1 Kings 20:38

38 Then the prophet went and stood by the road waiting for the king. He disguised himself with his headband down over his eyes.

1 Kings 20:38 in Other Translations

38 So the prophet departed, and waited for the king by the way, and disguised himself with ashes upon his face.

38 So the prophet departed and waited for the king by the way, disguising himself with a bandage over his eyes.

38 The prophet placed a bandage over his eyes to disguise himself and then waited beside the road for the king.

38 Then the prophet went and took a position along the road, with a bandage over his eyes, waiting for the king.

38 Then the prophet went and waited for the king on the road. He disguised himself with a bandage over his eyes.

1 Kings 20:38 Meaning and Commentary

1 Kings 20:38

So the prophet departed, and waited for the king by the way,
&c.] As he went from Aphek, the place where the battle had been fought, to Samaria, his royal seat:

and disguised himself with ashes upon his face;
the Targum is, he covered his eyes with a vail, or piece of cloth, which he wrapped about his head, as men do when they have got a wound or bruise in such a part, which seems very probable; for had he besmeared his face with ashes, clay, or dust, or any such thing, he could not so easily have got it off, as in ( 1 Kings 20:41 ) .

1 Kings 20:38 In-Context

36 So the prophet said, “Because you have not obeyed the LORD, as soon as you leave me a lion will kill you.” And after the man went away, a lion found him and killed him.

37 The prophet found another man and said, “Strike me, please.” So the man struck him and wounded him.

38 Then the prophet went and stood by the road waiting for the king. He disguised himself with his headband down over his eyes.

39 As the king passed by, the prophet called out to him, “Your servant went into the thick of the battle, and someone came to me with a captive and said, ‘Guard this man. If he is missing, it will be your life for his life, or you must pay a talent of silver.’

40 While your servant was busy here and there, the man disappeared.” “That is your sentence,” the king of Israel said. “You have pronounced it yourself.”