And keep the charge of the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, to keep his statutes, and his commandments, and his judgments, and his testimonies, as it is written in the law of Moses, that thou mayest prosper in all that thou doest, and whithersoever thou turnest thyself:

1 KINGS 2:3KJV
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1 Kings 2:3 (KJV)

What does 1 Kings 2:3 mean?

1 Kings 2:3 is a command from David to his son Solomon, urging him to faithfully follow God’s instructions as given in the law of Moses, so that Solomon will succeed in all he does. David emphasizes the importance of living according to God’s ways, keeping His rules, commandments, judgments, and testimonies.

David is speaking to Solomon as he prepares to die, passing on the responsibility of kingship. The verse highlights that Solomon’s success as king depends not just on political skill, but on obedience to God’s revealed will. David lists several types of divine instructions, showing that following God involves more than just outward actions—it means a whole way of life shaped by God’s guidance.

The Hebrew behind 1 Kings 2:3

  • keep (שָׁמַר, shamar): This word means to guard, watch over, or carefully observe. David is not just telling Solomon to know God’s laws, but to actively protect and live by them.
  • charge (מִשְׁמֶרֶת, mishmeret): This means a duty or responsibility entrusted to someone. David frames obedience as a sacred trust given by God, not just a personal choice.
  • statutes (חֻקָּה, chuqqah), commandments (מִצְוָה, mitzvah), judgments (מִשְׁפָּט, mishpat), testimonies (עֵדוּת, edut): Each word points to a different aspect of God’s instructions—statutes are set rules, commandments are direct orders, judgments are legal decisions, and testimonies are reminders or witness statements. David’s use of all four shows the completeness of what Solomon is to follow.
  • prosper (שָׂכַל, sakhal): This word often means to act wisely or to succeed by making good decisions. David connects obedience with true wisdom and success, not just material gain.

Why 1 Kings 2:3 matters

  • 1 Kings 2:3 clarifies that Israel’s king is not above God’s law, but under it; his authority depends on his faithfulness to God’s instructions.
  • The verse shows that biblical “success” is tied to obedience and wisdom, not just outward achievement or power.
  • By using several different words for God’s instructions, David stresses that following God is not a matter of picking and choosing, but of wholehearted commitment to all that God has revealed.

Where else these words appear

“testimonies” Hebrew H5715 · used in 57 verses

  • Exodus 16:34 As the LORD commanded Moses, so Aaron laid it up before the Testimony, to be kept.
  • Exodus 40:20 And he took and put the testimony into the ark, and set the staves on the ark, and put the mercy seat above upon the ark:
  • 1 Chronicles 29:19 And give unto Solomon my son a perfect heart, to keep thy commandments, thy testimonies, and thy statutes, and to do all these things, and to build the palace, for the which I have made provision.

“prosper” Hebrew H7919 · used in 63 verses

  • Genesis 3:6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.
  • Psalms 32:8 I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.
  • Proverbs 21:12 The righteous man wisely considereth the house of the wicked: but God overthroweth the wicked for their wickedness.

“charge” Hebrew H4931 · used in 69 verses

  • Genesis 26:5 Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.
  • Numbers 8:26 But shall minister with their brethren in the tabernacle of the congregation, to keep the charge, and shall do no service. Thus shalt thou do unto the Levites touching their charge.
  • 1 Chronicles 26:12 Among these were the divisions of the porters, even among the chief men, having wards one against another, to minister in the house of the LORD.

“statutes” Hebrew H2708 · used in 100 verses

  • Genesis 26:5 Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.
  • Leviticus 26:43 The land also shall be left of them, and shall enjoy her sabbaths, while she lieth desolate without them: and they shall accept of the punishment of their iniquity: because, even because they despised my judgments, and because their soul abhorred my statutes.
  • 2 Kings 23:3 And the king stood by a pillar, and made a covenant before the LORD, to walk after the LORD, and to keep his commandments and his testimonies and his statutes with all their heart and all their soul, to perform the words of this covenant that were written in this book. And all the people stood to the covenant.