1 Kings 20:41

41 Then the prophet quickly took the cloth from his face. When the king of Israel saw him, he knew he was one of the prophets.

1 Kings 20:41 Meaning and Commentary

1 Kings 20:41

And he hasted, and took away the ashes from his face
Took off the linen cloth from his eyes, unveiled or unmasked himself:

and the king of Israel discerned him, that he was of the prophets;
he knew him again, having seen him once or twice before; otherwise there could be nothing in his face that could discover him to be a prophet, rather he was to be known by his habit.

1 Kings 20:41 In-Context

39 As Ahab king of Israel passed by, the prophet called out to him. "I went to fight in the battle," the prophet said. "One of our men brought an enemy soldier to me. Our man said, 'Guard this man. If he runs away, you will have to give your life in his place. Or, you will have to pay a fine of seventy-five pounds of silver.'

40 But I was busy doing other things, so the man ran away." The king of Israel answered, "You have already said what the punishment is. You must do what the man said."

41 Then the prophet quickly took the cloth from his face. When the king of Israel saw him, he knew he was one of the prophets.

42 The prophet said to the king, "This is what the Lord says: 'You freed the man I said should die, so your life will be taken instead of his. The lives of your people will also be taken instead of the lives of his people.'"

43 Then King Ahab went back to his palace in Samaria, angry and upset.