1 Kings 14:21

Authorized King James Version

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.

Word-by-Word Analysis

רְחַבְעָ֨ם

H7346

And Rehoboam

rechabam, an israelite king

בֶּן

H1121

old

a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or

שְׁלֹמֹ֔ה

H8010

of Solomon

shelomah, david's successor

מָלַ֣ךְ

H4427

and he reigned

to reign; hence (by implication) to take counsel

בִּֽיהוּדָ֑ה

H3063

in Judah

jehudah (or judah), the name of five israelites; also of the tribe descended from the first, and of its territory

בֶּן

H1121

old

a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or

אַרְבָּעִ֣ים

H705

was forty

forty

וְאַחַ֣ת

H259

and one

properly, united, i.e., one; or (as an ordinal) first

שָׁנָ֣ה׀

H8141

years

a year (as a revolution of time)

#10

רְחַבְעָ֨ם

H7346

And Rehoboam

rechabam, an israelite king

#11

מָלַ֣ךְ

H4427

and he reigned

to reign; hence (by implication) to take counsel

#12

וּֽשֲׁבַ֨ע

H7651

seventeen

seven (as the sacred full one); also (adverbially) seven times; by implication, a week; by extension, an indefinite number

#13

עֶשְׂרֵ֥ה

H6240

ten (only in combination), i.e., -teen; also (ordinal) -teenth

#14

שָׁנָ֣ה׀

H8141

years

a year (as a revolution of time)

#15

מָלַ֣ךְ

H4427

and he reigned

to reign; hence (by implication) to take counsel

#16

בִּירֽוּשָׁלִַ֗ם

H3389

in Jerusalem

jerushalaim or jerushalem, the capital city of palestine

#17

הָ֠עִיר

H5892

the city

a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere encampment or post)

#18

אֲשֶׁר

H834

who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc

#19

בָּחַ֨ר

H977

did choose

properly, to try, i.e., (by implication) select

#20

יְהוָ֜ה

H3068

which the LORD

(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god

#21

לָשׂ֨וּם

H7760

to put

to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and elliptically)

#22

אֶת

H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

#23

וְשֵׁ֣ם

H8034

his ~

an appellation, as a mark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority, character

#24

שָׁם֙

H8033

there (transferring to time) then; often thither, or thence

#25

מִכֹּל֙

H3605

properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)

#26

שִׁבְטֵ֣י

H7626

out of all the tribes

a scion, i.e., (literally) a stick (for punishing, writing, fighting, ruling, walking, etc.) or (figuratively) a clan

#27

יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל

H3478

of Israel

he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity

#28

וְשֵׁ֣ם

H8034

his ~

an appellation, as a mark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority, character

#29

אִמּ֔וֹ

H517

there And his mother's

a mother (as the bond of the family); in a wide sense (both literally and figuratively [like father])

#30

נַֽעֲמָ֖ה

H5279

was Naamah

naamah, the name of a place in palestine

#31

הָֽעַמֹּנִֽית׃

H5985

an Ammonitess

an ammonitess

Analysis

The kingdom of God theme here intersects with the progressive revelation of God's rule from creation to consummation. Biblical theology recognizes this as part of development from creation mandate through Davidic kingdom to eschatological fulfillment. The phrase emphasizing divine sovereignty contributes to our systematic understanding of Christian doctrine and connects to the broader scriptural witness about God's reign from creation through the millennial kingdom.

Historical Context

The literary and historical milieu of the literary conventions and historical circumstances of biblical literature shapes this text's meaning. The historical development of kingdom of God within the theological tradition of 1 Kings Understanding the ancient worldview that shaped the author's theological expression helps modern readers appreciate why the author emphasizes divine sovereignty in this particular way.

Questions for Reflection

What practical applications emerge from understanding kingdom of God as presented in this verse, particularly in light of providing hope in times of political and social upheaval?
How does this passage contribute to our understanding of from earthly theocracy through Davidic kingdom to eschatological fulfillment, and what implications does this have for Christian discipleship?
How does the kingdom of God theme in this verse connect to the overarching narrative of Scripture, and what does this reveal about God's character and purposes?

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