God’s Word Translation
1 Kings 1:5
5Adonijah, son of Haggith, was very handsome. His mother gave birth to him after she had Absalom. Adonijah was boasting that he was king. So he got a chariot and horses and 50 men to run ahead of him.
1 Kings 1:5 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Then Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, I will be king: and he prepared him chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him.
- New International Version (NIV)Now Adonijah, whose mother was Haggith, put himself forward and said, “I will be king.” So he got chariots and horses ready, with fifty men to run ahead of him.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Now Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, "I will be king." And he prepared for himself chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Then Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, “I will be king”; and he prepared for himself chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him.
Context of 1 Kings 1:5
3So they searched throughout Israel for a beautiful, young woman. They found Abishag from Shunem and brought her to the king. 4The woman was very beautiful. She became the king’s servant and took care of him, but the king did not make love to her. Adonijah, son of Haggith, was very handsome. His mother gave birth to him after she had Absalom. Adonijah was boasting that he was king. So he got a chariot and horses and 50 men to run ahead of him. 6His father had never confronted him by asking why he was doing this. 7But Adonijah had discussed his actions with Joab (son of Zeruiah) and with the priest Abiathar, so they supported him.
Read all of 1 Kings 11 Kings 1:5 word by word
וַאֲדֹנִיָּ֧ה בֶן־חַגִּ֛ית מִתְנַשֵּׂ֥א לֵאמֹ֖ר אֲנִ֣י אֶמְלֹ֑ךְ וַיַּ֣עַשׂ ל֗וֹ רֶ֚כֶב וּפָ֣רָשִׁ֔ים וַחֲמִשִּׁ֥ים אִ֖ישׁ רָצִ֥ים לְפָנָֽיו׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Then Adonijahאֲדֹנִיָּ֫הוּ'ădônîyâh 'ădônîyâhû · AdonijahH138
- the sonבֵּןbên · son: childH1121
- of Haggithחַגִּיתchaggîyth · HaggithH2294
- exaltedמִתְנַשֵּׂאmithnaώώê' · to exaltH4984
- himself, sayingאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- I will be kingמָלַךְmâlak · to reignH4427
- and he preparedעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to makeH6213
- him chariotsרֶ֫כֶבrekeb · chariotH7393
- and horsemenפָּרָשׁpârâsh · horsemanH6571
- and fiftyחֲמִשִּׁיםchămishshîym · fiftyH2572
- menאִישׁ'îysh · manH376
- to runרוּץrûts · to run: runH7323
- beforeפָּנֶהpânîym · face: beforeH6440
Cross-references for 1 Kings 1:5
- 2 Samuel 3:4The fourth was Adonijah, whose mother was Haggith. The fifth was Shephatiah, whose mother was Abital.
- 1 Chronicles 3:2The third was Absalom, ⌞born⌟ to Maacah (the daughter of King Talmai) from Geshur. The fourth was Adonijah, whose mother was Haggith.
- 1 Kings 1:11Then Nathan asked Solomon’s mother Bathsheba, “Haven’t you heard that Adonijah, Haggith’s son, has become king, and our master David doesn’t ⌞even⌟ know about it?
- 1 Kings 2:24The Lord set me on my father David’s throne and gave me a dynasty as he promised. So I solemnly swear, as the Lord who has established me lives, that Adonijah will be put to death today.”
- Exodus 9:17You are still blocking my people from leaving.
- Proverbs 16:18Pride precedes a disaster, and an arrogant attitude precedes a fall.
- Proverbs 18:12Before destruction a person’s heart is arrogant, but humility comes before honor.
- Luke 14:11Those who honor themselves will be humbled, but people who humble themselves will be honored.”
- Luke 18:14“I can guarantee that this tax collector went home with God’s approval, but the Pharisee didn’t. Everyone who honors himself will be humbled, but the person who humbles himself will be honored.”
- Deuteronomy 17:15Be sure to appoint the king the Lord your God will choose. He must be one of your own people. Never let a foreigner be king, because he’s not one of your own people.
- Judges 9:2He said, “Please ask all citizens of Shechem, ‘What seems best to you? Do you really want all of Jerubbaal’s 70 sons to rule you or just one man? Remember, I’m your own flesh and blood.’ ”
- 1 Chronicles 22:5David thought, “My son Solomon is young and inexperienced, and the temple that will be built for the Lord must be magnificent, large, famous, praised, and honored in all other countries. I’ll prepare ⌞the building materials⌟ for him.” So David prepared many materials ⌞for Solomon⌟ before he died.
- 1 Chronicles 28:5And of all my sons (the Lord has given me many sons) he chose my son Solomon to sit on the throne of the Lord’s kingdom to rule Israel.
- 1 Chronicles 29:1Then King David said to the whole assembly, “My son Solomon, the one whom God has chosen, is young and inexperienced. Yet, the work is important because this palace is not for a person but for the Lord God.
- Deuteronomy 17:16The king must never own a large number of horses or make the people return to Egypt to get more horses. The Lord has told you, “You will never go back there again.”
- 2 Samuel 15:1Soon after this, Absalom acquired a chariot, horses, and 50 men to run ahead of him.
Commentaries on 1 Kings 1:5
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 5Adonijah the son of Haggith - Who this woman was we know not; Adonijah was evidently David's eldest son now living, and one of whom his father was particularly fond; see 1 Kings 1:6. Prepared him chariots and horsemen - He copied the conduct of his brother Absalom in every respect. See 2 Samuel 15:1.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 5The narrative concerning - Abishag, the Shunammite (see the margin reference “a”), is introduced as necessary for a proper understanding of Adonijah‘s later history (see 1 Kings 2:13-25.) But even as it stands, it heightens considerably the picture drawn of the poor king‘s weak and helpless condition, of which Adonijah was not ashamed to take advantage for his own aggrandizement. Adonijah was born while David reigned at Hebron, and was therefore now…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 5-10Verses 5-10 Indulgent parents are often chastised with disobedient children, who are anxious to possess their estates. No worldly wisdom, nor experience, nor sacredness of character, can insure the continuance in any former course of those who remain under the power of self-love. But we may well wonder by what arts Joab and Abiathar could be drawn aside.Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 5-6Adonijah was David’s fourth son. His older brothers, Amnon, Daniel, and Absalom, had died. So, Adonijah thought he would become king. However, according to ancient Near Eastern tradition, Solomon, the son of David’s favorite wife Bathsheba, was to become king. David had already told Solomon about this (1 Kings 1:13, 17; 1 Chronicles 22:6–10). Adonijah's ambition, likely encouraged by his father's lenient discipline, showed when he declared, “I will be…Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 5-65-6. Then Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself--Nothing is said as to the origin or rank of Haggith, so that it is probable she was not distinguished by family descent. Adonijah, though David's fourth son (2Sa 3:4; 1Ch 3:2), was now the oldest alive; and his personal attractions and manners (1Sa 9:2) not only recommended him to the leading men about court, but made him the favorite of his father, who, though seeing him assume an equipage becoming…Read the comment
Topics related to 1 Kings 1:5
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on 1 Kings 1
- 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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