1 Kings 2:19 kjv
Bathsheba therefore went unto king Solomon, to speak unto him for Adonijah. And the king rose up to meet her, and bowed himself unto her, and sat down on his throne, and caused a seat to be set for the king's mother; and she sat on his right hand.
1 Kings 2:19 nkjv
Bathsheba therefore went to King Solomon, to speak to him for Adonijah. And the king rose up to meet her and bowed down to her, and sat down on his throne and had a throne set for the king's mother; so she sat at his right hand.
1 Kings 2:19 niv
When Bathsheba went to King Solomon to speak to him for Adonijah, the king stood up to meet her, bowed down to her and sat down on his throne. He had a throne brought for the king's mother, and she sat down at his right hand.
1 Kings 2:19 esv
So Bathsheba went to King Solomon to speak to him on behalf of Adonijah. And the king rose to meet her and bowed down to her. Then he sat on his throne and had a seat brought for the king's mother, and she sat on his right.
1 Kings 2:19 nlt
So Bathsheba went to King Solomon to speak on Adonijah's behalf. The king rose from his throne to meet her, and he bowed down before her. When he sat down on his throne again, the king ordered that a throne be brought for his mother, and she sat at his right hand.
1 Kings 2 19 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Kin 1:16 | Bathsheba bowed and prostrated herself before the king. "May my lord King David live forever!" | Precedent of bowing before a king |
| 1 Kin 1:28-31 | David's promise to Bathsheba regarding Solomon's succession | Solomon honoring his mother fulfills prophecy |
| Exo 20:12 | "Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land..." | Filial respect commanded by God |
| Lev 19:3 | "Each of you must respect your mother and father..." | Reiterates respect for parents |
| Prov 23:22 | "Listen to your father, who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old." | Wisdom on honoring parents |
| Eph 6:2 | "Honor your father and mother"—which is the first commandment with a promise— | NT affirmation of filial piety |
| Prov 1:8-9 | "Listen, my son, to your father's instruction and do not forsake your mother's teaching..." | Importance of parental guidance |
| Gen 48:13-14 | Jacob crossing his hands to bless Ephraim with his right hand | Right hand signifying prime blessing/honor |
| Psa 45:9 | "At your right hand stands the queen in finest gold of Ophir." | Queen at king's right hand of honor |
| Matt 20:21 | The mother of Zebedee's sons requests thrones at Jesus' right and left. | Illustrates the symbolic value of right hand |
| Matt 26:64 | Jesus says, "...you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One..." | Christ's place of ultimate authority |
| Heb 1:3 | "...He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven." | Christ's exaltation to divine authority |
| Psa 110:1 | "The LORD says to my Lord: 'Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.'" | Messianic prophecy of ruling at God's right hand |
| Acts 7:55-56 | Stephen sees Jesus "standing at the right hand of God." | Vision of Christ's exalted position |
| Rom 8:34 | "Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God..." | Christ's intercessory and authoritative place |
| 1 Pet 3:22 | "...who has gone into heaven and is at God's right hand—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him." | Christ's ultimate supreme authority |
| Job 29:25 | "I chose the way for them and sat as chief; I dwelt as a king in the army, as one who comforts mourners." | King's customary seat among his people |
| Ruth 2:14 | Boaz inviting Ruth to eat and giving her roasted grain. | Act of a superior showing favor/hospitality |
| 1 Sam 24:8 | David bowing down before Saul as his king | Subordinates bowing before kings |
| 1 Chr 29:20 | Congregation bowing down to the LORD and the king | Respect shown to royalty and God |
| Isa 49:23 | "Kings will be your foster fathers, and their queens your nursing mothers. They will bow down before you..." | Kings and queens showing respect/service |
1 Kings 2 verses
1 Kings 2 19 Meaning
King Solomon displayed profound respect and honor for his mother, Bathsheba, as she approached him with a petition. He rose to meet her, bowed to her, and then had a special throne placed for her at his right hand, the place of utmost honor and authority. This action underscored her esteemed position as the King's mother and Solomon's reverence for her, even as he was preparing to exercise his kingly authority decisively.
1 Kings 2 19 Context
This verse is situated at a critical juncture in Solomon's early reign. Adonijah, his older half-brother, had previously attempted to seize the throne from Solomon (1 Kin 1). After David's death and Solomon's confirmation as king, Adonijah, fearing for his life, sought clemency from Solomon, which was granted conditionally. Now, Adonijah attempts to make a subtle political move by asking Bathsheba to petition Solomon for Abishag, David's former nurse. By this time, Solomon's authority is absolute. The way Solomon receives his mother, demonstrating immense honor and filial piety, sets the stage for his subsequent shrewd and decisive judgment concerning Adonijah's true intentions and the complete establishment of his reign, free of challengers.
Word Analysis
- So Bathsheba went: Signifies deliberate action and the movement of a petitioner towards a person of authority.
- to King Solomon: Her son, now the undisputed monarch of Israel, whose authority she acknowledges.
- to speak to him on behalf of Adonijah: Reveals her immediate purpose, serving as an intermediary. While she presents Adonijah's request, her loyalty remains to Solomon.
- And the king rose to meet her: The Hebrew verb qum (קוּם), "to rise, stand up," denotes an exceptional act of reverence. A king, the highest authority, rising for anyone demonstrates profound honor, akin to standing in the presence of someone truly worthy of immense respect. This indicates Solomon's filial love and his recognition of her status as the mother of the reigning king.
- and bowed down to her: The Hebrew hishtachaweh (הִשְׁתַּחֲוָה), meaning "to bow oneself down," or "to prostrate," often implies deep veneration, submission, or worship. Here, it signifies the highest form of respect from a son to his mother, despite his supreme royal status. It goes beyond mere politeness, reflecting an intrinsic value for familial piety, particularly for the one who bore him and was pivotal in his accession.
- and sat on his throne: After demonstrating filial respect, Solomon re-establishes his kingly authority by taking his rightful place on the throne. This balances honor with command, signaling that while he reveres his mother, he is fully in control.
- and had a throne set for the king's mother: This is a specific, formal act of distinction. Placing a throne signifies an official, honored status. This elevated her position from a mere petitioner to that of an esteemed member of the royal court, highlighting the special role of the gebirah, or Queen Mother, in the Israelite monarchy.
- and she sat at his right hand: The "right hand" is universally understood in ancient Near Eastern culture, and particularly in the biblical context, as the place of highest honor, authority, and favor. To be seated at the king's right hand means sharing in his authority, counsel, and influence. This position cemented Bathsheba's prominent and powerful role within the monarchy, not just as a queen or king's wife, but specifically as the King's Mother, often a pivotal political figure.
1 Kings 2 19 Commentary
1 Kings 2:19 succinctly illustrates Solomon's character: his profound reverence for his mother, obedience to the command to honor parents, and his emerging wisdom as a monarch. His act of rising, bowing, and then seating Bathsheba at his right hand was not mere formality but a deliberate public affirmation of her standing and importance. This strategic move reinforced his legitimacy and stability, showing that even in his newly secured reign, he prioritized family honor. Furthermore, granting Bathsheba the place of utmost authority beside him signaled to all that his house was orderly and founded on proper principles, setting the stage for his decisive and unwavering action concerning the perceived threat from Adonijah. The queen mother's place at the right hand was a well-recognized role, suggesting influence and participation in royal decisions.
Bonus SectionThe institution of the Gebirah or Queen Mother played a unique and often powerful role in the Kingdom of Judah. Unlike many ancient Near Eastern cultures where the King's wife might hold more sway, in Judah, it was frequently the king's mother who exercised significant influence. She held an official position and was a visible figure in the royal court, often acting as an intercessor or counselor. Bathsheba's prominence here establishes a pattern for Queen Mothers in Judah's history, further solidifying her significant status. This demonstrates a socio-political custom that held great importance in ancient Israelite governance, distinct from the immediate queen consort. This high honor also underscores the principle of family authority and respect for elders woven into the fabric of Israelite society.