1 Kings 21:27

27 But when Ahab heard this message, he tore his clothing, dressed in burlap, and fasted. He even slept in burlap and went about in deep mourning.

1 Kings 21:27 Meaning and Commentary

Ver. 27 And it came to pass when Ahab heard these words
Delivered in ( 1 Kings 21:21-24 ) ,

that he rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon, his flesh,
tore off his clothes, and stripped himself of all, even of his very shirt, and put sackcloth on his bare flesh, a coarse cloth made of hair, and such as sacks are made with:

and fasted,
how long it is not said:

and lay in sackcloth;
in the night on his bed, would have no linen on him day nor night:

and went softly:
step by step, as persons mourning, grieving, and pensive, do; the Targum renders it "barefoot", and so Jarchi.

1 Kings 21:27 In-Context

25 (No one else so completely sold himself to what was evil in the LORD ’s sight as Ahab did under the influence of his wife Jezebel.

26 His worst outrage was worshiping idols just as the Amorites had done—the people whom the LORD had driven out from the land ahead of the Israelites.)

27 But when Ahab heard this message, he tore his clothing, dressed in burlap, and fasted. He even slept in burlap and went about in deep mourning.

28 Then another message from the LORD came to Elijah:

29 “Do you see how Ahab has humbled himself before me? Because he has done this, I will not do what I promised during his lifetime. It will happen to his sons; I will destroy his dynasty.”