1 Kings 1:50 Meaning and Explanation
“And Adonijah feared because of Solomon, and arose, and went, and caught hold on the horns of the altar.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Fearing for his life, Adonijah flees to the altar and grasps its horns, seeking sanctuary.
What Does 1 Kings 1:50 Mean?
Abandoned and afraid, Adonijah seeks refuge. He runs to the altar and takes hold of its horns, the raised corners of the sacred place, which served as a recognized place of asylum. The man who had grasped at a throne now clings to the altar, pleading for mercy and his very life.
There is a sobering reversal here: the proud rival becomes a trembling suppliant at the place of sacrifice. Yet the altar itself speaks of mercy, a place where the guilty may flee for refuge. So Scripture points every fearful and failing soul to take hold of the refuge God provides, finding in the place of sacrifice not death but the hope of pardon.
1 Kings 1:50 in the Original Language
qarnot (קַרְנוֹת), 'horns' -- the raised projections at the altar's corners, grasped as a plea for refuge and mercy.
Frequently Asked Questions About 1 Kings 1:50
What does 1 Kings 1:50 mean?
Fearing for his life, Adonijah flees to the altar and grasps its horns, seeking sanctuary.