1 Kings 1 · Verse 5

1 Kings 1:5

Then Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, I will be king: and he prepared him chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him.
1 Kings 1:5, King James Version

1 Kings 1:5 in other translations

BSBAt that time Adonijah, David’s son by Haggith, began to exalt himself, saying, “I will be king!” And he acquired chariots and horsemen and fifty men to run ahead of him.
WEBThen Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, “I will be king.” Then he prepared him chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him.
ASVThen Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, I will be king: and he prepared him chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him.
YLTAnd Adonijah son of Haggith is lifting himself up, saying, ‘I do reign;' and he prepareth for himself a chariot and horsemen, and fifty men running before him,
DARBYAnd Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, I will be king; and he provided himself chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him.
BBEThen Adonijah, the son of Haggith, lifting himself up in pride, said, I will become king; and he made ready his carriages of war and his horsemen, with fifty runners to go before him.
WebsterThen Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, I will be king: and he prepared him chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him.

What does 1 Kings 1:5 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 1 Kings 1:5-6
5-6. Then Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself--Nothing is said as to the origin or rank of Haggith, so that it is probable she was not distinguished by family descent. Adonijah, though David's fourth son (2Sa 3:4; 1Ch 3:2), was now the oldest alive; and his personal attractions and manners (1Sa 9:2) not only recommended him to the leading men about court, but made him the favorite of his father, who, though seeing him assume an equipage becoming only the heir-presumptive to the throne (2Sa 15:1), said nothing; and his silence was considered by many, as well as by Adonijah, to be equivalent to an expression of consent. The sinking health of the king prompted him to take a decisive step in furtherance of his ambitious designs.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 5 Adonijah the son of Haggith - Who this woman was we know not; Adonijah was evidently David's eldest son now living, and one of whom his father was particularly fond; see 1Kgs 1:6. Prepared him chariots and horsemen - He copied the conduct of his brother Absalom in every respect. See 2Sam 15:1.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 1 Kings 1:5-10
Indulgent parents are often chastised with disobedient children, who are anxious to possess their estates. No worldly wisdom, nor experience, nor sacredness of character, can insure the continuance in any former course of those who remain under the power of self-love. But we may well wonder by what arts Joab and Abiathar could be drawn aside.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

1 Kings 1:5 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וַאֲדֹנִיָּ֧הva.'a.do.ni.Yahand AdonijahH138
בֶן\־ven-[the] son ofH1121
חַגִּ֛יתcha.GitHaggithH2294
מִתְנַשֵּׂ֥אmit.na.Se'[was] exalting himselfH5375
לֵאמֹ֖רle.Mor<to> sayingH559
אֲנִ֣י'a.NiIH589
אֶמְלֹ֑ךְ'em.LokhI will become kingH4427
וַיַּ֣עַשׂvai.Ya.'asand he acquiredH6213
ל֗וֹlofor himself
רֶ֚כֶבRe.kheva chariotH7393
וּפָ֣רָשִׁ֔יםu.Fa.ra.Shimand horsemenH6571
וַחֲמִשִּׁ֥יםva.cha.mi.Shimand fiftyH2572
אִ֖ישׁ'ishmanH376
רָצִ֥יםra.Tzim[were] runningH7323
לְפָנָֽיו\׃le.fa.Nav<to> before himH6440

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for 1 Kings 1:5

  • 2 Samuel 15:1

    And it came to pass after this, that Absalom prepared him chariots and horses, and fifty men to run before him.

  • 2 Samuel 3:4

    And the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith; and the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital;

  • Exodus 9:17

    As yet exaltest thou thyself against my people, that thou wilt not let them go?

  • 1 Chronicles 29:1

    Furthermore David the king said unto all the congregation, Solomon my son, whom alone God hath chosen, is yet young and tender, and the work is great: for the palace is not for man, but for the Lord God.

  • 1 Chronicles 28:5

    And of all my sons, (for the Lord hath given me many sons,) he hath chosen Solomon my son to sit upon the throne of the kingdom of the Lord over Israel.

  • Luke 14:11

    For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

  • 1 Kings 1:11

    Wherefore Nathan spake unto Bath–sheba the mother of Solomon, saying, Hast thou not heard that Adonijah the son of Haggith doth reign, and David our lord knoweth it not?

  • Proverbs 16:18

    Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.

  • Proverbs 18:12

    Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honour is humility.

  • Deuteronomy 17:15-16

    Thou shalt in any wise set him king over thee, whom the Lord thy God shall choose: one from among thy brethren shalt thou set king over thee: thou mayest not set a stranger over thee, which is not thy brother. But he shall not multiply horses to himself, nor cause the people to return to Egypt, to the end that he should multiply horses: forasmuch as the Lord hath said unto you, Ye shall henceforth return no more that way.

  • Isaiah 2:7

    Their land also is full of silver and gold, neither is there any end of their treasures; their land is also full of horses, neither is there any end of their chariots:

  • Luke 18:14

    I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Adonijah.
2Sa 3:4; 1Ch 3:2
exalted.
11; 2:24; Ex 9:17; Pr 16:18; 18:12; Lu 14:11; 18:14
I will.
De 17:15; Jud 9:2; 1Ch 22:5-11; 28:5; 29:1
be king. Heb. reign. and he.
De 17:16; 2Sa 15:1; Isa 2:7

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • 1 Kings 1:4

    And the damsel was very fair, and cherished the king, and ministered to him: but the king knew her not.

  • 1 Kings 1:5

    Then Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, I will be king: and he prepared him chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him.

  • 1 Kings 1:6

    And his father had not displeased him at any time in saying, Why hast thou done so? and he also was a very goodly man; and his mother bare him after Absalom.

Read all of 1 Kings 1

1 Kings 1:5 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
Entonces Adonía hijo de Haggith se levantó, diciendo: Yo reinaré. E hízose de carros y gente de á caballo, y cincuenta hombres que corriesen delante de él.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
*Et Adonija, fils de Hagguith, s’éleva, disant: Moi, je serai roi. Et il se procura des chars et des cavaliers, et 50 hommes qui couraient devant lui.
German
Elberfelder 1871
Adonija aber, der Sohn Haggiths, erhob sich und sprach: Ich will König werden! Und er schaffte sich Wagen und Reiter an, und fünfzig Mann, die vor ihm herliefen.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
Adonias autem filius Haggith elevabatur, dicens: Ego regnabo. Fecitque sibi currus et equites, et quinquaginta viros qui currerent ante eum.