The Meaning of 1 Kings 21:3 Explained

1 Kings 21:3

KJV: And Naboth said to Ahab, The LORD forbid it me, that I should give the inheritance of my fathers unto thee.

YLT: And Naboth saith unto Ahab, 'Far be it from me, by Jehovah, my giving the inheritance of my fathers to thee;'

Darby: And Naboth said to Ahab, Jehovah forbid it me, that I should give the inheritance of my fathers to thee!

ASV: And Naboth said to Ahab, Jehovah forbid it me, that I should give the inheritance of my fathers unto thee.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And Naboth  said  to Ahab,  The LORD  forbid  it me, that I should give  the inheritance  of my fathers  unto thee. 

What does 1 Kings 21:3 Mean?

Context Summary

1 Kings 21:1-29 - 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 21

1  Ahab being denied Naboth's vineyard, is grieved
5  Jezebel writing letters against Naboth, he is condemned of blasphemy
15  Ahab take possession of the vineyard
17  Elijah denounces judgments against Ahab and Jezebel
25  Wicked Ahab repenting, God defers the judgment

What do the individual words in 1 Kings 21:3 mean?

But said Naboth to Ahab forbid to Yahweh that I should give - the inheritance of my fathers to you
וַיֹּ֥אמֶר נָב֖וֹת אֶל־ אַחְאָ֑ב חָלִ֤ילָה לִּי֙ מֵֽיהוָ֔ה מִתִּתִּ֛י אֶת־ נַחֲלַ֥ת אֲבֹתַ֖י לָֽךְ

וַיֹּ֥אמֶר  But  said 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
נָב֖וֹת  Naboth 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: נָבֹות  
Sense: the vineyard owner of Jezreel who Ahab and Jezebel had killed so that they could have his vineyard.
אַחְאָ֑ב  Ahab 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אַחְאָב 
Sense: king of Israel, son of Omri, husband of Jezebel.
חָלִ֤ילָה  forbid 
Parse: Interjection, third person feminine singular
Root: חָלִיל  
Sense: far be it (from me), God forbid that, let it not be.
מֵֽיהוָ֔ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Preposition-m, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
מִתִּתִּ֛י  that  I  should  give 
Parse: Preposition-m, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct, first person common singular
Root: יָתַן 
Sense: to give, put, set.
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.
נַחֲלַ֥ת  the  inheritance 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: נַחֲלָה  
Sense: possession, property, inheritance, heritage.
אֲבֹתַ֖י  of  my  fathers 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, first person common singular
Root: אָב  
Sense: father of an individual.
לָֽךְ  to  you 
Parse: Preposition, second person feminine singular