1 Kings 9:5 kjv
Then I will establish the throne of thy kingdom upon Israel for ever, as I promised to David thy father, saying, There shall not fail thee a man upon the throne of Israel.
1 Kings 9:5 nkjv
then I will establish the throne of your kingdom over Israel forever, as I promised David your father, saying, 'You shall not fail to have a man on the throne of Israel.'
1 Kings 9:5 niv
I will establish your royal throne over Israel forever, as I promised David your father when I said, 'You shall never fail to have a successor on the throne of Israel.'
1 Kings 9:5 esv
then I will establish your royal throne over Israel forever, as I promised David your father, saying, 'You shall not lack a man on the throne of Israel.'
1 Kings 9:5 nlt
then I will establish the throne of your dynasty over Israel forever. For I made this promise to your father, David: 'One of your descendants will always sit on the throne of Israel.'
1 Kings 9 5 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Sam 7:12-16 | When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will... | God's initial unconditional covenant with David. |
| 1 Chron 17:11-14 | When your days are fulfilled... I will raise up your offspring... | Parallel account of the Davidic covenant. |
| Ps 89:3-4 | I have made a covenant with my chosen one; I have sworn to David my servant | Reaffirmation of God's covenant oath to David. |
| Ps 89:29-37 | I will establish his offspring forever and his throne as the days of heaven | Emphasizes the eternal nature of the Davidic throne. |
| Ps 132:11-12 | The Lord swore to David a sure oath... "One of your own sons I will set..." | Conditional aspect for continued reign, but oath sure. |
| 1 Ki 2:4 | that the Lord may establish his word... saying, 'If your sons take heed...' | David's charge to Solomon emphasizing obedience. |
| 1 Ki 8:25 | Therefore, O Lord, God of Israel, keep for your servant David... your promise | Solomon's prayer reminding God of the conditional promise. |
| Deut 17:18-20 | And when he sits on the throne... he shall write for himself a copy of... | Laws for Israelite kings, emphasizing obedience to Torah. |
| Josh 1:7-8 | Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to... | Condition of obedience for success and prosperity. |
| Isa 9:7 | Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end... | Prophecy of the Messianic king from David's line. |
| Jer 23:5 | "Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will raise... | Prophecy of a righteous branch (Messiah) from David. |
| Jer 33:17 | For thus says the Lord: "David shall never lack a man to sit on the throne..." | Direct echo and re-affirmation of the specific promise. |
| Lk 1:32-33 | He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High... He will reign | Fulfillment of the Davidic covenant in Jesus. |
| Acts 2:30-31 | Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath... | Peter connects David's lineage to Jesus' resurrection. |
| Rev 22:16 | "I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things..." | Jesus as the ultimate root and descendant of David. |
| 2 Sam 23:5 | For has he not made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things | David's last words acknowledging God's everlasting covenant. |
| 1 Ki 11:1-13 | Now King Solomon loved many foreign women... and his heart was not wholly | Solomon's disobedience which ultimately leads to kingdom division. |
| 2 Chron 7:17-18 | And as for you, if you will walk before me as David your father walked... | Parallel passage to 1 Kings 9:5 in Chronicles, emphasizing condition. |
| Ex 19:5 | Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you | Principle of conditional blessings in covenant relationship. |
| Ps 72:5-7 | May he endure as long as the sun... and flourish... | Description of the lasting nature of the Messiah's righteous reign. |
| Zech 6:12-13 | Thus says the Lord of hosts, "Behold, the man whose name is the Branch..." | Messianic prophecy of the Branch, both priest and king. |
| Rom 1:3-4 | concerning his Son, who was descended from David according according to the | Apostolic understanding of Jesus' Davidic lineage. |
| Heb 1:8 | But of the Son he says, "Your throne, O God, is forever and ever..." | Application of enduring divine kingship to Jesus. |
1 Kings 9 verses
1 Kings 9 5 Meaning
God here re-establishes and clarifies the terms of the Davidic Covenant with Solomon, appearing to him a second time. It is a profound promise assuring the perpetual continuation of the Davidic dynasty on the throne of Israel, contingent upon Solomon's and his descendants' continued obedience to God's commandments. This promise ensures that a king from David's line would never be absent from the throne, linking present faithfulness to future stability and longevity of the kingdom.
1 Kings 9 5 Context
1 Kings chapter 9 marks a pivotal moment after Solomon has completed the temple and his palace, a monumental period of national glory and fulfillment of God's dwelling among His people. God's appearance to Solomon, the second direct divine encounter, follows the grand dedication of the temple in chapter 8. While God's promise to David was largely unconditional concerning the establishment of his house, this re-affirmation to Solomon explicitly states the conditional aspect of its continued prosperous operation and permanence through his direct line. The context immediately preceding this verse (1 Ki 9:1-9) is God's divine response to Solomon's temple dedication prayer. This particular verse lays out the core promise for Solomon, but it is inextricably linked to the warning of desolation should Solomon and his descendants stray from God's commands (1 Ki 9:6-9). Historically, kingship in the Ancient Near East often rested on a king's perceived divine favor or personal power; however, Israel's monarchy was uniquely covenanted to Yahweh, where the king's legitimacy and the dynasty's permanence depended on their fidelity to God's Torah. This context provides a subtle polemic, demonstrating that unlike pagan nations whose rulers' fate was arbitrary, Israel's stability was directly tied to her covenant keeping with the one true God.
Word Analysis
- Then I will establish: Hebrew: וְהֲקִימֹתִי ( vehakimoti ). From the root קום (qum), meaning "to stand up," "to raise up," "to confirm," "to establish firmly." This indicates a decisive, divine act, ensuring permanence and stability from God's initiative, not human effort.
- the throne: Hebrew: כִּסֵּא (kisse). Refers to the physical seat of royalty and symbolically to the power, authority, and office of the king. It represents the very seat of governance and dynastic continuity.
- of your kingdom: Hebrew: מַלְכוּתְךָ (malkhutekha). Points to Solomon's specific reign and the dynastic rule inherited through David. It's the entire royal structure and dominion.
- over Israel: Hebrew: עַל־יִשְׂרָאֵל (‘al Yisrael). Specifies the geographical and national domain of this established kingship. The covenant promise and kingship are specifically tied to God's chosen nation.
- forever: Hebrew: לְעוֹלָם (le'olam). This crucial term can mean "perpetual," "for an indefinite period," or "eternally." In the context of an earthly dynasty, it signifies lasting, unbroken succession as long as conditions are met. Crucially, in its ultimate Messianic fulfillment, it points to eternal duration, where Christ's reign is indeed everlasting.
- as I promised: Hebrew: כַּאֲשֶׁר דִּבַּרְתִּי (ka'asher dibbarti). Emphasizes God's faithfulness and consistency. This promise is not new but a direct continuation and re-affirmation of an earlier, foundational covenant.
- David your father: Hebrew: לְדָוִד אָבִיךָ (le'david 'avikha). Clearly identifies the original recipient of the foundational promise (2 Sam 7) and establishes Solomon as the immediate inheritor of that promise, with its associated responsibilities and blessings.
- saying, 'You shall not lack a man': Hebrew: לֵאמֹר לֹא־יִכָּרֵת לְךָ אִישׁ (le'mor lo' yikkarēt lékha 'ish). This specific phrasing highlights the core dynastic promise.
- 'You shall not lack' / 'There shall not fail thee': Hebrew: לֹא־יִכָּרֵת (lo' yikkarēt). From the root כרת (karat), meaning "to cut off," "to exterminate," "to destroy." The negative expresses a firm divine assurance that the line will not be cut off or brought to an end. It denotes continuity and survival against disruption.
- 'a man': Hebrew: אִישׁ ('ish). Refers to a male heir or descendant, signifying the ongoing male lineage for the kingship.
- on the throne of Israel: Reiterates the enduring seat of authority over God's chosen people.
Words-Group Analysis
- "And I will establish the throne of your kingdom... forever": This phrase speaks of the permanence and divine security of the Davidic dynasty. God's direct involvement in "establishing" emphasizes its divine origin and strength, designed for long-lasting stability, contingent on obedience.
- "as I promised David your father": This group anchors the present promise to Solomon within the broader, pre-existing Davidic covenant. It underscores God's unwavering commitment to His prior word and covenant promises.
- "saying, 'You shall not lack a man on the throne of Israel'": This is the core specific dynastic promise: an unbroken succession of rulers from David's line on the throne of Israel. This aspect holds a dual meaning: contingent for human kings based on their obedience, yet ultimately unconditional in its Messianic fulfillment through Christ, where an eternal King from David's line indeed never lacks on a spiritual throne.
1 Kings 9 5 Commentary
1 Kings 9:5 reiterates God's faithfulness to His covenant with David, now presented directly to Solomon with added clarity on the conditional aspects for its continued earthly manifestation. While God promised David an eternal dynasty (2 Sam 7:12-16) unconditionally in terms of its ultimate Messianic fulfillment, the daily operation and prosperity of the Davidic kingdom through subsequent kings were indeed dependent on their obedience (Ps 132:11-12, 1 Ki 2:4). This verse stands as a high point of affirmation and also a solemn reminder of responsibility. It tells Solomon that if he walks in integrity and uprightness, his throne will be perpetuated without end, never lacking a male descendant. This highlights that divine blessings often have human prerequisites, reinforcing moral accountability for kings and nations. Yet, even when human kings fail, God's overarching faithfulness ensures the "forever" promise eventually finds its perfect, unconditional realization in Jesus Christ, the ultimate descendant of David whose kingdom will truly have no end (Lk 1:32-33).
Bonus SectionThe phrase "for ever" (לְעוֹלָם le'olam) applied to a human dynasty, like David's, does not imply absolute mathematical eternity but rather "perpetual," "enduring for a very long time," or "continuously through successive generations." This continuity is tied to faithfulness. When Davidic kings faltered, their direct, immediate earthly tenure and the full prosperity of their kingdom could be, and eventually was, interrupted. However, God's larger, underlying covenant with David endured through all trials and ultimately found its perfect, eternal, and unconditional fulfillment in Jesus Christ. This verse thus prefigures the tension between God's gracious promise and humanity's propensity for disobedience, ultimately resolved by the perfect obedience of the promised Messiah. The subsequent history of Israel's kings, especially after Solomon, painfully illustrates the consequences of violating the conditional aspect, even as God preserves the Davidic line for the Messianic hope.