1 Kings 1:2

American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

Wherefore his servants said unto him, Let there be sought for my lord the king a young virgin: and let her stand before the king, and cherish him; and let her lie in thy bosom, that my lord the king may get heat.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

וַיֹּ֧אמְרוּ ל֣וֹ עֲבָדָ֗יו יְבַקְשׁ֞וּ לַאדֹנִ֤י הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ נַעֲרָ֣ה בְתוּלָ֔ה וְעָֽמְדָה֙ לִפְנֵ֣י הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ וּתְהִי־ל֖וֹ סֹכֶ֑נֶת וְשָׁכְבָ֣ה בְחֵיקֶ֔ךָ וְחַ֖ם לַאדֹנִ֥י הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃

Transliteration

And amar to him his ebed, "Let them baqash for my adon the melek a na'arah betulah, and she shall amad before the melek and shall be to him a sokenet, and she shall shakab in your cheq, and be warm for my adon the melek."

Grammar Details

• *amar*: verb, qal imperfect with waw consecutive, 3rd person masculine plural - they said/told
• *ebed*: noun, masculine, plural with 3rd person masculine singular suffix - his servants
• *baqash*: verb, piel imperfect, 3rd person plural (jussive) - let them seek/search for
• *adon*: noun, masculine, singular construct with 1st person common singular suffix - my lord/master
• *melek*: noun, masculine, singular, absolute - king
• *na'arah*: noun, feminine, singular - young woman/girl
• *betulah*: noun, feminine, singular - virgin
• *amad*: verb, qal perfect with waw consecutive, 3rd person feminine singular - she will stand
• *sokenet*: noun, feminine, singular - caretaker/attendant
• *shakab*: verb, qal perfect with waw consecutive, 3rd person feminine singular - she will lie down
• *cheq*: noun, masculine, singular with 2nd person masculine singular suffix - your bosom/lap
• *cham*: verb, qal perfect, 3rd person masculine singular - become warm

Word Meanings

• *na'arah betulah*: young virgin/virgin girl/maiden
• *sokenet*: nurse/attendant/companion/caretaker
• *shakab b'cheq*: lie in your bosom/sleep by your side

Referenced Verses

• Gen 16:5 : 5 And Sarai said unto Abram, My wrong be upon thee: I gave my handmaid into thy bosom; and when she saw that she had conceived, I was despised in her eyes: Jehovah judge between me and thee.
• Deut 10:8 : 8 At that time Jehovah set apart the tribe of Levi, to bear the ark of the covenant of Jehovah, to stand before Jehovah to minister unto him, and to bless in his name, unto this day.
• Deut 13:6 : 6 If your brother, the son of your mother, or your son, or your daughter, or the wife of your bosom, or your friend, that is as your own soul, entice you secretly, saying, Let us go and serve other gods, which you have not known, you, nor your fathers;
• 1 Sam 16:21-22 : 21 And David came to Saul, and stood before him: and he loved him greatly; and he became his armorbearer. 22 And Saul sent to Jesse, saying, Let David, I pray thee, stand before me; for he hath found favor in my sight.
• 2 Sam 12:3 : 3 but the poor man had nothing, save one little ewe lamb, which he had bought and nourished up: and it grew up together with him, and with his children; it did eat of his own morsel, and drank of his own cup, and lay in his bosom, and was unto him as a daughter.
• 2 Chr 29:11 : 11 My sons, be not now negligent; for Jehovah hath chosen you to stand before him, to minister unto him, and that ye should be his ministers, and burn incense.
• Eccl 4:11 : 11 Again, if two lie together, then they have warmth; but how can one be warm [alone]?
• Mic 7:5 : 5 Trust ye not in a neighbor; put ye not confidence in a friend; keep the doors of thy mouth from her that lieth in thy bosom.