1 Kings 9:23

1 Kings 9:23 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)These were the chief of the officers that were over Solomon’s work, five hundred and fifty, which bare rule over the people that wrought in the work.
• New International Version (NIV)They were also the chief officials in charge of Solomon’s projects—550 officials supervising those who did the work.
• English Standard Version (ESV)These were the chief officers who were over Solomon's work: 550 who had charge of the people who carried on the work.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Others were chiefs of the officials who were over Solomon’s work: five hundred and fifty, who ruled over the people who did the work.

Context of 1 Kings 9:23

21Their descendants remained in the land (the Israelites were unable to wipe them out completely). Solomon conscripted them for his work crews, and they continue in that role to this very day. 22Solomon did not assign Israelites to these work crews; the Israelites served as his soldiers, attendants, officers, charioteers, and commanders of his chariot forces. These men were also in charge of Solomon’s work projects; there were a total of 550 men who supervised the workers. 24Solomon built the terrace as soon as Pharaoh’s daughter moved up from the city of David to the palace Solomon built for her. 25Three times a year Solomon offered burnt offerings and peace offerings on the altar he had built for the Lord, burning incense along with them before the Lord. He made the temple his official worship place.

1 Kings 9:23 word by word

אֵ֣לֶּה׀ שָׂרֵ֣י הַנִּצָּבִ֗ים אֲשֶׁ֤ר עַל־הַמְּלָאכָה֙ לִשְׁלֹמֹ֔ה חֲמִשִּׁ֖ים וַחֲמֵ֣שׁ מֵא֑וֹת הָרֹדִ֣ים בָּעָ֔ם הָעֹשִׂ֖ים בַּמְּלָאכָֽה׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• the chiefשַׂרώar · rulerH8269
• of the officersנָצַבnâtsab · to standH5324
• over Solomon’sשְׁלֹמֹהshelômôh · SolomonH8010
• workמְלָאכָהmelâ'kâh · workH4399
• fiveחָמֵשׁchâmêsh chămishshâh · fiveH2568
• hundredמֵאָהmê'âh mê'yâh · hundredH3967
• and fiftyחֲמִשִּׁיםchămishshîym · fiftyH2572
• which bare ruleרָדָהrâdâh · to ruleH7287
• over the peopleעַם‛am · peopleH5971
• that wroughtעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to make: doH6213

Cross-references for 1 Kings 9:23

• 1 Kings 5:16besides 3,300 officials who supervised the workers.
• 2 Chronicles 2:18He designated 70,000 as common laborers, 80,000 as stonecutters in the hills, and 3,600 as supervisors to make sure the people completed the work.
• 2 Chronicles 8:10These men worked for Solomon as supervisors; there were a total of 250 of them who were in charge of the people.

Commentaries on 1 Kings 9:23

• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 23Five hundred and fifty - See 1 Kings 5:16 note.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 15-28Verses 15-28 Here is a further account of Solomon's greatness. He began at the right end, for he built God's house first, and finished that before he began his own; then God blessed him, and he prospered in all his other buildings. Let piety begin, and profit follow; leave pleasure to the last. Whatever pains we take for the glory of God, and to profit others, we are likely to have the advantage. Canaan, the holy land, the glory of all lands, had no gold…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 20-23Solomon's conscripted workers included early Canaanite settlers. There were 550 chief supervisors, and 250 of them were Israelites, overseeing the laborers (2 Chronicles 8:9–10; see 1 Kings 5:15–16 with 2 Chronicles 2:17–18).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 15-2415-24. this is the reason of the levy--A levy refers both to men and money, and the necessity for Solomon making it arose from the many gigantic works he undertook to erect. Millo--part of the fort of Jerusalem on Mount Zion (2Sa 5:9; 1Ch 11:8), or a row of stone bastions around Mount Zion, Millo being the great corner tower of that fortified wall (1Ki 11:27; 2Ch 32:5). the wall of Jerusalem--either repairing some breaches in it (1Ki 11:27), or extending…Read the comment

In the dictionaries

• Chief
• Levy
• Solomon
• Jerusalem
• Kings, Books of
• Solomon's Servants

Commentaries on 1 Kings 9

• 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
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings