1 Kings 11:39
in 1 Kings 11Because of this, I will humble David’s descendants—but not forever.’”
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And I will for this afflict the seed of David, but not for ever.
KJV
And I will for this afflict the seed of David, but not for ever.
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This verse in 1 Kings 11
Commentary
8 notes on this verseA commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
But not forever - David had been distinctly promised that God should never fail his seed, whatever their shortcomings Psa 89:28-37. The fulfillment of these promises was seen, partly in the Providence which maintained David’s family in a royal position until Zerubbabel, but mainly in the preservation of his seed to the time fixed for the coming of Christ, and in the birth of Christ - the Eternal King - from one of David’s descendants.
This site's exposition
build thee a sure house
on 1 Kings 11:38-39
The phrase given here to Jeroboam, I will build thee a sure house, as I built for David, is its third and last occurrence in Scripture, after Eli's house is denied it at 1 Sam 2:35 and David's is granted it at 1 Sam 25:28. The offer to Jeroboam is conditional on the same terms given every king, hearken, walk in my ways, keep my statutes, and 12:26-33 will show him breaking every clause inside two chapters, forfeiting the sure house the moment it is offered. Verse 39 sets the limit on David's own affliction, not for ever, thread 1's promise holding even inside a judgment speech aimed at another man's family.
This site's exposition
I will humble David’s descendants
John Wesley saw the humbling end when kings of David's line reigned in strength over Judah, Asa and Hezekiah among them. Albert Barnes grounds the limit in Psalm 89:28 to 37, a promise kept in the birth of Christ from David's descendants. Adam Clarke cites Jarchi on the kingdom returning to David.
The record, by era
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
), but should flourish again, as it did in many of the illustrious kings of Judah, who reigned in glory when Jeroboam's family was extirpated. Jeroboam's flight into Egypt,
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — leading-punctuation+unbalanced-parens
For this - For this cause, which I mentioned ver. 33. Not forever - There shall a time come when the seed of David shall not be molested by the kingdom of Israel, but that kingdom shall be destroyed, and the kings of the house of David shall be uppermost, as it was in the days of Asa, Hezekiah and Judah.
quarantine:anchor (2026-07-29) — cites-ver-33-anchored-39-39
And I will for this afflict the seed of David,....
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
He was a young man of talent and energy, who, having been appointed by Solomon superintendent of the engineering works projected around Jerusalem, had risen into public notice, and on being informed by a very significant act of the prophet Ahijah of the royal destiny which, by divine appointment, awaited him, his mind took a new turn.
But not for ever - They shall be in affliction and distress till the Messiah come, who shall sit on the throne of David to order it and establish it in judgment and justice for ever. Jarchi says, on this verse, “When the Messiah comes, the kingdom shall be restored to the house of David.
The words behind it
10 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וַֽאעַנֶּ֛ה | vaaneh | so I may afflicted | H6031 → | 82 times |
| אֶת־ | ʾet- | <obj.> | H853 → | 10935 times |
| זֶ֥רַע | zera' | [the] offspring of | H2233 → | 229 times |
| דָּוִ֖ד | david | David | H1732 → | 999 times |
| לְמַ֣עַן | lemaan | on account of | H4616 → | 272 times |
| זֹ֑את | zot | this | H2063 → | 603 times |
| אַ֖ךְ | ʾakh | nevertheless | H389 → | 161 times |
| לֹ֥א | lo' | not | H3808 → | 5168 times |
| כָל־ | khol- | all | H3605 → | 5413 times |
| הַיָּמִֽים׃ ס | haiyamim | the days | H3117 → | 2304 times |
וַֽאעַנֶּ֛הso I may afflicted
vaanehH6031 →82 times
אֶת־<obj.>
ʾet-H853 →10935 times
זֶ֥רַע[the] offspring of
zera'H2233 →229 times
דָּוִ֖דDavid
davidH1732 →999 times
לְמַ֣עַןon account of
lemaanH4616 →272 times
זֹ֑אתthis
zotH2063 →603 times
אַ֖ךְnevertheless
ʾakhH389 →161 times
לֹ֥אnot
lo'H3808 →5168 times
כָל־all
khol-H3605 →5413 times
הַיָּמִֽים׃ סthe days
haiyamimH3117 →2304 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
Isaiah 7:14Therefore 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.
it leads to
- Isaiah 9:6
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…
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- 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”).
- Luke 1:31
Behold, you will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus.
- John 1:1–2
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
- John 1:14
The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
- Isaiah 9:6
Through
Isaiah 9:7Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish and sustain it with justice and righteousness…
it leads to
- Luke 1:32–33
He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David,
- Daniel 2:44
In the days of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people. It will shatter all these kingdoms…
- Luke 1:32–33
Through
Luke 2:11Today in the city of David a Savior has been born to you. He is Christ the Lord!
it leads to
- Matthew 1:21
She will give birth to a Son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins.”
- Matthew 1:21
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies1
About 1 Kings
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament; Keil, The Books of the Kings and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.