1 Kings 1:36 kjv
And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada answered the king, and said, Amen: the LORD God of my lord the king say so too.
1 Kings 1:36 nkjv
Benaiah the son of Jehoiada answered the king and said, "Amen! May the LORD God of my lord the king say so too.
1 Kings 1:36 niv
Benaiah son of Jehoiada answered the king, "Amen! May the LORD, the God of my lord the king, so declare it.
1 Kings 1:36 esv
And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada answered the king, "Amen! May the LORD, the God of my lord the king, say so.
1 Kings 1:36 nlt
"Amen!" Benaiah son of Jehoiada replied. "May the LORD, the God of my lord the king, decree that it happen.
1 Kings 1 36 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Deut 27:15-26 | “Cursed is anyone who makes an idol… And all the people shall say, ‘Amen!’” | Amen as communal agreement/affirmation of oath |
| Neh 8:6 | Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God; and all the people answered, “Amen, Amen!” | Amen as response to blessing/praise |
| Jer 28:6 | “Amen! May the Lord do so; may the Lord fulfill the words you have prophesied…” | Amen as a fervent wish for prophetic fulfillment |
| Ps 41:13 | Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, From everlasting to everlasting. Amen and Amen. | Amen concludes a prayer/blessing |
| 2 Cor 1:20 | For all the promises of God in Him are Amen… | Christ is the ultimate "Amen," embodying God's truth |
| Rev 3:14 | “To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true Witness…” | Christ identified as "the Amen" |
| 2 Sam 7:12-16 | “Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever.” | God establishes David's royal line |
| 1 Kgs 2:12 | Solomon sat on the throne of David his father, and his kingdom was firmly established. | Fulfillment of prayer for confirmation |
| Ps 20:6 | Now I know that the Lord saves His anointed; He will answer him from His holy heaven… | God saves and responds to the king's prayers |
| Ps 61:6-7 | Prolong the life of the king; may his years endure to all generations. May he ever sit enthroned before God… | Prayer for the longevity and divine backing of the king |
| Ps 72:1 | Endow the king with your justice, O God, the royal son with your righteousness. | Prayer for divine wisdom and righteousness for the king |
| Ps 89:3-4 | “I have made a covenant with My chosen one, I have sworn to David My servant, ‘I will establish your descendants forever…’” | God's covenant pledge to Davidic throne |
| Ps 132:11 | The Lord swore an oath to David, a sure oath that He will not revoke: “One of your own descendants I will place on your throne.” | God's unchangeable promise regarding David's successor |
| Prov 19:21 | Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails. | God's sovereignty over human plans |
| Isa 46:10 | declaring the end from the beginning… saying, ‘My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.’ | God's ultimate control over all matters |
| 2 Sam 23:20-23 | Benaiah son of Jehoiada was a valiant fighter… He was more honored than the Thirty, but he was not among the Three. David put him in charge of his bodyguard. | Benaiah's prior trusted position and loyalty |
| 1 Kgs 2:35 | The king appointed Benaiah son of Jehoiada over the army in Joab’s place… | Benaiah's rise, key to Solomon's established rule |
| 1 Sam 9:16 | “…I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin. Anoint him prince over My people Israel…” | God’s direct role in choosing and anointing kings |
| 1 Sam 10:24 | Then Samuel said to all the people, “Do you see the man the Lord has chosen? There is no one like him among all the people.” | God's choice is paramount |
| 1 Chr 29:23 | So Solomon sat on the throne of the Lord as king in place of David his father. | Solomon's throne seen as the "throne of the Lord" |
| Hab 2:3 | For the vision is yet for the appointed time… It will surely come, it will not delay. | Divine word and promise are sure |
| John 14:13 | And whatever you ask in My name, I will do it, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. | The power of God to confirm prayers |
1 Kings 1 verses
1 Kings 1 36 Meaning
This verse captures the loyal and deeply religious response of Benaiah son of Jehoiada to King David's solemn oath to make Solomon king. Benaiah's "Amen!" serves as a profound affirmation, expressing his fervent agreement and a heartfelt prayer for divine confirmation. It signifies a desire that the Lord, the God of David, would supernaturally validate, fulfill, and firmly establish David's decree, ensuring the legitimacy and stability of Solomon's reign according to God's will.
1 Kings 1 36 Context
1 Kings chapter 1 depicts the precarious final days of King David’s reign and the struggle for succession. David, old and weak, is largely unaware of Adonijah, his eldest surviving son, seizing power through self-proclamation and gathering support from key figures like Joab and Abiathar. However, Nathan the prophet and Bathsheba, Solomon’s mother, intervene and alert David to Adonijah’s actions and remind him of his oath to make Solomon his successor. David then solemnly reaffirms his oath, commanding Nathan, Zadok the priest, and Benaiah to publicly anoint Solomon as king at Gihon and escort him back to the palace on David’s own mule. Verse 36 records Benaiah’s immediate and enthusiastic response, endorsing David's decision and praying for its divine establishment. This response is pivotal as it comes from a highly respected and trusted military leader, signaling crucial support for Solomon and David's continued authority.
1 Kings 1 36 Word analysis
- Benaiah (Hebrew: בְּנָיָהוּ - Benaiahu): Meaning "Yah has built" or "Yah builds." Son of Jehoiada. Benaiah was a mighty warrior, part of David’s elite force known as "the Thirty" (2 Sam 23:20-23). He was the chief of the Kerethites and Pelethites, David's personal bodyguard. His unwavering loyalty to David, and later Solomon, made him an essential figure in the peaceful transfer of power.
- son of Jehoiada: Identifies his lineage, which was significant. While Jehoiada himself may have been a high priest, Benaiah served primarily in military roles, later becoming the commander of Solomon’s army (1 Kgs 2:35).
- answered the king and said: Indicates a direct, respectful, and affirmative response to the king’s declaration, showing his prompt agreement and commitment to follow through.
- "Amen!" (Hebrew: אָמֵן - Amen): Derived from a root meaning "firmness," "steadiness," "certainty," "trustworthiness." Here, it's not merely agreement ("yes"), but a strong, prayerful wish and declaration of faith, meaning "So be it," "May it be true," or "May it be established." In cultic contexts, it seals an oath or covenant. Benaiah uses it here to actively consent to David's will and invoke God's confirmation.
- "May the Lord," (Hebrew: יְהוָה - YHWH - Yahweh): The sacred covenant name of God, revealing His personal relationship with Israel and His active involvement in their history. By invoking YHWH, Benaiah grounds the king's decree in divine authority.
- "the God of my lord the king," (Hebrew: אֱלֹהֵי אֲדֹנִי הַמֶּלֶךְ - Elohei adoni haMelekh): Acknowledges David's divinely appointed kingship and that David rules under God's sovereignty. It frames David's decree as having a heavenly origin and divine backing.
- "confirm it." (Hebrew: יַעֲשֶׂה... דָּבָר - ya'aseh... davar): The literal phrase is "may the Lord do the word/thing." "Davar" means "word," "matter," "thing," "affair." "Ya'aseh" (from `asah - "to do," "to make," "to perform," "to bring to pass") carries the sense of bringing something to fruition, establishing it, or carrying it out. Therefore, "confirm it" encapsulates Benaiah's prayer that God would bring David's declared will to pass, solidify it, and make it enduring and effective. He desires God’s powerful intervention to ensure Solomon's legitimate succession.
1 Kings 1 36 Bonus section
Benaiah's decisive and vocal support for Solomon's succession here serves as a crucial counterbalance to Adonijah's attempted usurpation. His unwavering loyalty and willingness to align his will with David's and, by extension, God's, underscore the principle that legitimate authority in Israel rested on divine appointment rather than merely on primogeniture or human maneuvering. His role foreshadows his subsequent actions in solidifying Solomon's kingdom through the swift and firm execution of Joab, Shimei, and Adonijah as commanded by the new king, demonstrating that his "Amen" was a commitment to action. The phrase "the God of my lord the king" subtly but powerfully reiterates the concept that earthly rulers serve under the ultimate authority and blessing of YHWH.
1 Kings 1 36 Commentary
Benaiah's response in 1 Kings 1:36 is far more than a simple affirmation; it is a profound declaration of loyalty and a powerful prayer that grounds David's political decree in divine will. As a man of action and a leader of David's trusted guard, Benaiah’s "Amen" immediately signals that the decision is not just agreed upon, but enthusiastically supported and viewed as divinely ordained. His subsequent prayer, "May the Lord, the God of my lord the king, confirm it," encapsulates the Israelite understanding of legitimate kingship: it must be ultimately established and sustained by God. This prayer expresses a desire for God to supernaturally effectuate and ratify the king's spoken "word" or "matter" concerning Solomon's enthronement. It foretells the successful and God-blessed establishment of Solomon's reign, with Benaiah himself being instrumental in executing David’s commands and securing Solomon’s throne (1 Kgs 2).