1 Kings 1:3 Then they searched throughout Israel for a beautiful girl, and they found Abishag the Shunammite and brought her to the king.

◄ 1 Kings 1:3 ►

New International Version
Then they searched throughout Israel for a beautiful young woman and found Abishag, a Shunammite, and brought her to the king.

New Living Translation
So they searched throughout the land of Israel for a beautiful girl, and they found Abishag from Shunem and brought her to the king.

English Standard Version
So they sought for a beautiful young woman throughout all the territory of Israel, and found Abishag the Shunammite, and brought her to the king.

Berean Standard Bible
Then they searched throughout Israel for a beautiful girl, and they found Abishag the Shunammite and brought her to the king.

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

New King James Version
So they sought for a lovely young woman throughout all the territory of Israel, and found Abishag the Shunammite, and brought her to the king.

New American Standard Bible
So they searched for a beautiful girl throughout the territory of Israel, and found Abishag the Shunammite, and brought her to the king.

NASB 1995
So they searched for a beautiful girl throughout all the territory of Israel, and found Abishag the Shunammite, and brought her to the king.

NASB 1977
So they searched for a beautiful girl throughout all the territory of Israel, and found Abishag the Shunammite, and brought her to the king.

Legacy Standard Bible
So they sought for a beautiful young woman throughout all the territory of Israel, and found Abishag the Shunammite, and brought her to the king.

Amplified Bible
So they searched for a beautiful girl throughout the territory of Israel, and found Abishag the Shunammite, and brought her to the king.

Christian Standard Bible
They searched for a beautiful girl throughout the territory of Israel; they found Abishag the Shunammite and brought her to the king.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
They searched for a beautiful girl throughout the territory of Israel; they found Abishag the Shunammite and brought her to the king.

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

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

GOD'S WORD® Translation
So they searched throughout Israel for a beautiful, young woman. They found Abishag from Shunem and brought her to the king.

Good News Translation
A search was made all over Israel for a beautiful young woman, and in Shunem they found such a woman named Abishag, and brought her to the king.

International Standard Version
So they conducted a search throughout the territory of Israel for a beautiful young woman, and Abishag the Shunammite was located and brought to the king.

Majority Standard Bible
Then they searched throughout Israel for a beautiful girl, and they found Abishag the Shunammite and brought her to the king.

NET Bible
So they looked through all Israel for a beautiful young woman and found Abishag, a Shunammite, and brought her to the king.

New Heart English Bible
So they sought for a beautiful young woman throughout all the borders of Israel, and found Abishag the Shunammite, and brought her to the king.

Webster's Bible Translation
So they sought for a fair damsel throughout all the borders of Israel, and found Abishag a Shunamite, and brought her to the king.

World English Bible
So they sought for a beautiful young lady throughout all the borders of Israel, and found Abishag the Shunammite, and brought her to the king.

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
And they seek [for] a beautiful young woman in all the border of Israel, and find Abishag the Shunammite, and bring her to the king,

Young's Literal Translation
And they seek a fair young woman in all the border of Israel, and find Abishag the Shunammite, and bring her in to the king,

Smith's Literal Translation
And they will seek a fair girl in all the bound of Israel, and they will find Abishag the Shunamite, and they will bring her to the king.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
So they sought a beautiful young woman in all the coasts of Israel, and they found Abisag a Sunamitess, and brought her to the king.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And so they sought a beautiful young woman in all the parts of Israel. And they found Abishag, a Shunammite, and they led her to the king.

New American Bible
So they sought for a beautiful girl throughout the territory of Israel, and found Abishag the Shunamite. So they brought her to the king.

New Revised Standard Version
So they searched for a beautiful girl throughout all the territory of Israel, and found Abishag the Shunammite, and brought her to the king.

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
So they sought for a beautiful maiden throughout all the territory of Israel, and found Abishag a Shilommite, and brought her to the king.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And they searched for a beautiful girl in all the borders of Israel and they found Abishag a Shilumite and they brought her to the King.

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
So they sought for a fair damsel throughout all the borders of Israel, and found Abishag the Shunammite, and brought her to the king.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
So they sought for a fair damsel out of all the coasts of Israel; and they found Abisag the Somanite, and they brought her to the king.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

Abishag Cares for David
…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. 4The girl was unsurpassed in beauty; she cared for the king and served him, but he had no relations with her.…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

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.”

2 Samuel 11:2
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.

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.

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.

2 Samuel 13:1
After some time, David’s son Amnon fell in love with Tamar, the beautiful sister of David’s son Absalom.

1 Samuel 25:3
His name was Nabal, and his wife’s name was Abigail. She was an intelligent and beautiful woman, but her husband, a Calebite, was harsh and evil in his dealings.

1 Samuel 9:2
And he had a son named Saul, choice and handsome, without equal among the Israelites—a head taller than any of the people.

2 Samuel 14:27
Three sons were born to Absalom, and a daughter named Tamar, who was a beautiful woman.

Genesis 12:11
As he was about to enter Egypt, he said to his wife Sarai, “Look, I know that you are a beautiful woman,

Genesis 29:17
Leah had weak eyes, but Rachel was shapely and beautiful.

1 Samuel 16:7
But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or height, for I have rejected him; the LORD does not see as man does. For man sees the outward appearance, but the LORD sees the heart.”

1 Samuel 25:23
When Abigail saw David, she quickly got off the donkey, fell facedown, and bowed before him.

2 Samuel 11:3
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.”

2 Samuel 14:25
Now there was not a man in all Israel as handsome and highly praised as Absalom. From the sole of his foot to the top of his head, he did not have a single flaw.

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,

Treasury of Scripture

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

Esther 2:2,4
Then said the king's servants that ministered unto him, Let there be fair young virgins sought for the king: …

Abishag

1 Kings 2:17-15
And he said, Speak, I pray thee, unto Solomon the king, (for he will not say thee nay,) that he give me Abishag the Shunammite to wife…

Shunammite

Joshua 19:18
And their border was toward Jezreel, and Chesulloth, and Shunem,

1 Samuel 28:4
And the Philistines gathered themselves together, and came and pitched in Shunem: and Saul gathered all Israel together, and they pitched in Gilboa.

2 Kings 4:8,25
And it fell on a day, that Elisha passed to Shunem, where was a great woman; and she constrained him to eat bread. And so it was, that as oft as he passed by, he turned in thither to eat bread…

Jump to Previous

Abishag Ab'ishag Beautiful Borders Coasts Damsel Fair Find Found Girl Israel Lady Maiden Searched Searching Seek Shunamite Shunammite Shu'nammite Sought Territory Throughout Young

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Abishag Ab'ishag Beautiful Borders Coasts Damsel Fair Find Found Girl Israel Lady Maiden Searched Searching Seek Shunamite Shunammite Shu'nammite Sought Territory Throughout Young

1 Kings 1

1. Abishag cherishes David in his extreme age
5. 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

Berean Study Bible

So they searched
The Hebrew root for "searched" is "בקש" (baqash), which implies a diligent and purposeful seeking. This reflects the seriousness of the task at hand, emphasizing the importance of finding someone suitable for the king. In a spiritual sense, this can remind believers of the diligence required in seeking God's will and purpose in their lives.

for a beautiful girl
The word "beautiful" in Hebrew is "יפה" (yafeh), which denotes physical attractiveness. In the context of ancient Israel, beauty was often seen as a sign of divine favor. This search for beauty can be seen as a metaphor for seeking qualities that reflect God's glory and creation, reminding Christians to appreciate the beauty in God's world and in each other.

throughout the territory of Israel
The phrase "territory of Israel" refers to the united kingdom under David's rule, highlighting the extent of the search. This underscores the unity and vastness of the nation at the time, a unity that believers are called to emulate within the body of Christ, transcending geographical and cultural boundaries.

and they found Abishag the Shunammite
"Abishag" means "my father is a wanderer" or "my father errs," which could symbolize the transient nature of human life and the need for divine guidance. "The Shunammite" indicates her origin from Shunem, a town in the territory of Issachar. This detail roots the narrative in a specific historical and geographical context, reminding readers of the real, lived experiences of biblical figures and the importance of place in God's plan.

and brought her to the king
The act of bringing Abishag to the king signifies obedience and service. In a broader sense, it can be seen as a call to bring our best to God, offering our talents and lives in service to the King of Kings. This phrase also foreshadows the role Abishag will play in the narrative, serving as a caregiver to King David, which can inspire believers to serve others with compassion and dedication.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(3) A Shunammite.--Shunem is in the territory of Issachar (Joshua 19:18), and in the plain of Jezreel (1Samuel 28:4), near Mount Gilboa. As Eusebius, describing its position carefully, calls it "Sulem," and as this variation of name is confirmed by its ready identification with the modern village of Solam, it has been conjectured (see Smith's Dictionary of the Bible, SHULAMITE), ingeniously and not improbably, that Abishag is the "fair Shulamite" of the Song of Solomon (1Kings 6:13). The conjecture certainly throws some light on the occurrences of 1Kings 2:13-25. Probably the whole notice of Abishag is only introduced on account of her subsequent connection with the fate of Adonijah.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 3. - So [Heb. and] they sought (cf. Esther 2:2), for a fair [this word points to the same conclusion as "virgin" in per. 2] damsel throughout all the coasts [i.e., borders (costa = rib, side). An old writer speaks of the "coasts and quarters of heaven"] of Israel, and found Abishag [ = "Father of error." Names compounded with Ab, "father," were and are very common in the East. We have, e.g., Ab-salom in Per. 6, and Abi-athar in Per. 7] a [Heb. the] Shunammite [Shunem, a town of Issachar (Joshua 19:18), now called Solam, "a flourishing village encompassed by gardens" (Porter), and "in the midst of the finest cornfields in the,world" (Grove), lies on the lower slope of "Little Hermon," and has before it the wide plain of Esdraelon. Another Shunammite appears in the sacred history (2 Kings 4:8)] and brought her to the king.

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

Then they searched
וַיְבַקְשׁוּ֙ (way·ḇaq·šū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 1245: To search out, to strive after

throughout
בְּכֹ֖ל (bə·ḵōl)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

Israel
יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל (yiś·rā·’êl)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3478: Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc

for a beautiful
יָפָ֔ה (yā·p̄āh)
Adjective - feminine singular
Strong's 3303: Fair, beautiful

girl,
נַעֲרָ֣ה (na·‘ă·rāh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 5291: A girl, maiden

and they found
וַֽיִּמְצְא֗וּ (way·yim·ṣə·’ū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 4672: To come forth to, appear, exist, to attain, find, acquire, to occur, meet, be present

Abishag
אֲבִישַׁג֙ (’ă·ḇî·šaḡ)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 49: Abishag -- 'my father is a wanderer', an Israelite woman

the Shunammite
הַשּׁ֣וּנַמִּ֔ית (haš·šū·nam·mîṯ)
Article | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 7767: Shunammite -- a Shunammitess

and brought
וַיָּבִ֥אוּ (way·yā·ḇi·’ū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go

her
אֹתָ֖הּ (’ō·ṯāh)
Direct object marker | third person feminine singular
Strong's 853: Untranslatable mark of the accusative case

to the king.
לַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ (lam·me·leḵ)
Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4428: A king

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OT History: 1 Kings 1:3 So they sought for a beautiful young (1Ki iKi i Ki 1 Kg 1kg)