1 Kings 15:4

1 Kings 15:4 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Nevertheless for David’s sake did the Lord his God give him a lamp in Jerusalem, to set up his son after him, and to establish Jerusalem:
• New International Version (NIV)Nevertheless, for David’s sake the Lord his God gave him a lamp in Jerusalem by raising up a son to succeed him and by making Jerusalem strong.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Nevertheless, for David's sake the Lord his God gave him a lamp in Jerusalem, setting up his son after him, and establishing Jerusalem,
• New King James Version (NKJV)Nevertheless for David’s sake the Lord his God gave him a lamp in Jerusalem, by setting up his son after him and by establishing Jerusalem;

Context of 1 Kings 15:4

2He reigned three years in Jerusalem. His mother was Maacah [grand]daughter of Abishalom (Absalom). 3He walked in all the sins [of idol worship] that his father [Rehoboam] committed before him; and his heart was not entirely devoted to the Lord his God, like the heart of his father (forefather) David. Nevertheless, for David’s sake the Lord his God gave him a lamp (descendant on the throne) in Jerusalem, setting up his son after him and establishing Jerusalem, 5because David did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, and had not turned aside from anything that He commanded him all the days of his life, except in the matter of [the betrayal of] Uriah the Hittite. 6There was war between Rehoboam [Abijam’s father] and Jeroboam all the days of Rehoboam’s life.

1 Kings 15:4 word by word

כִּ֚י לְמַ֣עַן דָּוִ֔ד נָתַן֩ יְהוָ֨ה אֱלֹהָ֥יו ל֛וֹ נִ֖יר בִּירוּשָׁלִָ֑ם לְהָקִ֤ים אֶת־בְּנוֹ֙ אַחֲרָ֔יו וּֽלְהַעֲמִ֖יד אֶת־יְרוּשָׁלִָֽם׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Nevertheless for David’sדָּוִדdâvid dâvîyd · DavidH1732
• sake did the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
• his Godאֱלֹהִים'ĕlôhîym · GodH430
• giveנָתַןnâthan · to give: giveH5414
• him a lampנִירnîyr nir nêyr nêr nêrâh · lampH5216
• in Jerusalemיְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵםyerûshâlaim yerûshâlayim · JerusalemH3389
• to set upקוּםqûm · to arise: establishH6965
• his sonבֵּןbên · son: childH1121
• afterאַחַר'achar · afterH310
• him, and to establishעָמַד‛âmad · to stand: standH5975

Cross-references for 1 Kings 15:4

• 1 Kings 11:12However, I will not do it in your lifetime, for the sake of your father David, but I will tear it out of the hand of your son (Rehoboam).
• Genesis 12:2And I will make you a great nation, And I will bless you [abundantly], And make your name great (exalted, distinguished); And you shall be a blessing [a source of great good to others];
• Genesis 19:29Now when God ravaged and destroyed the cities of the plain [of Siddim], He remembered Abraham [and for that reason], and He sent [Abraham’s nephew] Lot out of the midst of the destruction, when He destroyed the cities in which Lot had lived.
• Genesis 26:5because Abraham listened to and obeyed My voice and [consistently] kept My charge, My commandments, My statutes, and My laws.”
• Deuteronomy 4:37And because He loved your fathers, He chose their descendants who followed them, and brought you from Egypt with His Presence, with His great and awesome power,
• 2 Samuel 7:12When your days are fulfilled and you lie down [in death] with your fathers (ancestors), I will raise up your descendant after you, who shall be born to you, and I will establish his kingdom.
• Isaiah 37:35‘For I will defend this city to save it, for My own sake and for the sake of My servant David.’ ”
• Jeremiah 33:20“Thus says the Lord, ‘If you can break My covenant for the day and My covenant for the night, so that day and night do not take place at their appointed times,
• Romans 11:28From the standpoint of the gospel, the Jews [at present] are enemies [of God] for your sake [which is for your benefit], but from the standpoint of God’s choice [of the Jews as His people], they are still loved by Him for the sake of the fathers.
• 1 Kings 11:36Yet to his son I will give one tribe, so that My servant David may have a lamp always before Me in Jerusalem, the city where I have chosen to put My Name and Presence.
• 2 Chronicles 21:7Yet the Lord would not destroy the house of David because of the covenant which He had made with David, and because He had promised to give a lamp to him and to his sons forever.
• Psalms 132:17There I will make the horn (strength) of David grow; I have prepared a lamp for My anointed [fulfilling the promises].
• Luke 1:69And He has raised up a horn of salvation [a mighty and valiant Savior] for us In the house of David His servant—
• Luke 2:32A Light for revelation to the Gentiles [to disclose what was previously unknown], And [to bring] the praise and honor and glory of Your people Israel.”
• John 8:12Once more Jesus addressed the crowd. He said, “I am the Light of the world. He who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.”
• Revelation 22:16“I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you and to give you assurance of these things for the churches. I am the Root (the Source, the Life) and the Offspring of David, the radiant and bright Morning Star.”

Commentaries on 1 Kings 15:4

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 4The Lord - give him a lamp - That is, a son to succeed him; see 1 Kings 11:36.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 4To set up his son - The idolatry of Abijam deserved the same punishment as that of Jeroboam 1 Kings 14:10-14, of Baasha 1 Kings 16:2-4, or of Zimri 1 Kings 16:19, the cutting off of his seed, and the transfer of the crown to another family. That these consequences did not follow in the kingdom of Judah, was owing to the “faithfulness” of David (see the marginal reference), which brought a blessing on his posterity. Few things are more remarkable and more…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 3-5Even though Abijam was unfaithful, God stayed true to his promise to David (2 Samuel 7:12–16; Psalm 89:19–29) and kept David's descendants on Judah's throne. Each king after David was meant to be a light, sharing God's grace (1 Kings 11:36).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 44. for David's sake did the Lord his God give him a lamp--"A lamp" in one's house is an Oriental phrase for continuance of family name and prosperity. Abijam was not rejected only in consequence of the divine promise to David (see on 1Ki 11:13-36). 1Ki 15:9-22. Asa's Good Reign.Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Kings 15:4

• Abijam
• Children
• Intercession
• Israel, Prophecies Concerning
• Jerusalem

In the dictionaries

• God
• Jerusalem
• Abijah
• Baasha
• Proclamation
• Abishag
• Lamp; Lampstand

Commentaries on 1 Kings 15

• 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