And Bathsheba bowed down in homage to the king, who asked, “What is your desire?”
Parallel translations
- WEB Bathsheba bowed, and showed respect to the king. The king said, “What would you like?”
- KJV And Bathsheba bowed, and did obeisance unto the king. And the king said, What wouldest thou?
- NKJV And Bathsheba bowed and did homage to the king. Then the king said, “What is your wish?”
- NASB Then Bathsheba bowed and prostrated herself before the king. And the king said, “What is on your mind?”
- NLT Bathsheba bowed down before the king. “What can I do for you?” he asked her.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Bathsheba bows respectfully, and David asks what she desires. Proper court protocol opens her petition.
Overview
Bathsheba shows due honor to the king before making her request, modeling respect even toward a feeble ruler. David's question gives her the opening to speak. The brief exchange sets the stage for her appeal on Solomon's behalf.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 8
- 1 Sam 24:8After that, David got up, went out of the cave, and called out to Saul, “My lord the king!” When Saul looked behind him, David bowed facedown in reverence
- 1 Sam 20:41When the young man had gone, David got up from the south side of the stone, fell facedown, and bowed three times. Then he and Jonathan kissed each other and wept together—though David wept more.
- 1 Sam 25:23When Abigail saw David, she quickly got off the donkey, fell facedown, and bowed before him.
- Matt 20:21“What do you want?” He inquired. She answered, “Declare that in Your kingdom one of these two sons of mine may sit at Your right hand, and the other at Your left.”
- Esth 7:2and as they drank their wine on that second day, the king asked once more, “Queen Esther, what is your petition? It will be given to you. What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be fulfilled.”
- 1 Kgs 1:23So the king was told, “Nathan the prophet is here.” And Nathan went in and bowed facedown before the king.
- Matt 20:32Jesus stopped and called them. “What do you want Me to do for you?” He asked.
- 1 Kgs 2:20“I have just one small request of you,” she said. “Do not deny me.” “Make your request, my mother,” the king replied, “for I will not deny you.”
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Solomon's glory, wisdom, and temple where God's presence dwells are a shadow of the greater Son of David — 'one greater than Solomon is here' — and of the true Temple, Christ himself.
How 1 Kings 1:16 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.