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 feared Solomon, so he got up and went and grabbed hold of the horns of the altar. 51Solomon was told, “Look, Adonijah fears you; see, he has taken hold of the horns of the altar, saying, ‘May King Solomon solemnly promise me today that he will not kill his servant with the sword.’” Solomon said, “If he is a loyal subject, not a hair of his head will be harmed, but if he is found to be a traitor, he will die.” 53King Solomon sent men to bring him down from the altar. He came and bowed down to King Solomon, and Solomon told him, “Go home.”

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

Words taken from the KJV.

• And Solomonשְׁלֹמֹהshelômôh · SolomonH8010
• saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• If he will shew himself a worthyחַ֫יִלchayil · strength: worthyH2428
• manבֵּןbên · son: descendant/peopleH1121
• there shall not an hairשַׂעֲרָהώa‛ărâh · hairH8185
• of him fallנָפַלnâphal · to fall: fallH5307
• to the earthאֶ֫רֶץ'erets · land: soilH776
• but if wickednessרָעָהra‛ râ‛âh · distress: evilH7451
• shall be foundמָצָאmâtsâ' · to findH4672
• in him, he shall dieמוּתmûth · to dieH4191

Cross-references for 1 Kings 1:52

• 1 Samuel 14:45But the army said to Saul, “Should Jonathan, who won this great victory in Israel, die? May it never be! As surely as the Lord lives, not a single hair of his head will fall to the ground! For it is with the help of God that he has acted today.” So the army rescued Jonathan from death.
• 2 Samuel 14:11She replied, “In that case, let the king invoke the name of the Lord your God so that the avenger of blood may not kill! Then they will not destroy my son!” He replied, “As surely as the Lord lives, not a single hair of your son’s head will fall to the ground.”
• Matthew 10:30Even all the hairs on your head are numbered.
• Luke 21:18Yet not a hair of your head will perish.
• Acts 27:34Therefore I urge you to take some food, for this is important for your survival. For not one of you will lose a hair from his head.”
• 1 Kings 2:21She said, “Allow Abishag the Shunammite to be given to your brother Adonijah as a wife.”
• Job 15:22He does not expect to escape from darkness; he is marked for the sword;
• Proverbs 13:6Righteousness guards the one who lives with integrity, but wickedness overthrows the sinner.
• Proverbs 21:12The Righteous One considers the house of the wicked; he overthrows the wicked to their 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