The Meaning of 1 Kings 21:9 Explained

1 Kings 21:9

KJV: And she wrote in the letters, saying, Proclaim a fast, and set Naboth on high among the people:

YLT: and she writeth in the letters, saying, 'Proclaim a fast, and cause Naboth to sit at the head of the people,

Darby: And she wrote in the letter saying, Proclaim a fast, and set Naboth at the head of the people;

ASV: And she wrote in the letters, saying, Proclaim a fast, and set Naboth on high among the people:

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And she wrote  in the letters,  saying,  Proclaim  a fast,  and set  Naboth  on high  among the people: 

What does 1 Kings 21:9 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 21:9 mean?

And she wrote in the letters saying Proclaim a fast and seat - Naboth with high honor the among people
וַתִּכְתֹּ֥ב בַּסְּפָרִ֖ים לֵאמֹ֑ר קִֽרְאוּ־ צ֔וֹם וְהוֹשִׁ֥יבוּ אֶת־ נָב֖וֹת בְּרֹ֥אשׁ הָעָֽם

וַתִּכְתֹּ֥ב  And  she  wrote 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person feminine singular
Root: כָּתַב  
Sense: to write, record, enrol.
בַּסְּפָרִ֖ים  in  the  letters 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: סֵפֶר 
Sense: book.
לֵאמֹ֑ר  saying 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
קִֽרְאוּ־  Proclaim 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine plural
Root: קָרָא  
Sense: to call, call out, recite, read, cry out, proclaim.
צ֔וֹם  a  fast 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: צֹום  
Sense: fast, fasting.
וְהוֹשִׁ֥יבוּ  and  seat 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Imperative, masculine plural
Root: יָשַׁב 
Sense: to dwell, remain, sit, abide.
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.
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.
בְּרֹ֥אשׁ  with  high  honor 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: רֹאשׁ 
Sense: head, top, summit, upper part, chief, total, sum, height, front, beginning.
הָעָֽם  the  among  people 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: עַם 
Sense: nation, people.