1 Kings 2:20

1 Kings 2:20 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Then she said, I desire one small petition of thee; I pray thee, say me not nay. And the king said unto her, Ask on, my mother: for I will not say thee nay.
• New International Version (NIV)“I have one small request to make of you,” she said. “Do not refuse me.” The king replied, “Make it, my mother; I will not refuse you.”
• English Standard Version (ESV)Then she said, "I have one small request to make of you; do not refuse me." And the king said to her, "Make your request, my mother, for I will not refuse you."
• New King James Version (NKJV)Then she said, “I desire one small petition of you; do not refuse me.” And the king said to her, “Ask it, my mother, for I will not refuse you.”

Context of 1 Kings 2:20

18“Very well,” Bathsheba replied. “I will speak to the king for you.” 19So Bathsheba went to King Solomon to speak to him for Adonijah. The king stood up to greet her, bowed to her, and sat down on his throne. Then the king had a throne brought for his mother, who sat down at his right hand. “I have just one small request of you,” she said. “Do not deny me.” “Make your request, my mother,” the king replied, “for I will not deny you.” 21So Bathsheba said, “Let Abishag the Shunammite be given to your brother Adonijah as his wife.” 22King Solomon answered his mother, “Why do you request Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? Since he is my older brother, you might as well request the kingdom for him and for Abiathar the priest and for Joab son of Zeruiah!”

1 Kings 2:20 word by word

וַתֹּ֗אמֶר שְׁאֵלָ֨ה אַחַ֤ת קְטַנָּה֙ אָֽנֹכִי֙ שֹׁאֶ֣לֶת מֵֽאִתָּ֔ךְ אַל־תָּ֖שֶׁב אֶת־פָּנָ֑י וַיֹּֽאמֶר־לָ֤הּ הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ שַׁאֲלִ֣י אִמִּ֔י כִּ֥י לֹֽא־אָשִׁ֖יב אֶת־פָּנָֽיִךְ׃Read the interlinear

• Iאָֽנֹכִ֫י'ânôkîy · IH595
• have just oneאֶחָד'echâd · oneH259
• smallקָטָןqâţân qâţôn · smallH6996
• request of youשְׁאֵלָהshe'êlâh shêlâh · petitionH7596
• she saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• Do notאַל'al · notH408
• denyשׁוּבshûb · to return: refuseH7725
• ·אֵת'êth · [Obj.]H853
• meפָּנֶהpânîym · face: beforeH6440
• Make your requestשָׁאַלshâ'al shâ'êl · to askH7592
• Make your requestאֵת'êth · withH854
• my motherאֵם'êm · motherH517
• the kingמֶ֫לֶךְmelek · kingH4428
• forכִּיkîy · forH3588
• I will notלֹאlô' lô' lôh · notH3808

Cross-references for 1 Kings 2:20

• Matthew 20:20Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Jesus with her sons and knelt down to make a request of Him.
• John 2:3When the wine ran out, Jesus’ mother said to Him, “They have no more wine.”
• Matthew 7:7Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you.
• Matthew 18:19Again, I tell you truly that if two of you on the earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by My Father in heaven.
• Matthew 10:35For I have come to turn ‘a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.
• Matthew 11:24But I tell you that it will be more bearable for Sodom on the day of judgment than for you.”
• Luke 11:9So I tell you: Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you.
• John 14:13And I will do whatever you ask in My name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
• John 15:16You did not choose Me, but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will remain—so that whatever you ask the Father in My name, He will give you.

Commentaries on 1 Kings 2:20

• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 12-25Verses 12-25 Solomon received Bathsheba with all the respect that was owing to a mother; but let none be asked for that which they ought not to grant. It ill becomes a good man to prefer a bad request, or to appear in a bad cause. According to eastern customs it was plain that Adonijah sought to be king, by his asking for Abishag as his wife, and Solomon could not be safe while he lived. Ambitious, turbulent spirits commonly prepare death for themselves…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 19-21Solomon realized Adonijah's true intentions with his small request. Adonijah wanted to marry Abishag to strengthen his claim to the throne, regardless of her status in David's harem.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 19-2019-20. Bath-sheba ... went unto King Solomon--The filial reverence and the particular act of respect, which Solomon rendered, were quite in accordance with the sentiments and customs of the East. The right hand is the place of honor; and as it expressly said to have been assigned to "the king's mother," it is necessary to remark that, when a husband dies, his widow acquires a higher dignity and power, as a mother over her son, than she ever possessed…Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Kings 2:20

• Abishag
• Adonijah
• Bath-Sheba (Bathsheba)
• Children
• Intercession
• Shunammite

In the dictionaries

• Abishag
• Adonijah
• Curse
• Fail
• Gone
• Return
• Solomon
• Heir
• Israel, History of
• Kings, Books of

Commentaries on 1 Kings 2

• 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