And king Rehoboam made in their stead brasen shields, and committed them unto the hands of the chief of the guard, which kept the door of the king's house.

1 KINGS 14:27KJV
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1 Kings 14:27 (KJV)

What does 1 Kings 14:27 mean?

1 Kings 14:27 describes how King Rehoboam, after losing the original gold shields, made new shields out of bronze and put them under the care of the chief guards who watched over the entrance to the king’s house. This verse shows a change in the royal household’s splendor and security after a loss.

The setting is after King Shishak of Egypt took treasures from Jerusalem, including the gold shields made by Solomon. King Rehoboam, Solomon’s son, is trying to replace what was lost by making bronze shields instead. The verse highlights both the practical steps Rehoboam took and the reduced status of the kingdom, as bronze was less valuable than gold.

The Hebrew behind 1 Kings 14:27

  • בְּרָז (neḥošet, transliterated as "nechoshet") means "bronze" or "brass." The original shields were made of gold, so the switch to bronze signals a significant downgrade in wealth and prestige.
  • מָגֵן (māgēn, transliterated as "magen") means "shield." Shields were both practical for defense and symbolic of royal power and honor, so their replacement with lesser materials is meaningful.
  • שַׂר (śar, transliterated as "sar") means "chief" or "prince." The shields were entrusted to the top officer of the guard, showing their continued ceremonial importance even though their material value had diminished.

Why 1 Kings 14:27 matters

  • This verse helps clarify that Rehoboam did not simply ignore the loss of the gold shields but tried to maintain royal traditions, even if only in appearance.
  • The shift from gold to bronze shields is a subtle but clear sign of the kingdom’s decline from Solomon’s golden age to a more troubled period.
  • The verse connects to the larger story of 1 Kings 14, where the consequences of turning away from God are seen in the loss of wealth and glory, making the details of the shields more than just decoration—they represent the kingdom’s changing fortunes.

Where else these words appear

“Rehoboam” Hebrew H7346 · used in 41 verses

  • 1 Kings 11:43 And Solomon slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David his father: and Rehoboam his son reigned in his stead.
  • 1 Kings 14:30 And there was war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam all their days.
  • 2 Chronicles 11:3 Speak unto Rehoboam the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all Israel in Judah and Benjamin, saying,

“shields” Hebrew H4043 · used in 60 verses

  • Genesis 15:1 After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.
  • 2 Chronicles 32:27 And Hezekiah had exceeding much riches and honour: and he made himself treasuries for silver, and for gold, and for precious stones, and for spices, and for shields, and for all manner of pleasant jewels;
  • Psalms 115:11 Ye that fear the LORD, trust in the LORD: he is their help and their shield.

“guard” Hebrew H7323 · used in 92 verses

  • Genesis 18:2 And he lift up his eyes and looked, and, lo, three men stood by him: and when he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself toward the ground,
  • 2 Samuel 18:22 Then said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok yet again to Joab, But howsoever, let me, I pray thee, also run after Cushi. And Joab said, Wherefore wilt thou run, my son, seeing that thou hast no tidings ready?
  • Job 9:25 Now my days are swifter than a post: they flee away, they see no good.

“brasen” Hebrew H5178 · used in 119 verses

  • Genesis 4:22 And Zillah, she also bare Tubalcain, an instructer of every artificer in brass and iron: and the sister of Tubalcain was Naamah.
  • Deuteronomy 8:9 A land wherein thou shalt eat bread without scarceness, thou shalt not lack any thing in it; a land whose stones are iron, and out of whose hills thou mayest dig brass.
  • 1 Chronicles 29:2 Now I have prepared with all my might for the house of my God the gold for things to be made of gold, and the silver for things of silver, and the brass for things of brass, the iron for things of iron, and wood for things of wood; onyx stones, and stones to be set, glistering stones, and of divers colours, and all manner of precious stones, and marble stones in abundance.