New American Standard Bible 1995
1 Kings 12:7
7Then they spoke to him, saying, “1If you will be a servant to this people today, and will serve them and 2grant them their petition, and speak good words to 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.”
- English Standard Version (ESV)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."
- 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.”
Context of 1 Kings 12:7
5Then he said to them, “Depart for three days, then return to me.” So the people departed. 6King Rehoboam consulted with the elders who had served his father Solomon while he was still alive, saying, “How do you counsel me to answer this people?” Then they spoke to him, saying, “If you will be a servant to this people today, and will serve them and grant them their petition, and speak good words to them, then they will be your servants forever.” 8But he forsook the counsel of the elders which they had given him, and consulted with the young men who grew up with him and served him. 9So he said to them, “What counsel do you give that we may answer this people who have spoken to me, saying, ‘Lighten the yoke which 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
- Then they spokeדָבַרdâbar · to speak: speakH1696
- to him, sayingאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- Ifאִם'im · ifH518
- you will be a servantעֶ֫בֶד‛ebed · servant/slaveH5650
- to thisזֶהzeh · thisH2088
- peopleעַם‛am · peopleH5971
- todayיוֹםyôm · dayH3117
- and will serveעָבַד‛âbad · to serveH5647
- grantעוּן‛ânâh · to dwellH6030
- goodטוֹבţôb · pleasantH2896
- wordsדָּבָרdâbâr · wordH1697
- foreverכֹּלkôl kôl · allH3605
- foreverיוֹםyôm · day: alwaysH3117
Cross-references for 1 Kings 12:7
- 2 Chronicles 10:6Then King Rehoboam consulted with the elders who had served his father Solomon while he was still alive, saying, “How do you counsel me to answer this people?”
- Proverbs 15:1A gentle answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger.
- Mark 10:43But it is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant;
- Philippians 2:7but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.
- 1 Kings 12:13The king answered the people harshly, for he forsook the advice of the elders which they had given him,
- 2 Samuel 15:3Then Absalom would say to him, “See, your claims are good and right, but no man listens to you on the part of the king.”
- Ecclesiastes 10:4If the ruler’s temper rises against you, do not abandon your position, because composure allays great offenses.
- Zechariah 1:13The Lord answered the angel who was speaking with me with gracious words, comforting words.
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
Notes
- 1. 1 Kings 12:7 2 Chr 10:7; Prov 15:1 ↩
- 2. 1 Kings 12:7 Lit answer them ↩
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
New American Standard Bible 1995 — © 1960–1995 The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.
Commentaries