1 Kings 11:13 kjv
Howbeit I will not rend away all the kingdom; but will give one tribe to thy son for David my servant's sake, and for Jerusalem's sake which I have chosen.
1 Kings 11:13 nkjv
However I will not tear away the whole kingdom; I will give one tribe to your son for the sake of My servant David, and for the sake of Jerusalem which I have chosen."
1 Kings 11:13 niv
Yet I will not tear the whole kingdom from him, but will give him one tribe for the sake of David my servant and for the sake of Jerusalem, which I have chosen."
1 Kings 11:13 esv
However, I will not tear away all the kingdom, but I will give one tribe to your son, for the sake of David my servant and for the sake of Jerusalem that I have chosen."
1 Kings 11:13 nlt
And even so, I will not take away the entire kingdom; I will let him be king of one tribe, for the sake of my servant David and for the sake of Jerusalem, my chosen city."
1 Kings 11 13 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Kgs 11:9-11 | And the LORD was angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned... | God's anger at Solomon's idolatry and prior warning |
| 1 Kgs 11:31-35 | "Thus saith the LORD... Behold, I will rend the kingdom out of the hand..." | Ahijah's prophecy of rending the kingdom and partial preservation |
| 2 Sam 7:12-16 | "I will establish his kingdom forever... my mercy shall not depart from him" | God's eternal covenant with David's house |
| Ps 89:3-4 | "I have made a covenant with my chosen, I have sworn unto David my servant..." | Confirmation of the enduring Davidic covenant |
| Ps 89:33-37 | "Nevertheless my lovingkindness will I not utterly take from him, nor suffer my faithfulness to fail." | God's faithfulness despite Davidic descendants' sin |
| 1 Kgs 9:4-5 | "If thou wilt walk before me, as David thy father walked... I will establish the throne..." | God's conditional promise to Solomon, rooted in David |
| 2 Chr 21:7 | "Howbeit the LORD would not destroy the house of David, because of the covenant..." | God's preservation of David's line later on |
| Lk 1:32-33 | "He shall be great... the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:" | Prophecy of Jesus fulfilling the Davidic throne |
| Rev 22:16 | "I am the root and the offspring of David..." | Jesus as the ultimate fulfillment of David's line |
| Deut 12:5 | "But unto the place which the LORD your God shall choose out of all your tribes..." | God choosing a specific place for His name |
| 1 Kgs 8:16 | "Since the day that I brought forth my people Israel out of Egypt... I chose no city... but I chose David..." | God's initial choice and later choosing Jerusalem for His name |
| 2 Chr 6:6 | "But I have chosen Jerusalem, that my name might be there; and have chosen David..." | Emphasizes Jerusalem's chosen status for God's presence |
| Ps 132:13-14 | "For the LORD hath chosen Zion; he hath desired it for his habitation." | Divine election of Zion/Jerusalem as God's dwelling |
| Ps 78:67-69 | "But chose the tribe of Judah, the mount Zion which he loved." | Specific mention of Judah and Zion's chosen status |
| Jer 30:11 | "For I am with thee, saith the LORD, to save thee: though I make a full end of all nations... yet will I not make a full end of thee:" | God's partial correction, not complete destruction, for His people |
| Rom 11:29 | "For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance." | God's irrevocable commitments and promises |
| Gen 49:10 | "The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet..." | Prophecy concerning Judah's enduring tribal leadership |
| Zech 8:3 | "Thus saith the LORD; I am returned unto Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem..." | God's continued presence in Jerusalem |
| 1 Kgs 12:20 | "And it came to pass... there was none that followed the house of David, but the tribe of Judah only." | Historical fulfillment of only Judah remaining loyal |
| Isa 7:13-14 | "Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive..." | God provides a sign, indicating a remnant or preservation |
| Neh 11:1 | "And the rulers of the people dwelt at Jerusalem: the rest of the people also cast lots..." | Jerusalem as the core place for God's people's remnant after exile |
1 Kings 11 verses
1 Kings 11 13 Meaning
God, in His divine justice and covenant faithfulness, declares His judgment on Solomon for his apostasy. Although the kingdom will be torn away from Solomon's dynasty, God, out of His unwavering commitment to His servant David and for the sake of Jerusalem, the city He chose for His name, will preserve one tribe (Judah, often including Benjamin) for Solomon's son. This demonstrates God's sovereignty over kingdoms, His fidelity to His covenant promises even amidst human failure, and His specific choice of Jerusalem as a holy city.
1 Kings 11 13 Context
1 Kings chapter 11 narrates King Solomon's great sin of apostasy, turning his heart away from the Lord to worship foreign gods introduced by his numerous foreign wives (vv. 1-8). This angered God (v. 9), who had appeared to Solomon twice before and warned him against such disobedience. Consequently, God declares that He will "surely rend the kingdom from thee" (v. 11). However, out of grace, God delays this complete judgment until after Solomon's death, for the sake of David his father (v. 12). Verse 13 then specifies the extent of this judgment and, more importantly, the specific limitation on its severity. It highlights that God's justice is always tempered by His covenant faithfulness, especially to David and His chosen place, Jerusalem, ensuring a future for the Davidic line.
1 Kings 11 13 Word analysis
- Howbeit: This conjunction (Hebrew: ’ak - אַךְ) introduces a strong contrast or concession. It signifies that despite the announced judgment of rending the kingdom, there is a crucial exception or limitation to that judgment. It signals divine grace intervening.
- I will not rend away: God is the active agent in this declaration and future action. The verb "rend away" (Hebrew: qara‘ - קָרַע) means to tear, rip apart, or separate. It evokes the symbolic act of the prophet Ahijah tearing a garment into twelve pieces (1 Kgs 11:30) to illustrate the kingdom's division. The negation emphasizes God's deliberate decision to withhold total destruction.
- all the kingdom: This phrase specifies the scope of the withheld judgment. While much of the kingdom will be taken away (ten tribes), "all" will not be removed, preserving a portion. This maintains a distinction from complete desolation and represents the limit of divine judgment for Solomon's immediate dynasty.
- but will give: This directly contrasts with "will not rend away all," indicating God's affirmative, active decision to grant or allocate. It highlights God's sovereign control over kingdoms, even in their division.
- one tribe: Specifically Judah (and historically Benjamin, often absorbed into or closely aligned with Judah), representing the continuation of the Davidic line's rule. This numerical specificity (Hebrew: shevet echad - שֵׁבֶט אֶחָד) underscores the remnant theology—God always preserves a core, even in judgment. It signifies a reduction in power but not an extinction.
- to thy son: Referring to Rehoboam, Solomon's son and successor. This clarifies that the preservation of this remnant will directly benefit Solomon's immediate heir, directly linking to the promise made in verse 12 that the kingdom would not be torn in Solomon's days.
- for David my servant's sake: (Hebrew: David ‘avdi - דָּוִד עַבְדִּי) This is a primary motivation for God's restraint. "David my servant" emphasizes David's unique standing and obedience before God, especially concerning his singular devotion to establishing God's name (2 Sam 7). God’s faithfulness to His covenant with David (2 Sam 7) is a cornerstone of Israelite theology. This demonstrates God’s character as a covenant-keeping God who remembers His promises across generations, even when human beings fail.
- and for Jerusalem's sake: (Hebrew: yerushalem l'ma'an - יְרוּשָׁלַ͏ִם לְמַעֲנִי) Jerusalem is designated as a sacred space chosen by God.
- which I have chosen: (Hebrew: asher bacharti - אֲשֶׁר בָּחַרְתִּי) This reiterates Jerusalem's divine election (Deut 12:5, 1 Kgs 8:16, 2 Chr 6:6). Jerusalem was not merely a political capital but God's designated place for His name and dwelling among His people. The city’s importance transcends the unfaithfulness of its kings, securing its preservation as a central place of worship and the continued physical locus of God’s redemptive plan.
1 Kings 11 13 Bonus section
The "one tribe" left to Rehoboam refers primarily to Judah, which contained Jerusalem and the Temple. However, it's notable that the tribe of Benjamin, geographically interspersed with Judah and sharing Jerusalem, often aligned itself with Judah (as seen in 1 Kgs 12:21 and later history) and is generally considered part of the "southern kingdom" or Davidic inheritance in a broader sense. This partial retention ensured the Davidic dynasty remained anchored in the divinely chosen city, safeguarding the future line through which the Messiah would eventually come. This act of preservation is a prime example of God maintaining a remnant, even when the nation fails collectively, thereby preserving the pathway for His ultimate redemptive plan.
1 Kings 11 13 Commentary
1 Kings 11:13 stands as a pivotal verse demonstrating the delicate balance between divine judgment and covenant faithfulness in the biblical narrative. While Solomon's grievous idolatry justly warranted the full forfeiture of his kingdom, God's promise to David (2 Sam 7) acted as a divine constraint. The "rending" of the kingdom underscores God's sovereignty and unyielding commitment to righteousness, making it clear that even the greatest earthly kings are accountable to Him. Yet, the preservation of "one tribe" signifies a profound act of grace, not earned by Solomon, but entirely attributed to God's irrevocable promises made to David and His eternal choice of Jerusalem. This dual emphasis – righteous judgment and faithful mercy – previews a larger biblical theme: even in disciplinary actions, God ensures the continuation of His redemptive purposes, ultimately culminating in the unshakeable Davidic kingdom of the Messiah. It ensures the Davidic lineage survives to usher in Jesus Christ, the ultimate Davidic king who will rule an eternal kingdom, not just "one tribe," but all who believe.