1 Kings 1:52

And Solomon said, If he will shew himself a worthy man, there shall not an hair of him fall to the earth: but if wickedness shall be found in him, he shall die.

And Solomon {H8010} said {H559}, If he will shew himself a worthy {H2428} man {H1121}, there shall not an hair {H8185} of him fall {H5307} to the earth {H776}: but if wickedness {H7451} shall be found {H4672} in him, he shall die {H4191}.

Shlomo said, "If he will demonstrate that he is a worthy man, not a hair of his will fall to the earth. But if he is found making trouble, he will die."

And Solomon replied, “If he is a man of character, not a single hair of his will fall to the ground. But if evil is found in him, he will die.”

And Solomon said, If he shall show himself a worthy man, there shall not a hair of him fall to the earth; but if wickedness be found in him, he shall die.

Commentary

1 Kings 1:52 marks a pivotal moment in the transfer of power from King David to his son, Solomon. After King David's anointing of Solomon, Adonijah, who had previously attempted to usurp the throne, feared for his life and sought sanctuary at the altar of the tabernacle. This verse records Solomon's conditional pronouncement regarding Adonijah's fate.

Context

The backdrop to this verse is the intense struggle for succession to King David’s throne. Adonijah, an elder son of David, presumptuously declared himself king while David was still alive and infirm, gathering support from key figures like Joab and Abiathar (see 1 Kings 1:5-9). However, through the intervention of Bathsheba and Nathan the prophet, David reaffirmed his promise to make Solomon king, leading to Solomon's swift anointing and public proclamation as the new ruler (1 Kings 1:32-40). Upon hearing of Solomon's enthronement, Adonijah, terrified, fled to the altar, grasping its horns—a traditional sign of seeking asylum. Solomon's response in verse 52 is a blend of mercy and firm justice, setting the tone for his reign.

Key Themes

  • Conditional Mercy: Solomon offers Adonijah a chance at life, but it is entirely dependent on his future conduct. This demonstrates that while mercy is available, it is not without accountability.
  • Justice and Sovereignty: The declaration underscores Solomon's authority as the newly established king. Any further act of disloyalty or rebellion will be met with the full force of royal justice. It highlights the serious nature of challenging a divinely appointed ruler.
  • Consequences of Actions: Adonijah's past ambition led him to this precarious position. Solomon's statement clearly links his future well-being directly to his behavior, emphasizing the biblical principle that actions have consequences.
  • Loyalty and Obedience: The condition "if he will shew himself a worthy man" implies a demand for complete loyalty and submission to Solomon's reign, without any hint of future sedition or conspiracy.

Linguistic Insights

  • "not an hair of him fall to the earth": This is a powerful idiom found in various biblical contexts (e.g., 1 Samuel 14:45, Acts 27:34). It signifies complete safety, preservation from harm, or meticulous protection. Solomon promises that if Adonijah remains loyal, he will be absolutely unharmed.
  • "worthy man": The Hebrew term here (often related to chayil or ben-chayil) implies a man of valor, integrity, or upright character, specifically in this context, one who acts honorably and without treachery towards the king.
  • "wickedness shall be found in him": The Hebrew word for "wickedness" (ra'ah) can refer to evil, malice, or mischief. Here, it specifically points to any future rebellious acts, conspiracies, or disloyal behavior against Solomon's legitimate rule.

Practical Application

This verse offers insights into the nature of authority, justice, and the consequences of our choices. For believers, it can illustrate God's balance of mercy and justice. While God is rich in mercy and grace, His justice also ensures that deliberate rebellion and unrepentant wickedness have severe consequences. Just as Adonijah's life depended on his future conduct, so too are believers called to live lives consistent with their confession, demonstrating loyalty to Christ and His kingdom. The story also reminds us that true security comes from living righteously and submitting to legitimate, God-ordained authority, rather than pursuing self-serving ambition that often leads to peril, as Adonijah eventually discovered when his wickedness was indeed found in him.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • 1 Samuel 14:45 (6 votes)

    And the people said unto Saul, Shall Jonathan die, who hath wrought this great salvation in Israel? God forbid: [as] the LORD liveth, there shall not one hair of his head fall to the ground; for he hath wrought with God this day. So the people rescued Jonathan, that he died not.

  • 2 Samuel 14:11 (5 votes)

    Then said she, I pray thee, let the king remember the LORD thy God, that thou wouldest not suffer the revengers of blood to destroy any more, lest they destroy my son. And he said, [As] the LORD liveth, there shall not one hair of thy son fall to the earth.

  • Proverbs 13:6 (4 votes)

    ¶ Righteousness keepeth [him that is] upright in the way: but wickedness overthroweth the sinner.

  • Proverbs 21:12 (3 votes)

    ¶ The righteous [man] wisely considereth the house of the wicked: [but God] overthroweth the wicked for [their] wickedness.

  • 1 Kings 2:21 (3 votes)

    And she said, Let Abishag the Shunammite be given to Adonijah thy brother to wife.

  • 1 Kings 2:25 (3 votes)

    And king Solomon sent by the hand of Benaiah the son of Jehoiada; and he fell upon him that he died.

  • Job 15:22 (3 votes)

    He believeth not that he shall return out of darkness, and he is waited for of the sword.