The Meaning of 1 Kings 21:11 Explained

1 Kings 21:11

KJV: And the men of his city, even the elders and the nobles who were the inhabitants in his city, did as Jezebel had sent unto them, and as it was written in the letters which she had sent unto them.

YLT: And the men of his city, the elders and the freemen who are dwelling in his city, do as Jezebel hath sent unto them, as written in the letters that she sent unto them,

Darby: And the men of his city, the elders and the nobles that dwelt in his city, did as Jezebel had sent to them, as it was written in the letter that she had sent to them:

ASV: And the men of his city, even the elders and the nobles who dwelt in his city, did as Jezebel had sent unto them, according as it was written in the letters which she had sent unto them.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And the men  of his city,  [even] the elders  and the nobles  who were the inhabitants  in his city,  did  as Jezebel  had sent  unto them, [and] as it [was] written  in the letters  which she had sent  unto them. 

What does 1 Kings 21:11 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 21:11 mean?

So did the men of his city the elders and nobles who were inhabitants of his city as had sent to them Jezebel it [was] written in the letters which she had sent to them
וַיַּעֲשׂוּ֩ אַנְשֵׁ֨י עִיר֜וֹ הַזְּקֵנִ֣ים וְהַחֹרִ֗ים אֲשֶׁ֤ר הַיֹּֽשְׁבִים֙ בְּעִיר֔וֹ כַּאֲשֶׁ֛ר שָׁלְחָ֥ה אֲלֵיהֶ֖ם אִיזָ֑בֶל כָּתוּב֙ בַּסְּפָרִ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר שָׁלְחָ֖ה אֲלֵיהֶֽם

וַיַּעֲשׂוּ֩  So  did 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: עָשָׂה 
Sense: to do, fashion, accomplish, make.
אַנְשֵׁ֨י  the  men 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: אִישׁ 
Sense: man.
עִיר֜וֹ  of  his  city 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: עִיר 
Sense: excitement, anguish.
הַזְּקֵנִ֣ים  the  elders 
Parse: Article, Adjective, masculine plural
Root: זָקֵן  
Sense: old.
וְהַחֹרִ֗ים  and  nobles 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: חֹר  
Sense: a noble, freeborn one.
הַיֹּֽשְׁבִים֙  were  inhabitants 
Parse: Article, Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural
Root: יָשַׁב 
Sense: to dwell, remain, sit, abide.
בְּעִיר֔וֹ  of  his  city 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, feminine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: עִיר 
Sense: excitement, anguish.
שָׁלְחָ֥ה  had  sent 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person feminine singular
Root: שָׁלַח  
Sense: to send, send away, let go, stretch out.
אֲלֵיהֶ֖ם  to  them 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine plural
Root: אֶל  
Sense: to, toward, unto (of motion).
אִיזָ֑בֶל  Jezebel 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: אִיזֶבֶל  
Sense: queen of Israel, wife of Ahab, daughter of Ethbaal.
כָּתוּב֙  it  [was]  written 
Parse: Verb, Qal, QalPassParticiple, masculine singular
Root: כָּתַב  
Sense: to write, record, enrol.
בַּסְּפָרִ֔ים  in  the  letters 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: סֵפֶר 
Sense: book.
שָׁלְחָ֖ה  she  had  sent 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person feminine singular
Root: שָׁלַח  
Sense: to send, send away, let go, stretch out.
אֲלֵיהֶֽם  to  them 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine plural
Root: אֶל  
Sense: to, toward, unto (of motion).