So I will oppress the descendants of David for this, but not always.’ ”
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.
- BSB Because of this, I will humble David’s descendants—but not forever.’”
- NKJV And I will afflict the descendants of David because of this, but not forever.’ ”
- 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 2:11For there is born to you today, in David’s city, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
- Isa 9:7Of the increase of his government and of peace there shall be no end, on David’s throne, and on his kingdom, to establish it, and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from that time on, even forever. The zeal of Yahweh of Armies will perform this.
- Isa 11:1–10A shoot will come out of the stock of Jesse, and a branch out of his roots will bear fruit.
- Ps 89:30–34If his children forsake my law, and don’t walk in my ordinances;
- 1 Kgs 14:8and tore the kingdom away from David’s house, and gave it you; and yet you have not been as my servant David, who kept my commandments, and who followed me with all his heart, to do that only which was right in my eyes,
- 1 Kgs 12:16When all Israel saw that the king didn’t listen to them, the people answered the king, saying, “What portion have we in David? We don’t have an inheritance in the son of Jesse. To your tents, Israel! Now see to your own house, David.” So Israel departed to their tents.
- Lam 3:31–32For the Lord will not cast off forever.
- 1 Kgs 14:25–26In the fifth year of king Rehoboam, Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem,
- Ps 89:38–45But you have rejected and spurned. You have been angry with your anointed.
- Luke 2:4Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to David’s city, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David;
- Ps 89:49–51Lord, where are your former loving kindnesses, which you swore to David in your faithfulness?
- Isa 7:14Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin will conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
- Jer 23:5–6“Behold, the days come,” says Yahweh, “that I will raise to David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land.
- 1 Kgs 11:36To his son will I give one tribe, that David my servant may have a lamp always before me in Jerusalem, the city which I have chosen me to put my name there.
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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