1 Kings 1 · Verse 50

1 Kings 1:50

And Adonijah feared because of Solomon, and arose, and went, and caught hold on the horns of the altar.
1 Kings 1:50, King James Version

1 Kings 1:50 in other translations

BSBBut Adonijah, in fear of Solomon, got up and went to take hold of the horns of the altar.
WEBAdonijah was afraid because of Solomon; and he arose, and went, and hung onto the horns of the altar.
ASVAnd Adonijah feared because of Solomon; and he arose, and went, and caught hold on the horns of the altar.
YLTand Adonijah feareth because of Solomon, and riseth, and goeth, and layeth hold on the horns of the altar.
DARBYAnd Adonijah feared because of Solomon, and arose and went and caught hold of the horns of the altar.
BBEAnd Adonijah himself was full of fear because of Solomon; and he got up and went to the altar, and put his hands on its horns.
WebsterAnd Adonijah feared because of Solomon, and arose, and went, and caught hold on the horns of the altar.

What does 1 Kings 1:50 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 1 Kings 1:50-53
50-53. Adonijah ... went, and caught hold on the horns of the altar--most probably the altar of burnt offering which had been erected on Mount Zion, where Abiathar, one of his partisans, presided as high priest. The horns or projections at the four corners of the altar, to which the sacrifices were bound, and which were tipped with the blood of the victim, were symbols of grace and salvation to the sinner. Hence the altar was regarded as a sanctuary (Ex 21:14), but not to murderers, rebels, or deliberate perpetrators. Adonijah, having acted in opposition to the will of the reigning king, was guilty of rebellion, and stood self-condemned. Solomon spared his life on the express condition of his good behavior--living in strict privacy, leading a quiet, peaceable life, and meddling with the affairs of neither the court nor the kingdom.

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 50 Adonijah feared - He knew he had usurped the kingdom, and had not his father's consent; and, as he finds now that Solomon is appointed by David, he knows well that the people will immediately respect that appointment, and that his case is hopeless; he therefore took sanctuary, and, fleeing to the tabernacle, laid hold on one of the horns of the altar, as if appealing to the protection of God against the violence of men. The altar was a privileged place, and it was deemed sacrilege to molest a man who had taken refuge there. See 1Kgs 2:28.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 1 Kings 1:32-53

The people expressed great joy and satisfaction in the elevation of Solomon. Every true Israelite rejoices in the exaltation of the Son of David. Combinations formed upon evil principles will soon be dissolved, when self-interest calls another way. How can those who do evil deeds expect to have good tidings? Adonijah had despised Solomon, but soon dreaded him. We see here, as in a glass, Jesus, the Son of David and…

Read the full comment on 1 Kings 1:32-53 →

1 Kings 1:50 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.

וַאֲדֹ֣נִיָּ֔הוּva.'a.Do.ni.Ya.huand AdonijahH138
יָרֵ֖אya.Re'he was afraidH3372
מִפְּנֵ֣יmi.pe.Neiof <the face of>H6440
שְׁלֹמֹ֑הshe.lo.MohSolomonH8010
וַיָּ֣קָםvai.Ya.komand he aroseH6965
וַיֵּ֔לֶךְvai.Ye.lekhand he wentH1980
וַֽיַּחֲזֵ֖קvai.ya.cha.Zekand he took holdH2388
בְּקַרְנ֥וֹתbe.kar.Noton [the] horns ofH7161
הַמִּזְבֵּֽחַ\׃ha.miz.Be.achthe altarH4196

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

Cross references for 1 Kings 1:50

  • 1 Kings 2:28

    Then tidings came to Joab: for Joab had turned after Adonijah, though he turned not after Absalom. And Joab fled unto the tabernacle of the Lord, and caught hold on the horns of the altar.

  • Psalms 118:27

    God is the Lord, which hath shewed us light: bind the sacrifice with cords, even unto the horns of the altar.

  • Exodus 27:2

    And thou shalt make the horns of it upon the four corners thereof: his horns shall be of the same: and thou shalt overlay it with brass.

  • Exodus 38:2

    And he made the horns thereof on the four corners of it; the horns thereof were of the same: and he overlaid it with brass.

  • Exodus 21:14

    But if a man come presumptuously upon his neighbour, to slay him with guile; thou shalt take him from mine altar, that he may die.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
caught.
2:28; Ex 21:14; 38:2; Ps 118:27

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

Context

  • 1 Kings 1:49

    And all the guests that were with Adonijah were afraid, and rose up, and went every man his way.

  • 1 Kings 1:50

    And Adonijah feared because of Solomon, and arose, and went, and caught hold on the horns of the altar.

  • 1 Kings 1:51

    And it was told Solomon, saying, Behold, Adonijah feareth king Solomon: for, lo, he hath caught hold on the horns of the altar, saying, Let king Solomon swear unto me to day that he will not slay his servant with the sword.

Read all of 1 Kings 1

1 Kings 1:50 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Mas Adonía, temiendo de la presencia de Salomón, levantóse y fuése, y cogió los cornijales del altar.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et Adonija eut peur à cause de Salomon, et il se leva, et s’en alla, et saisit les cornes de l’autel.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und Adonija fürchtete sich vor Salomo; und er machte sich auf und ging hin und erfaßte die Hörner des Altars.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Adonias autem timens Salomonem, surrexit, et abiit, tenuitque cornu altaris.