Beside the chief of Solomon's officers which were over the work, three thousand and three hundred, which ruled over the people that wrought in the work.

1 KINGS 5:16KJV
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1 Kings 5:16 (KJV)

What does 1 Kings 5:16 mean?

1 Kings 5:16 states that, in addition to Solomon’s main officials, there were 3,300 overseers who supervised the workers involved in building projects. These overseers were responsible for directing the laborers who carried out the actual construction work.

This verse is part of a passage describing how King Solomon organized the workforce for building the temple and other major projects. The writer is giving details about the scale and structure of Solomon’s administration, highlighting the large number of supervisors needed to manage such a massive labor force. The verse shows the careful planning and management behind Solomon’s building efforts.

The Hebrew behind 1 Kings 5:16

  • "Chief" (שַׂר, sar): This word refers to a leader or official, emphasizing that there were high-ranking officers in charge above the regular overseers.
  • "Officers" (נָצַב, natsav): This term often means someone appointed or stationed, pointing to those who had authority over the work and the workers.
  • "Ruled" (רָדָה, radah): This word means to have dominion or to govern, clarifying that these overseers had real authority over the people doing the labor.
  • "Wrought" (עָשָׂה, asah): This verb means to do or make, referring here to the actual manual labor performed by the workers under supervision.

Why 1 Kings 5:16 matters

  • This verse helps clarify the scale of Solomon’s building projects by showing not just the number of workers, but also the layers of management needed to coordinate them.
  • It highlights the administrative skill and organization involved in ancient construction, countering any idea that such projects were haphazard or unplanned.
  • By mentioning both the chief officers and the overseers, the verse connects to the broader theme of order and structure in Solomon’s reign, which is a recurring point in the surrounding chapters.

Where else these words appear

“ruled” Hebrew H7287 · used in 25 verses

  • Genesis 1:26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
  • Judges 14:9 And he took thereof in his hands, and went on eating, and came to his father and mother, and he gave them, and they did eat: but he told not them that he had taken the honey out of the carcase of the lion.
  • Psalms 110:2 The LORD shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies.

“officers” Hebrew H5324 · used in 75 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,
  • Numbers 23:6 And he returned unto him, and, lo, he stood by his burnt sacrifice, he, and all the princes of Moab.
  • 1 Kings 9:23 These were the chief of the officers that were over Solomon's work, five hundred and fifty, which bare rule over the people that wrought in the work.

“work” Hebrew H4399 · used in 149 verses

  • Genesis 2:2 And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.
  • Numbers 28:26 Also in the day of the firstfruits, when ye bring a new meat offering unto the LORD, after your weeks be out, ye shall have an holy convocation; ye shall do no servile work:
  • 2 Chronicles 24:13 So the workmen wrought, and the work was perfected by them, and they set the house of God in his state, and strengthened it.