English Standard Version
1 Kings 12:7
7And 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."
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.”
- 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.”
- New Living Translation (NLT)The older counselors replied, “If you are willing to be a servant to these people today and give them a favorable answer, they will always be your loyal subjects.”
Context of 1 Kings 12:7
5He said to them, "Go away for three days, then come again to me." So the people went away. 6Then King Rehoboam took counsel with the old men, who had stood before Solomon his father while he was yet alive, saying, "How do you advise me to answer this people?" 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." 8But he abandoned the counsel that the old men gave him and took counsel with the young men who had grown up with him and stood before him. 9And he said to them, "What do you advise that we answer this people who have said to me, 'Lighten the yoke that 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 took counsel with the old men, who had stood before Solomon his father while he was yet alive, saying, "How do you advise me to answer this people?"
- Proverbs 15:1A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
- Mark 10:43But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant,
- Philippians 2:7but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.
- 1 Kings 12:13And the king answered the people harshly, and forsaking the counsel that the old men had given him,
- 2 Samuel 15:3Absalom would say to him, "See, your claims are good and right, but there is no man designated by the king to hear you."
- Ecclesiastes 10:4If the anger of the ruler rises against you, do not leave your place, for calmness will lay great offenses to rest.
- Zechariah 1:13And the Lord answered gracious and comforting words to the angel who talked with me.
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
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries