1 Kings 2:21

1 Kings 2:21 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And she said, Let Abishag the Shunammite be given to Adonijah thy brother to wife.
• New International Version (NIV)So she said, “Let Abishag the Shunammite be given in marriage to your brother Adonijah.”
• English Standard Version (ESV)She said, "Let Abishag the Shunammite be given to Adonijah your brother as his wife."
• New King James Version (NKJV)So she said, “Let Abishag the Shunammite be given to Adonijah your brother as wife.”

Context of 1 Kings 2:21

19So Bathsheba went to King Solomon to speak to him for Adonijah. And the king arose to meet her, bowed before her, and sat on his throne; then he had a throne set for the king’s mother, and she sat on his right. 20Then she said, “I am making one small request of you; do not refuse me.” And the king said to her, “Ask, my mother, for I will not refuse you.” So she said, “Let Abishag the Shunammite be given to Adonijah your brother as a wife.” 22King Solomon answered and said to his mother, “And why are you asking Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? Ask for him also the kingdom--for he is my older brother--even for him, for Abiathar the priest, and for Joab the son of Zeruiah!” 23Then King Solomon swore by the Lord, saying, “May God do so to me and more also, if Adonijah has not spoken this word against his own life.

1 Kings 2:21 word by word

וַתֹּ֕אמֶר יֻתַּ֖ן אֶת־אֲבִישַׁ֣ג הַשֻּׁנַמִּ֑ית לַאֲדֹנִיָּ֥הוּ אָחִ֖יךָ לְאִשָּֽׁה׃Read the interlinear

• So she saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• Let Abishagאֲבִישַׁג'ăbîyshag · AbishagH49
• the Shunammiteשׁוּנַמִּיתshûnammîyth · ShunammiteH7767
• be givenנָתַןnâthan · to give: give(marriage)H5414
• to Adonijahאֲדֹנִיָּ֫הוּ'ădônîyâh 'ădônîyâhû · AdonijahH138
• your brotherאָח'âch · brother: male-siblingH251
• as a wifeאִשָּׁה'ishshâh nâshîym · woman: wifeH802

Cross-references for 1 Kings 2:21

• 2 Samuel 16:21Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Go in to your father’s concubines, whom he has left to keep the house; then all Israel will hear that you have made yourself odious to your father. The hands of all who are with you will also be strengthened.”

Commentaries on 1 Kings 2:21

• 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

Topics related to 1 Kings 2:21

• Abishag
• Adonijah
• Bath-Sheba (Bathsheba)
• Intercession
• Shunammite

In the dictionaries

• Adonijah
• Abishag
• 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