1 Kings 1:21 Meaning and Explanation
“Otherwise it shall come to pass, when my lord the king shall sleep with his fathers, that I and my son Solomon shall be counted offenders.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Bathsheba warns that if David does not act, she and Solomon will be branded as criminals once the king dies.
What Does 1 Kings 1:21 Mean?
Bathsheba names the danger plainly. Should David die without securing the succession, she and Solomon would be treated as offenders, rivals to be eliminated by the new king. The phrase sleep with his fathers is a gentle way of speaking of death, the end that draws ever nearer for the aged king.
Her words carry the weight of a mother pleading for her child's very life. Yet beneath the fear lies a quiet trust that the king's promise, and the God who witnessed it, will not let the innocent perish. In every age the faithful entrust their vulnerable lives to the One who is a defender of the weak and a keeper of His word.
Frequently Asked Questions About 1 Kings 1:21
What does 1 Kings 1:21 mean?
Bathsheba warns that if David does not act, she and Solomon will be branded as criminals once the king dies.