And the king sent and called for Shimei, and said unto him, Did I not make thee to swear by the LORD, and protested unto thee, saying, Know for a certain, on the day thou goest out, and walkest abroad any whither, that thou shalt surely die? and thou saidst unto me, The word that I have heard is good.

1 KINGS 2:42KJV
Know the Bible

1 Kings 2:42 (KJV)

What does 1 Kings 2:42 mean?

1 Kings 2:42 shows King Solomon confronting Shimei, reminding him that he had made Shimei swear by the LORD not to leave Jerusalem, warning that breaking this oath would mean death. Solomon points out that Shimei had agreed to these terms, acknowledging the seriousness of the promise.

In this verse, Solomon is addressing Shimei after Shimei broke the agreement by leaving the city. The king recalls the oath (a solemn promise made before God) and the clear warning he gave, emphasizing that Shimei had accepted the conditions willingly. This conversation sets up the consequences for Shimei’s actions and highlights the importance of keeping one’s word, especially when sworn before God.

The Hebrew behind 1 Kings 2:42

  • "Swear" (שָׁבַע, shava): This word means to make a solemn oath, often invoking God as a witness. Here, it stresses the seriousness of Shimei’s promise and why breaking it is such a grave matter.
  • "Protested" (עוּד, ud): This word can mean to warn or solemnly testify. Solomon is not just reminding Shimei, but making it clear he had strongly warned him about the consequences.
  • "Surely die" (מוּת, muth): The repetition of the word for "die" in Hebrew is a way of expressing certainty—there would be no exceptions or leniency if the oath was broken.

Why 1 Kings 2:42 matters

  • This verse clarifies that Shimei was not caught off guard; he fully understood the terms and consequences of his oath, making his later actions a clear act of disobedience.
  • The emphasis on swearing "by the LORD" shows how seriously such promises were taken in ancient Israel, linking personal integrity to faithfulness before God.
  • This moment connects to the wider passage where Solomon is establishing his rule and dealing with those who might threaten the stability of his kingdom, showing his commitment to justice and order.

Where else these words appear

“whither” Hebrew H575 · used in 8 verses

  • Genesis 37:30 And he returned unto his brethren, and said, The child is not; and I, whither shall I go?
  • 1 Kings 2:36 And the king sent and called for Shimei, and said unto him, Build thee an house in Jerusalem, and dwell there, and go not forth thence any whither.
  • 2 Kings 6:6 And the man of God said, Where fell it? And he shewed him the place. And he cut down a stick, and cast it in thither; and the iron did swim.

“Shimei” Hebrew H8096 · used in 39 verses

  • Exodus 6:17 The sons of Gershon; Libni, and Shimi, according to their families.
  • 1 Kings 2:38 And Shimei said unto the king, The saying is good: as my lord the king hath said, so will thy servant do. And Shimei dwelt in Jerusalem many days.
  • 1 Chronicles 8:21 And Adaiah, and Beraiah, and Shimrath, the sons of Shimhi;

“protested” Hebrew H5749 · used in 40 verses

  • Genesis 43:3 And Judah spake unto him, saying, The man did solemnly protest unto us, saying, Ye shall not see my face, except your brother be with you.
  • 2 Kings 17:15 And they rejected his statutes, and his covenant that he made with their fathers, and his testimonies which he testified against them; and they followed vanity, and became vain, and went after the heathen that were round about them, concerning whom the LORD had charged them, that they should not do like them.
  • Psalms 146:9 The LORD preserveth the strangers; he relieveth the fatherless and widow: but the way of the wicked he turneth upside down.