1 Kings 1:21

Authorized King James Version

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.

Word-by-Word Analysis
#1
וְהָיָ֕ה
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
#2
כִּשְׁכַ֥ב
shall sleep
to lie down (for rest, sexual connection, decease or any other purpose)
#3
אֲדֹנִֽי
Otherwise it shall come to pass when my lord
sovereign, i.e., controller (human or divine)
#4
הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ
the king
a king
#5
עִם
adverb or preposition, with (i.e., in conjunction with), in varied applications; specifically, equally with; often with prepositional prefix (and then
#6
אֲבֹתָ֑יו
H1
with his fathers
father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application
#7
וְהָיִ֗יתִי
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
#8
אֲנִ֛י
i
#9
וּבְנִ֥י
that I and my son
a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or
#10
שְׁלֹמֹ֖ה
Solomon
shelomah, david's successor
#11
חַטָּאִֽים׃
shall be counted offenders
a criminal, or one accounted guilty

Analysis

The salvation theme here intersects with the metanarrative of redemption running from Genesis to Revelation. Biblical theology recognizes this as part of a unified storyline from the promise in Genesis 3:15 to its fulfillment in Christ. The phrase emphasizing divine sovereignty contributes to our systematic understanding of Christian doctrine and connects to the broader scriptural witness about God's saving work from the Exodus to the cross.

Historical Context

The historical context of the biblical period relevant to this book's composition provides crucial background for understanding this verse. The historical and cultural milieu of the biblical world informed the author's theological expression and the audience's understanding. The the cultural context of the biblical world would have shaped how the original audience understood divine sovereignty. Archaeological and historical evidence reveals Archaeological discoveries continue to illuminate the historical context of biblical texts.

Questions for Reflection

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