And there was no king in Edom; a deputy served as king.
Parallel translations
- WEB There was no king in Edom. A deputy ruled.
- KJV There was then no king in Edom: a deputy was king.
- NKJV There was then no king in Edom, only a deputy of the king.
- NASB Now there was no king in Edom; a governor served as king.
- NLT (There was no king in Edom at that time, only a deputy.)
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
There was no king in Edom, only a deputy, indicating Judah's control over the region during this period.
Overview
The note explains that Edom was governed by a Judean-appointed deputy rather than its own king. This reflects the strength of Judah under Jehoshaphat and sets context for his trade ventures. It quietly affirms God's blessing on the kingdom during a faithful reign.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 7
- 2 Sam 8:14He placed garrisons throughout Edom, and all the Edomites were subject to David. So the LORD made David victorious wherever he went.
- 2 Kgs 3:9So the king of Israel, the king of Judah, and the king of Edom set out, and after they had traveled a roundabout route for seven days, they had no water for their army or for their animals.
- 2 Kgs 8:20In the days of Jehoram, Edom rebelled against the hand of Judah and appointed their own king.
- Gen 27:40You shall live by the sword and serve your brother. But when you rebel, you will tear his yoke from your neck.”
- Gen 25:23and He declared to her: “Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you will be separated; one people will be stronger than the other, and the older will serve the younger.”
- Gen 36:31–43These are the kings who reigned in the land of Edom before any king reigned over the Israelites:
- Ps 108:9–10Moab is My washbasin; upon Edom I toss My sandal; over Philistia I shout in triumph.”
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 22:47 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.