And they spake unto him, saying, If thou wilt be a servant unto this people this day, and wilt serve them, and answer them, and speak good words to them, then they will be thy servants for ever.
Parallel translations
- WEB They replied, “If you will be a servant to this people today, and will serve them, and answer them with good words, then they will be your servants forever.”
- BSB They replied, “If you will be a servant to these people and serve them this day, and if you will respond by speaking kind words to them, they will be your servants forever.”
- NKJV And they spoke to him, saying, “If you will be a servant to these people today, and serve them, and answer them, and speak good words to them, then they will be your servants forever.”
- NASB Then they spoke to him, saying, “If you will be a servant to this people today, and will serve them and grant them their request, and speak pleasant words to them, then they will be your servants always.”
- NLT The older counselors replied, “If you are willing to be a servant to these people today and give them a favorable answer, they will always be your loyal subjects.”
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
The elders advise Rehoboam to serve the people and speak kindly, and they will be loyal forever. Wise counsel urges humble, servant leadership.
Overview
The elders counsel a posture of service and gracious words, promising lasting loyalty in return. Their advice reflects a biblical principle that true authority is exercised through servanthood. This anticipates the greater truth embodied in Christ, who taught and modeled that the greatest leader is the servant of all.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 8
- Prov 15:1A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.
- 1 Kgs 12:13And the king answered the people roughly, and forsook the old men’s counsel that they gave him;
- Zech 1:13And the LORD answered the angel that talked with me with good words and comfortable words.
- 2 Sam 15:3–6And Absalom said unto him, See, thy matters are good and right; but there is no man deputed of the king to hear thee.
- 2 Chr 10:6–7And king Rehoboam took counsel with the old men that had stood before Solomon his father while he yet lived, saying, What counsel give ye me to return answer to this people?
- Phil 2:7–11But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
- Eccl 10:4If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for yielding pacifieth great offences.
- Mark 10:43–44But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister:
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
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 12:7 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.