1 Kings 4:5

1 Kings 4:5 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And Azariah the son of Nathan was over the officers: and Zabud the son of Nathan was principal officer, and the king’s friend:
• New International Version (NIV)Azariah son of Nathan—in charge of the district governors; Zabud son of Nathan—a priest and adviser to the king;
• English Standard Version (ESV)Azariah the son of Nathan was over the officers; Zabud the son of Nathan was priest and king's friend;
• New King James Version (NKJV)Azariah the son of Nathan, over the officers; Zabud the son of Nathan, a priest and the king’s friend;

Context of 1 Kings 4:5

3Elihoreph and Ahijah, the sons of Shisha, wrote down what happened. Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was in charge of the records. 4Benaiah son of Jehoiada was commander of the army. Zadok and Abiathar were priests. Azariah son of Nathan was supervisor of the district governors. Zabud son of Nathan was a priest and adviser to the king. 6Ahishar was supervisor of the palace. Adoniram son of Abda was supervisor of the work crews. 7Solomon had twelve district governors appointed throughout Israel who acquired supplies for the king and his palace. Each was responsible for one month in the year.

1 Kings 4:5 word by word

וַעֲזַרְיָ֥הוּ בֶן־נָתָ֖ן עַל־הַנִּצָּבִ֑ים וְזָב֧וּד בֶּן־נָתָ֛ן כֹּהֵ֖ן רֵעֶ֥ה הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And Azariahעֲזַרְיָ֫הוּ‛ăzaryâh ‛ăzaryâhû · AzariahH5838
• the sonבֵּןbên · son: childH1121
• of Nathanנָתָןnâthân · NathanH5416
• over the officersנָצַבnâtsab · to standH5324
• and Zabudזָבוּדzâbûd · ZabudH2071
• principal officerכֹּהֵןkôhên · priestH3548
• the king’sמֶ֫לֶךְmelek · kingH4428
• friendרֵעֶהrê‛eh · friendH7463

Cross-references for 1 Kings 4:5

• 1 Kings 1:10But he did not invite Nathan the prophet, Benaiah, the elite warriors, or his brother Solomon.
• 2 Samuel 7:2The king said to Nathan the prophet, “Look! I am living in a palace made from cedar, while the ark of God sits in the middle of a tent.”
• 2 Samuel 12:1So the Lord sent Nathan to David. When he came to David, Nathan said, “There were two men in a certain city, one rich and the other poor.
• 1 Kings 4:7Solomon had twelve district governors appointed throughout Israel who acquired supplies for the king and his palace. Each was responsible for one month in the year.
• 2 Samuel 8:18Benaiah son of Jehoida supervised the Kerithites and Pelethites; and David’s sons were priests.
• 2 Samuel 20:26Ira the Jairite was David’s personal priest.
• 2 Samuel 15:37So David’s friend Hushai arrived in the city, just as Absalom was entering Jerusalem.
• 2 Samuel 16:16When David’s friend Hushai the Arkite came to Absalom, Hushai said to him, “Long live the king! Long live the king!”
• 2 Samuel 19:37Let me return so that I may die in my own city near the grave of my father and my mother. But look, here is your servant Kimham. Let him cross over with my lord the king. Do for him whatever seems appropriate to you.”
• 1 Chronicles 27:33Ahithophel was the king’s adviser; Hushai the Arkite was the king’s confidant.
• Proverbs 22:11The one who loves a pure heart and whose speech is gracious – the king will be his friend.
• John 13:23One of his disciples, the one Jesus loved, was at the table to the right of Jesus in a place of honor.
• John 15:14You are my friends if you do what I command you.
• James 2:23And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Now Abraham believed God and it was counted to him for righteousness,” and he was called God’s friend.

Commentaries on 1 Kings 4:5

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 5Azariah - was over the officers - He had the superintendence of the twelve officers mentioned below; see 1 Kings 4:7. Zabud - was principal officer - Perhaps what we call premier, or prime minister. The king's friend - His chief favourite - his confidant.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 5The son of Nathan - It is uncertain whether the Nathan of this verse is the prophet or the son of David 2 Samuel 5:14. While on the one hand the position of “king‘s friend” is more likely to have been held by a contemporary, which the prophet‘s son would have been, than by one so much younger as the son of a younger brother; on the other hand the title “cohen” seems to point to a member of the royal family. (See the next note.) Azariah who was “over the…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 5Two of Nathan's sons were also part of Solomon's inner circle. Azariah managed the twelve district governors, while Zabud was a trusted adviser, a role Hushai held under David (2 Samuel 15:37).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 55. over the officers--that is, the provincial governors enumerated in 1Ki 4:17-19. principal officer, and the king's friend--perhaps president of the privy council, and Solomon's confidential friend or favorite. This high functionary had probably been reared along with Solomon. That he should heap those honors on the sons of Nathan was most natural, considering the close intimacy of the father with the late king, and the deep obligations under which…Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Kings 4:5

• Azariah
• Cabinet
• King
• Minister, Civil
• Officer
• Solomon
• Zabud

In the dictionaries

• Azariah
• Nathan
• Uzziah; (azariah)
• Deputy
• King
• Region
• Solomon
• Zabud
• Abiathar
• Abishag

Commentaries on 1 Kings 4

• 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