Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version So his attendants said to him, “Let us look for a young virgin to serve the king and take care of him. She can lie beside him so that our lord the king may keep warm.” New Living Translation So his advisers told him, “Let us find a young virgin to wait on you and look after you, my lord. She will lie in your arms and keep you warm.” English Standard Version Therefore his servants said to him, “Let a young woman be sought for my lord the king, and let her wait on the king and be in his service. Let her lie in your arms, that my lord the king may be warm.” Berean Standard Bible So his servants said to him, “Let us search for a young virgin for our lord the king, to attend to him and care for him and lie by his side to keep him warm.” King James Bible Wherefore his servants said unto him, Let there be sought for my lord the king a young virgin: and let her stand before the king, and let her cherish him, and let her lie in thy bosom, that my lord the king may get heat. New King James Version Therefore his servants said to him, “Let a young woman, a virgin, be sought for our lord the king, and let her stand before the king, and let her care for him; and let her lie in your bosom, that our lord the king may be warm.” New American Standard Bible So his servants said to him, “Have them search for a young virgin for my lord the king, and have her attend the king and become his nurse; and have her lie on your chest, so that my lord the king may keep warm.” NASB 1995 So his servants said to him, “Let them seek a young virgin for my lord the king, and let her attend the king and become his nurse; and let her lie in your bosom, that my lord the king may keep warm.” NASB 1977 So his servants said to him, “Let them seek a young virgin for my lord the king, and let her attend the king and become his nurse; and let her lie in your bosom, that my lord the king may keep warm.” Legacy Standard Bible So his servants said to him, “Let them seek a young virgin for my lord the king, and let her stand before the king and become his nurse; and let her lie in your bosom, that my lord the king may keep warm.” Amplified Bible So his servants said to him, “Let a young virgin be found for my lord the king and let her attend him and become his nurse; let her lie against your chest, so that my lord the king may feel warm.” Christian Standard Bible So his servants said to him, “Let us search for a young virgin for my lord the king. She is to attend the king and be his caregiver. She is to lie by your side so that my lord the king will get warm.” Holman Christian Standard Bible So his servants said to him: “Let us search for a young virgin for my lord the king. She is to attend the king and be his caregiver. She is to lie by your side so that my lord the king will get warm.” American Standard Version Wherefore his servants said unto him, Let there be sought for my lord the king a young virgin: and let her stand before the king, and cherish him; and let her lie in thy bosom, that my lord the king may get heat. Contemporary English Version His officials said, "Your Majesty, we will look for a young woman to take care of you. She can lie down beside you and keep you warm." English Revised Version Wherefore his servants said unto him, Let there be sought for my lord the king a young virgin: and let her stand before the king, and cherish him; and let her lie in thy bosom, that my lord the king may get heat. GOD'S WORD® Translation His officials told him, "Your Majesty, let us search for a young woman who has never been married. She can stay with you and be your servant. She can lie in your arms and keep you warm." Good News Translation So his officials said to him, "Your Majesty, let us find a young woman to stay with you and take care of you. She will lie close to you and keep you warm." International Standard Version so his servants suggested to him, "Let's look for a young virgin woman to take care of you, your majesty. She will be of use to you if you have her lie down near you so that your majesty may keep warm." Majority Standard Bible So his servants said to him, ?Let us search for a young virgin for our lord the king, to attend to him and care for him and lie by his side to keep him warm.? NET Bible His servants advised him, "A young virgin must be found for our master, the king, to take care of the king's needs and serve as his nurse. She can also sleep with you and keep our master, the king, warm." New Heart English Bible Therefore his servants said to him, "Let there be sought for my lord the king a young virgin. And let her attend the king, and care for him; and let her lie in your bosom, that my lord the king may keep warm." Webster's Bible Translation Wherefore his servants said to him, Let there be sought for my lord the king a young virgin: and let her stand before the king, and let her cherish him, and let her lie in thy bosom, that my lord the king may get heat. World English Bible Therefore his servants said to him, “Let a young virgin be sought for my lord the king. Let her stand before the king, and cherish him; and let her lie in your bosom, that my lord the king may keep warm.” Literal Translations Literal Standard Versionand his servants say to him, “Let them seek [for] a young woman, a virgin, for my lord the king, and she has stood before the king, and is a companion to him, and has lain in your bosom, and my lord the king has heat.” Young's Literal Translation and his servants say to him, 'Let them seek for my lord the king a young woman, a virgin, and she hath stood before the king, and is to him a companion, and hath lain in thy bosom, and my lord the king hath heat.' Smith's Literal Translation And his servants will say to him, They shall seek for my lord the king a girl, a virgin, and she standing before the king, and she shall be to him an associate, and lying in thy bosom, and it shall be warm to my lord the king. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleHis servants therefore said to him: Let us seek for our lord the king, a young virgin, and let her stand before the king, and cherish him, and sleep in his bosom, and warm our lord the king. Catholic Public Domain Version Therefore, his servants said to him: “Let us seek, for our lord the king, a young virgin. And let her stand before the king, and warm him, and sleep in his bosom, and provide warmth for our lord the king.” New American Bible His servants therefore said to him, “Let a young virgin be sought to attend my lord the king, and to nurse him. If she sleeps with you, my lord the king will be warm.” New Revised Standard Version So his servants said to him, “Let a young virgin be sought for my lord the king, and let her wait on the king, and be his attendant; let her lie in your bosom, so that my lord the king may be warm.” Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleWherefore his servants said to him, Behold, your servants are before you, let them seek for our lord the king a young virgin; and let her wait upon the king, and let her minister to him, and let her lie in your bosom, that our lord the king may get warm. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated His Servants said to him: “Behold your Servants before you will seek our Lord the King a virgin girl and she shall stand before the King and she shall be a Servant for him and she will lie down in your bosom and she will warm our Lord the King.” OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917Wherefore his servants said unto him: 'Let there be sought for my lord the king a young virgin; and let her stand before the king, and be a companion unto him; and let her lie in thy bosom, that my lord the king may get heat.' Brenton Septuagint Translation And his servants said, Let them seek for the king a young virgin, and she shall wait on the king, and cherish him, and lie with him, and my lord the king shall be warmed. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Abishag Cares for David1Now King David was old and well along in years, and though they covered him with blankets, he could not keep warm. 2So his servants said to him, “Let us search for a young virgin for our lord the king, to attend to him and care for him and lie by his side to keep him warm.” 3Then they searched throughout Israel for a beautiful girl, and they found Abishag the Shunammite and brought her to the king.… Cross References 2 Samuel 5:4 David was thirty years old when he became king, and he reigned forty years. 1 Kings 2:22 King Solomon answered his mother, “Why do you request Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? Since he is my older brother, you might as well request the kingdom for him and for Abiathar the priest and for Joab son of Zeruiah!” 2 Samuel 11:2-4 One evening David got up from his bed and strolled around on the roof of the palace. And from the roof he saw a woman bathing—a very beautiful woman. / So David sent and inquired about the woman, and he was told, “This is Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite.” / Then David sent messengers to get her, and when she came to him, he slept with her. (Now she had just purified herself from her uncleanness.) Then she returned home. 1 Kings 2:17 Adonijah replied, “Please speak to King Solomon, since he will not turn you down. Let him give me Abishag the Shunammite as my wife.” 1 Kings 2:21-22 So Bathsheba said, “Let Abishag the Shunammite be given to your brother Adonijah as his wife.” / King Solomon answered his mother, “Why do you request Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? Since he is my older brother, you might as well request the kingdom for him and for Abiathar the priest and for Joab son of Zeruiah!” 1 Kings 2:13-25 Now Adonijah son of Haggith went to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon, and she asked, “Do you come in peace?” “Yes, in peace,” he replied. / Then he said, “I have something to tell you.” “Say it,” she answered. / “You know that the kingship was mine,” he said. “All Israel expected that I should reign, but the kingship has turned to my brother, for it has come to him from the LORD. ... 1 Samuel 16:12 So Jesse sent for his youngest son and brought him in. He was ruddy, with beautiful eyes and a handsome appearance. And the LORD said, “Rise and anoint him, for he is the one.” 1 Samuel 28:23 Saul refused, saying, “I will not eat.” But his servants joined the woman in urging him, and he heeded their voice. He got up from the ground and sat on the bed. 2 Samuel 13:1-2 After some time, David’s son Amnon fell in love with Tamar, the beautiful sister of David’s son Absalom. / Amnon was sick with frustration over his sister Tamar, for she was a virgin, and it seemed implausible for him to do anything to her. 2 Samuel 3:7 Now Saul had a concubine named Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah. So Ish-bosheth questioned Abner, “Why did you sleep with my father’s concubine?” 2 Samuel 16:21-22 Ahithophel replied, “Sleep with your father’s concubines, whom he has left to take care of the palace. When all Israel hears that you have become a stench to your father, then the hands of all who are with you will be strengthened.” / So they pitched a tent for Absalom on the roof, and he slept with his father’s concubines in the sight of all Israel. Genesis 24:16 Now the girl was very beautiful, a virgin who had not had relations with any man. She went down to the spring, filled her jar, and came up again. Genesis 24:67 And Isaac brought her into the tent of his mother Sarah and took Rebekah as his wife. And Isaac loved her and was comforted after his mother’s death. Genesis 39:6 So Potiphar left all that he owned in Joseph’s care; he did not concern himself with anything except the food he ate. Now Joseph was well-built and handsome, Esther 2:2-4 Then the king’s attendants proposed, “Let a search be made for beautiful young virgins for the king, / and let the king appoint commissioners in each province of his kingdom to assemble all the beautiful young women into the harem at the citadel of Susa. Let them be placed under the care of Hegai, the king’s eunuch in charge of the women, and let them be given beauty treatments. / Then let the young woman who pleases the king become queen in place of Vashti.” This suggestion pleased the king, and he acted accordingly. Treasury of Scripture Why his servants said to him, Let there be sought for my lord the king a young virgin: and let her stand before the king, and let her cherish him, and let her lie in your bosom, that my lord the king may get heat. Deuteronomy 10:8 At that time the LORD separated the tribe of Levi, to bear the ark of the covenant of the LORD, to stand before the LORD to minister unto him, and to bless in his name, unto this day. 1 Samuel 16:21,22 And David came to Saul, and stood before him: and he loved him greatly; and he became his armourbearer… 2 Chronicles 29:11 My sons, be not now negligent: for the LORD hath chosen you to stand before him, to serve him, and that ye should minister unto him, and burn incense. Genesis 16:5 And Sarai said unto Abram, My wrong be upon thee: I have given my maid into thy bosom; and when she saw that she had conceived, I was despised in her eyes: the LORD judge between me and thee. Deuteronomy 13:6 If thy brother, the son of thy mother, or thy son, or thy daughter, or the wife of thy bosom, or thy friend, which is as thine own soul, entice thee secretly, saying, Let us go and serve other gods, which thou hast not known, thou, nor thy fathers; 2 Samuel 12:3 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. get heat Ecclesiastes 4:11 Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone? Jump to Previous Attend Bosom Care Cherish Companion Heat Lie Maiden Nurse Seek Servants Sought Stand Virgin Wait Warm Wherefore YoungJump to Next Attend Bosom Care Cherish Companion Heat Lie Maiden Nurse Seek Servants Sought Stand Virgin Wait Warm Wherefore Young1 Kings 1 1. Abishag cherishes David in his extreme age5. Adonijah, David's darling, usurps the kingdom 11. By the council of Nathan 15. Bathsheba moves the king 22. And Nathan seconds her 28. David renews his oath to Bathsheba 32. Solomon, by David's appointment, 38. being anointed king by Zadok and Nathan, the people triumph 41. Jonathan bringing the news, Adonijah's guests fly 50. Adonijah, flying to the horns of the altar, is dismissed by Solomon So his servants said to him In the context of 1 Kings 1, King David is advanced in years and his health is failing. The servants mentioned here are likely his royal attendants or advisors, who are concerned about the king's well-being. This reflects the common practice in ancient Near Eastern courts where servants played a significant role in the daily life and care of the king. The servants' initiative indicates their loyalty and the importance of maintaining the king's health for the stability of the kingdom. “Let us search for a young virgin for our lord the king, to attend to him and care for him and lie by his side to keep him warm.” Persons / Places / Events 1. King DavidThe aging king of Israel, who is experiencing physical weakness and needs care. 2. Servants of King David The individuals who suggest finding a young virgin to care for the king. 3. Young Virgin A proposed solution to attend to King David, providing warmth and care. 4. Jerusalem The city where King David resides and where these events take place. 5. Abishag the Shunammite Although not mentioned in this specific verse, she is the young virgin chosen to care for David, introduced in the following verses. Teaching Points The Importance of Care in Old AgeAs King David aged, he required assistance, reminding us of the importance of caring for the elderly in our communities and families. Cultural Practices and Solutions The suggestion to find a young virgin reflects cultural norms of the time. Understanding these practices helps us interpret biblical accounts within their historical context. God's Provision through People God often provides for our needs through others, as seen in the servants' initiative to care for David. We should be open to both giving and receiving help. The Role of Servants and Advisors The servants' proactive approach highlights the value of wise and caring advisors in leadership and personal life. Physical and Emotional Needs The passage underscores the importance of addressing both physical and emotional needs, as David required warmth and companionship.Verse 2. - Wherefore [Heb. and] his servants [according to Josephus (Antiq. 7:14, 3), his physicians] said unto him, Let there be sought [lit. as marg., "let them seek"] for my lord the king [the singular pronoun is used as representing the servant who was spokesman for the rest] a young virgin [marg., "a damsel, a virgin." She must be young, to impart heat, and a virgin, as befitted a king. Though she was recommended as a nurse, they would naturally suppose she might be taken as a concubine] and let her stand before the king [i.e., as servant (Ver. 4). Cf. 1 Kings 12:6, 8; Genesis 41:46; Daniel 1:5; Deuteronomy 1:38 (with Joshua 1:1) 1 Kings 10:8. In the East, servants still stand and wait their masters' pleasure. Cf. 2 Kings 5:25], and let her cherish him [So also the LXX., καὶ ἔσται αὐτὸν θάλπουσα. But Gesenius, al, "be a companion to him"] and let her lie in thy [or "his," LXX. αυτοῦ, Vulg. sue] bosom [the expression is generally, but not invariably (see 1 Kings 3:20; Ruth 4:16) used de complexu venereo] that my lord the king may get heat. [This close embrace of youth was an obvious way of imparting animal heat to age ("Color a corpore juvenili ac sane maxime prodest senibus." Grotius), and was the more favoured because other and internal remedies were not then known. It is recognized by Galen, and is said to have been prescribed by a Jewish physician to the Emperor Frederick Bar-baressa (Bahr). It is stated by Roberts that it is still largely followed in the East.] Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew So his servantsעֲבָדָ֗יו (‘ă·ḇā·ḏāw) Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular Strong's 5650: Slave, servant said וַיֹּ֧אמְרוּ (way·yō·mə·rū) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural Strong's 559: To utter, say to him, ל֣וֹ (lōw) Preposition | third person masculine singular Strong's Hebrew “Let us search for יְבַקְשׁ֞וּ (yə·ḇaq·šū) Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine plural Strong's 1245: To search out, to strive after a young נַעֲרָ֣ה (na·‘ă·rāh) Noun - feminine singular Strong's 5291: A girl, maiden virgin בְתוּלָ֔ה (ḇə·ṯū·lāh) Noun - feminine singular Strong's 1330: A virgin, sometimes, a bride for our lord לַאדֹנִ֤י (la·ḏō·nî) Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular Strong's 113: Sovereign, controller the king, הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ (ham·me·leḵ) Article | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 4428: A king to attend וְעָֽמְדָה֙ (wə·‘ā·mə·ḏāh) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person feminine singular Strong's 5975: To stand, in various relations to לִפְנֵ֣י (lip̄·nê) Preposition-l | Noun - common plural construct Strong's 6440: The face [him] הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ (ham·me·leḵ) Article | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 4428: A king and וּתְהִי־ (ū·ṯə·hî-) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect Jussive - third person feminine singular Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be care סֹכֶ֑נֶת (sō·ḵe·neṯ) Verb - Qal - Participle - feminine singular Strong's 5532: To be familiar with, to minister to, be serviceable to, be customary for him ל֖וֹ (lōw) Preposition | third person masculine singular Strong's Hebrew and lie וְשָׁכְבָ֣ה (wə·šā·ḵə·ḇāh) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person feminine singular Strong's 7901: To lie down by his side בְחֵיקֶ֔ךָ (ḇə·ḥê·qe·ḵā) Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular Strong's 2436: The bosom {to keep} him לַאדֹנִ֥י (la·ḏō·nî) Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular Strong's 113: Sovereign, controller warm.” וְחַ֖ם (wə·ḥam) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 2552: To be or become warm Links 1 Kings 1:2 NIV1 Kings 1:2 NLT 1 Kings 1:2 ESV 1 Kings 1:2 NASB 1 Kings 1:2 KJV 1 Kings 1:2 BibleApps.com 1 Kings 1:2 Biblia Paralela 1 Kings 1:2 Chinese Bible 1 Kings 1:2 French Bible 1 Kings 1:2 Catholic Bible OT History: 1 Kings 1:2 Therefore his servants said to him Let (1Ki iKi i Ki 1 Kg 1kg) |
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