1 Kings 2:42
And the king sent and called for Shimei, and said unto him, Did I not make thee to swear by the LORD, and protested unto thee, saying, Know for a certain, on the day thou goest out, and walkest abroad any whither, that thou shalt surely die? and thou saidst unto me, The word that I have heard is good.
1 Kings 2:42 · King James Version
Meaning
This verse from the book of 1 Kings chapter 2, captures a moment between King Solomon and Shimei, a man who had previously cursed King David. King Solomon reminds Shimei of the oath he made to the Lord, promising not to leave Jerusalem upon pain of death. Despite this solemn promise, Shimei disregards his oath and is caught leaving Jerusalem. The king confronts Shimei about his actions, to which Shimei replies that he heard and agreed to the terms but believed them to be good. This interaction serves as a reminder of the importance of honoring one's commitments, especially those made before the Lord. It also highlights the consequences of breaking one's word, even if done with seemingly good intentions. Overall, this verse underscores the significance of truthfulness, obedience, and the weight of making promises, particularly when made in the presence of God.
Theological Overview
In this verse from the Bible, King Solomon is shown confronting Shimei about a promise he made to the Lord. The theological interpretation of this verse lies in the importance of keeping one's word, especially when it is given in the name of the Lord. King Solomon reminds Shimei of the oath he took and the consequences of breaking it. This passage serves as a reminder of the seriousness and weight of making commitments, particularly those made before God. It also highlights the theme of obedience and accountability to divine authority. The word study of this verse could focus on the significance of the phrase "protested unto thee," which emphasizes the gravity of the situation and the severe consequences of Shimei's actions. Additionally, the use of the word "good" in Shimei's response could be explored in terms of his attitude towards the authority of the king and the severity of the situation.
1 Kings 2:42 in other translations
American Standard Version
And the king sent and called for Shimei, and said unto him, Did I not adjure thee by Jehovah, and protest unto thee, saying, Know for certain, that on the day thou goest out, and walkest abroad any whither, thou shalt surely die? and thou saidst unto me, The saying that I have heard is good.
World English Bible
The king sent and called for Shimei, and said to him, “Didn’t I adjure you by Yahweh, and warn you, saying, ‘Know for certain, that on the day you go out, and walk abroad any where, you shall surely die?’ You said to me, ‘The saying that I have heard is good.’
Douay-Rheims
And sending he called for him, and said to him: Did I not protest to thee by the Lord, and tell thee before: On what day soever thou shalt go out and walk abroad any where, know that thou shalt die? And thou answeredst me: The word that I have heard is good.
Geneva Bible (1599)
And the King sent and called Shimei, and sayde vnto him, Did I not make thee to sweare by the Lord, and protested vnto thee, saying, That day that thou goest out, and walkest any whither, knowe assuredly that thou shalt dye the death? And thou saydest vnto mee, The thing is good, that I haue heard.