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1 Kings 1:16 — Word Study

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WLCוַתִּקֹּ֣ד בַּת־ שֶׁ֔בַע וַתִּשְׁתַּ֖חוּ לַמֶּ֑לֶךְ וַיֹּ֥אמֶר הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ מַה־ לָּֽךְ׃

BSAAnd BathshebaBath-Shebaʻ [the daughter of an oath, wife of King David] bowed downqâdad [in reverence, to show respect] in homageshâchâh [doing obeisance, worshiping] to the kingmelek [the ruler, monarch] [who]melek askedʼâmar [said, spoke] Whatmâh [a question of inquiry]

Word
Listen & take away1 Kings 1
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 16 is in this chapter.
Hebrew ↓ Download MP3 The Masoretic text of this chapter, read aloud. Read by Abraham Shmuelof, courtesy of Audio Scriptures International. Chapter divisions by the Academy of Ancient Languages..
Say the word Each Hebrew word carries its transliteration (Lakh) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
1 Kings 1:16quick helps
In a sentenceBathsheba approaches the king with reverence, seeking to express her desire.
Who is speakingBathsheba, the wife of King David, addressing the king.
Where we areThe moment of Bathsheba's homage to King David, amidst a significant political transition.
The hard wordוַתִּקֹּ֣ד
Take awayBathsheba's act of bowing signifies deep respect and acknowledgment of the king's authority.
6 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Trapp, Cambridge & more — read them › clause subjectמָה verbקָדַד The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
How rare are these words?in the Old Testament

Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.

Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.

Deep Study — 1 Kings 1:16

Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.

Context — Bathsheba's Request to King Davidgenerated

15So Bathsheba went to see the king in his bedroom. Since the king was very old, Abishag the Shunammite was serving him.
16And Bathsheba bowed down in homage to the king, who asked, “What is your desire?”
17“My lord,” she replied, “you yourself swore to your maidservant by the LORD your God: ‘Surely your son Solomon will reign after me, and he will sit on my throne.’
18But now, behold, Adonijah has become king, and you, my lord the king, did not know it.

1 Kings 1:16 describes Bathsheba's approach to King David as she seeks to remind him of his promise regarding her son Solomon's future reign. This moment is crucial as it sets the stage for the transition of power in Israel, highlighting Bathsheba's role in the unfolding events. The context reflects the tension of the royal court as different factions vie for influence over the aging king, David.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
11 Kings 1:23So the king was told, “Nathan the prophet is here.” And Nathan went in and bowed facedown before the king.
21 Samuel 20:41When the young man had gone, David got up from the south side of the stone, fell facedown, and bowed three times. Then he and Jonathan kissed each other and wept together—though David wept more.
31 Samuel 24:8After that, David got up, went out of the cave, and called out to Saul, “My lord the king!” When Saul looked behind him, David bowed facedown in reverence
41 Samuel 25:23When Abigail saw David, she quickly got off the donkey, fell facedown, and bowed before him.
51 Kings 2:20“I have just one small request of you,” she said. “Do not deny me.” “Make your request, my mother,” the king replied, “for I will not deny you.”

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 7 references, hung on the phrase they belong to


The Key Word וַתִּקֹּ֣ד, va.ti.Kodgenerated

The verb קָדַד (qadad) means to bow down or stoop, often in a gesture of deference. This act of bowing signifies respect and humility, especially in royal or religious contexts. In this verse, Bathsheba's bowing down demonstrates her acknowledgment of the king's authority and her earnestness in her request.

The parsing indicates that it is a sequential imperfect form, showing that this action is ongoing or habitual. Bathsheba's bowing is not just a one-time act; it reflects a deeper cultural practice of showing reverence, particularly towards those in positions of power.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The main verb of the verse is וַתִּקֹּ֣ד (and she bowed low), which governs the action of Bathsheba. This verb is followed by a second verb וַתִּשְׁתַּ֖חוּ (and she bowed down), indicating a continuation of the act of homage.

The structure of the sentence emphasizes Bathsheba's actions first, followed by the king's response. This order highlights her initiative and the significance of her request in the royal context.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates וַתִּקֹּ֣ד as ἔκυψεν (she bowed down), which conveys a similar meaning of bending down in respect. This choice reflects the translators' understanding of the act as one of humility.

The Greek term used here carries the connotation of lowering oneself, which aligns with the Hebrew intent of showing deference and respect in the presence of a king.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

1 Kings 1:16 tells us that Bathsheba approached King David and bowed down to him as a sign of respect. The king then asked her what she desired, indicating his willingness to listen to her request.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

Why did Bathsheba bow down to the king?

Bathsheba bowed down to show her respect and reverence for King David, acknowledging his authority as the ruler of Israel.

What does Bathsheba's act of homage signify?

Her act signifies her humility and her recognition of the king's power, as well as her earnestness in seeking his favor regarding her son Solomon.

What was Bathsheba's desire?

Bathsheba's desire was to remind King David of his promise that her son Solomon would reign after him, as she sought to secure his support for Solomon's claim to the throne.

How does this moment fit into the larger narrative?

This moment is pivotal as it highlights the political dynamics of the royal court and sets the stage for the succession of Solomon as king, amidst competing claims.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. What does Bathsheba's act of bowing teach us about respect and authority in our own lives?
  2. How can we show humility when approaching those in positions of power?
  3. In what ways can we advocate for others, like Bathsheba did for Solomon?
  4. What can we learn from Bathsheba's courage in speaking to the king about her desires?

Commentators on this verse — 6 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on 1 Kings 1:16 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And Bathsheba bowed, and did obeisance to the king,.... Not only as being her husband, but her sovereign; and this behaviour might intimate, that she had something to say to him, and more than to

Read John Gill on 1 Kings 1 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

Go and get thee in unto king David, and say unto him, Didst not thou, my lord, O king, swear unto thine handmaid, saying, Assuredly Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne?

Read Robert Jamieson on 1 Kings 1 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

1 Kings 1:16 And Bathsheba bowed, and did obeisance unto the king. And the king said, What wouldest thou?Ver. 16. What wouldest thou?] Heb., What to thee? q.d., I am ready to hearken to thee. She had been a good wife to him, and knew how to command him by obeying him, as Livia did Augustus, and much better. For Livia, notwithstanding her smooth carriage toward her husband, is foully slandered, if she were not over familiar with Eudemus her physician, and if she did not at his death help to set him going, lest he should alter his will, and put her son Tiberius beside the empire. But good Bathsheba was none such. Plin. Eutrop.

Read John Trapp on 1 Kings 1 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

16. bowed and did obeisance] After the fashion of Orientals in the presence of a monarch.

Read Cambridge on 1 Kings 1 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Bath-sheba bowed, like the woman of Tekoah 2 Samuel 14:4, with the humble prostration of a suppliant. Hence, the king’s question, “What wouldest thou?”

Read Albert Barnes on 1 Kings 1 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

16. Bathsheba bowed, and did obeisance — Though the wife of his fondest love, she is careful to observe the etiquette of those who appear in the royal presence. Nathan the prophet shows the same respect and reverence.

Read Daniel Denison Whedon on 1 Kings 1 →

The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company

Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.

Modern formal

BSBBerean Standard Bible2020

And Bathsheba bowed down in homage to the king, who asked, “What is your desire?”

WEBWorld English Bible2000

Bathsheba bowed and showed respect to the king. The king said, “What would you like?”

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

And Bathsheba bowed down in homage to the king, who asked, “What is your desire?”

NETBNew English Translation2006

Bathsheba bowed down on the floor before the king. The king said, “What do you want?”

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

And Bath-sheba bowed, and did obeisance unto the king. And the king said, What wouldest thou?

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

And Bath-sheba bowed, and did obeisance unto the king. And the king said, What wouldest thou?

RVARevised Version, American1894

And Bath-sheba bowed, and did obeisance unto the king. And the king said, What wouldest thou?

NWBWebster's Bible1833

And Bath-sheba bowed, and did obeisance to the king. And the king said, What wouldst thou?

GNVGeneva Bible1599

And Bath-sheba bowed and made obeisance vnto the King. And the King saide, What is thy matter?

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

And Bathsheba bowed and did obeisance to the king. And the king said, What wouldest thou?

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

and Bath-Sheba boweth and doth obeisance to the king, and the king saith, 'What — to thee?'

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

and Bathsheba bows and pays respect to the king, and the king says, “What do you [want]?”

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

And Bath-sheba' bowed, and prostrated herself unto the king: and the king said, What wouldst thou?

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

Bathsheba bowed and prostrated herself before the king. Then the king said, “What do you desire?”

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

Bethsabee bowed herself, and worshipped the king. And the king said to her: What is thy will?

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

Bathsheba bowed low in respect. He asked her, “What is it that you want?”

BBEBible in Basic English1949

And Bath-sheba went down on her face on the earth before the king giving him honour. And he said, What is your desire?

Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.


The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank

This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.

וַandclauseverbתִּקֹּ֣דshe.bowed.lowוַandclauseverbתִּשְׁתַּ֖חוּshe.bowed.downprepositional phrase · prepositionalלַtonoun phrasetheמֶּ֑לֶךְkingוַandclauseverbיֹּ֥אמֶרhe.saidnoun phrase · subjectהַtheמֶּ֖לֶךְkingclausesubjectמַהwhat?prepositional phrase · predicateלָּֽ[is].toךְyou

Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.


The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran

The Masoretic Text reads: וַתִּקֹּ֣ד בַּת־שֶׁ֔בַע וַתִּשְׁתַּ֖חוּ לַמֶּ֑לֶךְ וַיֹּ֥אמֶר הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ מַה־ לָּֽךְ׃. The Septuagint matches seven of the nine words, indicating a strong agreement in the core message of the verse. The Dead Sea Scrolls provide partial support, with some words supplied by an editor.

Masoretic TextLeningrad Codex, c. AD 1008 — the text this page is built on

וַתִּקֹּ֣ד בַּת־ שֶׁ֔בַע וַתִּשְׁתַּ֖חוּ לַמֶּ֑לֶךְ וַיֹּ֥אמֶר הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ מַה־ לָּֽךְ׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
וַתִּקֹּ֣דἔκυψενוַתִּשְׁתַּ֖חוּπροσεκύνησενלַמֶּ֑לֶךְβασιλεῖוַיֹּ֥אמֶרεἶπενהַמֶּ֖לֶךְβασιλεύςמַה־τίלָּֽךְ׃σοι

7 of the 9 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.

Dead Sea Scrolls — 5Q2a copy a thousand years older than the Leningrad Codex

[למלך] ויאמר המלך מה [ל׳ך]

5 words of the verse are on this fragment — 2 supplied entire by an editor.

Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.


The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with

This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.

1 Kings 1:16קָדַדand she bowand she bowed lקָדַדבַּת־שֶׁ֫בַעBath-Bath-בַּת־שֶׁ֫בַעבַּת־שֶׁ֫בַע-sheba-shebaבַּת־שֶׁ֫בַעשָׁחָהand she bowand she bowed dשָׁחָהמֶ֫לֶךְto the kingto the kingמֶ֫לֶךְאָמַרand he saidand he saidאָמַרמֶ֫לֶךְthe kingthe kingמֶ֫לֶךְמָהwhat?what?מָהךְ[is] to you[is] to youךְבַּתBath (ShuaBath (Shua)בַּתמָלַךְto reignto reignמָלַךְקָדַדto bowto bowקָדַדנְבוּכַדְרֶאצַּרNebuchadneNebuchadnezzarנְבוּכַדְרֶאצַּראַשּׁוּרAsshurAsshurאַשּׁוּרבַּת־שֶׁ֫בַעBathshebaBathshebaבַּת־שֶׁ֫בַעשָׁחָהto bowto bowשָׁחָהאַחֵרanotheranotherאַחֵרכֹּהthusthusכֹּהיהוהYHWH/GodYHWH/Godיהוהכָּ֫כָהthusthusכָּ֫כָהפָּעַלto workto workפָּעַל
meets it a little oftener than chancemeets it far oftener than chancebuilt from the same roottwo words of the verse share ita word of this versea related word

Lexicons — every word in 1 Kings 1:16

One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.

Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.

and she bowed low Bath- -sheba and she bowed down to the king and he said the king what? [is] to you
וַתִּקֹּ֣דva.ti.Kod and she bowed low H6915 Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person feminine singular
15× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To bow means to shrivel up or bend the body in deference. In the Bible, it is often used to describe showing respect or worship, like bowing down to God. This act is seen in many stories, including those of Moses and the prophets.
Amplified meaning
in reverence, to show respect
Tyndale gloss
to bow
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

קָדַד (qadad) is a primitive root meaning to bow down or stoop, often in a gesture of deference. The entries consistently emphasize the physical act of bending the body or neck, particularly in relation to bowing the head.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[קָדַד] vb. bow down

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6915 קָדַד

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6915 qadad kaw-dad'

a primitive root; to shrivel up, i.e. contract or bend the

body (or neck) in deference:--bow (down) (the) head, stoop.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

קָדַד (qa.dad) — to bow.

(Qal) to bow down

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3fs — Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person feminine singular
Hc/Vqw3fs
and she bowed low Bath- -sheba and she bowed down to the king and he said the king what? [is] to you
בַּת־bat- Bath- H1339 Noun proper feminine
22× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Bathsheba was the mother of Solomon and wife of King David and Uriah. Her name means daughter of an oath, and she is also called Bath-shua. She is mentioned in 2 Samuel 11:3.
Amplified meaning
the daughter of an oath, wife of King David
Tyndale gloss
Bathsheba
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

בַּת־שֶׁ֫בַע (Bath-Sheba) means 'daughter of an oath.' She is the wife of Uriah and later of King David, and the mother of Solomon. The name is derived from roots meaning 'daughter' and 'oath.' Bath-Sheba is first mentioned in 2 Samuel 11:3 and is also referred to as Bath-shua in 1 Chronicles 3:5.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

בַּת־שֶׁ֫בַע n.pr.f. (daughter of oath?) wife of Uriah; afterwards of David, & mother of Solomon

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1339 בַּת־שֶׁ֫בַע

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1339 Bath-Sheba` bath-sheh'-bah

from 1323 and 7651 (in the sense of 7650); daughter of an

oath; Bath-Sheba, the mother of Solomon:--Bath- sheba.

see HEBREW for 01323

see HEBREW for 07651

see HEBREW for 07650

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

בַּת־שֶׁ֫בַע (bat-she.va) — Bathsheba.

A woman living at the time of United Monarchy, first mentioned at 2Sa.11.3;

daughter of: Eliam (H0463); married to David (H1732) and Uriah (H0223A);

mother of: Shammua (H8051H), Shobab (H7727), Nathan (H5416) and Solomon (H8010); also called Bath-shua at 1Ch.3.5;

Also named: bat-shu.a (בַּת־שׁוּעַ "Bath-shua" H1340)

§ Bath-sheba = "daughter of an oath"

the wife of Uriah whom David had murdered, having had adulterous relations with her; subsequently wife of David and mother of Solomon, Shimea, Shobab, and Nathan

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Adj — Noun proper feminine
HNpf
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

(bath): A liquid measure equal to about 9 gallons, English measure. It seems to have been regarded as a standard for liquid measures (Eze 45:10), as in the case of the molten sea and the lavers in Solomon's temple (1Ki 7:26,38), and for measuring oil and wine (2Ch 2:10; Ezr 7:22; Isa 5:10; Eze 45:14). Its relation to the homer is given in Eze 45:11,14.

See WEIGHTS AND MEASURES.

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Bath

A Hebrew liquid measure, the tenth part of an homer (1 Kings 7:26, 38; Ezek. 45:10, 14). It contained 8 gallons 3 quarts of our measure. “Ten acres of vineyard shall yield one bath” (Isa. 5:10) denotes great unproductiveness.

Smith's Bible Dictionary

[MEASURES]

Nave's Topical Bible

→ A Hebrew measure for liquids containing about eight gallons, three quarts 1Ki 7:26,38; Ezr 7:22; Isa 5:10; Eze 45:10,11,14

and she bowed low Bath- -sheba and she bowed down to the king and he said the king what? [is] to you
שֶׁ֔בַעShe.va' -sheba H1339 Noun proper feminine
22× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Bathsheba was the mother of Solomon and wife of King David and Uriah. Her name means daughter of an oath, and she is also called Bath-shua. She is mentioned in 2 Samuel 11:3.
Tyndale gloss
Bathsheba
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

בַּת־שֶׁ֫בַע (Bath-Sheba) means 'daughter of an oath.' She is the wife of Uriah and later of King David, and the mother of Solomon. The name is derived from roots meaning 'daughter' and 'oath.' Bath-Sheba is first mentioned in 2 Samuel 11:3 and is also referred to as Bath-shua in 1 Chronicles 3:5.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

בַּת־שֶׁ֫בַע n.pr.f. (daughter of oath?) wife of Uriah; afterwards of David, & mother of Solomon

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1339 בַּת־שֶׁ֫בַע

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1339 Bath-Sheba` bath-sheh'-bah

from 1323 and 7651 (in the sense of 7650); daughter of an

oath; Bath-Sheba, the mother of Solomon:--Bath- sheba.

see HEBREW for 01323

see HEBREW for 07651

see HEBREW for 07650

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

בַּת־שֶׁ֫בַע (bat-she.va) — Bathsheba.

A woman living at the time of United Monarchy, first mentioned at 2Sa.11.3;

daughter of: Eliam (H0463); married to David (H1732) and Uriah (H0223A);

mother of: Shammua (H8051H), Shobab (H7727), Nathan (H5416) and Solomon (H8010); also called Bath-shua at 1Ch.3.5;

Also named: bat-shu.a (בַּת־שׁוּעַ "Bath-shua" H1340)

§ Bath-sheba = "daughter of an oath"

the wife of Uriah whom David had murdered, having had adulterous relations with her; subsequently wife of David and mother of Solomon, Shimea, Shobab, and Nathan

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HNpf — Noun proper feminine
HNpf
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Easton's Bible Dictionary

Sheba

An oath, seven. (1.) Heb. shebha, the son of Raamah (Gen. 10:7), whose descendants settled with those of Dedan on the Persian Gulf.

(2.) Heb. id. A son of Joktan (Gen. 10:28), probably the founder of the Sabeans.

(3.) Heb. id. A son of Jokshan, who was a son of Abraham by Keturah (Gen. 25:3).

(4.) Heb. id. A kingdom in Arabia Felix. Sheba, in fact, was Saba in Southern Arabia, the Sabaeans of classical geography, who carried on the trade in spices with the other peoples of the ancient world. They were Semites, speaking one of the two main dialects of Himyaritic or South Arabic. Sheba had become a monarchy before the days of Solomon. Its queen brought him gold, spices, and precious stones (

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

1. Son of Raamah, Ge 10:7. His posterity is supposed to have settled near the head of the Persian Gulf. See CUSH and RAAMAH.

2. Son of Joktan, of the race of Shem, Ge 10:28. See SABEANS 2.

3. Son of Jokshan, and grandson of Abraham by Keturah, Ge 25:3. He is supposed to have settled in Arabia Deserta.

4. A turbulent Benjamite, who after the death of Absalom made a fruitless effort to excite a rebellion in Israel against David. Being pursued, and besieged in Abel-beth-maachah, near the southern part of Lebanon, he was beheaded by the people of the city, 2Sa 20:1-26.

Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary

captivity; old man; repose; oath

and she bowed low Bath- -sheba and she bowed down to the king and he said the king what? [is] to you
וַתִּשְׁתַּ֖חוּva.tish.Ta.chu and she bowed down H7812 Verb pilpel · sequential imperfect third person feminine singular
172× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means to bow down, often as a sign of respect or worship. It is used in Genesis 24:52 to describe Abraham's servant bowing down to God. The word is about showing humility and respect to someone or something.
Amplified meaning
doing obeisance, worshiping
Tyndale gloss
to bow
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word שָׁחָה (*shachah*) is a primitive root meaning to bow down or prostrate oneself, particularly in homage to a superior or in worship before God. It can also imply a figurative sense of being depressed by anxiety. The entries highlight its use in various contexts, including worship of both God and false gods.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[שָׁחָה] 172 vb. bow down

Qal bow down

Hiph. fig., anxiety depresses it

Hithpa‛lēl

bow down, prostrate oneself, before a monarch or superior, in homage, etc.

before God, in worship

before other gods

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7812 שָׁחָה bow down .bow down

. fig., anxiety depresses it

.. bow down, prostrate oneself, before a monarch or superior, in homage, etc.

. before God, in worship

. before other gods

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7812 shachah shaw-khaw'

a primitive root; to depress, i.e. prostrate (especially

reflexive, in homage to royalty or God):--bow (self) down,

crouch, fall down (flat), humbly beseech, do (make) obeisance,

do reverence, make to stoop, worship.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שָׁחָה (sha.chah) — to bow.

1) to bow down

1a) (Qal) to bow down

1b)(Hiphil) to depress (fig)

1c) (Hithpael)

1c1) to bow down, prostrate oneself

1c1a) before superior in homage

1c1b) before God in worship

1c1c) before false gods

1c1d) before angel

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-v-ConsecImperf-3fs — Verb pilpel · sequential imperfect third person feminine singular
Hc/Vvw3fs
and she bowed low Bath- -sheba and she bowed down to the king and he said the king what? [is] to you
לַמֶּ֑לֶךְla.Me.lekh to the king H4428 Preposition · noun common masculine singular absolute
2,526× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word refers to a king or royal person, like King David or King Saul. It can also describe something related to a king, like the King's Valley in Genesis. The Bible often uses this word to talk about the rulers of Israel.
Amplified meaning
the ruler, monarch
Tyndale gloss
King's
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word מֶ֫לֶךְ (*melek*) means 'king.' It is derived from a root that suggests royalty. The term appears in various contexts, including references to specific kings and locations, such as the 'King's Highway' in Numbers 20:17 and the 'King's Valley' in Genesis 14:17. The lexicons note its Aramaic equivalent and mention its use in the context of individuals like Hammelech in Jeremiah.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מֶ֫לֶךְ 2513 n.m. king

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4428 מֶ֫לֶךְ king

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4428 melek meh'-lek

from 4427; a king:--king, royal.

see HEBREW for 04427

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מֶ֫לֶךְ (me.lekh) — king.

1) king

Aramaic equivalent: me.lekh (מֶ֫לֶךְ "king" H4430)

הַמֶּלֶךְ (me.lekh) — `the king`.

'the king' or a name, Hammelech in KJV of Jer.36.26; 38.6- a man living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at Jer.36.26;

father of: Jerahmeel (H3396I) and Malchijah (H4441H); also translated "the king";

§ A man living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at Jer.36.26;

father of: Jerahmeel (H3396I) and Malchijah (H4441H); also translated "the king";

מֶ֫לֶךְ (me.lekh) — King's.

King's (Highway) (Num.20.17)

מֶ֫לֶךְ (me.lekh) — King's.

Another name of she.lach (שֶׁ֫לַח "Shelah" H7975A)

מֶ֫לֶךְ (me.lekh) — Milcom.

Another name of mo.lekh (מֹ֫לֶךְ "Molech" H4432)

מֶ֫לֶךְ (me.lekh) — King's.

King's (Valley) (Gen.14.17)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | N-ms — Preposition · noun common masculine singular absolute
HRd/Ncmsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Easton's Bible Dictionary

King

Is in Scripture very generally used to denote one invested with authority, whether extensive or limited. There were thirty-one kings in Canaan (Josh. 12:9, 24), whom Joshua subdued. Adonibezek subdued seventy kings (Judg. 1:7). In the New Testament the Roman emperor is spoken of as a king (1 Pet. 2:13, 17); and Herod Antipas, who was only a tetrarch, is also called a king (Matt. 14:9; Mark 6:22).

This title is applied to God (1 Tim. 1:17), and to Christ, the Son of God (1 Tim. 6:15, 16;

Nave's Topical Bible

→ Called KING OF KINGS Ezr 7:12; Eze 26:7; Da 2:37

→ Divinely authorized De 17:15; 1Sa 9:16,17; 16:12; 1Ch 22:10; 2Ch 2:11,12; Pr 8:15; Da 2:21,37; 4:17; 5:20; Ho 8:4; 13:11

→ How chosen

By divine appointment, Saul 1Sa 10:1

and she bowed low Bath- -sheba and she bowed down to the king and he said the king what? [is] to you
וַיֹּ֥אמֶרvai.Yo.mer and he said H559 Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine singular
5,309× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means to say or speak, and it's used in many different ways in the Bible. It can mean to command, promise, or think, and it's translated in the KJV as 'answer', 'appoint', or 'command'.
Amplified meaning
said, spoke
Tyndale gloss
to say
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אָמַר (amar) is a Hebrew verb meaning 'to say' or 'to utter,' with a broad range of uses including to promise, command, or even boast. It appears in various forms, such as in the Qal (to say), Niphal (to be told), and Hiphil (to avow). The entries highlight its versatility in both spoken and internal contexts, though no specific verse is noted.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אָמַר 5287 vb. utter, say

Qal

Say

Say in the heart (= think)

Promise

Command (esp. late)

Niph. be said, told

Hiph. avow, avouch (lit. cause to declare)

Hithp. act proudly, boast

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H559 אָמַר utter, say .. Say

. Say in the heart (= think)

. Promise

. Command (esp. late)

. be said, told

. avow, avouch (lit. cause to declare)

. act proudly, boast

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

559 'amar aw-mar'

a primitive root; to say (used with great

latitude):--answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call,

certify, challenge, charge, + (at the, give) command(-ment),

commune, consider, declare, demand, X desire, determine, X

expressly, X indeed, X intend, name, X plainly, promise,

publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), X still, X

suppose, talk, tell, term, X that is, X think, use (speech),

utter, X verily, X yet.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אָמַר (a.mar) — to say.

1) to say, speak, utter

1a) (Qal) to say, to answer, to say in one's heart, to think, to command, to promise, to intend

1b) (Niphal) to be told, to be said, to be called

1c) (Hithpael) to boast, to act proudly

1d) (Hiphil) to avow, to avouch

Aramaic equivalent: a.mar (אֲמַר "to say" H0560)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms — Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine singular
Hc/Vqw3ms
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and she bowed low Bath- -sheba and she bowed down to the king and he said the king what? [is] to you
הַמֶּ֖לֶךְha.Me.lekh the king H4428 Particle · noun common masculine singular absolute
2,526× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word refers to a king or royal person, like King David or King Saul. It can also describe something related to a king, like the King's Valley in Genesis. The Bible often uses this word to talk about the rulers of Israel.
Tyndale gloss
King's
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word מֶ֫לֶךְ (*melek*) means 'king.' It is derived from a root that suggests royalty. The term appears in various contexts, including references to specific kings and locations, such as the 'King's Highway' in Numbers 20:17 and the 'King's Valley' in Genesis 14:17. The lexicons note its Aramaic equivalent and mention its use in the context of individuals like Hammelech in Jeremiah.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מֶ֫לֶךְ 2513 n.m. king

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4428 מֶ֫לֶךְ king

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4428 melek meh'-lek

from 4427; a king:--king, royal.

see HEBREW for 04427

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מֶ֫לֶךְ (me.lekh) — king.

1) king

Aramaic equivalent: me.lekh (מֶ֫לֶךְ "king" H4430)

הַמֶּלֶךְ (me.lekh) — `the king`.

'the king' or a name, Hammelech in KJV of Jer.36.26; 38.6- a man living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at Jer.36.26;

father of: Jerahmeel (H3396I) and Malchijah (H4441H); also translated "the king";

§ A man living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at Jer.36.26;

father of: Jerahmeel (H3396I) and Malchijah (H4441H); also translated "the king";

מֶ֫לֶךְ (me.lekh) — King's.

King's (Highway) (Num.20.17)

מֶ֫לֶךְ (me.lekh) — King's.

Another name of she.lach (שֶׁ֫לַח "Shelah" H7975A)

מֶ֫לֶךְ (me.lekh) — Milcom.

Another name of mo.lekh (מֹ֫לֶךְ "Molech" H4432)

מֶ֫לֶךְ (me.lekh) — King's.

King's (Valley) (Gen.14.17)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Art | N-ms — Particle · noun common masculine singular absolute
HTd/Ncmsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Easton's Bible Dictionary

King

Is in Scripture very generally used to denote one invested with authority, whether extensive or limited. There were thirty-one kings in Canaan (Josh. 12:9, 24), whom Joshua subdued. Adonibezek subdued seventy kings (Judg. 1:7). In the New Testament the Roman emperor is spoken of as a king (1 Pet. 2:13, 17); and Herod Antipas, who was only a tetrarch, is also called a king (Matt. 14:9; Mark 6:22).

This title is applied to God (1 Tim. 1:17), and to Christ, the Son of God (1 Tim. 6:15, 16;

Nave's Topical Bible

→ Called KING OF KINGS Ezr 7:12; Eze 26:7; Da 2:37

→ Divinely authorized De 17:15; 1Sa 9:16,17; 16:12; 1Ch 22:10; 2Ch 2:11,12; Pr 8:15; Da 2:21,37; 4:17; 5:20; Ho 8:4; 13:11

→ How chosen

By divine appointment, Saul 1Sa 10:1

and she bowed low Bath- -sheba and she bowed down to the king and he said the king what? [is] to you
מַה־mah- what? H4100 Pronoun
753× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means what or how, often used to ask questions or express surprise, like in Genesis when God asks Adam what he has done. It can also mean why or when, and is used in various ways throughout the Old Testament. It appears in many KJV translations, including how or what.
Amplified meaning
a question of inquiry
Tyndale gloss
what?
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מָה (mah) is a Hebrew word primarily used as an interrogative particle meaning 'what?' or 'how?'. It can also function as an indefinite pronoun, encompassing meanings like 'anything' or 'whatever'. The word is versatile, appearing in various adverbial forms and often used with prefixes to express different nuances, such as reason or manner.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מָה, rarely מָה־, מַה־, מַה‍ּ, מֶה, מַ‍ּ, מָ—pron.interrog. and indef. what? how? aught

interrog. what?

Used adverbially

Indef. pron.

With preps.

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4100 מָה, rarely מָה־, מַה־, מַה‍ּ, מֶה, מַ‍ּ, מָ—pron. interrog. and indef. what? how? aught . interrog. what?

. Used adverbially

. Indef. pron.

. With preps.

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4100 mah maw

or mah {mah}; or ma {maw}; or ma {mah}; also meh {meh}; a

primitive particle; properly, interrogative what? (including

how? why? when?); but also exclamation, what! (including

how!), or indefinitely what (including whatever, and even

relatively, that which); often used with prefixes in various

adverbial or conjunctive senses:--how (long, oft, (-

soever)), (no-)thing, what (end, good, purpose, thing),

whereby(-fore, -in, -to, -with), (for) why.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מָה (mah) — what?.

interr pron

1) what, how, of what kind

1a) (interrogative)

1a1) what?

1a2) of what kind

1a3) what? (rhetorical)

1a4) whatsoever, whatever, what

1b) (adverb)

1b1) how, how now

1b2) why

1b3) how! (exclamation)

1c) (with prep)

1c1) wherein?, whereby?, wherewith?, by what means?

1c2) because of what?

1c3) the like of what?

1c3a) how much?, how many?, how often?

1c3b) for how long?

1c4) for what reason?, why?, to what purpose?

1c5) until when?, how long?, upon what?, wherefore?

indef pron

2) anything, aught, what may

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Part — Pronoun
HPi
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and she bowed low Bath- -sheba and she bowed down to the king and he said the king what? [is] to you
לָּֽךְ׃Lakh [is] to you H9032 Preposition · suffix
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

ךְ (kh) — you.

Personal object pronoun - suffix for propositions and verbs without an object: 2nd person feminine singular

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HR/Sp2fs — Preposition · suffix
HR/Sp2fs
Sources on this page. Lexicons and dictionaries imported from the CrossWire SWORD modules — Abbott-Smith, Strong's, Dodson, the Intermediate Liddell-Scott-Jones, Robinson and Packard, Webster and Cawdrey. Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament (Harper, 1889 — Grimm’s Wilke’s Clavis Novi Testamenti, translated, revised and enlarged by Joseph Henry Thayer) is public domain and is set here from the Internet Archive page scan greekenglishlex00grim; it is uncorrected OCR, marked as such on the entry itself, and the Strong’s numbers — which Thayer’s own edition does not carry — were matched by lemma against the other modules on this page. Trench’s Synonyms of the New Testament (Macmillan, 1880) and Moulton and Milligan’s Vocabulary of the Greek Testament (Hodder & Stoughton, 1930, which entered the United States public domain on 1 January 2026) are set from Internet Archive page scans synonymsofnewtes00treniala and vocabularyofgree00mouluoft, and are likewise uncorrected OCR matched to Strong’s numbers by lemma. Trench treats a group of words at once, so the same essay stands on the page of each word it compares. The Mounce Concise Greek-English Dictionary is © 1993 and is used here by permission for non-commercial use, www.teknia.com/greek-dictionary. The full Liddell-Scott-Jones and the Hebrew word data (TAHOT) come from STEPBible.org, CC BY 4.0. Brown-Driver-Briggs is the OpenScriptures digitisation, public domain. Syntax analysis is the Nestle 1904 Lowfat treebank (biblicalhumanities.org); the concordance and morphology are built from the tagged Nestle 1904 text. Septuagint occurrences use the Open Scriptures Septuagint lemma index, derived from CCAT (University of Pennsylvania) and the Rahlfs 1935 dataset by Eliran Wong, CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 — used here on a non-commercial ministry site. Greek of Josephus and Barnabas from the Perseus Digital Library, CC BY-SA 4.0. Commentaries and the Ante-Nicene Fathers are public-domain texts hosted on this site. Everyday Greek from the Duke Databank of Documentary Papyri, CC BY 3.0, with dates and provenance from the Heidelberger Gesamtverzeichnis. Philo and the Apostolic Fathers from Open Greek and Latin (First1KGreek), CC BY-SA 4.0. The apparatus and the fifth Greek column are the SBL Greek New Testament, © 2010 SBL and Logos Bible Software, CC BY 4.0. The Latin is the Clementine Vulgate (public domain); the Syriac New Testament is the ETCBC edition (MIT licence). The Hebrew behind the Greek is computed here from the Septuagint index and TAHOT, not taken from any aligned edition. The translation spread and the per-word edition marks come from the Translators Amalgamated Greek NT (STEPBible, CC BY 4.0); clause roles from the Nestle 1904 Lowfat treebank (CC BY-SA 4.0); place identifications and their confidence from OpenBible.info Bible Geocoding (CC BY 4.0), with map tiles © OpenStreetMap contributors. Gospel parallels are computed here from shared uncommon vocabulary, not taken from any printed harmony. Cross references are the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge and the subject headings are Nave’s Topical Bible, both public domain. Works under Creative Commons licences are used unchanged apart from markup removal.

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