Limitless Word
And these were the princes which he had; Azariah the son of Zadok the priest,
1 Kings 4:2 · King James Version
Parallel translations
  • WEB These were the princes whom he had: Azariah the son of Zadok, the priest;
  • BSB and these were his chief officials: Azariah son of Zadok was the priest;
  • NKJV And these were his officials: Azariah the son of Zadok, the priest;
  • NASB These were his officials: Azariah the son of Zadok was the priest;
  • NLT and these were his high officials: Azariah son of Zadok was the priest.

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

Azariah son of Zadok serves as priest among Solomon's chief officials. The list shows an orderly, well-governed kingdom.

Overview

The narrative begins cataloging Solomon's high officials, starting with the priest Azariah of the line of Zadok. Such records testify to the administrative order and stability of the reign. The prominence of the Zadokite priesthood reflects the fulfillment of God's earlier purposes in establishing faithful leadership.

Cross-references & the web

Cross-references · 6

  • 1 Cor 12:28And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.
  • Exod 18:21Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens:
  • 1 Chr 6:8–10And Ahitub begat Zadok, and Zadok begat Ahimaaz,
  • 2 Sam 8:15–18And David reigned over all Israel; and David executed judgment and justice unto all his people.
  • 1 Chr 27:17Of the Levites, Hashabiah the son of Kemuel: of the Aaronites, Zadok:
  • 2 Sam 20:23–26Now Joab was over all the host of Israel: and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and over the Pelethites:

Themes, concepts, people & topics

Topics (5)

Resources, by level

Commentaries & study tools

  • VideoBibleProject — 1 Kings videosBibleProject · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.

  • VideoWatch teaching on 1 Kings 4:2YouTube · Lay · Free

    Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.

  • CommentaryEnduring Word — verse-by-verseDavid Guzik · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.

  • CommentaryClassic commentaries for this verseBibleHub (20+ works) · Pastoral · Free

    Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.

  • CommentaryMatthew Henry on 1 KingsMatthew Henry · Pastoral · Free · evangelical

    The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).

  • ReferenceInterlinear, lexicon & Strong'sBlue Letter Bible · Seminary · Free

    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 4:2 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.