Parallel Verses
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.
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.
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!
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.
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 Then there came a Prophet to the king of Israel, and said to him, "Go forth and play the man: be wise and take heed what thou doest. For when the year is about, the king of Syria will come against thee again." 23 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. 24 And this do: take the kings away every man out of his place, and put dukes in their rooms.
Cross References
1 Kings 14:23
For they also made them hill altars and images and groves on every high hill and under every green tree.
1 Samuel 4:8
Woe unto us, who shall deliver us out of the hand of this mighty God? This is the God that smote the Egyptians with all manner of plagues in the wilderness.
1 Kings 20:28
Then there came a man of God and said unto the king of Israel, "Thus sayeth the LORD, 'Because the Syrians say that the LORD is but a God of the hills, and not God of the valleys too: therefore will I deliver all this great multitude into thine hand that ye may know that I am the LORD.'"
2 Kings 19:12
Hath the gods of the heathen delivered them which mine ancestors have destroyed: as Gozan, Haran, Rezeph, and the children of Eden which were in Telassar?
2 Chronicles 32:13-19
Moreover, have ye not heard what I and my fathers have done unto the people of all lands? Were the gods of the people of other lands able to save their lands out of my hand?
Psalm 50:21-22
This thou doest, while I hold my tongue: and thinkest wickedly that I am even such a one as thyself; but I will reprove thee, and set before thee the things that thou hast done.
Psalm 121:1-2
{A song of the stairs} I lift up mine eyes unto the hills; from whence cometh my help?
Isaiah 42:8
Even I am the LORD, and this is my name: and my glory will I give to none other, neither mine honour to graven images.
Romans 1:21-23
inasmuch as when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful: but waxed full of vanities in their imaginations. And their foolish hearts were blinded.