1 Kings

1 Kings 2:36–42

³⁶Then the king summoned Shimei and said to him, “Build a house for yourself in Jerusalem and live there, but do not go anywhere else. ³⁷On the day you go out and cross the Kidron Valley, know for sure that you will die; your blood will be on your own head.”

³⁸“The sentence is fair,” Shimei replied. “Your servant will do as my lord the king has spoken.” And Shimei lived in Jerusalem for a long time.

³⁹After three years, however, two of Shimei’s slaves ran away to Achish son of Maacah,^d king of Gath. And Shimei was told, “Look, your slaves are in Gath.”

⁴⁰So Shimei saddled his donkey and set out to Achish at Gath in search of his slaves, and he brought them back from Gath.

⁴¹When Solomon was told that Shimei had gone from Jerusalem to Gath and had returned, ⁴²the king summoned Shimei and said to him, “Did I not make you swear by the LORD and warn you, ‘On the day you leave and go elsewhere, know for sure that you will die’? And you told me, ‘The sentence is fair; I will comply.’

Footnotes

d 2:39 Maacah is a variant of Maoch; see 1 Samuel 27:2|1SA 27:2.

Read all of 1 Kings 2

Word by word

Each English word or phrase beside the Hebrew it translates, in the order of the English. Choose a number to open that word’s study.

1 Kings 2:36

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Then the king	הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙	ham·me·leḵ	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H4428 king
summoned	וַיִּשְׁלַ֤ח	way·yiš·laḥ	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H7971 send
Shimei	לְשִׁמְעִ֔י	lə·šim·‘î	Preposition-l; Noun - proper - masculine singular	H8096 Shimi
and said	וַיֹּ֣אמֶר	way·yō·mer	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H559 utter, say
to him	ל֗וֹ	lōw	Preposition; third person masculine singular
Build	בְּֽנֵה־	bə·nêh-	Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular	H1129 build
a house	בַ֙יִת֙	ḇa·yiṯ	Noun - masculine singular	H1004 house
for yourself	לְךָ֥	lə·ḵā	Preposition; second person masculine singular
in Jerusalem	בִּיר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔ם	bî·rū·šā·lim	Preposition-b; Noun - proper - feminine singular	H3389 Jerusalem
and live	וְיָשַׁבְתָּ֖	wə·yā·šaḇ·tā	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular	H3427 sit, remain, dwell
there	שָׁ֑ם	šām	Adverb	H8033 there, thither
but do not	וְלֹֽא־	wə·lō-	Conjunctive waw; Adverb - Negative particle	H3808 not
go	תֵצֵ֥א	ṯê·ṣê	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular	H3318 go or come out
anywhere else	אָ֥נֶה	’ā·neh	Adverb	H575 where?

1 Kings 2:37

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
On the day	בְּי֣וֹם	bə·yō·wm	Preposition-b; Noun - masculine singular	H3117 day
you go out	צֵאתְךָ֗	ṣê·ṯə·ḵā	Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct; second person masculine singular	H3318 go or come out
and cross	וְעָֽבַרְתָּ֙	wə·‘ā·ḇar·tā	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular	H5674 pass over, through, by, pass on
the Kidron	קִדְר֔וֹן	qiḏ·rō·wn	Noun - proper - feminine singular	H6939 Kidron
Valley	נַ֣חַל	na·ḥal	Noun - masculine singular construct	H5158 torrent, torrent-valley, wady
know for sure	יָדֹ֥עַ	yā·ḏō·a‘	Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute	H3045 know
that	כִּ֣י	kî	Conjunction	H3588 burning, branding
you will die	מ֣וֹת	mō·wṯ	Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute	H4191 die
your blood	דָּמְךָ֖	dā·mə·ḵā	Noun - masculine singular construct; second person masculine singular	H1818 blood
will be	יִהְיֶ֥ה	yih·yeh	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular	H1961 fall out, come to pass, become, be
on your own head	בְרֹאשֶֽׁךָ׃	ḇə·rō·še·ḵā	Preposition-b; Noun - masculine singular construct; second person masculine singular	H7218 head

1 Kings 2:38

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
The sentence	הַדָּבָ֔ר	had·dā·ḇār	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H1697 speech, word
is fair	ט֣וֹב	ṭō·wḇ	Adjective - masculine singular	H2896 pleasant, agreeable, good
Shimei	שִׁמְעִ֤י	šim·‘î	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H8096 Shimi
replied	וַיֹּ֨אמֶר	way·yō·mer	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H559 utter, say
Your servant	עַבְדֶּ֑ךָ	‘aḇ·de·ḵā	Noun - masculine singular construct; second person masculine singular	H5650 slave, servant
will do	יַעֲשֶׂ֣ה	ya·‘ă·śeh	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular	H6213 do, make
as	כַּאֲשֶׁ֤ר	ka·’ă·šer	Preposition-k; Pronoun - relative	H834 particle of relation
my lord	אֲדֹנִ֣י	’ă·ḏō·nî	Noun - masculine singular construct; first person common singular	H113 lord
the king	הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ	ham·me·leḵ	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H4428 king
has spoken	דִּבֶּר֙	dib·ber	Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singular	H1696 speak
And Shimei	שִׁמְעִ֛י	šim·‘î	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H8096 Shimi
lived	וַיֵּ֧שֶׁב	way·yê·šeḇ	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H3427 sit, remain, dwell
in Jerusalem	בִּירוּשָׁלִַ֖ם	bî·rū·šā·lim	Preposition-b; Noun - proper - feminine singular	H3389 Jerusalem
for a long	רַבִּֽים׃ס	rab·bîm	Adjective - masculine plural	H7227 much, many, great
time	יָמִ֥ים	yā·mîm	Noun - masculine plural	H3117 day

1 Kings 2:39

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
After	מִקֵּץ֙	miq·qêṣ	Preposition-m; Noun - masculine singular construct	H7093 end
three	שָׁלֹ֣שׁ	šā·lōš	Number - feminine singular	H7969 a three, triad
years	שָׁנִ֔ים	šā·nîm	Noun - feminine plural	H8141 year
however	וַיְהִ֗י	way·hî	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H1961 fall out, come to pass, become, be
two	שְׁנֵֽי־	šə·nê-	Number - masculine dual construct	H8147 two
of Shimei’s	לְשִׁמְעִ֔י	lə·šim·‘î	Preposition-l; Noun - proper - masculine singular	H8096 Shimi
slaves	עֲבָדִים֙	‘ă·ḇā·ḏîm	Noun - masculine plural	H5650 slave, servant
ran away	וַיִּבְרְח֤וּ	way·yiḇ·rə·ḥū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H1272 go through, flee
to	אֶל־	’el-	Preposition	H413 motion to
Achish	אָכִ֥ישׁ	’ā·ḵîš	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H397 Akish
son	בֶּֽן־	ben-	Noun - masculine singular construct	H1121 son
of Maacah	מַעֲכָ֖ה	ma·‘ă·ḵāh	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H4601 Maakah
king	מֶ֣לֶךְ	me·leḵ	Noun - masculine singular construct	H4428 king
of Gath	גַּ֑ת	gaṯ	Noun - proper - feminine singular	H1661 wine-press
And Shimei	לְשִׁמְעִי֙	lə·šim·‘î	Preposition-l; Noun - proper - masculine singular	H8096 Shimi
was told	וַיַּגִּ֤ידוּ	way·yag·gî·ḏū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H5046 be conspicuous
Look	הִנֵּ֥ה	hin·nêh	Interjection	H2009 lo! behold!
your slaves	עֲבָדֶ֖יךָ	‘ă·ḇā·ḏe·ḵā	Noun - masculine plural construct; second person masculine singular	H5650 slave, servant
are in Gath	בְּגַֽת׃	bə·ḡaṯ	Preposition-b; Noun - proper - feminine singular	H1661 wine-press

1 Kings 2:40

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
So Shimei	שִׁמְעִ֗י	šim·‘î	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H8096 Shimi
saddled	וַֽיַּחֲבֹשׁ֙	way·ya·ḥă·ḇōš	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H2280 bind, bind on, bind up
his donkey	חֲמֹר֔וֹ	ḥă·mō·rōw	Noun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine singular	H2543 heap
and set out	וַיֵּ֤לֶךְ	way·yê·leḵ	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H1980 go, come, walk
to	אֶל־	’el-	Preposition	H413 motion to
Achish	אָכִ֔ישׁ	’ā·ḵîš	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H397 Akish
at Gath	גַּ֙תָה֙	ga·ṯāh	Noun - proper - feminine singular; third person feminine singular	H1661 wine-press
in search of	לְבַקֵּ֖שׁ	lə·ḇaq·qêš	Preposition-l; Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct	H1245 seek
his slaves	עֲבָדָ֑יו	‘ă·ḇā·ḏāw	Noun - masculine plural construct; third person masculine singular	H5650 slave, servant
and he brought them	עֲבָדָ֖יו	‘ă·ḇā·ḏāw	Noun - masculine plural construct; third person masculine singular	H5650 slave, servant
back	וַיָּבֵ֥א	way·yā·ḇê	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H935 come in, come, go in, go
from Gath	מִגַּֽת׃	mig·gaṯ	Preposition-m; Noun - proper - feminine singular	H1661 wine-press

1 Kings 2:41

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
When Solomon	לִשְׁלֹמֹ֑ה	liš·lō·mōh	Preposition-l; Noun - proper - masculine singular	H8010 Solomon
was told	וַיֻּגַּ֖ד	way·yug·gaḏ	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Hofal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H5046 be conspicuous
that	כִּי־	kî-	Conjunction	H3588 burning, branding
Shimei	שִׁמְעִ֧י	šim·‘î	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H8096 Shimi
had gone	הָלַ֨ךְ	hā·laḵ	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular	H1980 go, come, walk
from Jerusalem	מִירוּשָׁלִַ֛ם	mî·rū·šā·lim	Preposition-m; Noun - proper - feminine singular	H3389 Jerusalem
to Gath	גַּ֖ת	gaṯ	Noun - proper - feminine singular	H1661 wine-press
and had returned	וַיָּשֹֽׁב׃	way·yā·šōḇ	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H7725 turn back, return

1 Kings 2:42

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
the king	הַמֶּ֜לֶךְ	ham·me·leḵ	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H4428 king
summoned	וַיִּשְׁלַ֨ח	way·yiš·laḥ	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H7971 send
Shimei	לְשִׁמְעִ֗י	lə·šim·‘î	Preposition-l; Noun - proper - masculine singular	H8096 Shimi
and said	וַיֹּ֨אמֶר	way·yō·mer	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H559 utter, say
to him	אֵלָ֜יו	’ê·lāw	Preposition; third person masculine singular	H413 motion to
Did I not	הֲל֧וֹא	hă·lō·w	Adverb - Negative particle	H3808 not
make you swear	הִשְׁבַּעְתִּ֣יךָ	hiš·ba‘·tî·ḵā	Verb - Hifil - Perfect - first person common singular; second person masculine singular	H7650 swear
by the LORD	בַֽיהוָ֗ה	Yah·weh	Preposition-b; Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3068 Yahweh
and warn	וָאָעִ֤ד	wā·’ā·‘iḏ	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singular	H5749 return, go about, repeat, do again
you	בְּךָ֙	bə·ḵā	Preposition; second person masculine singular
On the day	בְּי֣וֹם	bə·yō·wm	Preposition-b; Noun - masculine singular construct	H3117 day
you leave	צֵאתְךָ֗	ṣê·ṯə·ḵā	Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct; second person masculine singular	H3318 go or come out
and go	וְהָֽלַכְתָּ֙	wə·hā·laḵ·tā	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular	H1980 go, come, walk
elsewhere	אָ֣נֶה	’ā·neh	Adverb	H575 where?
know for sure	יָדֹ֥עַ	yā·ḏō·a‘	Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute	H3045 know
that	כִּ֣י	kî	Conjunction	H3588 burning, branding
you will die	מ֣וֹת	mō·wṯ	Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute	H4191 die
And you told	וַתֹּ֧אמֶר	wat·tō·mer	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - second person masculine singular	H559 utter, say
me	אֵלַ֛י	’ê·lay	Preposition; first person common singular	H413 motion to
The sentence	הַדָּבָ֖ר	had·dā·ḇār	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H1697 speech, word
is fair	ט֥וֹב	ṭō·wḇ	Adjective - masculine singular	H2896 pleasant, agreeable, good
I will comply	שָׁמָֽעְתִּי׃	šā·mā·‘ə·tî	Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular	H8085 hear

Cross-references

Other passages that speak to the same thing. Point at one to read it.

1 Kings 2:36 1 Kings 2:8–9 · 2 Samuel 16:5–9

1 Kings 2:37 2 Samuel 1:16 · 2 Samuel 15:23 · Joshua 2:19 · Leviticus 20:9 · Ezekiel 18:13 · John 18:1 · 2 Kings 23:6

Cross-references from OpenBible.info, used under CC BY 4.0. The best-supported references for each verse are shown.

Scripture text: Berean Standard Bible.