1 Kings 14:21 Meaning and Explanation
“And Rehoboam the son of Solomon reigned in Judah. Rehoboam was forty and one years old when he began to reign, and he reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city which the LORD did choose out of all the tribes of Israel, to put his name there. And his mother’s name was Naamah an Ammonitess.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →The narrative turns south to Rehoboam, who reigns seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city God chose for His name.
What Does 1 Kings 14:21 Mean?
The story now shifts from the northern kingdom back to Judah and its king, Rehoboam, son of Solomon. He is forty-one when he begins, reigns seventeen years in Jerusalem, and his mother is named as Naamah, an Ammonitess.
Jerusalem is singled out as the city the LORD chose to put His name there, the place of His temple and His covenant presence. That choice makes Judah's coming sins all the more grievous, for they happened in the shadow of God's own house. The mention of a foreign mother quietly recalls Solomon's marriages, whose consequences ripple into the next generation. Privilege is no guarantee of faithfulness; nearness to holy things is a gift that calls for a holy heart.
1 Kings 14:21 in the Original Language
shem (שֵׁם), 'name' -- God set His name in Jerusalem, marking it as the place of His covenant presence and worship.
Frequently Asked Questions About 1 Kings 14:21
What does 1 Kings 14:21 mean?
The narrative turns south to Rehoboam, who reigns seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city God chose for His name.