Amplified Bible
1 Kings 12:7
7They spoke to him, saying, “If you will be a servant to this people today, and will serve them and grant their request, and speak good words to them, then they will be your servants forever.”
1 Kings 12:7 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And they spake unto him, saying, If thou wilt be a servant unto this people this day, and wilt serve them, and answer them, and speak good words to them, then they will be thy servants for ever.
- New International Version (NIV)They replied, “If today you will be a servant to these people and serve them and give them a favorable answer, they will always be your servants.”
- English Standard Version (ESV)And they said to him, "If you will be a servant to this people today and serve them, and speak good words to them when you answer them, then they will be your servants forever."
- New King James Version (NKJV)And they spoke to him, saying, “If you will be a servant to these people today, and serve them, and answer them, and speak good words to them, then they will be your servants forever.”
Context of 1 Kings 12:7
5Rehoboam replied to them, “Leave for three days, then come back to me [for my decision].” So the people left. 6King Rehoboam consulted with the elders who had served and advised his father Solomon while he was still alive and said, “How do you advise me to answer this people?” They spoke to him, saying, “If you will be a servant to this people today, and will serve them and grant their request, and speak good words to them, then they will be your servants forever.” 8But he ignored the advice which the elders gave him and consulted the young men who grew up with him and served him. 9He said to them, “What do you advise that we answer this people who have said to me, ‘Lighten the yoke (burden) which your father put on us’?”
Read all of 1 Kings 121 Kings 12:7 word by word
וַיְדַבְּר֨וּ אֵלָ֜יו לֵאמֹ֗ר אִם־הַ֠יּוֹם תִּֽהְיֶה־עֶ֜בֶד לָעָ֤ם הַזֶּה֙ וַֽעֲבַדְתָּ֔ם וַעֲנִיתָ֕ם וְדִבַּרְתָּ֥ אֲלֵיהֶ֖ם דְּבָרִ֣ים טוֹבִ֑ים וְהָי֥וּ לְךָ֛ עֲבָדִ֖ים כָּל־הַיָּמִֽים׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And they spakeדָבַרdâbar · to speak: speakH1696
- unto him, sayingאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- If thou wilt be a servantעֶ֫בֶד‛ebed · servant/slaveH5650
- unto this peopleעַם‛am · peopleH5971
- this dayיוֹםyôm · dayH3117
- and wilt serveעָבַד‛âbad · to serveH5647
- them, and answerעָנָה‛ânâh · to answerH6030
- goodטוֹבţôb · pleasantH2896
- wordsדָּבָרdâbâr · wordH1697
- for everיוֹםyôm · day: alwaysH3117
Cross-references for 1 Kings 12:7
- 2 Chronicles 10:6Then King Rehoboam consulted with the elders who had served his father Solomon [as advisers] while he was alive, asking, “What advice do you give me in answer to these people?”
- Proverbs 15:1A soft and gentle and thoughtful answer turns away wrath, But harsh and painful and careless words stir up anger.
- Mark 10:43But this is not how it is among you; instead, whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant,
- Philippians 2:7but emptied Himself [without renouncing or diminishing His deity, but only temporarily giving up the outward expression of divine equality and His rightful dignity] by assuming the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men [He became completely human but was without sin, being fully God and fully man].
- 1 Kings 12:13The king answered the people harshly and ignored the advice which the elders had given him,
- 2 Samuel 15:3Then Absalom would say to him, “See, your claims are good and right, but there is no man appointed as the king’s agent to listen to you.”
- Ecclesiastes 10:4If the temper of the ruler rises against you, do not leave your post [showing resistance], because composure and calmness prevent great offenses.
- Zechariah 1:13And the Lord answered the angel who was speaking with me with gracious and comforting words.
Commentaries on 1 Kings 12:7
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 7If thou wilt be a servant unto this people - This is a constitutional idea of a king: he is the servant, but not the slave of his people; every regal act of a just king is an act of service to the state. The king is not only the fountain of law and justice; but as he has the appointment of all officers and judges, consequently he is the executor of the laws; and all justice is administered in his name. Properly speaking, a good and constitutional king is…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 7The advice was not that the king should permanently resign the office of ruler, but that he should “for once” be ruled by his people.Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 6-7the elders: They had served under Solomon advised a moderate approach.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 5-85-8. he said ... Depart yet for three days--It was prudent to take the people's demand into calm and deliberate consideration. Whether, had the advice of the sage and experienced counsellors been followed, any good result would have followed, it is impossible to say. It would at least have removed all pretext for the separation. [See on 2Ch 10:7.] But he preferred the counsel of his young companions (not in age, for they were all about forty-one, but…Read the comment
Topics related to 1 Kings 12:7
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on 1 Kings 12
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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