1 Kings 13:12
New International Version
Their father asked them, “Which way did he go?” And his sons showed him which road the man of God from Judah had taken.

New Living Translation
The old prophet asked them, “Which way did he go?” So they showed their father which road the man of God had taken.

English Standard Version
And their father said to them, “Which way did he go?” And his sons showed him the way that the man of God who came from Judah had gone.

Berean Standard Bible
“Which way did he go?” their father asked. And his sons showed him the way taken by the man of God, who had come from Judah.

King James Bible
And their father said unto them, What way went he? For his sons had seen what way the man of God went, which came from Judah.

New King James Version
And their father said to them, “Which way did he go?” For his sons had seen which way the man of God went who came from Judah.

New American Standard Bible
And their father said to them, “Which way did he go?” Now his sons had seen the way that the man of God who came from Judah had gone.

NASB 1995
Their father said to them, “Which way did he go?” Now his sons had seen the way which the man of God who came from Judah had gone.

NASB 1977
And their father said to them, “Which way did he go?” Now his sons had seen the way which the man of God who came from Judah had gone.

Legacy Standard Bible
And their father said to them, “Which way did he go?” And his sons had seen the way which the man of God who came from Judah had gone.

Amplified Bible
Their father asked them, “Which way did he go?” For his sons had seen which way the man of God who came from Judah had gone.

Christian Standard Bible
Then their father asked them, “Which way did he go? ” His sons had seen the way taken by the man of God who had come from Judah.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Then their father said to them, “Which way did he go?” His sons had seen the way taken by the man of God who had come from Judah.

American Standard Version
And their father said unto them, What way went he? Now his sons had seen what way the man of God went, that came from Judah.

Contemporary English Version
"Show me which way he went," the old prophet said, and his sons pointed out the road.

English Revised Version
And their father said unto them, What way went he? Now his sons had seen what way the man of God went, which came from Judah.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
he said to them, "Which road did he take?" (His sons had seen which road the man of God from Judah had taken.)

Good News Translation
"Which way did he go when he left?" the old prophet asked them. They showed him the road

International Standard Version
"Which way did he go?" their father asked him, since his sons had observed the way that the man of God had taken to return to Judah from Bethel.

Majority Standard Bible
?Which way did he go?? their father asked. And his sons showed him the way taken by the man of God, who had come from Judah.

NET Bible
Their father asked them, "Which road did he take?" His sons showed him the road the prophet from Judah had taken.

New Heart English Bible
Their father said to them, "Which way did he go?" Now his sons showed him the way the man of God went, who came from Judah.

Webster's Bible Translation
And their father said to them, What way went he? for his sons had seen what way the man of God went, who came from Judah.

World English Bible
Their father said to them, “Which way did he go?” Now his sons had seen which way the man of God went, who came from Judah.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And their father says to them, “Where [is] this—the way he has gone?” And his sons see the way that the man of God who came from Judah has gone.

Young's Literal Translation
And their father saith unto them, 'Where is this -- the way he hath gone?' and his sons see the way that the man of God hath gone who came from Judah.

Smith's Literal Translation
And their father will speak to them, What way went he? and his sons will see the way that the man of God went who came from Judah.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And their father said to them: What way went he? His sons shewed him the way by which the man of God went, who came out of Juda.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And their father said to them, “By which way did he depart?” His sons showed him the way by which the man of God, who had come from Judah, had departed.

New American Bible
the father asked them, “Which way did he go?” So his sons pointed out to him the road taken by the man of God who had come from Judah.

New Revised Standard Version
Their father said to them, “Which way did he go?” And his sons showed him the way that the man of God who came from Judah had gone.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
- - -

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And their father said to them: “By what road did he go?” And his sons told him the road by which the Prophet of God went who came from Yehuda.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And their father said unto them: 'What way went he?' For his sons had seen what way the man of God went, that came from Judah.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And their father spoke to them, saying, Which way went he? and his sons shew him the way by which the man of God who came out of Juda went up.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Old Prophet and the Man of God
11Now a certain old prophet was living in Bethel, and his sons came and told him all the deeds that the man of God had done that day in Bethel. They also told their father the words that the man had spoken to the king. 12“Which way did he go?” their father asked. And his sons showed him the way taken by the man of God, who had come from Judah. 13So the prophet said to his sons, “Saddle the donkey for me.” Then they saddled the donkey for him, and he mounted it…

Cross References
2 Kings 23:17
Then the king asked, “What is this monument I see?” And the men of the city replied, “It is the tomb of the man of God who came from Judah and proclaimed these things that you have done to the altar of Bethel.”

1 Kings 20:36
Then the prophet said to him, “Because you have not obeyed the voice of the LORD, as soon as you depart from me a lion will kill you.” And when he left, a lion found him and killed him.

2 Kings 23:18
“Let him rest,” said Josiah. “Do not let anyone disturb his bones.” So they left his bones undisturbed, along with those of the prophet who had come from Samaria.

2 Kings 23:15-16
He even pulled down the altar at Bethel, the high place set up by Jeroboam son of Nebat, who had caused Israel to sin. Then he burned the high place, ground it to powder, and burned the Asherah pole. / And as Josiah turned, he saw the tombs there on the hillside, and he sent someone to take the bones out of the tombs, and he burned them on the altar to defile it, according to the word of the LORD proclaimed by the man of God who had foretold these things.

Jeremiah 23:14
And among the prophets of Jerusalem I have seen a horrible thing: They commit adultery and walk in lies. They strengthen the hands of evildoers, so that no one turns his back on wickedness. They are all like Sodom to Me; the people of Jerusalem are like Gomorrah.”

2 Kings 17:13
Yet through all His prophets and seers, the LORD warned Israel and Judah, saying, “Turn from your wicked ways and keep My commandments and statutes, according to the entire Law that I commanded your fathers and delivered to you through My servants the prophets.”

2 Kings 17:23
Finally, the LORD removed Israel from His presence, as He had declared through all His servants the prophets. So Israel was exiled from their homeland into Assyria, where they are to this day.

2 Kings 17:21
When the LORD had torn Israel away from the house of David, they made Jeroboam son of Nebat king, and Jeroboam led Israel away from following the LORD and caused them to commit a great sin.

2 Kings 17:20
So the LORD rejected all the descendants of Israel. He afflicted them and delivered them into the hands of plunderers, until He had banished them from His presence.

2 Kings 17:19
and even Judah did not keep the commandments of the LORD their God, but lived according to the customs Israel had introduced.

Matthew 7:15
Beware of false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.

Matthew 24:11
and many false prophets will arise and deceive many.

Matthew 24:24
For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive even the elect, if that were possible.

2 Peter 2:1
Now there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves.

2 Peter 2:15
They have left the straight way and wandered off to follow the way of Balaam son of Beor, who loved the wages of wickedness.


Treasury of Scripture

And their father said to them, What way went he? For his sons had seen what way the man of God went, which came from Judah.

Jump to Previous
Judah Road Showed Way
Jump to Next
Judah Road Showed Way
1 Kings 13
1. Jeroboam's hand withers
6. and at the prayer of the prophet is restored
7. The prophet departs from Bethel
11. An old prophet brings him back
20. He is reproved by God
23. slain by a lion
26. buried by the old prophet
31. who confirms the prophecy
33. Jeroboam's obstinacy














“Which way did he go?” their father asked.
This phrase occurs in the context of the story of the man of God from Judah and the old prophet in Bethel. The father here is the old prophet, who is inquiring about the direction taken by the man of God. This question reflects the urgency and determination of the old prophet to find the man of God. In biblical narratives, questions often serve to advance the plot and reveal character intentions. The old prophet's inquiry suggests a desire to engage with the man of God, possibly to test or challenge his prophetic message. This reflects a broader biblical theme where prophets often face opposition or scrutiny, as seen in the lives of Elijah and Jeremiah.

And his sons showed him the way taken by the man of God,
The sons of the old prophet play a crucial role in this narrative by providing the information needed to locate the man of God. This action sets the stage for the subsequent encounter between the old prophet and the man of God. The phrase highlights the importance of familial relationships and communication in biblical stories. The sons' knowledge of the man of God's path suggests they were either witnesses to his departure or had heard of his journey, indicating the man of God's actions were of public interest. This mirrors other biblical accounts where the actions of God's messengers are closely observed by the community, such as Jonah's mission to Nineveh.

who had come from Judah.
The man of God is identified as coming from Judah, emphasizing the division between the northern kingdom of Israel, where Bethel is located, and the southern kingdom of Judah. This geographical detail is significant, as it underscores the political and religious tensions of the time. The division of the kingdom after Solomon's reign led to differing religious practices, with Jeroboam establishing alternative worship centers in Bethel and Dan. The man of God's origin from Judah aligns him with the Davidic line and the Jerusalem temple, contrasting with the idolatrous practices in Bethel. This distinction foreshadows the conflict between true worship and idolatry, a recurring theme in the prophetic literature. The man of God from Judah can be seen as a type of Christ, who also came from Judah and confronted false religious practices.

Persons / Places / Events
1. The Old Prophet
An older prophet living in Bethel who seeks out the man of God from Judah. His actions and motivations are central to the unfolding events.

2. The Man of God from Judah
A prophet sent by God to deliver a message against the altar at Bethel. His journey and actions are pivotal in this chapter.

3. Bethel
A significant location in the Northern Kingdom of Israel, where King Jeroboam had set up a golden calf, leading to idolatry.

4. The Sons of the Old Prophet
They witness the man of God’s actions and report back to their father, setting the stage for the old prophet's pursuit.

5. The Journey
The path taken by the man of God from Judah, which becomes a point of interest for the old prophet.
Teaching Points
The Importance of Obedience
The man of God’s account underscores the necessity of strict adherence to God’s instructions, even when faced with seemingly authoritative voices.

Discernment in Spiritual Matters
Believers must exercise discernment, especially when encountering conflicting messages from those claiming spiritual authority.

The Consequences of Deception
The account warns of the dangers of deception, both self-deception and being deceived by others, and the importance of seeking God’s truth.

The Role of Witnesses
The sons of the old prophet serve as witnesses to the man of God’s actions, reminding us of the impact our actions have on others and the importance of integrity.

God’s Sovereignty and Fulfillment of Prophecy
Despite human failings, God’s purposes and prophecies are ultimately fulfilled, as seen in the later reforms of King Josiah.Verse 12. - And their father said unto them, What way went he? [The question shows that the old prophet throughly understood the import of those "words," and that his first thought was that the interdict must be removed at any cost.] For his sons had seen [Heb. and his sons saw, or showed. LXX. δεικνύουσιν. Similarly most of the versions. A very slight change in the vowel points ויּרַאְוּ for ויּרִאוַּ would give this sense] what way the man of God went which came from Judah.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
“Which
אֵֽי־ (’ê-)
Interrogative
Strong's 335: Where?, how?

way
הַדֶּ֙רֶךְ֙ (had·de·reḵ)
Article | Noun - common singular
Strong's 1870: A road, a course of life, mode of action

did he go?”
הָלָ֑ךְ (hā·lāḵ)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1980: To go, come, walk

their father
אֲבִיהֶ֔ם (’ă·ḇî·hem)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 1: Father

asked.
וַיְדַבֵּ֤ר (way·ḏab·bêr)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1696: To arrange, to speak, to subdue

And his sons
בָנָ֗יו (ḇā·nāw)
Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 1121: A son

had seen
וַיִּרְא֣וּ (way·yir·’ū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 7200: To see

the way
הַדֶּ֖רֶךְ (had·de·reḵ)
Article | Noun - common singular
Strong's 1870: A road, a course of life, mode of action

taken
הָלַךְ֙ (hā·laḵ)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1980: To go, come, walk

by the man
אִ֣ישׁ (’îš)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person

of God,
הָאֱלֹהִ֔ים (hā·’ĕ·lō·hîm)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative

who
אֲשֶׁר־ (’ă·šer-)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

had come
בָּ֖א (bā)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go

from Judah.
מִיהוּדָֽה׃ (mî·hū·ḏāh)
Preposition-m | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3063: Judah -- 'praised', a son of Jacob, also the southern kingdom, also four Israelites


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OT History: 1 Kings 13:12 Their father said to them Which way (1Ki iKi i Ki 1 Kg 1kg)
1 Kings 13:11
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