1 Kings 13:30 — Word Study
WLCוַיַּנַּ֥ח אֶת־ נִבְלָת֖וֹ בְּקִבְר֑וֹ וַיִּסְפְּד֥וּ עָלָ֖יו ה֥וֹי אָחִֽי׃
BSAthe bodynᵉbêlâh [carcass, dead body] in his own tombqeber [grave, sepulchre] and they lamentedçâphad▸ [mourned, expressing deep sadness] over himʻal Ohhôwy [woe!, alas] my brotherʼâch [close relative, friend]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| וַיַּנַּ֥ח | and he placed | Verb, Hiphil, sequential imperfect third person masculine singular |
| אֶת־ | the object marker | Particle |
| נִבְלָת֖וֹ | corpse his | Noun common feminine singular construct, suffix |
| בְּקִבְר֑וֹ | in own grave his | Preposition, noun common masculine singular construct, suffix |
| וַיִּסְפְּד֥וּ | and people mourned | Verb, Qal, sequential imperfect third person masculine plural |
| עָלָ֖יו | on him | Preposition, suffix |
| ה֥וֹי | alas! | Particle |
| אָחִֽי׃ | O brother my | Noun common masculine singular construct, suffix |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | Then he laid the body in his own tomb, and they lamented over him, “Oh, my brother!” |
| KJV | And he laid his carcase in his own grave; and they mourned over him, saying, Alas, my brother! |
| ASV | And he laid his body in his own grave; and they mourned over him, saying, Alas, my brother! |
| YLT | and he placeth his carcase in his own grave, and they mourn for him, 'Oh, my brother!' |
| WEB | He laid his body in his own grave; and they mourned over him, saying, “Alas, my brother!” |
| BBE | And he put the body in the resting-place made ready for himself, weeping and sorrowing over it, saying, O my brother! |
Translations differ in their rendering of the mourning action — see How Translations Differ.
The sentence consists of two main clauses connected by a conjunction, with additional phrases providing detail and context.
8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
verbנוח
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — 1 Kings 13:30
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — The Burial of the Man of Godgenerated
1 Kings 13:30 recounts the burial of the man of God by the old prophet, who mourned his death along with the people. This moment highlights the respect and sorrow felt by the community, as they lament the loss of a significant spiritual leader. The preceding verses set the stage for this emotional farewell, illustrating the bond between the prophet and the people.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 Kings 14:13 | All Israel will mourn for him and bury him. For this is the only one belonging to Jeroboam who will receive a proper burial, because only in him has the LORD, the God of Israel, found any good in the house of Jeroboam. |
| 2 | Jeremiah 22:18 | Therefore this is what the LORD says concerning Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah: “They will not mourn for him: ‘Alas, my brother! Alas, my sister!’ They will not mourn for him: ‘Alas, my master! Alas, his splendor!’ |
| 3 | Acts 8:2 | God-fearing men buried Stephen and mourned deeply over him. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 3 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — נִבְלָת֖וֹ, niv.la.Togenerated
The word נִבְלָה (nevelah) refers specifically to a corpse or carcass, indicating a dead body, whether human or animal. Its usage in this context underscores the finality of death and the physical state of the deceased.
This noun appears in a construct form, indicating possession, as in 'his corpse.' The emotional weight of the term reflects the gravity of the situation, emphasizing the respect given to the deceased.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
In this study, we examine the verse as rendered in the Berean Standard Bible, which uses body for the Hebrew word נִבְלָת֖וֹ.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The main verb governing the verse is וַיַּנַּ֥ח, and he placed, with two phrases following: the object phrase אֶת־נִבְלָת֖וֹ and a participial phrase וַיִּסְפְּד֥וּ, and they mourned. The structure reflects a straightforward narrative style, typical of Hebrew prose.
The order of the clauses emphasizes the action of placing the body first, followed by the communal response of mourning, highlighting the significance of both actions in the context of burial.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates the Hebrew verb סָפַד as ἐκόψαντο, which suggests a more intense expression of grief, possibly indicating a broader interpretation of mourning practices in the Greek context.
This choice reflects a cultural understanding of mourning that may differ from the Hebrew emphasis on the act of lamenting itself.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
1 Kings 13:30 describes how the old prophet laid the body of the man of God in his own tomb and how the people mourned for him, expressing their grief with the words, 'Oh, my brother!' This scene illustrates the deep sorrow felt by the community over the loss of their spiritual leader.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
Lamenting signifies a deep expression of grief, often involving physical displays of sorrow, such as wailing or tearing garments, which were common in ancient mourning practices.
The term 'corpse' emphasizes the finality of death and the respect given to the deceased, highlighting the seriousness of the situation.
This phrase conveys a personal connection and deep sorrow, indicating that the deceased was not just a prophet but also a beloved figure within the community.
This verse reflects the biblical themes of community mourning and respect for the dead, which are prevalent throughout the Scriptures, illustrating the importance of honoring those who have passed.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- How do we express our grief and loss in our own lives, and what can we learn from this passage about mourning?
- In what ways can we honor the memory of those who have passed, similar to how the community mourned for the man of God?
- What does this passage teach us about the importance of community in times of loss?
- How can we support others who are grieving, as the people did in this account?
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on 1 Kings 13:30 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleAnd he laid his carcass in his own grave,.... Which he had prepared for himself; for, as he came from Samaria, it could not be the sepulchre of his fathers; and this was showing all the respect, and
Read John Gill on 1 Kings 13 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryAnd, behold, men passed by, and saw the carcase cast in the way, and the lion standing by the carcase: and they came and told it in the city where the old prophet dwelt. No JFB commentary on these verses.
Read Robert Jamieson on 1 Kings 13 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleSo that threatening, , was fulfilled; and withal, the memory of his prophecy was revived and preserved among them, and his very carcass resting there might be a witness of their madness and desperate wickedness, in continuing their abominable idolatry after such an assurance of the dreadful effects of it. They mourned over him; the old prophet, and his sons, and others, whom common humanity taught to lament the untimely death of so worthy a person. Alas, my brother! was a usual form of expression in funeral lamentations. See .
Read Matthew Poole on 1 Kings 13 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments1 Kings 13:30 And he laid his carcase in his own grave; and they mourned over him, [saying], Alas, my brother!Ver. 30. In his own grave.] Which was ready made, it seems. See the like, Matthew 27:60. Charles V carried the materials of his tomb with him up and down in his warlike expeditions.
Read John Trapp on 1 Kings 13 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(30-32) They mourned.—The mourning of the old prophet, and the burial of the body in his own sepulchre, probably show some touch of remorse and personal compassion for the victim of his treacherous policy, mingled with the desire of preserving the tomb, which was to be his own last resting-place, from desecration, when the prediction of the prophet of Judah should be accomplished. But, even setting aside the rather prosaic tradition of his attempts to remove any impression made on the mind of Jeroboam, which Josephus has preserved (Ant. viii., 9), it is evident that his policy was only too successful. The messenger of wrath had been enticed to familiar intercourse with the prophet of the…
Read Charles John Ellicott on 1 Kings 13 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 30. Alas, my brothers] This lamentation is very simple, very short, and very pathetic. Perhaps the old prophet said it as much in reference to himself, who had been the cause of his untimely death, as in reference to the man of God, whose corpse he now committed to the tomb. But the words may be no more than the burden of each line of the lamentation which was used on this occasion. See instances of this among the Asiatics in Clarke's note on "Jeremiah 22:18".
Read AdamClarke on 1 Kings 13 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges30. in his own grave] Treating him as though he had been one of his own family. Alas, my brother] This seems to have been a form of lamentation used over the dead. Cf. Jeremiah 22:18.
Read Cambridge on 1 Kings 13 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleHe laid his carcase in his own grave - As Joseph of Arimathaea did the body of our Lord Matthew 27:60.
Read Albert Barnes on 1 Kings 13 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
Then he laid the body in his own tomb, and they lamented over him, “Oh, my brother!”
He laid his body in his own grave; and they mourned over him, saying, “Alas, my brother!”
Then he laid the body in his own tomb, and they lamented over him, “Oh, my brother!”
He put the corpse into his own tomb, and they mourned over him, saying, “Ah, my brother!”
Tyndale line
And he laid his carcase in his own grave; and they mourned over him, saying, Alas, my brother!
And he laid his body in his own grave; and they mourned over him, saying, Alas, my brother!
And he laid his carcase in his own grave; and they mourned over him, saying, Alas, my brother!
And he laid his carcass in his own grave; and they mourned over him, saying , Alas, my brother!
And hee layed his bodie in his owne graue, and they lamented ouer him, saying, Alas, my brother.
Strictly literal
And he laid his corpse in his own sepulchre; and they mourned over him [saying], Alas, my brother!
and he placeth his carcase in his own grave, and they mourn for him, 'Oh, my brother!'
and he places his carcass in his own grave, and they mourn for him, “Oh, my brother!”
And he laid his corpse in his own sepulchre; and they lamented over him, “Alas, my brother!”
He laid the body in his own grave, and they mourned over him, saying, “Woe, my brother!”
From the Latin
And he laid his dead body in his own sepulchre: and they mourned over him, saying: Alas! alas! my brother.
Simplified
He laid the body in his own tomb, and they mourned over him, crying, “My poor brother!”
And he put the body in the resting-place made ready for himself, weeping and sorrowing over it, saying, O my brother!
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text states, "וַיַּנַּ֥ח אֶת־ נִבְלָת֖וֹ בְּקִבְר֑וֹ וַיִּסְפְּד֥וּ עָלָ֖יו ה֥וֹי אָחִֽי׃" which translates to, "Then he laid the body in his own tomb, and they lamented over him, 'Oh, my brother!'" The Septuagint has a word-by-word correspondence with only 5 of the 8 words matching, indicating some differences in word order and articles, but it retains the overall meaning. The Samaritan Pentateuch and the Dead Sea Scrolls do not provide additional variations for this verse, thus supporting the Masoretic Text's wording and sentiment.
וַיַּנַּ֥ח אֶת־ נִבְלָת֖וֹ בְּקִבְר֑וֹ וַיִּסְפְּד֥וּ עָלָ֖יו ה֥וֹי אָחִֽי׃
5 of the 8 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in 1 Kings 13:30
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
נוּחַ (nuwach) is a Hebrew verb meaning to rest or settle down. It encompasses a wide range of applications, including both literal and figurative uses, such as to dwell, be quiet, or let something remain. The verb can appear in various forms, indicating actions like causing rest or allowing to depart. It is noted for its versatility in expressing different aspects of rest and stillness.
נוּחַ vb. rest
Qal
rest, settle down and remain
repose, be quiet, have rest
Hiph.
cause to rest = give rest to
cause to rest (i.e. light) upon
lay or set down, deposit, let lie
let remain, leave (in present condition)
leave = depart from
abandon
let alone (refrain from interfering with)
permit
Hoph.
no rest is granted to us
as subst. = space left, open space
base
H5117 נוּחַ rest
5117 nuwach noo'-akh
a primitive root; to rest, i.e. settle down; used in a great
variety of applications, literal and figurative, intransitive,
transitive and causative (to dwell, stay, let fall, place, let
alone, withdraw, give comfort, etc.):--cease, be confederate,
lay, let down, (be) quiet, remain, (cause to, be at, give,
have, make to) rest, set down. Compare 3241.
see HEBREW for 03241
נוּחַ (nu.ach) — to rest.
1) to rest
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to rest, settle down and remain
1a2) to repose, have rest, be quiet
1b) (Hiph)
1b1) to cause to rest, give rest to, make quiet
1b2) to cause to rest, cause to alight, set down
1b3) to lay or set down, deposit, let lie, place
1b4) to let remain, leave
1b5) to leave, depart from
1b6) to abandon
1b7) to permit
1c) (Hoph)
1c1) to obtain rest, be granted rest
1c2) to be left, be placed
1c3) open space (subst)
Also means: ya.nach (יָנַח "to rest" H3240)
Hc/Vhw3ms — Verb · Hiphil · sequential imperfect third person masculine singularHc/Vhw3ms
אֵת (eth) is primarily a grammatical marker in Hebrew, indicating the definite direct object of a verb. It is not translated into English and typically precedes nouns that are definite. The word is derived from a demonstrative sense of entity, related to the Hebrew word for 'self.' Its Aramaic equivalent is יָת (yat).
אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite
base
H853 אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite
853 'eth ayth
apparent contracted from 226 in the demonstrative sense of
entity; properly, self (but generally used to point out more
definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or
namely):--(as such unrepresented in English).
see HEBREW for 0226
אֵת (et) — [Obj.].
sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative
Aramaic equivalent: yat (יָת "whom" H3487)
HTo — ParticleHTo
נְבֵלָה (nevelah) refers to a carcass or corpse, applicable to both humans and animals. It can also denote carrion and, in a figurative sense, an idol. The word is derived from a root meaning 'to be flabby' and encompasses the idea of a dead body, whether it died naturally or otherwise.
נְבֵלָה n.f. carcass, corpse
base
H5038 נְבֵלָה carcass, corpse
5038 nbelah neb-ay-law'
from 5034; a flabby thing, i.e. a carcase or carrion (human
or bestial, often collectively); figuratively, an idol:--
(dead) body, (dead) carcase, dead of itself, which died,
(beast) that (which) dieth of itself.
see HEBREW for 05034
נְבֵלָה (ne.ve.lah) — carcass.
1) carcass, corpse
1a) of humans, idols, animals
N-fs | Suff — Noun common feminine singular construct · suffixHNcfsc/Sp3ms
קֶ֫בֶר (qeber) refers to a grave or sepulchre, indicating a burial place. It is derived from the root word for 'to bury' and is used in contexts related to tombs. The entries consistently define it as a place of interment without notable disagreement.
קֶ֫בֶר 67 n.m. grave, sepulchre
base
H6913 קֶ֫בֶר grave, sepulchre
6913 qeber, keh'-ber
or (feminine) qibrah {kib-raw'}; from 6912; a
sepulchre:--burying place, grave, sepulchre.
see HEBREW for 06912
קֶ֫בֶר (qe.ver) — grave.
grave, sepulchre, tomb
Prep | N-ms | Suff — Preposition · noun common masculine singular construct · suffixHR/Ncmsc/Sp3ms
סָפַד (sāphad) is a Hebrew verb meaning to wail or lament. It describes actions of grief, such as tearing hair and beating the breast, common in mourning practices. The word appears in various forms, including Qal (to wail) and Niphal (to be lamented). The entries consistently emphasize its connection to expressions of sorrow.
[סָפַד] vb. wail, lament
Qal wail, lament
Niph. they shall not be bewailed
base
H5594 סָפַד wail, lament
5594 caphad saw-fad'
a primitive root; properly, to tear the hair and beat the
breasts (as Orientals do in grief); generally to lament; by
implication, to wail:--lament, mourn(-er), wail.
סָפַד (sa.phad) — to mourn.
1) to wail, lament, mourn
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to wail, lament
1a2) wailers (participle)
1b) (Niphal) to be lamented, be bewailed
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3mp — Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine pluralHc/Vqw3mp
The Hebrew word עַל (*al*) is a preposition meaning 'upon' and encompasses a wide range of meanings, including 'on account of,' 'beside,' 'above,' and 'against.' It can indicate physical placement, emotional burdens, or duties imposed on a person. The entries also note its use in idiomatic expressions and with verbs of motion. There is a mention of its function as a conjunction in certain contexts.
כִּי עַל כֵּן forasmuch as
base
עַל, עָ֑ל
subst. height
As prep. upon, and hence on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against
Upon, of the substratum upon which an object in any way rests, or on which an action is performed
—
of clothing, etc., which any one wears
With verbs of covering or protecting, even though the cover or veil be not over or above the thing covered, but around or before it
Of what rests heavily upon a person, or is a burden to him
Of a duty, payment, care, etc., imposed upon a person, or devolving on him
על is used idiom. to give pathos to the expression of an emotion, by emphasizing the person who is its subject, and who, as it were, feels it acting upon him
חָיָה עַל to live upon (as upon a foundation or support)
H5921a עַל, עָ֑ל . As prep. upon, and hence on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against . Upon, of the substratum upon which an object in any way rests, or on which an action is performed . — . of clothing, etc., which any one wears
. With verbs of covering or protecting, even though the cover or veil be not over or above the thing covered, but around or before it
. Of what rests heavily upon a person, or is a burden to him
. Of a duty, payment, care, etc., imposed upon a person, or devolving on him
. על is used idiom. to give pathos to the expression of an emotion, by emphasizing the person who is its subject, and who, as it were, feels it acting upon him
. חָיָה עַל to live upon (as upon a foundation or support)
5921 `al al
properly, the same as 5920 used as a preposition (in the
singular or plural often with prefix, or as conjunction with a
particle following); above, over, upon, or against (yet always
in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great
variety of applications (as follow):--above, according
to(-ly), after, (as) against, among, and, X as, at, because
of, beside (the rest of), between, beyond the time, X both
and, by (reason of), X had the charge of, concerning for, in
(that), (forth, out) of, (from) (off), (up-)on, over, than,
through(-out), to, touching, X with.
see HEBREW for 05920
עַל (al) — upon.
prep
1) upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against
1a) upon, on the ground of, on the basis of, on account of, because of, therefore, on behalf of, for the sake of, for, with, in spite of, notwithstanding, concerning, in the matter of, as regards
1b) above, beyond, over (of excess)
1c) above, over (of elevation or pre-eminence)
1d) upon, to, over to, unto, in addition to, together with, with (of addition)
1e) over (of suspension or extension)
1f) by, adjoining, next, at, over, around (of contiguity or proximity)
1g) down upon, upon, on, from, up upon, up to, towards, over towards, to, against (with verbs of motion)
1h) to (as a dative)
[כִּי] עַל [כֵּן] ([ki] al [ken]) — as.
conj
Prep | Suff — Preposition · suffixHR/Sp3ms
הוֹי (hoy) is an interjection expressing dissatisfaction and pain, often translated as 'ah,' 'alas,' or 'woe.' It is used in lamentations and conveys a sense of sorrow or distress. The word is a prolonged form of another Hebrew term, indicating its emotional weight.
הוֹי 81 interj. expressing usually dissatisfaction and pain, Ah, Alas, Ha (not distinctly Woe!) used in lamentations
base
H1945 הוֹי expressing usually dissatisfaction and pain, Ah, Alas, Ha (not distinctly Woe!) used in lamentations
1945 howy hoh'ee
a prolonged form of 1930 (akin to 188); oh!:--ah, alas, ho,
O, woe.
see HEBREW for 01930
see HEBREW for 0188
הוֹי (hoy) — woe!.
ah!, alas!, ha!, ho!, O!, woe!
Part — ParticleHTj
אָח (ach) means 'brother' and encompasses a broad range of relationships, including literal siblings, half-brothers, and metaphorical kinship. It can refer to any male relative or compatriot, and it may also imply resemblance or reciprocal relationships. The term is used in various contexts throughout the Old Testament, highlighting both familial and figurative connections.
אָח 630 n.m. brother
brother, born of same mother (& father)
indef. = relative
fig. of resemblance
in phr. one … another
base
H251 אָח brother
251 'ach awkh
a primitive word; a brother (used in the widest sense of
literal relationship and metaphorical affinity or resemblance
(like 1)):--another, brother(-ly); kindred, like, other.
Compare also the proper names beginning with "Ah-" or "Ahi-".
see HEBREW for 01
אָח (ach) — brother: male-sibling.
: male-sibling
1) brother
1a) brother of same parents
1b) half-brother (same father)
1c) relative, kinship, same tribe
1d) each to the other (reciprocal relationship)
1e) (fig.) of resemblance
אָח (ach) — brother: male-relative.
: male-relative
1) brother
1a) brother of same parents
1b) half-brother (same father)
1c) relative, kinship, same tribe
1d) each to the other (reciprocal relationship)
1e) (fig.) of resemblance
אָח (ach) — brother: compatriot.
: compatriot
1) brother
1a) brother of same parents
1b) half-brother (same father)
1c) relative, kinship, same tribe
1d) each to the other (reciprocal relationship)
1e) (fig.) of resemblance
N-ms | Suff — Noun common masculine singular construct · suffixHNcmsc/Sp1bs