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 answered. “I will talk to the king for you.” 19Bathsheba went to King Solomon to talk to him on Adonijah’s behalf. The king got up to meet her and bowed down in front of her. Then he sat on his throne. He had a throne brought for his mother, and she sat at his right side. “I’m asking you for one little thing,” she said. “Don’t refuse me.” “Ask, Mother,” the king told her. “I won’t refuse you.” 21She replied, “Let Abishag from Shunem be given to your brother Adonijah as his wife.” 22King Solomon then said, “Why do you ask that Abishag from Shunem be given to Adonijah? That would be the same as giving him the kingship. After all, he is my older brother. The priest Abiathar and Joab (Zeruiah’s son) are supporting him.”

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

Words taken from the KJV.

• Then she saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• I desireשָׁאַלshâ'al shâ'êl · to askH7592
• oneאֶחָד'echâd · oneH259
• smallקָטָןqâţân qâţôn · smallH6996
• petitionשְׁאֵלָהshe'êlâh shêlâh · petitionH7596
• sayשׁוּבshûb · to return: returnH7725
• meפָּנֶהpânîym · face: beforeH6440
• And the kingמֶ֫לֶךְmelek · kingH4428
• my motherאֵם'êm · motherH517

Cross-references for 1 Kings 2:20

• Matthew 20:20Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Jesus with her two sons. She bowed down in front of him to ask him for a favor.
• John 2:3When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They’re out of wine.”
• Matthew 7:7“Ask, and you will receive. Search, and you will find. Knock, and the door will be opened for you.
• Matthew 18:19“I can guarantee again that if two of you agree on anything here on earth, my Father in heaven will accept it.
• Matthew 10:35I came to turn a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.
• Matthew 11:24I can guarantee that judgment day will be better for Sodom than for you.”
• Luke 11:9“So I tell you to ask, and you will receive. Search, and you will find. Knock, and the door will be opened for you.
• John 14:13I will do anything you ask ⌞the Father⌟ in my name so that the Father will be given glory because of the Son.
• John 15:16You didn’t choose me, but I chose you. I have appointed you to go, to produce fruit that will last, and to ask the Father in my name to give you whatever you ask for.

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