And she said unto him, My lord, thou swarest by the LORD thy God unto thine handmaid, saying, Assuredly Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne.

1 KINGS 1:17KJV
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1 Kings 1:17 (KJV)

What does 1 Kings 1:17 mean?

1 Kings 1:17 records Bathsheba reminding King David that he had sworn an oath before God that her son Solomon would succeed him as king and sit on his throne. Bathsheba is appealing to David’s promise, emphasizing that Solomon was meant to be the next ruler according to David’s own words.

In this verse, Bathsheba is speaking directly to David during a time of political uncertainty, since another son, Adonijah, is trying to claim the throne. Bathsheba’s words are meant to remind David of his commitment and to urge him to act so that Solomon’s right to the throne is secured. The verse highlights the importance of oaths made before God and the tension in the royal succession.

The Hebrew behind 1 Kings 1:17

  • "swarest" (שָׁבַע, shava): This word means to swear or make a solemn oath. Bathsheba is not just recalling a casual promise, but a binding commitment David made before God, which carries great weight in this context.
  • "LORD" (יְהוָה, YHWH): This is the personal name for God in the Hebrew Bible, used here to stress the seriousness of David’s oath. Swearing by יְהוָה (YHWH) would make the promise especially sacred and unbreakable.
  • "handmaid" (אָמָה, amah): Bathsheba refers to herself as David’s servant, showing humility and respect, which was a common way for someone to address a king in ancient Israel.
  • "reign" (מָלַךְ, malakh): This word means to become king or rule. Bathsheba is clear that the promise was not just for Solomon to be honored, but for him to actually rule as king.

Why 1 Kings 1:17 matters

  • This verse clarifies that Solomon’s claim to the throne was based on a specific promise from David, not just Bathsheba’s personal wish or ambition.
  • The verse shows the seriousness of making vows before God in ancient Israel, especially when it comes to leadership and succession.
  • It sets up the tension in the story, as Bathsheba’s reminder prompts David to act and ensures that the rightful succession is honored, which shapes the rest of the chapter and the future of Israel’s monarchy.

Where else these words appear

“handmaid” Hebrew H519 · used in 49 verses

  • Genesis 20:17 So Abraham prayed unto God: and God healed Abimelech, and his wife, and his maidservants; and they bare children.
  • Leviticus 25:44 Both thy bondmen, and thy bondmaids, which thou shalt have, shall be of the heathen that are round about you; of them shall ye buy bondmen and bondmaids.
  • 1 Samuel 25:31 That this shall be no grief unto thee, nor offence of heart unto my lord, either that thou hast shed blood causeless, or that my lord hath avenged himself: but when the LORD shall have dealt well with my lord, then remember thine handmaid.

“throne” Hebrew H3678 · used in 124 verses

  • Genesis 41:40 Thou shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled: only in the throne will I be greater than thou.
  • 2 Kings 4:10 Let us make a little chamber, I pray thee, on the wall; and let us set for him there a bed, and a table, and a stool, and a candlestick: and it shall be, when he cometh to us, that he shall turn in thither.
  • Psalms 122:5 For there are set thrones of judgment, the thrones of the house of David.