1 Kings 15:4

1 Kings 15:4 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Nevertheless for David’s sake did the Lord his God give him a lamp in Jerusalem, to set up his son after him, and to establish Jerusalem:
• New International Version (NIV)Nevertheless, for David’s sake the Lord his God gave him a lamp in Jerusalem by raising up a son to succeed him and by making Jerusalem strong.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Nevertheless, for David's sake the Lord his God gave him a lamp in Jerusalem, setting up his son after him, and establishing Jerusalem,
• New King James Version (NKJV)Nevertheless for David’s sake the Lord his God gave him a lamp in Jerusalem, by setting up his son after him and by establishing Jerusalem;

Context of 1 Kings 15:4

2He ruled for three years in Jerusalem. His mother was Maacah, the daughter of Abishalom. 3He followed all the sinful practices of his father before him. He was not wholeheartedly devoted to the Lord his God, as his ancestor David had been. Nevertheless for David’s sake the Lord his God maintained his dynasty in Jerusalem by giving him a son to succeed him and by protecting Jerusalem. 5He did this because David had done what he approved and had not disregarded any of his commandments his entire lifetime, except for the incident involving Uriah the Hittite. 6Rehoboam and Jeroboam were continually at war with each other throughout Abijah’s lifetime.

1 Kings 15:4 word by word

כִּ֚י לְמַ֣עַן דָּוִ֔ד נָתַן֩ יְהוָ֨ה אֱלֹהָ֥יו ל֛וֹ נִ֖יר בִּירוּשָׁלִָ֑ם לְהָקִ֤ים אֶת־בְּנוֹ֙ אַחֲרָ֔יו וּֽלְהַעֲמִ֖יד אֶת־יְרוּשָׁלִָֽם׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Nevertheless for David’sדָּוִדdâvid dâvîyd · DavidH1732
• sake did the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
• his Godאֱלֹהִים'ĕlôhîym · GodH430
• giveנָתַןnâthan · to give: giveH5414
• him a lampנִירnîyr nir nêyr nêr nêrâh · lampH5216
• in Jerusalemיְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵםyerûshâlaim yerûshâlayim · JerusalemH3389
• to set upקוּםqûm · to arise: establishH6965
• his sonבֵּןbên · son: childH1121
• afterאַחַר'achar · afterH310
• him, and to establishעָמַד‛âmad · to stand: standH5975

Cross-references for 1 Kings 15:4

• 1 Kings 11:12However, for your father David’s sake I will not do this while you are alive. I will tear it away from your son’s hand instead.
• Genesis 12:2Then I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you, and I will make your name great, so that you will exemplify divine blessing.
• Genesis 19:29So when God destroyed the cities of the region, God honored Abraham’s request. He removed Lot from the midst of the destruction when he destroyed the cities Lot had lived in.
• Genesis 26:5All this will come to pass because Abraham obeyed me and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.”
• Deuteronomy 4:37Moreover, because he loved your ancestors, he chose their descendants who followed them and personally brought you out of Egypt with his great power
• 2 Samuel 7:12When the time comes for you to die, I will raise up your descendant, one of your own sons, to succeed you, and I will establish his kingdom.
• Isaiah 37:35I will shield this city and rescue it for the sake of my reputation and because of my promise to David my servant.”’”
• Jeremiah 33:20“I, Lord, make the following promise: ‘I have made a covenant with the day and with the night that they will always come at their proper times. Only if you people could break that covenant
• Romans 11:28In regard to the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but in regard to election they are dearly loved for the sake of the fathers.
• 1 Kings 11:36I will leave his son one tribe so my servant David’s dynasty may continue to serve me in Jerusalem, the city I have chosen as my home.
• 2 Chronicles 21:7But the Lord was unwilling to destroy David’s dynasty because of the promise he had made to give David a perpetual dynasty.
• Psalms 132:17There I will make David strong; I have determined that my chosen king’s dynasty will continue.
• Luke 1:69For he has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David,
• Luke 2:32a light, for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.”
• John 8:12Then Jesus spoke out again, “I am the light of the world. The one who follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
• Revelation 22:16“I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star!”

Commentaries on 1 Kings 15:4

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 4The Lord - give him a lamp - That is, a son to succeed him; see 1 Kings 11:36.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 4To set up his son - The idolatry of Abijam deserved the same punishment as that of Jeroboam 1 Kings 14:10-14, of Baasha 1 Kings 16:2-4, or of Zimri 1 Kings 16:19, the cutting off of his seed, and the transfer of the crown to another family. That these consequences did not follow in the kingdom of Judah, was owing to the “faithfulness” of David (see the marginal reference), which brought a blessing on his posterity. Few things are more remarkable and more…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 3-5Even though Abijam was unfaithful, God stayed true to his promise to David (2 Samuel 7:12–16; Psalm 89:19–29) and kept David's descendants on Judah's throne. Each king after David was meant to be a light, sharing God's grace (1 Kings 11:36).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 44. for David's sake did the Lord his God give him a lamp--"A lamp" in one's house is an Oriental phrase for continuance of family name and prosperity. Abijam was not rejected only in consequence of the divine promise to David (see on 1Ki 11:13-36). 1Ki 15:9-22. Asa's Good Reign.Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Kings 15:4

• Abijam
• Children
• Intercession
• Israel, Prophecies Concerning
• Jerusalem

In the dictionaries

• God
• Jerusalem
• Abijah
• Baasha
• Proclamation
• Abishag
• Lamp; Lampstand

Commentaries on 1 Kings 15

• 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