1 Kings 2:20

1 Kings 2:20 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Then she said, I desire one small petition of thee; I pray thee, say me not nay. And the king said unto her, Ask on, my mother: for I will not say thee nay.
• New International Version (NIV)“I have one small request to make of you,” she said. “Do not refuse me.” The king replied, “Make it, my mother; I will not refuse you.”
• English Standard Version (ESV)Then she said, "I have one small request to make of you; do not refuse me." And the king said to her, "Make your request, my mother, for I will not refuse you."
• New King James Version (NKJV)Then she said, “I desire one small petition of you; do not refuse me.” And the king said to her, “Ask it, my mother, for I will not refuse you.”

Context of 1 Kings 2:20

18Bathsheba replied, “That’s fine, I’ll speak to the king on your behalf.” 19So Bathsheba visited King Solomon to speak to him on Adonijah’s behalf. The king got up to greet her, bowed to her, and then sat on his throne. He ordered a throne to be brought for the king’s mother, and she sat at his right hand. She said, “I would like to ask you for just one small favor. Please don’t refuse me.” He said, “Go ahead and ask, my mother, for I would not refuse you.” 21She said, “Allow Abishag the Shunammite to be given to your brother Adonijah as a wife.” 22King Solomon answered his mother, “Why just request Abishag the Shunammite for him? Since he is my older brother, you should also request the kingdom for him, for Abiathar the priest, and for Joab son of Zeruiah!”

1 Kings 2:20 word by word

וַתֹּ֗אמֶר שְׁאֵלָ֨ה אַחַ֤ת קְטַנָּה֙ אָֽנֹכִי֙ שֹׁאֶ֣לֶת מֵֽאִתָּ֔ךְ אַל־תָּ֖שֶׁב אֶת־פָּנָ֑י וַיֹּֽאמֶר־לָ֤הּ הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ שַׁאֲלִ֣י אִמִּ֔י כִּ֥י לֹֽא־אָשִׁ֖יב אֶת־פָּנָֽיִךְ׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Then she saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• I desireשָׁאַלshâ'al shâ'êl · to askH7592
• oneאֶחָד'echâd · oneH259
• smallקָטָןqâţân qâţôn · smallH6996
• petitionשְׁאֵלָהshe'êlâh shêlâh · petitionH7596
• sayשׁוּבshûb · to return: returnH7725
• meפָּנֶהpânîym · face: beforeH6440
• And the kingמֶ֫לֶךְmelek · kingH4428
• my motherאֵם'êm · motherH517

Cross-references for 1 Kings 2:20

• Matthew 20:20Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came to him with her sons, and kneeling down she asked him for a favor.
• John 2:3When the wine ran out, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no wine left.”
• Matthew 7:7“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened for you.
• Matthew 18:19Again, I tell you the truth, if two of you on earth agree about whatever you ask, my Father in heaven will do it for you.
• Matthew 10:35For I have come to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law,
• Matthew 11:24But I tell you, it will be more bearable for the region of Sodom on the day of judgment than for you!”
• Luke 11:9“So I tell you: Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you.
• John 14:13And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
• John 15:16You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that remains, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he will give you.

Commentaries on 1 Kings 2:20

• 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
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 19-2019-20. Bath-sheba ... went unto King Solomon--The filial reverence and the particular act of respect, which Solomon rendered, were quite in accordance with the sentiments and customs of the East. The right hand is the place of honor; and as it expressly said to have been assigned to "the king's mother," it is necessary to remark that, when a husband dies, his widow acquires a higher dignity and power, as a mother over her son, than she ever possessed…Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Kings 2:20

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

In the dictionaries

• Abishag
• Adonijah
• 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