Parallel Verses
International Standard Version
Sure enough, the advisors to the king of Aram told him, "Their gods are mountain gods. That's why they were stronger than we were. But when we fight them on the plains, we're certain to be the stronger army!
New American Standard Bible
Now the servants of the king of Aram said to him, “
King James Version
And the servants of the king of Syria said unto him, Their gods are gods of the hills; therefore they were stronger than we; but let us fight against them in the plain, and surely we shall be stronger than they.
Holman Bible
Now the king of Aram’s servants said to him, “Their gods are gods of the hill country.
A Conservative Version
And the servants of the king of Syria said to him, Their god is a god of the hills, therefore they were stronger than we. But let us fight against them in the plain, and surely we shall be stronger than they.
American Standard Version
And the servants of the king of Syria said unto him, Their god is a god of the hills; therefore they were stronger than we: but let us fight against them in the plain, and surely we shall be stronger than they.
Amplified
Now the servants of the king of Aram said to him, “Israel’s
Bible in Basic English
Then the king of Aram's servants said to him, Their god is a god of the hills; that is why they were stronger than we: but if we make an attack on them in the lowlands, we will certainly be stronger than they.
Darby Translation
And the servants of the king of Syria said to him, Their gods are gods of the mountains; therefore they were stronger than we; but if we fight against them on the plateau, shall we not be stronger than they?
Julia Smith Translation
And the servants of the king of Aram said to him, A god of the mountains is their God; for this they were strong above us; and on the contrary, we will war with them in a plain; surely, shall we not be strong above them?
King James 2000
And the servants of the king of Syria said unto him, Their gods are gods of the hills; therefore they were stronger than we; but let us fight against them in the plain, and surely we shall be stronger than they.
Lexham Expanded Bible
The servants of the king of Aram said to him, "Their gods [are] gods of the mountains, therefore they were stronger than we. Let us fight with them in the plain; surely we will be stronger than they.
Modern King James verseion
And the servants of the king of Syria said to him, Their gods are gods of the hills. On account of this they were stronger than we were. But let us fight against them in the plain, and surely we shall be stronger than they.
Modern Spelling Tyndale-Coverdale
Then said the servants of the kings of Syria to him, "The gods of the hills are their gods, and therefore they had the better of us. But let us fight with them in the plain, and for what ye will, we shall have the better of them.
NET Bible
Now the advisers of the king of Syria said to him: "Their God is a god of the mountains. That's why they overpowered us. But if we fight them in the plains, we will certainly overpower them.
New Heart English Bible
The servants of the king of Syria said to him, "Their god is a god of the hills; therefore they were stronger than we. But let us fight against them in the plain, and surely we shall be stronger than they.
The Emphasized Bible
And, the servants of the king of Syria, said unto him, - Gods of the mountains, are their gods, for this cause, prevailed they against us, - but, only let us fight with them in the plain, and verily we shall prevail against them.
Webster
And the servants of the king of Syria said to him, Their gods are gods of the hills; therefore they were stronger than we; but let us fight against them in the plain, and surely we shall be stronger than they.
World English Bible
The servants of the king of Syria said to him, "Their god is a god of the hills; therefore they were stronger than we. But let us fight against them in the plain, and surely we shall be stronger than they.
Youngs Literal Translation
And the servants of the king of Aram said unto him, 'Gods of hills are their gods, therefore they were stronger than we; and yet, we fight with them in the plain -- are we not stronger than they?
Themes
Chariots » For war » Advantageously mansuvred in a flat country
Idolatry » Led the heathen to consider their gods to have but a local influence
Kings » Who reigned over israel » Ahab
Prophecy » Miscellaneous, fulfilled » Destruction of ben-hadad's army
Superstition » Instances of » The belief of the syrians concerning the help of the gods
Syria » Inhabitants of » A warlike people
Syria » The israelites » Forewarned of invasion by, at the return of the year
Valleys » The heathen supposed that certain deities presided over
Interlinear
'elohiym
'elohiym
Chazaq
Lacham
Miyshowr
Word Count of 20 Translations in 1 Kings 20:23
Verse Info
Context Readings
Ahab Defeats Ben-Hadad
22 The prophet approached the king of Israel and told him, "Go replenish your forces and prepare for the future, because early this next year the king of Aram will attack you again." 23 Sure enough, the advisors to the king of Aram told him, "Their gods are mountain gods. That's why they were stronger than we were. But when we fight them on the plains, we're certain to be the stronger army! 24 So do this: remove the kings from command and replace them with captains.
Cross References
1 Kings 14:23
They erected high places, sacred pillars, and Asherim for themselves on every high hill and under every green tree.
1 Samuel 4:8
How terrible for us! Who will deliver us from the hand of these mighty gods? These are the gods who struck the Egyptians with all kinds of plagues in the desert.
1 Kings 20:28
Right about then, a man of God approached and told the king of Israel, "This is what the LORD says: "Because the Arameans keep saying "The LORD is a mountain god, but isn't a valley god," I'm going to deliver this entire vast army right into your control, so you'll learn that I really am the LORD.'"
2 Kings 19:12
Did the gods of those nations whom my ancestors destroyed deliver them, including Gozan, Haran, Rezeph, and Eden's descendants in Telassar?
2 Chronicles 32:13-19
Don't you know what my predecessors have done to all the other people in other lands? Were the gods of the people who lived in those lands able to deliver their countries out of my control?
Psalm 50:21-22
These things you did, and I kept silent, because you assumed that I was like you. But now I am going to rebuke you, and I will set forth my case before your very own eyes."
Psalm 121:1-2
I lift up my eyes toward the mountains from where will my help come?
Isaiah 42:8
I, the LORD, am the one, and I won't give my name and glory to another, nor my praise to idols.
Romans 1:21-23
For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him. Instead, their thoughts turned to worthless things, and their senseless hearts were darkened.