which the LORD has spoken: ‘Behold, the altar shall be split apart and the ashes that are on it shall be poured out.’”

Christian Standard Bible
He gave a sign that day. He said, “This is the sign that the LORD has spoken: ‘The altar will now be ripped apart, and the ashes that are on it will be poured out.’ ”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
He gave a sign that day. He said, “This is the sign that the LORD has spoken: ‘The altar will now be ripped apart, and the ashes that are on it will be poured out.’”

American Standard Version
And he gave a sign the same day, saying, This is the sign which Jehovah hath spoken: Behold, the altar shall be rent, and the ashes that are upon it shall be poured out.

Contemporary English Version
You will know that the LORD has said these things when the altar splits in half, and the ashes on it fall to the ground.

English Revised Version
And he gave a sign the same day, saying, This is the sign which the LORD hath spoken: Behold, the altar shall be rent, and the ashes that are upon it shall be poured out.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
That day the man of God [also] gave [them] a miraculous sign, saying, "This is the sign that the LORD will give you: You will see the altar torn apart. The ashes on it will be poured [on the ground]."

Good News Translation
And the prophet went on to say, "This altar will fall apart, and the ashes on it will be scattered. Then you will know that the LORD has spoken through me."

International Standard Version
Later that same day, he gave them a special display of power of what was to come when he said, "Here's proof that the LORD has decreed this: Look! This altar will be split apart and the ashes that are on it will spill out."

Majority Standard Bible
That day the man of God gave a sign, saying, ?The LORD has spoken this sign: ?Surely the altar will be split apart, and the ashes upon it will be poured out.??

NET Bible
That day he also announced a sign, "This is the sign the LORD has predetermined: The altar will be split open and the ashes on it will fall to the ground."

New Heart English Bible
He gave a sign the same day, saying, "This is the sign which the LORD has spoken: Look, the altar will be split apart, and the ashes that are on it will be poured out."

Webster's Bible Translation
And he gave a sign the same day, saying, This is the sign which the LORD hath spoken; Behold, the altar shall be rent, and the ashes that are upon it shall be poured out.

World English Bible
He gave a sign the same day, saying, “This is the sign which Yahweh has spoken: Behold, the altar will be split apart, and the ashes that are on it will be poured out.”

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
And he has given a sign on that day, saying, “This [is] the sign that YHWH has spoken, Behold, the altar is torn, and the ashes that [are] on it [are] poured forth.”

Young's Literal Translation
And he hath given on that day a sign, saying, 'This is the sign that Jehovah hath spoken, Lo, the altar is rent, and the ashes poured forth that are on it.'

Smith's Literal Translation
And, he will give in that day a sign, saying, This the sign which Jehovah spake: Behold, the altar rent and the fat which was upon it, poured out.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
And he gave a sign the same day, saying: This shall be the sign, that the Lord hath spoken: Behold the altar shall be rent, and the ashes that are upon it shall be poured out.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And he gave a sign on the same day, saying: “This will be the sign that the Lord has spoken. Behold, the altar shall be torn apart, and the ashes that are upon it shall be poured out.”

New American Bible
He also gave a sign that same day and said: “This is the sign that the LORD has spoken: The altar shall be torn apart and the ashes on it shall be scattered.”

New Revised Standard Version
He gave a sign the same day, saying, “This is the sign that the LORD has spoken: ‘The altar shall be torn down, and the ashes that are on it shall be poured out.’”

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
- - -

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And on that day, he gave a sign and said: “This is the sign that LORD JEHOVAH has sent me: behold, the altar will be broken, and the ashes that are on it will be poured out.”

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
And he gave a sign the same day saying: 'This is the sign which the LORD hath spoken: Behold, the altar shall be rent, and the ashes that are upon it shall be poured out.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And in that day one shall give a sign, saying, This is the word which the Lord has spoken, saying, Behold, the altar is rent, and the fatness upon it shall be poured out.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

Jeroboam's Hand Withers
…2And he cried out against the altar by the word of the LORD, “O altar, O altar, this is what the LORD says: ‘A son named Josiah will be born to the house of David, and upon you he will sacrifice the priests of the high places who burn incense upon you, and human bones will be burned upon you.’ ” 3That day the man of God gave a sign, saying, “The LORD has spoken this sign: ‘Surely the altar will be split apart, and the ashes upon it will be poured out.’” 4Now when King Jeroboam, who was at the altar in Bethel, heard the word that the man of God had cried out against it, he stretched out his hand and said, “Seize him!” But the hand he stretched out toward him withered, so that he could not pull it back.…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

2 Kings 23:15-16
He even pulled down the altar at Bethel, the high place set up by Jeroboam son of Nebat, who had caused Israel to sin. Then he burned the high place, ground it to powder, and burned the Asherah pole. / And as Josiah turned, he saw the tombs there on the hillside, and he sent someone to take the bones out of the tombs, and he burned them on the altar to defile it, according to the word of the LORD proclaimed by the man of God who had foretold these things.

2 Kings 23:17-18
Then the king asked, “What is this monument I see?” And the men of the city replied, “It is the tomb of the man of God who came from Judah and proclaimed these things that you have done to the altar of Bethel.” / “Let him rest,” said Josiah. “Do not let anyone disturb his bones.” So they left his bones undisturbed, along with those of the prophet who had come from Samaria.

2 Chronicles 34:5
Then he burned the bones of the priests on their altars. So he cleansed Judah and Jerusalem.

2 Chronicles 34:6-7
Josiah did the same in the cities of Manasseh, Ephraim, and Simeon, as far as Naphtali, and in the ruins around them. / He tore down the altars and Asherah poles, crushed the idols to powder, and cut to pieces all the incense altars throughout the land of Israel. Then he returned to Jerusalem.

Jeremiah 44:29-30
This will be a sign to you that I will punish you in this place, declares the LORD, so that you may know that My threats of harm against you will surely stand. / This is what the LORD says: Behold, I will deliver Pharaoh Hophra king of Egypt into the hands of his enemies who seek his life, just as I delivered Zedekiah king of Judah into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, the enemy who was seeking his life.”

Isaiah 7:14
Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin will be with child and give birth to a son, and will call Him Immanuel.

Isaiah 38:7-8
This will be a sign to you from the LORD that He will do what He has promised: / I will make the sun’s shadow that falls on the stairway of Ahaz go back ten steps.’” So the sunlight went back the ten steps it had descended.

Exodus 4:30
and Aaron relayed everything the LORD had said to Moses. And Moses performed the signs before the people,

Exodus 7:3
But I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and though I will multiply My signs and wonders in the land of Egypt,

Deuteronomy 13:1-3
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.

Matthew 12:39-40
Jesus replied, “A wicked and adulterous generation demands a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. / For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

Matthew 16:1-4
Then the Pharisees and Sadducees came and tested Jesus by asking Him to show them a sign from heaven. / But He replied, “When evening comes, you say, ‘The weather will be fair, for the sky is red,’ / and in the morning, ‘Today it will be stormy, for the sky is red and overcast.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but not the signs of the times. ...

Luke 11:29-30
As the crowds were increasing, Jesus said, “This is a wicked generation. It demands a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah. / For as Jonah was a sign to the Ninevites, so the Son of Man will be a sign to this generation.

John 2:18-19
On account of this, the Jews demanded, “What sign can You show us to prove Your authority to do these things?” / Jesus answered, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up again.”

John 4:48
Jesus said to him, “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will never believe.”

Treasury of Scripture

And he gave a sign the same day, saying, This is the sign which the LORD has spoken; Behold, the altar shall be rent, and the ashes that are on it shall be poured out.

Exodus 4:3-5,8,9
And he said, Cast it on the ground. And he cast it on the ground, and it became a serpent; and Moses fled from before it…

Exodus 7:10
And Moses and Aaron went in unto Pharaoh, and they did so as the LORD had commanded: and Aaron cast down his rod before Pharaoh, and before his servants, and it became a serpent.

Deuteronomy 13:1-3
If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder, …

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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

Berean Study Bible

That day
The phrase "that day" indicates a specific moment in time, emphasizing the immediacy and urgency of the prophetic message. In the Hebrew context, "day" (יוֹם, yom) often signifies not just a 24-hour period but a divinely appointed time. This underscores the importance of the events that are unfolding, as they are orchestrated by God’s sovereign timing.

the man of God
This title, "the man of God," is used to describe a prophet or someone who is divinely appointed to deliver God's message. In Hebrew, the term is "אִישׁ הָאֱלֹהִים" (ish ha-Elohim), which conveys a deep connection and commitment to God. This designation highlights the authority and authenticity of the messenger, reminding us that true prophecy comes from a life dedicated to God.

gave a sign
The act of giving a sign is significant in biblical narratives as it serves as a divine confirmation of the prophet's message. In Hebrew, the word for sign is "אוֹת" (oth), which can mean a miraculous event or a symbol. This sign is meant to validate the words spoken by the prophet, providing tangible evidence of God's intervention and power.

saying, 'This is the sign that the LORD has spoken
The phrase emphasizes the source of the message—the LORD (יהוה, Yahweh). It is not the man of God’s own words but a direct communication from God. This underscores the authority and reliability of the prophecy, as it originates from the ultimate source of truth and power.

Surely the altar will be split apart
The certainty of the prophecy is emphasized by the word "surely." The altar, a central place of worship and sacrifice, being split apart signifies a dramatic divine intervention. In the historical context, this act would symbolize the rejection of false worship practices and the judgment of God upon idolatry.

and the ashes upon it will be poured out
Ashes, in biblical terms, often represent the remnants of sacrifice and are associated with purification and repentance. The pouring out of ashes signifies the nullification of the sacrifices made on the altar, indicating that they are not accepted by God. This act serves as a powerful symbol of divine judgment and the call to return to true worship.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(3, 4) The sign.--Both the signs, like most miraculous signs, shadow forth plainly the thing signified. The sign, announced to secure credence to the prediction, is itself a visible type of what that prediction foretold, in the shattering of the altar and the scattering of the ashes of the burnt-offering. The sign actually given includes, besides this, the sudden withering of the king's hand, stretched out in defiance of the prophet--an equally plain symbol of the miserable failure of his strength and policy, when opposed to the Law and the judgment of God. It should be noted that the withdrawal of this last sign of wrath, on the submission of the king and the prayer of the prophet, was apparently designed to give Jeroboam one more opportunity of repentance. The last verses of the chapter (1Kings 13:33-34) seem to imply that, but for the interposition of the old prophet of Bethel, he might still have taken that opportunity.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 3. - And he gave a sign [The Heb. מופֵת rather signifies a portent (τέρας, miraculum, prodigium) than a sign, the proper word for which is אות. The word occurs repeatedly in the Pentateuch, where it is rendered wonder, or miracle, by our translators (Wordsworth). Signs had, of course, been given before (Exodus 4:30; Exodus 7:9; 1 Samuel 12:17; etc.) but hardly in such immediate attestation of a special message. From this time forward such signs are not infrequent (Isaiah 7:14; Isaiah 38:8; 2 Kings 19:29). They mark the decline of faith (Matthew 12:39). As to the need at this crisis for some miraculous token, see Homiletics. The fitness of this particular sign is obvious] the same day, saying, This is the sign which [Rather that; דועק ְ אֲֶשר. The A.V. rendering hardly makes sense. Nor does it agree, as Rawlinson seems to think, with the LXX., which reads τοῦτο τὸ ῤῆμα ο{ ἐλάησε κύριος, etc.] the Lord hath spoken [i.e., by me. "This is the proof that my message is from Him, and is no idle threat." Wordsworth sees in this sign "a proof vouchsafed by God Himself to the man of Judah, as well as to Jeroboam, that he was really sent by God," etc. But surely a man who came "in the word of the Lord," and cried, "Thus saith the Lord," wanted no proof that "he was doing God's bidding" (see 1 Corinthians 14:22)]; Behold, the altar shall be rent and the ashes [strictly, fat ashes. דֶּשֶׁן; properly, "fatness" (see Judges 9:9; Psalm 63:5. πιότης, LXX.), is the fat of the sacrifice, which was burnt upon the altar, mixed with the ashes that consumed it] that are upon it shall be poured out. [The sign, a partial destruction of the altar, and the scattering of the sacrifice, was admirably calculated to presage its ultimate and final and ignominious overthrow. The idea favoured by Stanley ("Jewish Ch." 2:280) that this prediction was fulfilled "if not before, at least" in the time of Amos, when the altar was destroyed by an earthquake shock (Amos 9:1; cf. 3:14), does not seem to take account of ver. 5.]

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

That
הַה֤וּא (ha·hū)
Article | Pronoun - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1931: He, self, the same, this, that, as, are

day
בַּיּ֨וֹם (bay·yō·wm)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3117: A day

[the man of God] gave
וְנָתַן֩ (wə·nā·ṯan)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5414: To give, put, set

a sign,
מוֹפֵת֙ (mō·w·p̄êṯ)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4159: A miracle, a token, omen

saying,
לֵאמֹ֔ר (lê·mōr)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 559: To utter, say

“This
זֶ֣ה (zeh)
Pronoun - masculine singular
Strong's 2088: This, that

is the sign
הַמּוֹפֵ֔ת (ham·mō·w·p̄êṯ)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4159: A miracle, a token, omen

that
אֲשֶׁ֖ר (’ă·šer)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

the LORD
יְהוָ֑ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

has spoken:
דִּבֶּ֣ר (dib·ber)
Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1696: To arrange, to speak, to subdue

‘Surely
הִנֵּ֤ה (hin·nêh)
Interjection
Strong's 2009: Lo! behold!

the altar
הַמִּזְבֵּ֙חַ֙ (ham·miz·bê·aḥ)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4196: An altar

will be split apart,
נִקְרָ֔ע (niq·rā‘)
Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 7167: To rend

and the ashes
הַדֶּ֥שֶׁן (had·de·šen)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1880: The fat, fatness, abundance, the, ashes of sacrifices

upon it
עָלָֽיו׃ (‘ā·lāw)
Preposition | third person masculine singular
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

will be poured out.’”
וְנִשְׁפַּ֖ךְ (wə·niš·paḵ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 8210: To spill forth, to expend, to sprawl out

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OT History: 1 Kings 13:3 He gave a sign the same day (1Ki iKi i Ki 1 Kg 1kg)