In fact, I have a favor to ask of you.” “What is it?” she asked.
Parallel translations
- WEB He said moreover, I have something to tell you.” She said, “Say on.”
- KJV He said moreover, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And she said, Say on.
- BSB Then he said, “I have something to tell you.” “Say it,” she answered.
- NKJV Moreover he said, “I have something to say to you.” And she said, “Say it.”
- NASB Then he said, “I have something to say to you.” And she said, “Speak.”
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
Adonijah says he has something to tell her, and Bathsheba invites him to speak. The conversation moves toward his real purpose.
Overview
Adonijah signals he has a request to make, and Bathsheba grants him a hearing. The brief exchange builds toward the petition that will expose his lingering ambition. The narrative slows to draw attention to the weight of what he is about to ask.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 2
- 2 Sam 14:12Then the woman said, “Please let your servant speak a word to my lord the king.” He said, “Say on.”
- Luke 7:40Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.” He said, “Teacher, say on.”
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 2:14 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.