1 Kings 1:37
in 1 Kings 1Just as the LORD was with my lord the king, so may He be with Solomon and make his throne even greater than that of my lord King David.”
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
As Jehovah hath been with my lord the king, even so be he with Solomon, and make his throne greater than the throne of my lord king David.
KJV
As the Lord hath been with my lord the king, even so be he with Solomon, and make his throne greater than the throne of my lord king David.
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This verse in 1 Kings 1
Commentary
6 notes on this verseA commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
As the Lord hath been with my lord - This phrase expresses a very high degree of divine favor. It occurs first in the promises of God to Isaac Gen 26:3, Gen 26:24 and Jacob Gen 28:13. See further margin reference.
This site's exposition
the Lord God of my lord the king
on 1 Kings 1:36-37
Benaiah answers for all three with Amen, and asks that the Lord God of David confirm the appointment David has just made, binding heaven's yes to the king's own word. His closing line, make his throne greater than the throne of my lord king David, is the chapter's only voice wishing Solomon's reign to exceed his father's rather than merely match it. It is, without either man knowing it, the shape 2 Sam 7:12-13 already promised David's son.
This site's exposition
so may He be with Solomon
Albert Barnes traces the wish that the LORD be with a man to God's promises to Isaac at Genesis 26:3 and to Jacob. Adam Clarke notes that wishing a son greater than his father usually offends the father. Matthew Henry answers that David had no envy of his son.
The record, by era
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
), that God would be with him as he had been with David, and make his throne greater. He knew David was not one of those that envy their children's greatness, and that therefore he would not be disquieted at this prayer, nor take it as an affront, but would heartily say Amen to it.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — leading-punctuation+unbalanced-parens
As the Lord hath been with my lord the king, even so be he with Solomon,....
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
Make his throne greater than the throne of - David - A wish of this kind a king will suffer in behalf of his son, but it is never in ordinary cases considered a compliment to say, “I hope this child will make a better man than his father,” because it seems to insinuate some reflections on his father’s conduct or character. Many foolish people deal in such compliments, and they may rest assured, for the reasons given above, that they are far from being either welcome or agreeable. Claudian, in his panegyric De Quarto Consulatu Honorii Augusti, ver. 428, has words something similar to those of Benaiah, when he describes a father, worn out with toils and difficulties, committing the reins of government to the hands of his son: - Adspice, completur votum: jam natus adaequat Te meritis; et, quod magis est optabile, vincit. “Behold, thy desire is accomplished. Even now thy son equals thee in worth; and what is still more desirable, surpasses thee.
The words behind it
17 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| כַּאֲשֶׁ֨ר | kaasher | just as | H834 → | 5497 times |
| הָיָ֤ה | hayah | he has been | H1961 → | 3559 times |
| יְהוָה֙ | yahweh | Yahweh | H3068 → | 6520 times |
| עִם־ | ʾim- | with | H5973 → | 1050 times |
| אֲדֹנִ֣י | ʾadoni | lord my | H113 → | 333 times |
| הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ | hamelekh | the king | H4428 → | 2525 times |
| כֵּ֖ן | ken | so | H3651 → | 771 times |
| יִֽהְיֶ֣ה | yehi | he will be | H1961 → | 3559 times |
| עִם־ | ʾim- | with | H5973 → | 1050 times |
| שְׁלֹמֹ֑ה | shelomoh | Solomon | H8010 → | 291 times |
| וִֽיגַדֵּל֙ | vigadel | and may he make great | H1431 → | 117 times |
| אֶת־ | ʾet- | <obj.> | H853 → | 10935 times |
| כִּסְא֔וֹ | kiso | throne his | H3678 → | 135 times |
| מִ֨כִּסֵּ֔א | mikise' | more than [the] throne of | H3678 → | 135 times |
| אֲדֹנִ֖י | ʾadoni | lord my | H113 → | 333 times |
| הַמֶּ֥לֶךְ | hamelekh | the king | H4428 → | 2525 times |
| דָּוִֽד׃ | david | David | H1732 → | 999 times |
כַּאֲשֶׁ֨רjust as
kaasherH834 →5497 times
הָיָ֤הhe has been
hayahH1961 →3559 times
יְהוָה֙Yahweh
yahwehH3068 →6520 times
עִם־with
ʾim-H5973 →1050 times
אֲדֹנִ֣יlord my
ʾadoniH113 →333 times
הַמֶּ֔לֶךְthe king
hamelekhH4428 →2525 times
כֵּ֖ןso
kenH3651 →771 times
יִֽהְיֶ֣הhe will be
yehiH1961 →3559 times
עִם־with
ʾim-H5973 →1050 times
שְׁלֹמֹ֑הSolomon
shelomohH8010 →291 times
וִֽיגַדֵּל֙and may he make great
vigadelH1431 →117 times
אֶת־<obj.>
ʾet-H853 →10935 times
כִּסְא֔וֹthrone his
kisoH3678 →135 times
מִ֨כִּסֵּ֔אmore than [the] throne of
mikise'H3678 →135 times
אֲדֹנִ֖יlord my
ʾadoniH113 →333 times
הַמֶּ֥לֶךְthe king
hamelekhH4428 →2525 times
דָּוִֽד׃David
davidH1732 →999 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Matthew 1:23“Behold, the virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call Him Immanuel” (which means, “God with us”).
it leads to
- Isaiah 7:14
Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call Him Immanuel.
- Isaiah 9:6–7
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government will be upon His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of…
- Psalms 46:11
The LORD of Hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah
- Isaiah 7:14
Through
Joshua 1:5No one shall stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so will I be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.
it leads to
- Joshua 1:9
Have I not commanded you to be strong and courageous? Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Romans 8:31
What then shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
- Deuteronomy 31:6–8
Be strong and courageous; do not be afraid or terrified of them, for it is the LORD your God who goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.”
- Matthew 28:20
and teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
- Isaiah 41:10–14
Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will surely help you; I will uphold you with My right hand…
- Joshua 1:9
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies2
On this verse
On this chapter
About 1 Kings
Who and where
2 names in this verse with a page on the site.
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.