1 Kings 1:4
New International Version
The woman was very beautiful; she took care of the king and waited on him, but the king had no sexual relations with her.

New Living Translation
The girl was very beautiful, and she looked after the king and took care of him. But the king had no sexual relations with her.

English Standard Version
The young woman was very beautiful, and she was of service to the king and attended to him, but the king knew her not.

Berean Standard Bible
The girl was unsurpassed in beauty; she cared for the king and served him, but he had no relations with her.

King James Bible
And the damsel was very fair, and cherished the king, and ministered to him: but the king knew her not.

New King James Version
The young woman was very lovely; and she cared for the king, and served him; but the king did not know her.

New American Standard Bible
The girl was very beautiful; and she became the king’s nurse and served him, but the king did not become intimate with her.

NASB 1995
The girl was very beautiful; and she became the king’s nurse and served him, but the king did not cohabit with her.

NASB 1977
And the girl was very beautiful; and she became the king’s nurse and served him, but the king did not cohabit with her.

Legacy Standard Bible
Now the young woman was very beautiful; and she became the king’s nurse and attended him, but the king did not know her.

Amplified Bible
The girl was very beautiful; and she became the king’s nurse and served him, but the king was not intimate with her.

Christian Standard Bible
The girl was of unsurpassed beauty, and she became the king’s caregiver. She attended to him, but he was not intimate with her.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The girl was of unsurpassed beauty, and she became the king’s caregiver. She served him, but he was not intimate with her.

American Standard Version
And the damsel was very fair; and she cherished the king, and ministered to him; but the king knew her not.

English Revised Version
And the damsel was very fair; and she cherished the king, and ministered to him; but the king knew her not.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The woman was very beautiful. She became the king's servant and took care of him, but the king did not make love to her.

Good News Translation
She was very beautiful, and waited on the king and took care of him, but he did not have intercourse with her.

International Standard Version
The young woman was absolutely beautiful. She served the king and was very useful to him. The king was not sexually involved with her.

Majority Standard Bible
The girl was unsurpassed in beauty; she cared for the king and served him, but he had no relations with her.

NET Bible
The young woman was very beautiful; she became the king's nurse and served him, but the king did not have sexual relations with her.

New Heart English Bible
The young woman was very beautiful; and she became the king's attendant and served him; but the king did not know her intimately.

Webster's Bible Translation
And the damsel was very fair, and cherished the king, and ministered to him: but the king knew her not.

World English Bible
The young lady was very beautiful; and she cherished the king, and served him; but the king didn’t know her intimately.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and the young woman [is] very, very beautiful, and she is a companion to the king, and serves him, and the king has not known her.

Young's Literal Translation
and the young woman is very very fair, and she is to the king a companion, and serveth him, and the king hath not known her.

Smith's Literal Translation
And the girl fair, even exceedingly, and she will be to the king an associate, and she will serve him: and the king knew her not.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And the damsel was exceeding beautiful, and she slept with the king: and served him, but the king did not know her.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Now the girl was exceedingly beautiful. And she slept with the king, and she ministered to him. Yet truly, the king did not know her.

New American Bible
The girl was very beautiful indeed, and she nursed the king and took care of him. But the king did not have relations with her.

New Revised Standard Version
The girl was very beautiful. She became the king’s attendant and served him, but the king did not know her sexually.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And the maiden was very beautiful, and she became the king's attendant and ministered to him; but the king knew her not.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And the young girl was very beautiful in her appearance and she was a Servant for the King and she was waiting on him, and the King did not know her sexually.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And the damsel was very fair; and she became a companion unto the king, and ministered to him; but the king knew her not.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And the damsel was extremely beautiful, and she cherished the king, and ministered to him, but the king knew her not.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Abishag Cares for David
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.

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.”

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.

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.

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.

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

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,

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 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.”

1 Samuel 16:18
One of the servants answered, “I have seen a son of Jesse of Bethlehem who knows how to play the harp. He is a mighty man of valor, a warrior, eloquent and handsome, and the LORD is with him.”

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

1 Samuel 25:42
So Abigail hurried and got on a donkey, and attended by five of her maidens, she followed David’s messengers and became his wife.

1 Samuel 28:14
“What does he look like?” asked Saul. “An old man is coming up,” she replied. “And he is wearing a robe.” So Saul knew that it was Samuel, and he bowed facedown in reverence.

1 Samuel 25:18
Then Abigail hurried and took two hundred loaves of bread, two skins of wine, five butchered sheep, five seahs of roasted grain, a hundred clusters of raisins, and two hundred cakes of figs. She loaded them on donkeys


Treasury of Scripture

And the damsel was very fair, and cherished the king, and ministered to him: but the king knew her not.

knew her not

Matthew 1:25
And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.

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Beautiful Care Cherished Companion Damsel Fair Girl Intimate Intimately King's Lady Maiden Ministered Nurse Relations Served Serveth Times Waited Waiting Young
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Beautiful Care Cherished Companion Damsel Fair Girl Intimate Intimately King's Lady Maiden Ministered Nurse Relations Served Serveth Times Waited Waiting 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














The girl
The Hebrew word used here is "na'arah," which refers to a young woman or maiden. In the context of ancient Israel, this term often implied a woman of marriageable age, yet still under the authority of her father or guardian. The use of "the girl" in this passage highlights her youth and innocence, setting the stage for her role in the narrative. This phrase also emphasizes the cultural norms of the time, where young women were often placed in positions of service within royal households.

was very beautiful
The Hebrew phrase "yapheh me'od" translates to "very beautiful," indicating not just physical attractiveness but also a sense of grace and favor. Beauty in the biblical context often carried connotations of divine blessing or favor, suggesting that her presence in the king's service was not merely by chance but perhaps orchestrated by divine providence. This beauty is not just a superficial trait but a reflection of God's creation, reminding us of the inherent value and dignity bestowed upon each individual.

and she cared for the king
The Hebrew verb "sharat" means to minister or serve, often used in the context of attending to someone's needs. This phrase indicates her role as a caregiver, providing comfort and companionship to King David in his old age. Her service is a testament to the biblical principle of servanthood, where greatness is found in humble service to others, reflecting the heart of Christ who came not to be served but to serve.

and served him
The repetition of the concept of service underscores the importance of her role. The Hebrew root "sharat" is again employed, emphasizing her dedication and faithfulness. In a broader biblical context, service is a recurring theme, illustrating the call for believers to serve God and others with a willing heart. Her service to the king is a model of loyalty and devotion, qualities that are highly esteemed in the biblical narrative.

but he had no relations with her
The Hebrew phrase "lo yada'ah" literally means "he did not know her," a euphemism for sexual relations. This detail is crucial, as it clarifies the nature of their relationship, maintaining her purity and integrity. In a time when royal concubines were common, this statement highlights King David's restraint and respect for her as an individual. It also serves to protect her honor and dignity, aligning with the biblical view of sexual purity and the sanctity of marriage.

Verse 4. - And the damsel was very fair [lit. ,fair to exceeding] and cherished [see on ver. 2] the king, and ministered to him; but the king knew her not. [This is mentioned to explain the history of 1 Kings 2:13-25. Had it been otherwise, Adonijah could never have presumed to seek her in marriage, and Bathsheba would never have promised her help in his suit. Such an incestuous alliance would not only have been contrary to the law (Leviticus 18:8), but abhorrent to all true Israelites (cf. 1 Corinthians 5:1). In this fact, which the court knew, and which the nation at large did not know - they could only suppose that such a "search" for one so exceeding "fair" meant the increase of the seraglio - Adoni-jah found his point d'appui for a second attempt on the throne. The older expositors and some of the modern, notably Wordsworth, assume that Abishag was David's wife, in the sense of being legally married to him. (Corn. A Lap. discusses the question at considerable length, and with needless pruriency.) But this idea finds no support in Scripture, which represents her as simply an attendant. It is idle to remark, consequently, that "the Jewish law allowed polygamy" (Rawlinson).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
The girl
וְהַֽנַּעֲרָ֖ה (wə·han·na·‘ă·rāh)
Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 5291: A girl, maiden

was unsurpassed
עַד־ (‘aḏ-)
Preposition
Strong's 5704: As far as, even to, up to, until, while

in beauty,
יָפָ֣ה (yā·p̄āh)
Adjective - feminine singular
Strong's 3303: Fair, beautiful

and she
וַתְּהִ֨י (wat·tə·hî)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

cared
סֹכֶ֙נֶת֙ (sō·ḵe·neṯ)
Verb - Qal - Participle - feminine singular
Strong's 5532: To be familiar with, to minister to, be serviceable to, be customary

for the king
לַמֶּ֤לֶךְ (lam·me·leḵ)
Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4428: A king

and served him,
וַתְּשָׁ֣רְתֵ֔הוּ (wat·tə·šā·rə·ṯê·hū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular | third person masculine singular
Strong's 8334: To attend as a, menial, worshipper, to contribute to

but he
וְהַמֶּ֖לֶךְ (wə·ham·me·leḵ)
Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4428: A king

had no
לֹ֥א (lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

relations with her.
יְדָעָֽהּ׃ (yə·ḏā·‘āh)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular | third person feminine singular
Strong's 3045: To know


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OT History: 1 Kings 1:4 The young lady was very beautiful (1Ki iKi i Ki 1 Kg 1kg)
1 Kings 1:3
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