1 Kings 1:52

1 Kings 1:52 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And Solomon said, If he will shew himself a worthy man, there shall not an hair of him fall to the earth: but if wickedness shall be found in him, he shall die.
• New International Version (NIV)Solomon replied, “If he shows himself to be worthy, not a hair of his head will fall to the ground; but if evil is found in him, he will die.”
• English Standard Version (ESV)And Solomon said, "If he will show himself a worthy man, not one of his hairs shall fall to the earth, but if wickedness is found in him, he shall die."
• New King James Version (NKJV)Then Solomon said, “If he proves himself a worthy man, not one hair of him shall fall to the earth; but if wickedness is found in him, he shall die.”

Context of 1 Kings 1:52

50Adonijah also was afraid of Solomon, and he got up, and went, and took hold of the horns of the altar. 51Now it was reported to Solomon, saying, “Behold, Adonijah is afraid of King Solomon, for behold, he has taken hold of the horns of the altar, saying, ‘May King Solomon swear to me today that he will not put his servant to death with the sword.’” And Solomon said, “If he is a worthy man, not one of his hairs will fall to the ground; but if wickedness is found in him, he will die.” 53So King Solomon sent men, and they brought him down from the altar. And he came and prostrated himself before King Solomon, and Solomon said to him, “Go to your house.”

1 Kings 1:52 word by word

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר שְׁלֹמֹ֔ה אִ֚ם יִהְיֶ֣ה לְבֶן־חַ֔יִל לֹֽא־יִפֹּ֥ל מִשַּׂעֲרָת֖וֹ אָ֑רְצָה וְאִם־רָעָ֥ה תִמָּצֵא־ב֖וֹ וָמֵֽת׃Read the interlinear

• And Solomonשְׁלֹמֹהshelômôh · SolomonH8010
• saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• Ifאִם'im · ifH518
• he is a worthyחַ֫יִלchayil · strength: worthyH2428
• manבֵּןbên · son: descendant/peopleH1121
• not one of his hairsשַׂעֲרָהώa‛ărâh · hairH8185
• will fallנָפַלnâphal · to fall: fallH5307
• to the groundאֶ֫רֶץ'erets · land: soilH776
• is foundמָצָאmâtsâ' · to findH4672
• in him, he will dieמוּתmûth · to dieH4191

Cross-references for 1 Kings 1:52

• 1 Samuel 14:45But the people said to Saul, “Must Jonathan die, he who has brought about this great victory in Israel? Far from it! As the Lord lives, not even a hair of his head shall fall to the ground, because he has worked with God this day.” So the people rescued Jonathan and he did not die.
• 2 Samuel 14:11Then she said, “May the king please remember the Lord your God, so that the avenger of blood will not continue to destroy, otherwise they will destroy my son.” And he said, “As the Lord lives, not one hair of your son shall fall to the ground.”
• Matthew 10:30But even the hairs of your head are all counted.
• Luke 21:18And yet not a hair of your head will perish.
• Acts 27:34Therefore, I encourage you to take some food, for this is for your survival, for not a hair from the head of any of you will perish.”
• 1 Kings 2:21So she said, “Let Abishag the Shunammite be given to Adonijah your brother as a wife.”
• Job 15:22He does not believe that he will return from darkness, And he is destined for the sword.
• Proverbs 13:6Righteousness guards the one whose way is blameless, But wickedness brings the sinner to ruin.
• Proverbs 21:12The righteous one considers the house of the wicked, Bringing the wicked to ruin.

Commentaries on 1 Kings 1:52

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 52If he will show himself a worthy man - If, from henceforth, he behave well, show himself to be contented, and not endeavor to make partisans, or stir up insurrections among the people, he shall be safe; but if wickedness be found in him - if he act at all contrary to this - he shall die; his blood shall be upon him.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 52There shalt not an hair … - This was a proverbial expression, meaning “he shall suffer no hurt at all.” Solomon‘s clemency in pardoning Adonijah is very remarkable. In the East not only are pretenders almost always punished with death, but it has often been the custom for each king upon his accession to put to death all his brothers as mere possible pretenders.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 32-53Verses 32-53 The people expressed great joy and satisfaction in the elevation of Solomon. Every true Israelite rejoices in the exaltation of the Son of David. Combinations formed upon evil principles will soon be dissolved, when self-interest calls another way. How can those who do evil deeds expect to have good tidings? Adonijah had despised Solomon, but soon dreaded him. We see here, as in a glass, Jesus, the Son of David and the Son of God, exalted to…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 50-53Fearing for his life, Adonijah sought safety at the horns (projections at the corners) of the altar (Exodus 27:2), hoping for mercy based on biblical tradition (see Exodus 21:12–14). However, this protection was only for accidental killings, so only the king could forgive Adonijah's treason. Solomon showed him kindness if he stayed loyal. Despite appearances, Adonijah still tried to make himself king and was later killed for causing trouble (1 Kings…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 50-5350-53. Adonijah ... went, and caught hold on the horns of the altar--most probably the altar of burnt offering which had been erected on Mount Zion, where Abiathar, one of his partisans, presided as high priest. The horns or projections at the four corners of the altar, to which the sacrifices were bound, and which were tipped with the blood of the victim, were symbols of grace and salvation to the sinner. Hence the altar was regarded as a sanctuary (Ex…Read the comment

In the dictionaries

• Solomon
• Account
• Adonijah
• Assuredly
• Cherish
• David
• Zoheleth
• Abishag
• Altar
• Chronicles, Books of

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