1 Kings 1 · Verse 51

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.
1 Kings 1:51, King James Version

1 Kings 1:51 in other translations

BSBIt was reported to Solomon: “Behold, Adonijah fears King Solomon, and he has taken hold of the horns of the altar, saying, ‘Let King Solomon first swear to me not to put his servant to the sword.’”
WEBSolomon was told, “Behold, Adonijah fears King Solomon; for, behold, he is hanging onto the horns of the altar, saying, ‘Let King Solomon swear to me first that he will not kill his servant with the sword.’”
ASVAnd it was told Solomon, saying, Behold, Adonijah feareth king Solomon; for, lo, he hath laid hold on the horns of the altar, saying, Let king Solomon swear unto me first that he will not slay his servant with the sword.
YLTAnd it is declared to Solomon, saying, ‘Lo, Adonijah feareth king Solomon, and lo, he hath laid hold on the horns of the altar, saying, Let king Solomon swear to me as to-day--he doth not put to death his servant by the sword.'
DARBYAnd it was told Solomon saying, Behold, Adonijah fears king Solomon; for behold, he has caught hold of the horns of the altar, saying, Let king Solomon swear to me this day that he will not put his servant to death with the sword.
BBEAnd they gave Solomon word of it, saying, See, Adonijah goes in such fear of King Solomon, that he has put his hands on the horns of the altar, saying, Let King Solomon first give me his oath that he will not put his servant to death with the sword.
WebsterAnd 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 to me to-day that he will not slay his servant with the sword.

What does 1 Kings 1:51 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…

Read the full comment on 1 Kings 1:50-53 →

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 1:51 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.

וַיֻּגַּ֤דvai.yu.Gadand it was toldH5046
לִשְׁלֹמֹה֙lish.lo.Mohto SolomonH8010
לֵאמֹ֔רle.Mor<to> sayingH559
הִנֵּה֙hi.Nehthere!H2009
אֲדֹ֣נִיָּ֔הוּ'a.Do.ni.Ya.huAdonijahH138
יָרֵ֖אya.Re'he fearsH3372
אֶת\־'et-<obj.>H853
הַמֶּ֣לֶךְha.Me.lekhthe kingH4428
שְׁלֹמֹ֑הshe.lo.MohSolomonH8010
וְ֠הִנֵּהVe.hi.nehand there!H2009
אָחַ֞ז'a.Chazhe has taken holdH270
בְּקַרְנ֤וֹתbe.kar.Noton [the] horns ofH7161
הַמִּזְבֵּ֙חַ֙ha.miz.Be.achthe altarH4196
לֵאמֹ֔רle.Mor<to> sayingH559
יִשָּֽׁבַֽע\־yi.sha.va'-let him swearH7650
לִ֤יlito me
כַיּוֹם֙khai.yOmas the dayH3117
הַמֶּ֣לֶךְha.Me.lekhthe kingH4428
שְׁלֹמֹ֔הshe.lo.MohSolomonH8010
אִם\־'im-ifH518
יָמִ֥יתya.Mithe will put to deathH4191
אֶת\־'et-<obj.>H853
עַבְדּ֖וֹav.Doservant hisH5650
בֶּחָֽרֶב\׃be.Cha.revby the swordH2719

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

Context

  • 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.

  • 1 Kings 1:52

    And Solomon said, If he will shew himself a worthy man, there shall not an hair of him fall to the earth: but if wickedness shall be found in him, he shall die.

Read all of 1 Kings 1

1 Kings 1:51 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
Y fué hecho saber á Salomón, diciendo: He aquí que Adonía tiene miedo del rey Salomón: pues ha cogido los cornijales del altar, diciendo: Júreme hoy el rey Salomón que no matará á cuchillo á su siervo.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
Et on le rapporta à Salomon, disant: Voici, Adonija craint le roi Salomon; et voici, il a saisi les cornes de l’autel, disant: Que le roi Salomon me jure aujourd’hui qu’il ne fera pas mourir son serviteur par l’épée.
German
Elberfelder 1871
Und es wurde Salomo berichtet, indem man sprach: Siehe, Adonija fürchtet den König Salomo, und siehe, er hat die Hörner des Altars erfaßt und gesagt: Es schwöre mir jetzt der König Salomo, daß er seinen Knecht nicht mit dem Schwerte töten wolle!
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
Et nuntiaverunt Salomoni, dicentes: Ecce Adonias timens regem Salomonem, tenuit cornu altaris, dicens: Juret mihi rex Salomon hodie, quod non interficiat servum suum gladio.