The Meaning of 1 Kings 13:11 Explained

1 Kings 13:11

KJV: 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.

YLT: And a certain aged prophet is dwelling in Beth-El, and his son cometh and recounteth to him all the deed that the man of God hath done to-day in Beth-El, the words that he hath spoken unto the king, -- yea, they recount them to their father.

Darby: Now there dwelt a certain 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 that he had spoken to the king, them they told also to their father.

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

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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. 

What does 1 Kings 13:11 Mean?

Context Summary

1 Kings 13:11-19 - Led Astray By A False Messenger
The unnamed prophet from Judah had received distinct instructions not to eat bread nor drink water while on his divinely-commissioned errand. He was therefore justified in refusing the royal invitation; and it would have been well with him had he also refused the invitation of the old prophet, who followed him with the persistent invitation to return with him to his house. But the younger prophet failed, because the older man professed to speak by divine warrant and because the invitation chimed in with his own inclinations. As he sat there under the oak, tired and hungry, he was only too willing to believe that the prophet's message was true, although it was altogether contrary to his own impression.
When God has spoken to us, let us not dare to turn aside on the advice of others, however good they seem, even though their proposals may be draped with a show of religious phraseology. God does not say Yea or Nay; but all His commands, like all His promises, are Yea and Amen in Christ. In Him is no variableness, nor shadow cast by turning.
1 Kings 13:1-34 - Breaking Three Commandments
From a worldly point of view Naboth might have done a good stroke of business by selling his estate to. Ahab. A royal price and assured favor might have been his-but he had a conscience! Above the persuasive tones of the monarch's offer sounded the voice of God: "The land shall not be sold for ever, for the land is mine." See Leviticus 25:23; Numbers 36:7; Ezekiel 46:18.
Ahab knew perfectly well that Jezebel could not give him the property of another except by foul means, but he took pains not to inquire. Though the direct orders for Naboth's death did not come from him, yet, by his silence, he was an accomplice and an accessory; and divine justice penetrates all such specious excuses. God holds us responsible for wrongs which we do not arrest, though we have the power. The crime was blacker because of the pretext of religion, as suggested by a fast. See also 2 Kings 9:26. The blood of murdered innocence cries to God, and his requital, though delayed, is inevitable. See Revelation 6:9-10. [source]

Chapter Summary: 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

What do the individual words in 1 Kings 13:11 mean?

And prophet an old dwelt in Bethel and came his sons and told him - all the works that had done the man of God that day Bethel the words which he had spoken to the king and they told their father
וְנָבִ֤יא אֶחָד֙ זָקֵ֔ן יֹשֵׁ֖ב בְּבֵֽית־ אֵ֑ל וַיָּב֣וֹא בְנ֡וֹ וַיְסַפֶּר־ ל֣וֹ אֶת־ כָּל־ הַמַּעֲשֶׂ֣ה אֲשֶׁר־ עָשָׂה֩ אִישׁ־ הָאֱלֹהִ֨ים ׀ הַיּ֜וֹם אֵ֗ל הַדְּבָרִים֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר דִּבֶּ֣ר אֶל־ הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ וַֽיְסַפְּר֖וּם לַאֲבִיהֶֽם

וְנָבִ֤יא  And  prophet 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular
Root: נָבִיא  
Sense: spokesman, speaker, prophet.
זָקֵ֔ן  old 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: זָקֵן  
Sense: old.
יֹשֵׁ֖ב  dwelt 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: יָשַׁב 
Sense: to dwell, remain, sit, abide.
אֵ֑ל  Bethel 
Parse: Preposition, Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: בֵּית־אֵל  
Sense: ancient place and seat of worship in Ephraim on border of Benjamin, identified with Luz (former name).
וַיָּב֣וֹא  and  came 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: בֹּוא 
Sense: to go in, enter, come, go, come in.
בְנ֡וֹ  his  sons 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
וַיְסַפֶּר־  and  told 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Piel, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: סָפַר 
Sense: to count, recount, relate.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
הַמַּעֲשֶׂ֣ה  the  works 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: מַעֲשֶׂה  
Sense: deed, work.
אֲשֶׁר־  that 
Parse: Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
עָשָׂה֩  had  done 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: עָשָׂה 
Sense: to do, fashion, accomplish, make.
אִישׁ־  the  man 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: אִישׁ 
Sense: man.
הָאֱלֹהִ֨ים ׀  of  God 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).
הַיּ֜וֹם  that  day 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: יׄום 
Sense: day, time, year.
אֵ֗ל  Bethel 
Parse: Preposition, Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: בֵּית־אֵל  
Sense: ancient place and seat of worship in Ephraim on border of Benjamin, identified with Luz (former name).
הַדְּבָרִים֙  the  words 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: דָּבָר  
Sense: speech, word, speaking, thing.
דִּבֶּ֣ר  he  had  spoken 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: דָּבַר 
Sense: to speak, declare, converse, command, promise, warn, threaten, sing.
הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ  the  king 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: מֶלֶךְ 
Sense: king.
וַֽיְסַפְּר֖וּם  and  they  told 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Piel, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine plural, third person masculine plural
Root: סָפַר 
Sense: to count, recount, relate.
לַאֲבִיהֶֽם  their  father 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine plural
Root: אָב  
Sense: father of an individual.