1 Kings 1:4

KJV

And the damsel [was] very fair, and cherished the king, and ministered to him: but the king knew her not.

KJV (with Strong's)

And the damsel {H5291} was very {H3966} fair {H3303}, and cherished {H5532} the king {H4428}, and ministered {H8334} to him: but the king {H4428} knew {H3045} her not.

Complete Jewish Bible

The girl was very beautiful and became a companion for the king. She took care of him, but the king did not have sexual relations with her.

Berean Standard Bible

The girl was unsurpassed in beauty; she cared for the king and served him, but he had no relations with her.

American Standard Version

And the damsel was very fair; and she cherished the king, and ministered to him; but the king knew her not.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
1 Kings 1:4 provides a poignant snapshot of King David's extreme old age and physical decline, detailing the role of Abishag the Shunammite, a young woman chosen to care for him. The verse highlights her exceptional beauty and diligent service, yet crucially states that David "knew her not" in an intimate sense. This seemingly simple observation underscores David's physical impotence, signaling the definitive end of his active reign and setting the stage for the intense succession struggle that immediately follows. Abishag's untouched status, while initially a detail of custodial care, becomes a significant political pawn in the unfolding drama of the royal court.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is deeply embedded within the opening narrative of [1 Kings](/1_kings/1 "1 Kings 1 - David's Old Age and Adonijah's Rebellion"), which immediately follows the books of Samuel, concluding the historical account of David's reign. [1 Kings 1:1-3](/1_kings/1-1 "1 Kings 1:1-3 - David's Decline and Abishag's Arrival") establishes David's advanced age and severe physical frailty, necessitating a warm companion. The servants' search for a "young virgin" culminates in Abishag's selection. Verse 4 then elaborates on her character and, more importantly, on the nature of her relationship with the king, explicitly stating the absence of sexual intimacy. This detail is not merely descriptive; it is a critical piece of information that will later be leveraged by Adonijah in his bid for the throne, demonstrating how seemingly minor details in Scripture often carry immense narrative and theological weight. The entire chapter then pivots to Adonijah's self-proclaimed kingship, setting up the dramatic conflict over succession.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In the ancient Near East, the physical vitality of a king was often seen as intrinsically linked to the strength and prosperity of his kingdom. A king's decline, particularly his inability to procreate or engage in intimate relations, could be interpreted as a sign of waning divine favor or a weakening of his authority, potentially inviting challenges to his rule. The practice of having concubines or female attendants was common in royal courts, serving various roles from companionship to political alliance. However, the explicit mention that David "knew her not" (a euphemism for sexual intercourse) is crucial. It differentiates Abishag from a typical concubine who might bear royal offspring, thereby solidifying her status as a purely custodial figure and emphasizing David's complete physical incapacitation. This context highlights the vulnerability of the aging monarch and the political vacuum his decline created, which opportunistic figures like Adonijah were quick to exploit.
* **Key Themes:** The verse profoundly contributes to several key themes within [1 Kings 1](/1_kings/1 "1 Kings 1 - The Succession Crisis") and the broader narrative. Firstly, it underscores the theme of **human frailty and mortality**, even for God's anointed king. David, once a mighty warrior and vibrant leader, is reduced to a state of physical helplessness, signaling the natural end of an era and the inevitable transition of power, a theme echoed in [Psalm 90:10](/psalms/90-10 "Psalm 90:10 - The Brevity of Life"). Secondly, Abishag's role highlights **dutiful service and personal integrity**. Despite her beauty and intimate proximity to the king, her service remains chaste and focused on care, a detail that preserves her purity and, ironically, makes her a valuable political pawn later on. This purity becomes central to the theme of **legitimacy and succession**, as Adonijah's later request for Abishag (seen in [1 Kings 2:17](/1_kings/2-17 "1 Kings 2:17 - Adonijah's Fateful Request")) is interpreted as a claim to the throne itself, given the ancient custom that a king's concubines passed to his successor as a symbol of transferred authority. Thus, the seemingly simple statement of David's non-intimacy with Abishag becomes a linchpin in the unfolding drama of royal power.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Fair (Heb. יָפָה, _yapha'_):** This adjective describes Abishag as "beautiful" or "lovely." It's a common biblical term for physical attractiveness. Its inclusion here emphasizes that Abishag was not merely chosen for her youth, but also for her striking appearance, which would have been considered an asset in a royal court. Her beauty, however, stands in stark contrast to David's inability to respond to it, highlighting his profound physical decline.
* **Cherished (Heb. סָכַן, _sakan_):** The verb _sakan_ means "to be useful," "to profit," or "to serve." In this context, it implies that Abishag was diligently attentive and beneficial to the king, providing him with warmth and comfort. It speaks to her active and faithful service, going beyond mere presence to genuinely care for David's well-being. This word emphasizes her role as a devoted caregiver, not just a passive companion.
* **Knew (Heb. יָדַע, _yada'_):** This is a crucial verb in biblical Hebrew, meaning "to know" in a deep, experiential sense. While it can refer to intellectual understanding, it frequently denotes intimate, often sexual, knowledge between a man and a woman, as seen in [Genesis 4:1](/genesis/4-1 "Genesis 4:1 - Adam Knew Eve"). The explicit negation ("knew her not") therefore unequivocally confirms the absence of sexual relations between David and Abishag. This detail is paramount, establishing her virginity and preventing any claim of her bearing a royal heir, which would have complicated the succession further. It also powerfully underscores David's complete physical incapacitation.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And the damsel [was] very fair":** This opening clause immediately establishes Abishag's striking physical beauty. Her attractiveness is not just a descriptive detail but sets up a contrast with David's physical state. The emphasis on her youth and beauty highlights the king's profound inability to engage with her in any way beyond basic care, underscoring his advanced age and frailty.
* **"and cherished the king, and ministered to him":** This phrase describes Abishag's active role and dutiful character. The verb "cherished" (Heb. _sakan_) implies that she was attentive, useful, and provided genuine care and comfort. "Ministered to him" further emphasizes her service, indicating that she attended to his needs, likely including keeping him warm and providing general care. These actions portray her as a faithful and diligent servant, fulfilling the purpose for which she was brought into the royal household.
* **"but the king knew her not":** This is the most significant clause of the verse. The conjunction "but" introduces a stark contrast to the preceding descriptions of Abishag's beauty and service. The phrase "knew her not" uses the Hebrew verb _yada'_ in its intimate sense, explicitly stating that David had no sexual relations with her. This detail is vital for several reasons: it confirms David's complete physical impotence, signaling the end of his procreative and active kingly role; it preserves Abishag's virginity, which becomes a key factor in the later succession struggle when Adonijah seeks her as a wife; and it underscores the purely custodial nature of her presence, preventing any legitimate claim of her bearing a royal heir.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several significant literary devices. **Contrast** is prominent, juxtaposing Abishag's youthful beauty and diligent service with David's extreme physical weakness and inability to "know" her. This stark difference powerfully emphasizes the king's decline. **Foreshadowing** is also critically present; the explicit statement that David did not have sexual relations with Abishag sets up a crucial plot point for the subsequent succession narrative. Her untouched status becomes a political asset, making Adonijah's later request for her hand a direct challenge to Solomon's authority, as possessing the king's concubines was a symbolic act of claiming the throne. Furthermore, there is a subtle **Symbolism** at play: David's physical impotence symbolizes the waning of his reign and the necessity of a new, vigorous leader to take the throne. The physical state of the king mirrors the state of his kingdom's leadership, poised for transition.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This seemingly simple verse offers profound theological and thematic insights. It reminds us of the universal reality of human mortality and physical decline, even for those divinely chosen and greatly blessed like King David. It illustrates God's sovereign hand in the transition of leadership, often orchestrating events through human frailty and political machinations to fulfill His divine purposes for succession. Abishag's role, though seemingly minor, highlights the importance of integrity and faithful service in all circumstances, even when one's position is ambiguous or politically charged. The detail of David not knowing her underscores the purity of her role and sets the stage for God's chosen successor, Solomon, to assume a kingdom not tainted by further human weakness or illegitimate claims, ultimately pointing to a divine order beyond human control.

* [Genesis 4:1](/genesis/4-1 "Genesis 4:1 - Adam Knew Eve")
* [Psalm 90:10](/psalms/90-10 "Psalm 90:10 - The Brevity of Life")
* [2 Samuel 7:12](/2_samuel/7-12 "2 Samuel 7:12 - Davidic Covenant and Succession")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
1 Kings 1:4 invites us to reflect on the various seasons of life and the nature of transitions. David's decline is a stark reminder that even the strongest and most anointed leaders are subject to the natural processes of aging and physical limitation. This should foster humility in us, recognizing that our strength and capabilities are ultimately finite and dependent on God. It also calls us to consider how we respond to the changing dynamics of leadership and influence in our own lives, communities, and churches. Abishag's faithful and chaste service, despite her ambiguous position, models integrity and diligence in often-unseen roles. Her story encourages us to serve with purity of heart and purpose, understanding that even seemingly small or supportive roles can have significant, far-reaching implications in God's grand narrative. We are reminded that God works through all circumstances, even human weakness and political intrigue, to bring about His perfect will.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does David's physical decline in this verse challenge our perceptions of leadership and power, especially in spiritual contexts?**
* **What lessons can we draw from Abishag's faithful and chaste service in a potentially compromising situation?**
* **How does the seemingly minor detail of "the king knew her not" illustrate the importance of paying close attention to every word in Scripture?**
* **In what ways do we see God's sovereignty at work in the midst of human weakness and political maneuvering, as depicted in this passage?**

### FAQ
**Why was Abishag chosen specifically for this role, and what does her beauty signify?**

Answer: Abishag was chosen by David's servants primarily to provide warmth and care for the aging king, as he was "old and stricken in years" and could not get warm ([1 Kings 1:1-2](/1_kings/1-1 "1 Kings 1:1-2 - David's Old Age")). The text explicitly states she was "very fair," indicating her exceptional beauty. While her beauty might have been seen as an added comfort or prestige for the king, its primary significance in the narrative is to highlight the profound extent of David's physical decline. Despite her attractiveness and intimate proximity, David's inability to "know her" underscores his impotence, making it clear that his active reign, including his procreative capacity, had definitively ended. This detail becomes crucial later in the succession narrative, as her untouched status becomes a political symbol.

**What is the deeper significance of the phrase "but the king knew her not"?**

Answer: The phrase "the king knew her not" uses the Hebrew verb _yada'_, which in biblical context often refers to intimate, sexual knowledge between a man and a woman (e.g., [Genesis 4:1](/genesis/4-1 "Genesis 4:1 - Adam Knew Eve")). Its explicit negation here is profoundly significant. Firstly, it unequivocally confirms David's complete physical incapacitation, signaling the end of his active, procreative reign. This is a powerful literary device to emphasize the need for a new king. Secondly, it establishes Abishag's virginity, a fact that becomes critically important in the subsequent succession struggle. When Adonijah later requests Abishag as his wife ([1 Kings 2:17](/1_kings/2-17 "1 Kings 2:17 - Adonijah's Request for Abishag")), it is interpreted as a claim to David's throne, as possessing the former king's concubines was a symbolic act of taking over his power and legitimacy. The fact that she remained untouched by David makes her a potent, albeit unwitting, pawn in the political maneuvering.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The poignant scene of King David's physical decline and his inability to "know" Abishag in 1 Kings 1:4 serves as a powerful testament to the limitations of even the greatest earthly kings and foreshadows the need for a perfect, eternal King. David, God's anointed, is shown in his ultimate human frailty, unable to sustain his own warmth or perpetuate his lineage through natural means. This physical impotence underscores the temporary and imperfect nature of the Davidic monarchy, pointing forward to the ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ. Unlike David, whose physical body failed, Jesus' reign is not dependent on human strength or biological succession. He is the Son of David who reigns eternally, not from a throne of physical weakness but from a position of divine power and glory ([Luke 1:32-33](/luke/1-32 "Luke 1:32-33 - Jesus' Eternal Reign")). While David's physical decline necessitated a new human king, Solomon, the ultimate King, Jesus, requires no successor, for His kingdom is everlasting and His power is undiminished ([Daniel 7:14](/daniel/7-14 "Daniel 7:14 - The Everlasting Dominion of the Son of Man")). The transition from David's physical weakness to Solomon's initial strength, though flawed, ultimately points to Christ, who perfectly fulfills the Davidic covenant, establishing a spiritual kingdom "not of this world" ([John 18:36](/john/18-36 "John 18:36 - Jesus' Kingdom is Not of This World")), where His "knowing" of His people is a deep, spiritual, and eternal covenant, not subject to the frailties of flesh.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Matthew 1:25

And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.