1-kings 21:20

Translations

King James Version (KJV)

And Ahab said to Elijah, Have you found me, O my enemy? And he answered, I have found you: because you have sold yourself to work evil in the sight of the LORD.

American King James Version (AKJV)

And Ahab said to Elijah, Have you found me, O my enemy? And he answered, I have found you: because you have sold yourself to work evil in the sight of the LORD.

American Standard Version (ASV)

And Ahab said to Elijah, Hast thou found me, O mine enemy? And he answered, I have found thee, because thou hast sold thyself to do that which is evil in the sight of Jehovah.

Basic English Translation (BBE)

And Ahab said to Elijah, Have you come face to face with me, O my hater? And he said, I have come to you because you have given yourself up to do evil in the eyes of the Lord.

Webster's Revision

And Ahab said to Elijah, Hast thou found me, O my enemy? And he answered, I have found thee: because thou hast sold thyself to work evil in the sight of the LORD.

World English Bible

Ahab said to Elijah, "Have you found me, my enemy?" He answered, "I have found you, because you have sold yourself to do that which is evil in the sight of Yahweh.

English Revised Version (ERV)

And Ahab said to Elijah, Hast thou found me, O mine enemy? And he answered, I have found thee: because thou hast sold thyself to do that which is evil in the sight of the LORD.

Clarke's 1-kings 21:20 Bible Commentary

Thou hast sold thyself to work evil - See a similar form of speech, Romans 7:14 (note). Thou hast totally abandoned thyself to the service of sin. Satan is become thy absolute master, and thou his undivided slave.

Barnes's 1-kings 21:20 Bible Commentary

The words "O mine enemy," may refer partly to the old antagonism (marginal reference; 1 Kings 17:1; 1 Kings 19:2-3); but the feeling which it expresses is rather that of present oppositions - the opposition between good and evil, light and darkness John 3:20.

Thou hast sold thyself to work evil - Compare the marginal references. The metaphor is taken from the practice of men's selling themselves into slavery, and so giving themselves wholly up to work the will of their master. This was a widespread custom in the ancient world.

Wesley's 1-kings 21:20 Bible Commentary

21:20 Hast thou found - Dost thou pursue me from place to place?Wilt thou never let me rest? Art thou come after me hither with thyunwelcome messages? Thou art always disturbing, threatening, and opposingme. I have - The hand of God hath found and overtaken thee. Soldthyself - Thou hast wholly resigned up thyself to be the bondslave of thedevil, as a man that sells himself to another is totally in his master'spower. To work evil, &c. - Impudently and contemptuously. Those whogive themselves up to sin will certainly be found out, sooner or later,to their unspeakable amazement.