1 Kings 4:25
in 1 Kings 4Throughout the days of Solomon, Judah and Israel dwelt securely from Dan to Beersheba, each man under his own vine and his own fig tree.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And Judah and Israel dwelt safely, every man under his vine and under his fig-tree, from Dan even to Beer-sheba, all the days of Solomon.
KJV
And Judah and Israel dwelt safely, every man under his vine and under his fig tree, from Dan even to Beer–sheba, all the days of Solomon.
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This verse in 1 Kings 4
Commentary
9 notes on this verseA commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
Under his vine ... - This phrase seems to have been common among the Jews, and even among neighboring nations 2Ki 18:31, to express a time of quiet and security. It is used by the prophets in descriptions of the Messianic kingdom (marginal references).
This site's exposition
under his vine and under his fig tree
Every man under his vine and under his fig tree, from Dan to Beersheba, becomes the prophets' own picture of the peace still to come: Micah pictures the messianic age in the same words, and Zechariah promises the same rest to the men around Joshua the high priest. Solomon's reign is that picture's one clear fulfillment in the Old Testament narrative, brief as it was, and the prophets reach back to it to describe what has not yet lasted. The verse names the land by its two farthest border towns, Dan in the north and Beersheba in the south, a formula that measures the kingdom at its widest peaceful extent.
The record, by era
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
Those that had vines and fig-trees ate the fruit of them themselves; and so great was the peace of the country that they might, if they pleased, dwell as safely under the shadow of them as within the walls of a city. Or, because it was usual to have vines by the sides of their houses ( Ps. cxxviii. 3 ), they are said to dwell under their vines.
And they are brought in as fitting or dwelling under these trees, partly for recreation or delight in the shade; and partly, for the comfort or advantage of the fruit; and withal, to note their great security, not only in their strong cities, but even in the country, where the vines and fig-trees grew, which was most open to the incursions of their enemies.
And Judah and Israel dwelt safely,....
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
every man under his vine and . . . fig tree--This is a common and beautiful metaphor for peace and security (Mic 4:4; Zec 3:10), founded on the practice, still common in modern Syria, of training these fruit trees up the walls and stairs of houses, so as to make a shady arbor, beneath which the people sit and relax.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase
We will read a few verses first, and at the close of them you will find the text. The last words are the text for this occasion. From the whole passage you will see that the kingdom of Israel under the sway of Solomon was a fair type of the reign of our Lord Jesus Christ. Perhaps it most exactly describes His future dominion, in the long-expected Glory of the latter days. The present state of the Church may be compared to the reign of David, splendid with victories, but disturbed with battles. But there are better days to come, days in which the kingdom shall be extended and become more manifest—and then the Lord Jesus Christ shall be even more conspicuously seen as the Solomon of the kingdom, "who shall have dominion from sea to sea." Yet even now, as "we that have believed do enter into rest," so do we also enter into the richest provision which is made in the Covenant of Grace, even at this present time. And I may say of all who have come under the sway of Christ, that we dwell in a region of peace, seated, every man, under his vine and fig tree and none making us afraid. "There is, therefore, now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus," and, "therefore, being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." "The peace of God which passes all understanding" does keep our heart and mind by Jesus Christ. Israel under Solomon had abundance as well as peace. What says the historian? They were "as the sand which is by the sea in multitude, eating and drinking and making merry." It is said that there was such plenty in the land in Solomon's time that gold was of no more value than silver and silver became of little more value than iron! And as for the other metals, they were little accounted of.
2 more voices on this verse
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
We will read a few verses first, and at the close of them you will find the text. The last words are the text for this occasion. From the whole passage you will see that the kingdom of Israel under the sway of Solomon was a fair type of the reign of our Lord Jesus Christ. Perhaps it most exactly describes His future dominion, in the long-expected Glory of the latter days. The present state of the Church may be compared to the reign of David, splendid with victories, but disturbed with battles.
Every man under his vine - They were no longer obliged to dwell in fortified cities for fear of their enemies; they spread themselves over all the country, which they everywhere cultivated; and had always the privilege of eating the fruits of their own labors. This is the meaning of the phrase.
The words behind it
16 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וַיֵּשֶׁב֩ | vaiyeshev | and it dwelt | H3427 → | 1079 times |
| יְהוּדָ֨ה | yehudah | Judah | H3063 → | 819 times |
| וְיִשְׂרָאֵ֜ל | veyisrael | and Israel | H3478 → | 2507 times |
| לָבֶ֗טַח | lavetach | to security | H983 → | |
| אִ֣ישׁ | ʾish | everyone | H376 → | 1663 times |
| תַּ֤חַת | tachat | under | H8478 → | 505 times |
| גַּפְנוֹ֙ | gafno | own vine his | H1612 → | |
| וְתַ֣חַת | vetachat | and under | H8478 → | 505 times |
| תְּאֵֽנָת֔וֹ | teenato | own fig tree his | H8384 → | |
| מִדָּ֖ן | midan | from Dan | H1835 → | 70 times |
| וְעַד־ | vead- | and to | H5704 → | 1261 times |
| בְּאֵ֣ר | beer | Beer | H884 → | 68 times |
| שָׁ֑בַע | shava' | Sheba | H884 → | 68 times |
| כֹּ֖ל | kol | all | H3605 → | 5413 times |
| יְמֵ֥י | yemei | [the] days of | H3117 → | 2304 times |
| שְׁלֹמֹֽה׃ ס | shelomoh | Solomon | H8010 → | 291 times |
וַיֵּשֶׁב֩and it dwelt
vaiyeshevH3427 →1079 times
יְהוּדָ֨הJudah
yehudahH3063 →819 times
וְיִשְׂרָאֵ֜לand Israel
veyisraelH3478 →2507 times
לָבֶ֗טַחto security
lavetachH983 →
אִ֣ישׁeveryone
ʾishH376 →1663 times
תַּ֤חַתunder
tachatH8478 →505 times
גַּפְנוֹ֙own vine his
gafnoH1612 →
וְתַ֣חַתand under
vetachatH8478 →505 times
תְּאֵֽנָת֔וֹown fig tree his
teenatoH8384 →
מִדָּ֖ןfrom Dan
midanH1835 →70 times
וְעַד־and to
vead-H5704 →1261 times
בְּאֵ֣רBeer
beerH884 →68 times
שָׁ֑בַעSheba
shava'H884 →68 times
כֹּ֖לall
kolH3605 →5413 times
יְמֵ֥י[the] days of
yemeiH3117 →2304 times
שְׁלֹמֹֽה׃ סSolomon
shelomohH8010 →291 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
Micah 4:4And each man will sit under his own vine and under his own fig tree, with no one to frighten him. For the mouth of the LORD of Hosts has spoken.
it leads to
- Zechariah 3:10
On that day, declares the LORD of Hosts, you will each invite your neighbor to sit under your own vine and fig tree.’”
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Ezekiel 39:26
They will forget their disgrace and all the treachery they committed against Me, when they dwell securely in their land, with no one to frighten them.
- Isaiah 1:20
But if you resist and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword.” For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.
- Isaiah 58:14
then you will delight yourself in the LORD, and I will make you ride on the heights of the land and feed you with the heritage of your father Jacob.” For the mouth of…
- Isaiah 54:14
In righteousness you will be established, far from oppression, for you will have no fear. Terror will be far removed, for it will not come near you.
- Zechariah 3:10
Through
Zechariah 3:10On that day, declares the LORD of Hosts, you will each invite your neighbor to sit under your own vine and fig tree.’”
it leads to
- Micah 4:4
And each man will sit under his own vine and under his own fig tree, with no one to frighten him. For the mouth of the LORD of Hosts has spoken.
- Micah 4:4
Through
Judges 20:1Then all the Israelites from Dan to Beersheba and from the land of Gilead came out, and the congregation assembled as one man before the LORD at Mizpah.
it leads to
- Judges 11:11
So Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead, and the people made him their leader and commander. And Jephthah repeated all his terms in the presence of the LORD at Mizpah.
- 1 Samuel 10:17
After this, Samuel summoned the people to the LORD at Mizpah
- Judges 11:11
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies1
About 1 Kings
Who and where
4 names in this verse with a page on the site.
- PersonPatriarchsJudahJacob's fourth son who pledges himself for Benjamin; the tribe that carries the scepter to Shiloh (49:10) and the line to Christ (…
- PersonSolomonDavid's son and the third king of Israel; the temple-builder and wisdom-king, to whom Psalms 72 and 127 are ascribed.
- PlaceThe NegevBeershebaThe well of the oath at the south of the land, where Abraham made his covenant with Abimelech and planted a tamarisk, where Isaac…
- PlaceNorthern border, at the foot of HermonDanThe northern limit of the land, where the tribe of Dan settled after taking Laish and where Jeroboam set up one of his two golden…
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Charles Spurgeon, The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, Sermon No. 1504: “The Swift Camels” (lightly modernized text, CCEL edition); Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament; 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.