1 Kings 20:31
King James Version
9 Jun 2026
“And his servants said unto him, Behold now, we have heard that the kings of the house of Israel are merciful kings: let us, I pray thee, put sackcloth on our loins, and ropes upon our heads, and go out to the king of Israel: peradventure he will save thy life.”
נֶפֶשׁ
Life, soul, living being. Nephesh. The animating breath God places in every living creature. In animals it is the life force. In humanity it is the seat of emotion, will and identity. Every nephesh belongs to God — from the creatures in the sea to the deepest cry of the human heart.
חֵסֵד
covenant loyalty
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חֵסֵד
Love, loving kindness, covenant love. Hesed. The most beautiful word in the Hebrew Bible. Loyal steadfast unfailing love that goes far beyond what is required. God's hesed endures forever.
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שַׂק
sackcloths
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שַׂק
properly, a mesh (as allowing a liquid to run through), i.e. coarse loose cloth or sacking (used in mourning and for bagging); hence, a bag (for grain, etc.)
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שָׁמַע
we have heard
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שָׁמַע
To hear, to listen, to obey. Shema. Hear O Israel. In Hebrew to truly hear means to obey. God is looking for those who hear with the intention to do.
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נָא
please
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נָא
'I pray', 'now', or 'then'; added mostly to verbs (in the Imperative or Future), or to interjections, occasionally to an adverb or conjunction
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חָיָה
he will let live
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חָיָה
To live, to revive, to preserve alive. Chayah. He revives my soul. God is in the business of revival. He breathes new life into what is dead.
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הִנֵּה
here!
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הִנֵּה
Behold, look, see. Hinneh. The word used to get attention. Behold I stand at the door and knock. God is always trying to get our attention.
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שׂוּם
let us put
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שׂוּם
To put, to set, to place. Shuwm. I have set the LORD always before me. A deliberate daily choice to keep God at the centre of everything.
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עֶבֶד
servants/ his
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עֶבֶד
Servant, slave. Ebed. Moses was called the servant of the LORD, the highest honour. The greatest in God's kingdom is the servant of all.
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מֶלֶךְ
are kings of
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מֶלֶךְ
King. Melek. A ruler with supreme authority. The LORD is King forever and ever. Every earthly king is answerable to the King of kings.
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בַּיִת
the house of
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בַּיִת
House, household, family. Bayith. In My Father's house are many rooms. God has a home prepared for everyone who belongs to Him.
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יִשְׂרָאֵל
Israel
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יִשְׂרָאֵל
Israel. To struggle with God and prevail. The name given to Jacob. God's chosen people. Those who wrestle honestly with God.
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