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.

1 KINGS 9:23KJV
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1 Kings 9:23 (KJV)

What does 1 Kings 9:23 mean?

1 Kings 9:23 describes how King Solomon appointed 550 chief officers to oversee the people working on his building projects. These officers were in charge of supervising the laborers who carried out the construction work for Solomon.

This verse comes in the context of Solomon’s reign, after he completed building the temple and his palace. The writer is listing the organization and management behind these massive projects, showing that Solomon had a structured system with leaders (the chief officers) who directed the workforce. The verse highlights the scale and complexity of Solomon’s building efforts.

The Hebrew behind 1 Kings 9:23

  • The word for "chief" is שַׂר (sar), often meaning a leader, prince, or official. Here, it emphasizes the high rank of those supervising the work.
  • "Officers" comes from נָצַב (natsav), meaning someone appointed or set over others. This word underlines their role as overseers, not just ordinary workers.
  • "Rule" is from רָדָה (radah), which means to have dominion or exercise authority. This shows that these officers had real power over the workers.
  • "Wrought" is from עָשָׂה (asah), which simply means to do or make, referring to the laborers actually carrying out the construction.

Why 1 Kings 9:23 matters

  • This verse clears up that Solomon’s building projects were not just about grand ideas but required careful organization and leadership, involving hundreds of supervisors.
  • It emphasizes the scale of Solomon’s undertakings, helping the reader understand the massive workforce and management needed for such projects.
  • The verse connects to the wider passage by showing how Solomon’s wisdom included not just spiritual matters but also practical governance and administration.

Where else these words appear

“rule” 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 5:16 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.

“fifty” Hebrew H2572 · used in 141 verses

  • Genesis 6:15 And this is the fashion which thou shalt make it of: The length of the ark shall be three hundred cubits, the breadth of it fifty cubits, and the height of it thirty cubits.
  • Numbers 4:30 From thirty years old and upward even unto fifty years old shalt thou number them, every one that entereth into the service, to do the work of the tabernacle of the congregation.
  • 1 Chronicles 5:21 And they took away their cattle; of their camels fifty thousand, and of sheep two hundred and fifty thousand, and of asses two thousand, and of men an hundred thousand.

“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.