1 Kings 4 · Verse 5

1 Kings 4:5

And Azariah the son of Nathan was over the officers: and Zabud the son of Nathan was principal officer, and the king’s friend:
1 Kings 4:5, King James Version

1 Kings 4:5 in other translations

BSBAzariah son of Nathan was in charge of the governors; Zabud son of Nathan was a priest and adviser to the king;
WEBAzariah the son of Nathan was over the officers; Zabud the son of Nathan was chief minister, the king’s friend;
ASVand Azariah the son of Nathan was over the officers; and Zabud the son of Nathan was chief minister, and the king’s friend;
YLTand Azariah son of Nathan is over the officers; and Zabud son of Nathan is minister, friend of the king;
DARBYand Azariah the son of Nathan was over the superintendents; and Zabud the son of Nathan was principal officer, the king's friend;
BBEAzariah, the son of Nathan, was over those in authority in the different divisions of the country; Zabud, the son of Nathan, was priest and the king's friend;
WebsterAnd Azariah the son of Nathan was over the officers: and Zabud the son of Nathan was principal officer, and the king's friend:

What does 1 Kings 4:5 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
5. over the officers--that is, the provincial governors enumerated in 1Ki 4:17-19. principal officer, and the king's friend--perhaps president of the privy council, and Solomon's confidential friend or favorite. This high functionary had probably been reared along with Solomon. That he should heap those honors on the sons of Nathan was most natural, considering the close intimacy of the father with the late king, and the deep obligations under which Solomon personally lay to the prophet.

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 5 Azariah - was over the officers - He had the superintendence of the twelve officers mentioned below; see 1Kgs 4:7. Zabud - was principal officer - Perhaps what we call premier, or prime minister. The king's friend - His chief favourite - his confidant.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 1 Kings 4:1-19

In the choice of the great officers of Solomon's court, no doubt, his wisdom appeared. Several are the same that were in his father's time. A plan was settled by which no part of the country was exhausted to supply his court, though each sent its portion.

Read the full comment on 1 Kings 4:1-19 →

1 Kings 4:5 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.

וַעֲזַרְיָ֥הוּva.'a.zar.Ya.huand AzariahH5838
בֶן\־ven-[the] son ofH1121
נָתָ֖ןna.TanNathanH5416
עַל\־'al-[was] overH5921
הַנִּצָּבִ֑יםha.ni.tza.Vimthe overseersH5324
וְזָב֧וּדve.za.Vudand ZabudH2071
בֶּן\־ben-[the] son ofH1121
נָתָ֛ןna.TanNathanH5416
כֹּהֵ֖ןko.Hen[was] a priestH3548
רֵעֶ֥הre.'Eh[the] friend ofH7463
הַמֶּֽלֶךְ\׃ha.Me.lekhthe kingH4428

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

Cross references for 1 Kings 4:5

  • 2 Samuel 15:37

    So Hushai David’s friend came into the city, and Absalom came into Jerusalem.

  • 1 Chronicles 27:33

    And Ahithophel was the king’s counsellor: and Hushai the Archite was the king’s companion:

  • 2 Samuel 16:16

    And it came to pass, when Hushai the Archite, David’s friend, was come unto Absalom, that Hushai said unto Absalom, God save the king, God save the king.

  • John 15:14-15

    Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.

  • 2 Samuel 12:25

    And he sent by the hand of Nathan the prophet; and he called his name Jedidiah, because of the Lord.

  • 2 Samuel 7:2

    That the king said unto Nathan the prophet, See now, I dwell in an house of cedar, but the ark of God dwelleth within curtains.

  • 1 Kings 1:10-53

    But Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah, and the mighty men, and Solomon his brother, he called not. 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? Now therefore come, let me, I pray thee, give thee counsel, that thou mayest save thine own life, and the life of thy son Solomon. Go and get thee in unto king David, and say unto him, Didst not thou, my lord, O king, swear unto thine handmaid, saying, Assuredly Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne? why then doth Adonijah reign? …

  • 2 Samuel 12:1-15

    And the Lord sent Nathan unto David. And he came unto him, and said unto him, There were two men in one city; the one rich, and the other poor. The rich man had exceeding many flocks and herds: But the poor man had nothing, save one little ewe lamb, which he had bought and nourished up: and it grew up together with him, and with his children; it did eat of his own meat, and drank of his own cup, and lay in his bosom, and was unto him as a daughter. And there came a traveller unto the rich man, and he spared to take of his own flock and of his own herd, to dress for the wayfaring man that was come unto him; but took the poor man’s lamb, and dressed it for the man that was come to him. …

  • Proverbs 22:11

    He that loveth pureness of heart, for the grace of his lips the king shall be his friend.

  • 1 Kings 4:7

    And Solomon had twelve officers over all Israel, which provided victuals for the king and his household: each man his month in a year made provision.

  • John 13:23

    Now there was leaning on Jesus’ bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved.

  • 2 Samuel 8:18

    And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over both the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and David’s sons were chief rulers.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
son of Nathan.
1:10-53; 2Sa 7:2; 12:1-15,25
the officers.
7
the principal.
2Sa 8:18; 20:26
the king's.
2Sa 15:37; 16:16; 19:37,38; 1Ch 27:33; Pr 22:11; Joh 13:23
Joh 15:14,15; Jas 2:23

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

Context

  • 1 Kings 4:4

    And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the host: and Zadok and Abiathar were the priests:

  • 1 Kings 4:5

    And Azariah the son of Nathan was over the officers: and Zabud the son of Nathan was principal officer, and the king’s friend:

  • 1 Kings 4:6

    And Ahishar was over the household: and Adoniram the son of Abda was over the tribute.

Read all of 1 Kings 4

1 Kings 4:5 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
Azaría hijo de Nathán era sobre los gobernadores; Zabud hijo de Nathán era principal oficial, amigo del rey;
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
et Azaria, fils de Nathan, préposé sur les intendants; et Zabud, fils de Nathan, principal officier, ami du roi;
German
Elberfelder 1871
und Asarja, der Sohn Nathans, war über die Aufseher; und Sabut, der Sohn Nathans, war Krondiener, des Königs Freund;
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
Azarias filius Nathan super eos qui assistebant regi: Zabud filius Nathan sacerdos, amicus regis: