1 Kings 15:5 kjv
Because David did that which was right in the eyes of the LORD, and turned not aside from any thing that he commanded him all the days of his life, save only in the matter of Uriah the Hittite.
1 Kings 15:5 nkjv
because David did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, and had not turned aside from anything that He commanded him all the days of his life, except in the matter of Uriah the Hittite.
1 Kings 15:5 niv
For David had done what was right in the eyes of the LORD and had not failed to keep any of the LORD's commands all the days of his life?except in the case of Uriah the Hittite.
1 Kings 15:5 esv
because David did what was right in the eyes of the LORD and did not turn aside from anything that he commanded him all the days of his life, except in the matter of Uriah the Hittite.
1 Kings 15:5 nlt
For David had done what was pleasing in the LORD's sight and had obeyed the LORD's commands throughout his life, except in the affair concerning Uriah the Hittite.
1 Kings 15 5 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Sam 13:14 | "the Lord has sought out a man after His own heart..." | David, God's chosen king. |
| Acts 13:22 | "I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart..." | Echoes David's character, New Testament view. |
| 2 Sam 23:3-4 | "He who rules over men righteously... like the light of morning..." | David's own reflection on righteous rule. |
| 1 Ki 11:38 | "...if you will walk in My ways and do what is right in My eyes, as David My servant did..." | God sets David as the ideal for others. |
| 1 Ki 15:11 | "Asa did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, as David his father had done." | Asa measured against David's standard. |
| 2 Ki 18:3 | "Hezekiah did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, according to all that his father David had done." | Hezekiah measured against David's standard. |
| 2 Ki 22:2 | "Josiah did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, and walked in all the way of David his father..." | Josiah measured against David's standard. |
| Deut 17:18-20 | The king must write and read the law to fear the Lord and not turn aside. | Blueprint for a righteous king's obedience. |
| Josh 1:7-8 | "Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law..." | Importance of not turning from God's commands. |
| Ps 1:2 | "...his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on His law he meditates day and night." | The joy and constancy of walking in God's law. |
| Ps 119:10-11 | "With my whole heart I seek You; let me not wander from Your commandments!" | Heartfelt desire to not turn aside. |
| 2 Sam 11:1-27 | The full account of David's sin with Bathsheba and Uriah's murder. | The specific event of the "exception." |
| 2 Sam 12:1-15 | Nathan the prophet confronts David, and David repents. | David's confession and divine judgment/grace. |
| Ps 51 | "Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your steadfast love..." | David's heartfelt prayer of repentance. |
| 1 Sam 15:22-23 | "To obey is better than sacrifice... rebellion is as the sin of divination..." | Contrast: Saul's rebellion vs. David's repentance for specific sin. |
| Rom 6:23 | "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." | Universal truth about the consequences of sin. |
| Gal 3:10 | "Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them." | Highlights the standard of full obedience. |
| Jas 2:10 | "For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it." | Emphasizes the gravity of even one significant sin. |
| 2 Sam 7:14-16 | "If he commits iniquity, I will punish him with the rod of men... But My steadfast love will not depart..." | God's enduring covenant faithfulness despite David's sin. |
| Heb 4:15 | "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin." | Christ as the perfect, sinless King and High Priest. |
| 1 Pet 2:22 | "He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in His mouth." | The ultimate contrast: Jesus, the flawless one. |
| 1 Jn 1:9 | "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." | God's provision for forgiveness through repentance. |
1 Kings 15 verses
1 Kings 15 5 Meaning
First Kings 15:5 asserts the general faithfulness and obedience of King David throughout his reign, providing a divine endorsement of his character and actions as righteous in God's sight. The verse explicitly states that David consistently followed God's commands, setting a standard for the kings who succeeded him. However, it importantly includes a singular, well-known exception concerning the grievous sin involving Uriah the Hittite, acknowledging his moral failing while maintaining the overall positive assessment of his life's trajectory. This verse serves as the basis for judging the righteousness of subsequent kings of Judah, with David as the measuring stick.
1 Kings 15 5 Context
First Kings 15:5 appears within the broader narrative of the divided monarchy of Israel. At this point in the history, the northern kingdom (Israel) and the southern kingdom (Judah) are separate entities. The preceding chapters document the reigns of various kings, often assessing their conduct "in the eyes of the Lord." This specific verse comes during the reign of Abijam (also known as Abijah), king of Judah, immediately after it is stated that Abijam walked "in all the sins that his father committed before him, and his heart was not wholly true to the Lord his God" (1 Ki 15:3). Therefore, verse 5 serves as a direct comparison, explicitly contrasting Abijam's failing character with the foundational standard established by his ancestor, King David. Historically, kings were seen as mediators between God and the people, and their obedience was crucial for national blessing, while disobedience often led to divine judgment and hardship for the nation. David, though flawed, remained the gold standard for adherence to God's ways within the Davidic covenant.
1 Kings 15 5 Word analysis
- because: Introduces the reason or justification for Abijam's kingship in Judah, emphasizing the ongoing significance of David's covenantal standing with God. It signals a divine perspective on the historical events.
- David: Refers to the renowned second king of Israel, who founded the Davidic dynasty and established Jerusalem as its capital. His life and reign are pivotal in Israelite theology.
- did what was right: Transliteration from Hebrew, `asah hayashar (עָשָׂה הַיָּשָׁר), literally "did the straight" or "did the upright." This is a recurring phrase in Kings and Chronicles used to assess a king's moral and religious conduct before God, specifically indicating obedience to divine law and covenant.
- in the eyes of the Lord: Transliteration from Hebrew, be`einei YHVH (בְעֵינֵי יְהוָה). This highlights that the judgment is God's, based on divine standards, not human opinion or political success. God sees beyond external appearances.
- and did not turn aside: Transliteration from Hebrew, sar (סָר), meaning "to deviate, to go astray, to turn away." This signifies a consistent lack of intentional, systemic departure from God's revealed will or commands. It implies a steady, unwavering commitment to the righteous path.
- from anything that He commanded him: Refers to God's direct instructions and divine law, primarily the Torah given through Moses, but also specific prophetic injunctions. This underscores the comprehensive nature of David's general obedience.
- all the days of his life: Emphasizes the duration and consistency of David's adherence to God's commands throughout his entire lifetime as king. It denotes a habitual pattern of devotion and obedience.
- except: A crucial word indicating a single, major deviation. This adverb precisely qualifies the preceding broad statement of David's perfect obedience, acknowledging a significant flaw without negating the general rule.
- in the matter of Uriah the Hittite: Transliteration from Hebrew, devar `Uriyah haChitti (דְּבַר אוּרִיָּה הַחִתִּי), meaning "the word/thing/affair of Uriah the Hittite." This refers directly and succinctly to David's deeply regrettable actions detailed in 2 Samuel 11-12: his adultery with Bathsheba and the subsequent arrangement for Uriah, Bathsheba's loyal husband, to be killed in battle. Uriah's identity as a Hittite (a foreign soldier loyal to David and YHWH) adds poignancy to David's betrayal of trust.
Words-group Analysis:
- "because David did what was right in the eyes of the Lord": This phrase serves as the fundamental theological premise for why God continued the Davidic dynasty and extended grace despite the sins of later kings. It establishes David's spiritual legacy as profoundly positive, chosen by God and generally aligned with His will.
- "and did not turn aside from anything that He commanded him all the days of his life": This further elaborates on David's uprightness, specifying his adherence to God's detailed commands. It paints a picture of comprehensive and enduring obedience, marking him as distinct from many other kings who consistently deviated from the Lord's path.
- "except in the matter of Uriah the Hittite": This single, yet devastating, qualifier provides the biblical narrative's characteristic honesty and unflinching realism. It shows that even God's chosen heroes were fallible and committed grave sins, yet it contextualizes David's overall life as one of general faithfulness, implying that his repentance for this sin was accepted by God, preserving his positive standing and the covenant promises made to him.
1 Kings 15 5 Bonus section
This verse, by highlighting David's single grievous lapse within an otherwise consistently obedient life, presents a powerful theological contrast to other kings in Israel and Judah whose lives were marked by a consistent pattern of doing "evil in the eyes of the Lord" or having a divided heart. David's life, despite the magnitude of the Uriah affair, maintained a trajectory of seeking God and following His commandments. This is why God described David as "a man after His own heart" (1 Sam 13:14) – a heart primarily oriented towards YHWH and His will, capable of deep repentance when convicted. The longevity and resilience of the Davidic dynasty, despite many wicked kings, can largely be attributed to this foundational positive assessment of David himself, which became a covenantal promise to his house (2 Sam 7).
1 Kings 15 5 Commentary
First Kings 15:5 offers a profound theological statement on David's character, acting as a crucial evaluative lens through which all subsequent kings of Judah are measured. By declaring David's actions as "right in the eyes of the Lord" and highlighting his general adherence to God's commands "all the days of his life," the text solidifies David's unparalleled legacy as the model king. This wasn't a perfect, sinless life, as starkly acknowledged by the direct reference to "the matter of Uriah the Hittite." This infamous episode (adultery and murder) is presented not as defining his entire life, but as a singular, albeit grave, departure from his otherwise consistent obedience.
The inclusion of this explicit exception demonstrates the Bible's unwavering commitment to truth, revealing the fallibility of even its greatest heroes. It reminds us that no human king, not even David, could perfectly fulfill God's law. Yet, it implicitly points to David's deep repentance and God's covenant faithfulness and mercy, as his lineage and dynasty were not entirely cut off as Saul's had been for his disobedience (1 Sam 15). The purpose of this verse is thus two-fold: to affirm David's unique status as the standard of righteousness by which all kings after him would be judged, and to humbly remind that divine perfection is only found in God himself, foreshadowing the coming of a perfect King from David's line who would have no such "except" clauses attached to His life.