1 Kings 2 · Verse 21

1 Kings 2:21

And she said, Let Abishag the Shunammite be given to Adonijah thy brother to wife.
1 Kings 2:21, King James Version

1 Kings 2:21 in other translations

BSBSo Bathsheba said, “Let Abishag the Shunammite be given to your brother Adonijah as his wife.”
WEBShe said, “Let Abishag the Shunammite be given to Adonijah your brother as wife.”
ASVAnd she said, Let Abishag the Shunammite be given to Adonijah thy brother to wife.
YLTAnd she saith, ‘Let Abishag the Shunammite be given to Adonijah thy brother for a wife.'
DARBYAnd she said, Let Abishag the Shunammite be given to Adonijah thy brother as wife.
BBEAnd she said, Let Abishag the Shunammite be given to Adonijah your brother for a wife.
WebsterAnd she said, Let Abishag the Shunamite be given to Adonijah thy brother for a wife.

What does 1 Kings 2:21 mean?

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 1 Kings 2:12-25

Solomon received Bathsheba with all the respect that was owing to a mother; but let none be asked for that which they ought not to grant. It ill becomes a good man to prefer a bad request, or to appear in a bad cause. According to eastern customs it was plain that Adonijah sought to be king, by his asking for Abishag as his wife, and Solomon could not be safe while he lived. Ambitious, turbulent spirits commonly…

Read the full comment on 1 Kings 2:12-25 →

1 Kings 2:21 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.

וַתֹּ֕אמֶרva.To.merand she saidH559
יֻתַּ֖ןyu.Tanlet it be givenH5414
אֶת\־'et-<obj.>H853
אֲבִישַׁ֣ג'a.vi.ShagAbishagH49
הַשֻּׁנַמִּ֑יתha.shu.na.Mitthe ShunammiteH7767
לַאֲדֹנִיָּ֥הוּla.'a.do.ni.Ya.huto AdonijahH138
אָחִ֖יךָ'a.Chi.khabrother yourH251
לְאִשָּֽׁה\׃le.'i.Shahto a wifeH802

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

Cross references for 1 Kings 2:21

  • 1 Kings 1:3

    So they sought for a fair damsel throughout all the coasts of Israel, and found Abishag a Shunammite, and brought her to the king.

  • 2 Samuel 16:21-22

    And Ahithophel said unto Absalom, Go in unto thy father’s concubines, which he hath left to keep the house; and all Israel shall hear that thou art abhorred of thy father: then shall the hands of all that are with thee be strong. So they spread Absalom a tent upon the top of the house; and Absalom went in unto his father’s concubines in the sight of all Israel.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Let Abishag.
2Sa 16:21,22

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

Context

  • 1 Kings 2:20

    Then she said, I desire one small petition of thee; I pray thee, say me not nay. And the king said unto her, Ask on, my mother: for I will not say thee nay.

  • 1 Kings 2:21

    And she said, Let Abishag the Shunammite be given to Adonijah thy brother to wife.

  • 1 Kings 2:22

    And king Solomon answered and said unto his mother, And why dost thou ask Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? ask for him the kingdom also; for he is mine elder brother; even for him, and for Abiathar the priest, and for Joab the son of Zeruiah.

Read all of 1 Kings 2

1 Kings 2:21 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y ella dijo: Dése Abisag Sunamita por mujer á tu hermano Adonía.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et elle dit: Qu’Abishag, la Sunamite, soit donnée pour femme à Adonija, ton frère.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und sie sprach: Möchte Abischag, die Sunamitin, deinem Bruder Adonija zum Weibe gegeben werden!
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Quæ ait: Detur Abisag Sunamitis Adoniæ fratri tuo uxor.