God’s Word Translation
1 Kings 4:3
3Elihoreph and Ahijah, the sons of Shisha, were scribes. Jehoshaphat, son of Ahilud, was the royal historian.
1 Kings 4:3 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Elihoreph and Ahiah, the sons of Shisha, scribes; Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud, the recorder.
- New International Version (NIV)Elihoreph and Ahijah, sons of Shisha—secretaries; Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud—recorder;
- English Standard Version (ESV)Elihoreph and Ahijah the sons of Shisha were secretaries; Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder;
- New King James Version (NKJV)Elihoreph and Ahijah, the sons of Shisha, scribes; Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud, the recorder;
Context of 1 Kings 4:3
1When King Solomon was the king of all Israel, 2these were his officials: Azariah, son of Zadok, was the ⌞chief⌟ priest. Elihoreph and Ahijah, the sons of Shisha, were scribes. Jehoshaphat, son of Ahilud, was the royal historian. 4Benaiah, son of Jehoiada, was commander of the army. Zadok and Abiathar were priests. 5Azariah, son of Nathan, was in charge of the district governors. Zabud, son of Nathan, was the king’s adviser.
Read all of 1 Kings 41 Kings 4:3 word by word
אֱלִיחֹ֧רֶף וַאֲחִיָּ֛ה בְּנֵ֥י שִׁישָׁ֖א סֹפְרִ֑ים יְהוֹשָׁפָ֥ט בֶּן־אֲחִיל֖וּד הַמַּזְכִּֽיר׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Elihorephאֱלִיחֹ֫רֶף'ĕlîychôreph · ElihorephH456
- and Ahiahאֲחִיָּ֫הוּ'ăchîyâh 'ăchîyâhû · AhijahH281
- the sonsבֵּןbên · son: childH1121
- of Shishaשִׁישָׁאshîyshâ' · ShishaH7894
- scribesסֹפֵרsâphar · secretaryH5608
- Jehoshaphatיְהוֹשָׁפָטyehôshâphâţ · JehoshaphatH3092
- of Ahiludאֲחִילוּד'ăchîylûd · AhiludH286
- the recorderזָכַרzâkar · to rememberH2142
Cross-references for 1 Kings 4:3
- 2 Samuel 20:25Sheva was the royal scribe. Zadok and Abiathar were priests.
- 1 Chronicles 18:6David put troops in the Aramean kingdom of Damascus, and the Arameans became his subjects and paid taxes ⌞to him⌟. Everywhere David went, the Lord gave him victories.
- 2 Samuel 8:16Zeruiah’s son Joab was in charge of the army. Ahilud’s son Jehoshaphat was the royal historian.
- 2 Samuel 20:24Adoram was in charge of forced labor. Jehoshaphat, son of Ahilud, was the royal historian.
- 1 Chronicles 18:15Zeruiah’s son Joab was in charge of the army. Ahilud’s son Jehoshaphat was the royal historian.
- Isaiah 62:6I have posted watchmen on your walls, Jerusalem. They will never be silent day or night. Whoever calls on the Lord, do not give yourselves any rest,
Commentaries on 1 Kings 4:3
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 3Elihoreph and Ahiah - scribes - Secretaries to the king. Jehoshaphat - recorder - Historiographer to the king, who chronicled the affairs of the kingdom. He was in this office under David see 2 Samuel 20:24.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 3Shisha, or Shavsha 1 Chronicles 18:16, seems also to have been called Sheva 2 Samuel 20:25, and Seraiah 2 Samuel 8:17. The “scribes” were probably royal “secretaries” (margin), who drew up the king‘s edicts, wrote his letters, and perhaps managed his finances 1 Kings 12:10. They were among his most influential councillors. By “recorder” or “remembrancer” (margin), we must understand “court annalist” (marginal reference “a”).Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 3The court secretaries were state officials and Solomon’s private secretaries. Shisha, the father of Elihoreph and Ahijah, had served David in this role (2 Samuel 8:17; 20:25; 1 Chronicles 18:16). The royal historian acted as the chief of protocol for palace events and ceremonies. In ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia, these officials often represented the king in important talks (see 2 Kings 18:18; 2 Chronicles 34:8).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 33. scribes--that is, secretaries of state. Under David, there had been only one [2Sa 8:17; 20:25]. The employment of three functionaries in this department indicates either improved regulations by the division of labor, or a great increase of business, occasioned by the growing prosperity of the kingdom, or a more extensive correspondence with foreign countries. recorder--that is, historiographer, or annalist--an office of great importance in Oriental…Read the comment
Topics related to 1 Kings 4:3
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on 1 Kings 4
- 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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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