Because of this, I will humble David’s descendants—but not forever.’”
Parallel translations
- WEB I will afflict the offspring of David for this, but not forever.’”
- KJV And I will for this afflict the seed of David, but not for ever.
- NKJV And I will afflict the descendants of David because of this, but not forever.’ ”
- NASB So I will oppress the descendants of David for this, but not always.’ ”
- NLT Because of Solomon’s sin I will punish the descendants of David—though not forever.’”
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
God will humble David's line for a time, but not forever. The judgment on David's house is limited and temporary.
Overview
Though David's descendants will be afflicted through the loss of the northern tribes, God assures that this discipline is not permanent. The phrase but not forever holds out hope of future restoration for David's house. This anticipates the enduring Davidic promise that culminates in the eternal reign of Jesus the Messiah.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 15
- Luke 1:32–33He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David,
- Luke 2:11Today in the city of David a Savior has been born to you. He is Christ the Lord!
- Isa 9:7Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish and sustain it with justice and righteousness from that time and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of Hosts will accomplish this.
- Isa 11:1–10Then a shoot will spring up from the stump of Jesse, and a Branch from his roots will bear fruit.
- Ps 89:30–34If his sons forsake My law and do not walk in My judgments,
- 1 Kgs 14:8I tore the kingdom away from the house of David and gave it to you. But you were not like My servant David, who kept My commandments and followed Me with all his heart, doing only what was right in My eyes.
- 1 Kgs 12:16When all Israel saw that the king had refused to listen to them, they answered the king: “What portion do we have in David, and what inheritance in the son of Jesse? To your tents, O Israel! Look now to your own house, O David!” So the Israelites went home,
- Lam 3:31–32For the Lord will not cast us off forever.
- 1 Kgs 14:25–26In the fifth year of Rehoboam’s reign, Shishak king of Egypt came up and attacked Jerusalem.
- Ps 89:38–45Now, however, You have spurned and rejected him; You are enraged by Your anointed one.
- Luke 2:4So Joseph also went up from Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, since he was from the house and line of David.
- Ps 89:49–51Where, O Lord, is Your loving devotion of old, which You faithfully swore to David?
- Isa 7:14Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call Him Immanuel.
- Jer 23:5–6Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and He will reign wisely as King and will administer justice and righteousness in the land.
- 1 Kgs 11:36I will give one tribe to his son, so that My servant David will always have a lamp before Me in Jerusalem, the city where I chose to put My Name.
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 11:39 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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