And Solomon said, If he will shew himself a worthy man, there shall not an hair of him fall to the earth: but if wickedness shall be found in him, he shall die.
Parallel translations
- WEB Solomon said, “If he shows himself a worthy man, not a hair of his shall fall to the earth; but if wickedness is found in him, he shall die.”
- BSB And Solomon replied, “If he is a man of character, not a single hair of his will fall to the ground. But if evil is found in him, he will die.”
- NKJV Then Solomon said, “If he proves himself a worthy man, not one hair of him shall fall to the earth; but if wickedness is found in him, he shall die.”
- NASB And Solomon said, “If he is a worthy man, not one of his hairs will fall to the ground; but if wickedness is found in him, he will die.”
- NLT Solomon replied, “If he proves himself to be loyal, not a hair on his head will be touched. But if he makes trouble, he will die.”
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
Solomon promises that if Adonijah proves worthy he will be spared, but wickedness will mean death. Mercy is granted conditionally upon future loyalty.
Overview
Solomon responds with measured justice, offering clemency contingent on Adonijah's good conduct. His words combine mercy with a clear warning, reflecting the wisdom that will mark his reign. The conditional pardon foreshadows the later judgment when Adonijah's renewed ambition proves him untrustworthy.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 9
- 1 Sam 14:45And the people said unto Saul, Shall Jonathan die, who hath wrought this great salvation in Israel? God forbid: as the LORD liveth, there shall not one hair of his head fall to the ground; for he hath wrought with God this day. So the people rescued Jonathan, that he died not.
- 2 Sam 14:11Then said she, I pray thee, let the king remember the LORD thy God, that thou wouldest not suffer the revengers of blood to destroy any more, lest they destroy my son. And he said, As the LORD liveth, there shall not one hair of thy son fall to the earth.
- Prov 13:6Righteousness keepeth him that is upright in the way: but wickedness overthroweth the sinner.
- Job 15:22He believeth not that he shall return out of darkness, and he is waited for of the sword.
- Prov 21:12The righteous man wisely considereth the house of the wicked: but God overthroweth the wicked for their wickedness.
- 1 Kgs 2:21–25And she said, Let Abishag the Shunammite be given to Adonijah thy brother to wife.
- Acts 27:34Wherefore I pray you to take some meat: for this is for your health: for there shall not an hair fall from the head of any of you.
- Luke 21:18But there shall not an hair of your head perish.
- Matt 10:30But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
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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 1:52 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
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