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, were court secretaries. Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was the royal historian. 4Benaiah son of Jehoiada was commander of the army. Zadok and Abiathar were priests. Azariah son of Nathan was in charge of the district governors. Zabud son of Nathan, a priest, was a trusted adviser to the king. 6Ahishar was manager of the palace property. Adoniram son of Abda was in charge of forced labor. 7Solomon also had twelve district governors who were over all Israel. They were responsible for providing food for the king’s household. Each of them arranged provisions for one month of 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 or Benaiah or the king’s bodyguard or his brother Solomon.
• 2 Samuel 7:2the king summoned Nathan the prophet. “Look,” David said, “I am living in a beautiful cedar palace, but the Ark of God is out there in a tent!”
• 2 Samuel 12:1So the Lord sent Nathan the prophet to tell David this story: “There were two men in a certain town. One was rich, and one was poor.
• 1 Kings 4:7Solomon also had twelve district governors who were over all Israel. They were responsible for providing food for the king’s household. Each of them arranged provisions for one month of the year.
• 2 Samuel 8:18Benaiah son of Jehoiada was captain of the king’s bodyguard. And David’s sons served as priestly leaders.
• 2 Samuel 20:26And Ira, a descendant of Jair, was David’s personal priest.
• 2 Samuel 15:37So David’s friend Hushai returned to Jerusalem, getting there just as Absalom arrived.
• 2 Samuel 16:16When David’s friend Hushai the Arkite arrived, he went immediately to see Absalom. “Long live the king!” he exclaimed. “Long live the king!”
• 2 Samuel 19:37Then let me return again to die in my own town, where my father and mother are buried. But here is your servant, my son Kimham. Let him go with my lord the king and receive whatever you want to give him.”
• 1 Chronicles 27:33Ahithophel was the royal adviser. Hushai the Arkite was the king’s friend.
• Proverbs 22:11Whoever loves a pure heart and gracious speech will have the king as a friend.
• John 13:23The disciple Jesus loved was sitting next to Jesus at the table.
• John 15:14You are my friends if you do what I command.
• James 2:23And so it happened just as the Scriptures say: “Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.” He was even called the friend of God.

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
• Deputy
• King
• Region
• Solomon
• Zabud
• Abiathar
• Abishag
• Ahimaaz

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