And Ahijah caught the new garment that was on him, and rent it in twelve pieces:

And Ahijah laid hold of the new garment that was on him, and rent it in twelve pieces.

And Ahias taking his new garment, wherewith he was clad, divided it into twelve parts:

Then Ahijah seized the new garment that was on him, and rent it in twelve pieces;

and Ahijah layeth hold on the new garment that is on him, and rendeth it, twelve pieces,

And Ahijah took his new robe in his hands, parting it violently into twelve.

And taking his new cloak, with which he was covered, Ahijah tore it into twelve parts.

The first instance of the "acted parable." Generally this mode was adopted upon express divine command (see Jeremiah 13:1-11; Ezekiel 3:1-3). A connection may be traced between the type selected and the words of the announcement to Solomon (1-Kings 11:11-13. Compare 1-Samuel 15:26-28).

And Ahijah caught the new garment that [was] on him, and (p) rent it [in] twelve pieces:
(p) By these visible signs the prophets would more deeply print their message into the hearts of those to whom they were sent.

And Ahijah caught the new garment that was on him,.... This looks as if it was Jeroboam's garment, having got a new one to appear before the king in; though the sense may be this, that the prophet took hold of his own garment that was upon himself:
and rent it in twelve pieces; as symbolical of the twelve tribes of Israel.