1 Kings 4:6
1 Kings 4:6 in Multiple Translations
Ahishar was in charge of the palace; and Adoniram son of Abda was in charge of the forced labor.
And Ahishar was over the household: and Adoniram the son of Abda was over the tribute.
and Ahishar was over the household; and Adoniram the son of Abda was over the men subject to taskwork.
Ahishar was controller of the king's house; Adoniram, the son of Abda, was overseer of the forced work.
Ahishar was the palace manager. Adoniram, son of Abda, was in charge of those forced to work for the king.
And Ahishar was ouer the houshold: and Adoniram the sonne of Abda was ouer the tribute.
And Ahishar [is] over the household, and Adoniram son of Abda [is] over the tribute.
Ahishar was over the household; and Adoniram the son of Abda was over the men subject to forced labor.
And Ahishar was over the household: and Adoniram the son of Abda was over the tribute.
And Ahisar governor of the house: and Adoniram the son of Abda over the tribute.
Ahishar supervised the servants who worked in the palace. Abda’s son Adoniram supervised the men who were forced to do work for the government.
Berean Amplified Bible — 1 Kings 4:6
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
1 Kings 4:6 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
וַ/אֲחִישָׁ֖ר
עַל
הַ/בָּ֑יִת
וַ/אֲדֹנִירָ֥ם
בֶּן
עַבְדָּ֖א
עַל
הַ/מַּֽס
וַ/אֲחִישָׁ֖ר
ʼĂchîyshâr
H301
Ahishar
Conj | N-proper
עַל
ʻal
H5921
upon
Prep
הַ/בָּ֑יִת
bayith
H1004
place
Art | N-ms
וַ/אֲדֹנִירָ֥ם
ʼĂdônîyrâm
H141
Adoniram
Conj | N-proper
בֶּן
bên
H1121
son
N-ms
עַבְדָּ֖א
ʻAbdâʼ
H5653
Abda
N-proper
עַל
ʻal
H5921
upon
Prep
הַ/מַּֽס
maç
H4522
taskworker
Art | N-ms
Hebrew Word Study
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Hebrew Word Reference — 1 Kings 4:6
וַ/אֲחִישָׁ֖ר
ʼĂchîyshâr
H301
"Ahishar"
Conj | N-proper
Ahishar was a chief steward for King Solomon, managing the king's household and affairs. His name means my brother sang, and he is only mentioned in 1 Kings 4:6.
Definition: A man living at the time of United Monarchy, only mentioned at 1Ki.4.6 § Ahishar = "my brother sang" chief steward for Solomon
Usage: Occurs in 1 OT verses. KJV: Ahishar. See also: 1 Kings 4:6.
עַל
ʻal
H5921
"upon"
Prep
This Hebrew word means on or above something, like a physical object or a situation. It can also imply a sense of responsibility or accountability, as in being on behalf of someone.
Definition: prep 1) upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against 1a) upon, on the ground of, on the basis of, on account of, because of, therefore, on behalf of, for the sake of, for, with, in spite of, notwithstanding, concerning, in the matter of, as regards 1b) above, beyond, over (of excess) 1c) above, over (of elevation or pre-eminence) 1d) upon, to, over to, unto, in addition to, together with, with (of addition) 1e) over (of suspension or extension) 1f) by, adjoining, next, at, over, around (of contiguity or proximity) 1g) down upon, upon, on, from, up upon, up to, towards, over towards, to, against (with verbs of motion) 1h) to (as a dative)
Usage: Occurs in 4493 OT verses. KJV: above, according to(-ly), after, (as) against, among, and, [idiom] as, at, because of, beside (the rest of), between, beyond the time, [idiom] both and, by (reason of), [idiom] had the charge of, concerning for, in (that), (forth, out) of, (from) (off), (up-) on, over, than, through(-out), to, touching, [idiom] with. See also: Genesis 1:2; Genesis 24:13; Genesis 41:33.
הַ/בָּ֑יִת
bayith
H1004
"place"
Art | N-ms
The Hebrew word for house refers to a dwelling place, including a family home, temple, or even the human body. It appears in various contexts, such as the temple in Jerusalem or the household of a family. In the Bible, it is often used to describe a place of worship or a family's living space.
Definition: nm place, origin, between
Usage: Occurs in 1712 OT verses. KJV: court, daughter, door, [phrase] dungeon, family, [phrase] forth of, [idiom] great as would contain, hangings, home(born), (winter) house(-hold), inside(-ward), palace, place, [phrase] prison, [phrase] steward, [phrase] tablet, temple, web, [phrase] within(-out). See also: Genesis 6:14; Exodus 8:5; Numbers 1:45.
וַ/אֲדֹנִירָ֥ם
ʼĂdônîyrâm
H141
"Adoniram"
Conj | N-proper
Adoniram was an Israelite officer who served under King Solomon, mentioned in 1 Kings 4:6 and 5:14. His name means 'my lord is exalted'.
Definition: A man living at the time of United Monarchy, first mentioned at 2Sa.20.24; son of: Abda (H5653); also called Adoniram at 1Ki.4.6; 5.14; Hadoram at 2Ch.10.18; Another name of a.do.ram (אֲדֹרָם "Adoram" H0151) § Adoniram = "my lord is exalted" one of Solomon's officers
Usage: Occurs in 2 OT verses. KJV: Adoniram. See also: 1 Kings 4:6; 1 Kings 5:28.
בֶּן
bên
H1121
"son"
N-ms
In the Bible, this word means a son or descendant, and can also refer to a grandson, nation, or quality. It appears in 1 Chronicles 24, describing a Levite named Beno. The word is used to show family relationships and inheritance.
Definition: : child/son
Usage: Occurs in 3653 OT verses. KJV: [phrase] afflicted, age, (Ahoh-) (Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-) ite, (anoint-) ed one, appointed to, ([phrase]) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-) ian, one born, bough, branch, breed, [phrase] (young) bullock, [phrase] (young) calf, [idiom] came up in, child, colt, [idiom] common, [idiom] corn, daughter, [idiom] of first, [phrase] firstborn, foal, [phrase] very fruitful, [phrase] postage, [idiom] in, [phrase] kid, [phrase] lamb, ([phrase]) man, meet, [phrase] mighty, [phrase] nephew, old, ([phrase]) people, [phrase] rebel, [phrase] robber, [idiom] servant born, [idiom] soldier, son, [phrase] spark, [phrase] steward, [phrase] stranger, [idiom] surely, them of, [phrase] tumultuous one, [phrase] valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth. See also: Genesis 3:16; Genesis 23:3; Genesis 34:18.
עַבְדָּ֖א
ʻAbdâʼ
H5653
"Abda"
N-proper
Abda was the name of two Israelites, one a Levite and the other the father of Adoniram. The name means servant of Jehovah, and one Abda was also called Obadiah. The KJV translates it as Abda.
Definition: A man of the tribe of Levi living at the time of Exile and Return, first mentioned at 1Ch.9.16; son of: Shemaiah (H8098F); also called Abda at Neh.11.17; Another name of o.vad.yah (עֹבַדְיָ֫הוּ "Obadiah" H5662K) § Abda = "servant of Jehovah" 1) father of Adoniram 2) a Levite, son of Shammua; also called 'Obadiah'
Usage: Occurs in 2 OT verses. KJV: Abda See also: 1 Kings 4:6; Nehemiah 11:17.
עַל
ʻal
H5921
"upon"
Prep
This Hebrew word means on or above something, like a physical object or a situation. It can also imply a sense of responsibility or accountability, as in being on behalf of someone.
Definition: prep 1) upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against 1a) upon, on the ground of, on the basis of, on account of, because of, therefore, on behalf of, for the sake of, for, with, in spite of, notwithstanding, concerning, in the matter of, as regards 1b) above, beyond, over (of excess) 1c) above, over (of elevation or pre-eminence) 1d) upon, to, over to, unto, in addition to, together with, with (of addition) 1e) over (of suspension or extension) 1f) by, adjoining, next, at, over, around (of contiguity or proximity) 1g) down upon, upon, on, from, up upon, up to, towards, over towards, to, against (with verbs of motion) 1h) to (as a dative)
Usage: Occurs in 4493 OT verses. KJV: above, according to(-ly), after, (as) against, among, and, [idiom] as, at, because of, beside (the rest of), between, beyond the time, [idiom] both and, by (reason of), [idiom] had the charge of, concerning for, in (that), (forth, out) of, (from) (off), (up-) on, over, than, through(-out), to, touching, [idiom] with. See also: Genesis 1:2; Genesis 24:13; Genesis 41:33.
הַ/מַּֽס
maç
H4522
"taskworker"
Art | N-ms
A taskworker is someone forced to perform labor as a form of tax or tribute. This practice involved gangs of laborers working under the supervision of taskmasters, often in a state of serfdom or slavery. It is mentioned in the Bible as a burden imposed on people.
Definition: 1) gang or body of forced labourers, task-workers, labour band or gang, forced service, task-work, serfdom, tributary, tribute, levy, taskmasters, discomfited 1a) labour-band, labour-gang, slave gang 1b) gang-overseers 1c) forced service, serfdom, tribute, enforced payment
Usage: Occurs in 22 OT verses. KJV: discomfited, levy, task(-master), tribute(-tary). See also: Genesis 49:15; 1 Kings 5:27; Proverbs 12:24.
Study Notes — 1 Kings 4:6
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- 1 Kings 4:6 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on 1 Kings 4:6
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 1 Kings 4:6
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on 1 Kings 4:6
- Trapp's Commentary on 1 Kings 4:6
- Ellicott's Commentary on 1 Kings 4:6
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on 1 Kings 4:6
- Cambridge Bible on 1 Kings 4:6
- Barnes' Notes on 1 Kings 4:6
- Whedon's Commentary on 1 Kings 4:6
Context — Solomon’s Princes
4Benaiah son of Jehoiada was in charge of the army; Zadok and Abiathar were priests;
5Azariah son of Nathan was in charge of the governors; Zabud son of Nathan was a priest and adviser to the king;
6Ahishar was in charge of the palace; and Adoniram son of Abda was in charge of the forced labor.
7Solomon had twelve governors over all Israel to provide food for the king and his household. Each one would arrange provisions for one month of the year, 8and these were their names: Ben-hur in the hill country of Ephraim;Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 Kings 9:15 | This is the account of the forced labor that King Solomon imposed to build the house of the LORD, his own palace, the supporting terraces, and the wall of Jerusalem, as well as Hazor, Megiddo, and Gezer. |
| 2 | 2 Samuel 20:24 | Adoram was in charge of the forced labor; Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was the recorder; |
| 3 | 1 Kings 12:18 | Then King Rehoboam sent out Adoram, who was in charge of the forced labor, but all Israel stoned him to death. And King Rehoboam mounted his chariot in haste and escaped to Jerusalem. |
| 4 | 1 Kings 5:13–14 | Then King Solomon conscripted a labor force of 30,000 men from all Israel. He sent them to Lebanon in monthly shifts of 10,000 men, so that they would spend one month in Lebanon and two months at home. And Adoniram was in charge of the forced labor. |
1 Kings 4:6 Summary
[In 1 Kings 4:6, we see that King Solomon had appointed various officials to oversee different aspects of his kingdom, including Ahishar, who was in charge of the palace, and Adoniram, who was in charge of the forced labor. This shows that Solomon recognized the importance of delegation and trust in leadership, just as Moses did in Exodus 18:13-27. By trusting others to handle certain responsibilities, Solomon was able to focus on other important aspects of ruling, such as seeking wisdom and justice, as seen in 1 Kings 3:9-12. This is a valuable lesson for us today, as we can apply the same principles of responsible leadership and delegation in our own lives.]
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean for Ahishar to be in charge of the palace in 1 Kings 4:6?
Being in charge of the palace means Ahishar was responsible for managing the king's household and overseeing the daily operations of the palace, similar to how Joseph was in charge of Potiphar's household in Genesis 39:4-5. This role required great trust and responsibility from King Solomon.
What kind of labor is referred to as 'forced labor' in 1 Kings 4:6?
Forced labor, as seen in 1 Kings 4:6, refers to the compulsory work required from the Israelites to build and maintain public projects, such as buildings, roads, and other infrastructure, similar to the labor required for the construction of the Temple in 1 Kings 5:13-18. This practice was common in ancient times and was used to support the kingdom's growth and development.
How does Adoniram's role in 1 Kings 4:6 relate to the rest of Solomon's administration?
Adoniram's role as the one in charge of the forced labor was crucial to the functioning of Solomon's administration, as it provided the necessary workforce to support the kingdom's projects and maintain its infrastructure, allowing Solomon to focus on other aspects of ruling, such as justice and wisdom, as seen in 1 Kings 3:9-12.
What can we learn from the organizational structure of Solomon's administration in 1 Kings 4:6?
The organizational structure of Solomon's administration, with various officials overseeing different aspects of the kingdom, demonstrates the importance of delegation, trust, and responsible leadership, as emphasized in Exodus 18:13-27, where Moses is advised to appoint leaders to help him manage the Israelites.
Reflection Questions
- What are some ways I can apply the principles of responsible leadership and delegation in my own life, just as Solomon did in 1 Kings 4:6?
- How can I trust God to provide me with the necessary resources and support to fulfill my responsibilities, just as Adoniram trusted God to provide for the forced labor?
- In what ways can I use my own gifts and talents to serve others and support the growth of God's kingdom, just as Ahishar and Adoniram used their roles to support King Solomon?
- What can I learn from the example of Solomon's administration about the importance of teamwork and collaboration in achieving common goals?
Gill's Exposition on 1 Kings 4:6
And Abiathar [was] over the household,.... Steward of the household: and Adoniram the son of Abda [was] over the tribute, over those that collected the tribute, as the Targum, whether from the people
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 1 Kings 4:6
And Ahishar was over the household: and Adoniram the son of Abda was over the tribute. Over the household - steward or chamberlain of the palace (cf.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on 1 Kings 4:6
Over the household; steward of the king’ s household. Over the tribute, to wit, the personal tribute, or the levy of men, as appears by comparing this with ,14, it being very fit that there should be some one person to whom the chief conduct or inspection of that great business was committed.
Trapp's Commentary on 1 Kings 4:6
1 Kings 4:6 And Ahishar [was] over the household: and Adoniram the son of Abda [was] over the tribute.Ver. 6. And Abishar was over the household.] Magister Aulae magnus. Le grand maistre, comptroller of the court, or governor of the king’ s house. Was over the tribute.] Or, Levy; praefectus delectui, so Tremellius rendereth it, and referreth to 1 Kings 5:14.
Ellicott's Commentary on 1 Kings 4:6
(6) Over the household,—like the “High Steward” of a modern Court. In 2 Kings 18:18 we have the same three officers mentioned (“Eliakim, who was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and Joah the son of Asaph the recorder”). Adoniram . . . over the tribute (or “levy”),—evidently the head of Solomon’s great public works. (See 1 Kings 5:14.) The name is elsewhere given as Adoram. It is to be noticed that in the enumeration of David’s officers in the early part of the reign (2 Samuel 8:16-18) no such officer is found; but that in the latter part of his reign the list contains the name of Adoram (2 Samuel 20:24). It has been thought that the numbering of the people recorded in 2 Samuel 24 and 1 Chronicles 21, was in preparation for such forced work, and hence was odious to Joab and others. In 1 Kings 12:18 we read how the holder of this office, being naturally most unpopular with those who had felt the burden of Solomon’s splendour, was stoned to death in the insurrection against Rehoboam. To this list the Greek Version adds: “Eliab the son of Shaphat was over the body-guard.” As the office of captain of the body-guard is found in the other lists, and is too important to be omitted, it is possible that this addition corrects some defect in the Hebrew text. Yet it is also possible that no successor to Benaiah was appointed, as experience had shown, in the crushing of the rebellion of Adonijah, how easily the captaincy of the body-guard might become a quasi-independent power.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on 1 Kings 4:6
Verse 6. Ahishar was over the household] the king's chamberlain. Adoniram - was over the tribute.] What we call chancellor of the exchequer. He received and brought into the treasury all the proceeds of taxes and tributes. He was in this office under David; see 2 Samuel 20:24.
Cambridge Bible on 1 Kings 4:6
6. After the mention of Ahishar, the LXX. (Vat.) adds καὶἘλιὰκὁοἰκόνομοςκαὶἘλιὰβυἱὸςΣὰφἐπὶτῆςπατριᾶς. Adoniram] He is mentioned again 1 Kings 5:14; and the name is found in a contracted form Adoram (2 Samuel 20:24; 1 Kings 12:18) and Hadoram (2 Chronicles 10:18). He was stoned to death by the Israelites to whom Rehoboam sent him, as a collector of tribute, after the revolt of the ten tribes to Jeroboam. over the tribute] [R.V. levy.] This is the forced labour, in which form the service of tributaries was often exacted. The same word is also used (1 Kings 5:13) of the men who did this forced labour. There it is rendered ‘levy,’ in A. V. It is the German Frohndienst, French corvιe.
Barnes' Notes on 1 Kings 4:6
Over the household - Comptroller of the household, like the “Steward” of the Persian court. On the importance of this office, see 2 Kings 18:18, and compare Isaiah 22:15-25.
Whedon's Commentary on 1 Kings 4:6
6. Ahishar was over the household — Overseer of the royal palace and family; the king’s chamberlain. Adoniram… over the tribute — The same person who held this office during the later years of David’s reign.