1 Kings 1:31

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

Then Bathsheba bowed with [her] face to the earth, and did reverence to the king, and said, Let my lord king David live for ever.

Complete Jewish Bible:

Bat-Sheva bowed with her face to the ground, prostrating herself to the king, and said, "Let my lord King David live forever."

Berean Standard Bible:

Bathsheba bowed facedown in homage to the king and said, “May my lord King David live forever!”

American Standard Version:

Then Bath-sheba bowed with her face to the earth, and did obeisance to the king, and said, Let my lord king David live for ever.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

Then Bathsheba^{H1339} bowed^{H6915} with her face^{H639} to the earth^{H776}, and did reverence^{H7812} to the king^{H4428}, and said^{H559}, Let my lord^{H113} king^{H4428} David^{H1732} live^{H2421} for ever^{H5769}.

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Commentary for 1 Kings 1:31

1 Kings 1:31 is a part of the narrative concerning the succession to King David's throne in the later years of his reign. The verse captures a pivotal moment where Bathsheba, the mother of Solomon, appeals to David to ensure that Solomon inherits the kingdom, as had been previously promised.

The historical context of this verse is set during a time of political intrigue and uncertainty in Israel. King David is aging and his succession is unclear, leading to jockeying for power among his sons. Bathsheba's appeal comes in response to the actions of Adonijah, David's eldest surviving son, who has declared himself king without David's explicit approval.

In this verse, Bathsheba demonstrates humility and reverence by bowing to the king with her face to the earth, a common ancient Near Eastern gesture of respect and submission. Her words, "Let my lord king David live for ever," are both a traditional expression of loyalty and a strategic move to remind David of his enduring legacy and the promises he made. The theme of loyalty to the king is evident, as is the theme of promise and fulfillment, which is central to the Davidic covenant. Bathsheba's petition underscores the importance of succession in maintaining stability and continuity in the kingdom, which is a recurring concern in the Deuteronomistic History, a historical narrative that includes the books of Joshua, Judges, Samuel, and Kings.

This moment is significant because it leads to David's decisive action to anoint Solomon as his successor, thus setting the stage for the construction of the Temple in Jerusalem and the solidification of the Davidic dynasty, which holds a prominent place in Jewish and Christian theological understanding of the messianic lineage. The verse encapsulates the tension and drama of royal succession while also highlighting the role of women in influencing the political landscape of ancient Israel.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: H1339
   There are 11 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: בַּת־שֶׁבַע
   Transliteration: Bath-Shebaʻ
   Pronunciation: bath-sheh'-bah
   Description: from בַּת and שֶׁבַע (in the sense of שָׁבַע); daughter of an oath; Bath-Sheba, the mother of Solomon; Bath-sheba.
   
2. Strong's Number: H6915
   There are 15 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: קָדַד
   Transliteration: qâdad
   Pronunciation: kaw-dad'
   Description: a primitive root; to shrivel up, i.e. contract or bend the body (or neck) in deference; bow (down) (the) head, stoop.
   
3. Strong's Number: H639
   There are 306 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אַף
   Transliteration: ʼaph
   Pronunciation: af
   Description: from אָנַף; properly, the nose or nostril; hence, the face, and occasionally a person; also (from the rapid breathing in passion) ire; anger(-gry), [phrase] before, countenance, face, [phrase] forebearing, forehead, [phrase] (long-) suffering, nose, nostril, snout, [idiom] worthy, wrath.
   
4. Strong's Number: H776
   There are 2739 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אֶרֶץ
   Transliteration: ʼerets
   Pronunciation: eh'-rets
   Description: from an unused root probably meaning to be firm; the earth (at large, or partitively a land); [idiom] common, country, earth, field, ground, land, [idiom] natins, way, [phrase] wilderness, world.
   
5. Strong's Number: H7812
   There are 166 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: שָׁחָה
   Transliteration: shâchâh
   Pronunciation: shaw-khaw'
   Description: a primitive root; to depress, i.e. prostrate (especially reflexive, in homage to royalty or God); bow (self) down, crouch, fall down (flat), humbly beseech, do (make) obeisance, do reverence, make to stoop, worship.
   
6. Strong's Number: H4428
   There are 1922 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: מֶלֶךְ
   Transliteration: melek
   Pronunciation: meh'-lek
   Description: from מָלַךְ; a king; king, royal.
   
7. Strong's Number: H559
   There are 4434 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אָמַר
   Transliteration: ʼâmar
   Pronunciation: aw-mar'
   Description: a primitive root; to say (used with great latitude); answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, [phrase] (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, [idiom] desire, determine, [idiom] expressly, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] intend, name, [idiom] plainly, promise, publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), [idiom] still, [idiom] suppose, talk, tell, term, [idiom] that is, [idiom] think, use (speech), utter, [idiom] verily, [idiom] yet.
   
8. Strong's Number: H113
   There are 337 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אָדוֹן
   Transliteration: ʼâdôwn
   Pronunciation: aw-done'
   Description: or (shortened) אָדֹן; from an unused root (meaning to rule); sovereign, i.e. controller (human or divine); lord, master, owner. Compare also names beginning with 'Adoni-'.
   
9. Strong's Number: H1732
   There are 911 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: דָּוִד
   Transliteration: Dâvid
   Pronunciation: daw-veed'
   Description: rarely (fully); דָּוִיד; from the same as דּוֹד; loving; David, the youngest son of Jesse; David.
   
10. Strong's Number: H2421
    There are 235 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: חָיָה
    Transliteration: châyâh
    Pronunciation: khaw-yaw'
    Description: a primitive root (compare חָוָה, חָיָה); to live, whether literally or figuratively; causatively, to revive; keep (leave, make) alive, [idiom] certainly, give (promise) life, (let, suffer to) live, nourish up, preserve (alive), quicken, recover, repair, restore (to life), revive, ([idiom] God) save (alive, life, lives), [idiom] surely, be whole.
    
11. Strong's Number: H5769
    There are 414 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: עוֹלָם
    Transliteration: ʻôwlâm
    Pronunciation: o-lawm'
    Description: or עֹלָם; from עָלַם; properly, concealed, i.e. the vanishing point; generally, time out of mind (past or future), i.e. (practically) eternity; frequentatively, adverbial (especially with prepositional prefix) always; alway(-s), ancient (time), any more, continuance, eternal, (for, (n-)) ever(-lasting, -more, of old), lasting, long (time), (of) old (time), perpetual, at any time, (beginning of the) world ([phrase] without end). Compare נֶצַח, עַד.