1 Kings 1:23

Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

The king was informed, "Nathan the prophet is here." So Nathan came before the king and bowed with his face to the ground.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

וַיַּגִּ֤ידוּ לַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר הִנֵּ֖ה נָתָ֣ן הַנָּבִ֑יא וַיָּבֹא֙ לִפְנֵ֣י הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ וַיִּשְׁתַּ֧חוּ לַמֶּ֛לֶךְ עַל־אַפָּ֖יו אָֽרְצָה׃

Transliteration

And-wayyaggîḏû to-the-meleḵ lēʾmōr, hinnēh nāṯān the-nāḇîʾ, and-wayyāḇōʾ to-presence-of the-meleḵ and-wayyištaḥû to-the-meleḵ upon-ʾappāyw ʾārṣāh.

Grammar Details

• *wayyaggîḏû*: waw consecutive + Hiphil imperfect, 3rd plural - and they told
• *meleḵ*: noun, masculine singular - king
• *lēʾmōr*: preposition + Qal infinitive construct - saying
• *hinnēh*: demonstrative particle - behold
• *nāṯān*: proper noun - Nathan
• *nāḇîʾ*: noun, masculine singular - prophet
• *wayyāḇōʾ*: waw consecutive + Qal imperfect, 3rd masculine singular - and he came
• *wayyištaḥû*: waw consecutive + Hishtaphel imperfect, 3rd masculine singular - and he bowed down
• *ʾappāyw*: noun, masculine dual construct with 3rd masculine singular suffix - his face/nostrils
• *ʾārṣāh*: noun, feminine singular + directional heh - to the ground

Word Meanings

• *wayyaggîḏû*: and they told/reported/announced
• *wayyāḇōʾ*: and he came/entered/approached
• *wayyištaḥû*: and he bowed down/prostrated himself
• *ʾappāyw*: his face/nostrils/nose
• *ʾārṣāh*: to the ground/earth/land

Other Translations

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  And they told the king, saying, Behold Nathan the prophet. And when he was come in before the king, he bowed himself before the king with his face to the ground.

• KJV1611 – Modern English

  And they told the king, saying, Behold Nathan the prophet. And when he came in before the king, he bowed himself before the king with his face to the ground.

• King James Version 1611 (Original)

  And they told the king, saying, Behold Nathan the prophet. And when he was come in before the king, he bowed himself before the king with his face to the ground.

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  And they told{H5046} the king,{H4428} saying,{H559} Behold, Nathan{H5416} the prophet.{H5030} And when he was come in{H935} before{H6440} the king,{H4428} he bowed{H7812} himself before the king{H4428} with his face{H639} to the ground.{H776}

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  And they told{H5046}{(H8686)} the king{H4428}, saying{H559}{(H8800)}, Behold Nathan{H5416} the prophet{H5030}. And when he was come in{H935}{(H8799)} before{H6440} the king{H4428}, he bowed{H7812}{(H8691)} himself before the king{H4428} with his face{H639} to the ground{H776}.

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  and she tolde ye kinge: beholde, there is the prophet Nathan. And whan he came in before the kynge, he worshipped the kynge vpon his face to the grounde,

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  And they tolde the King, saying, Beholde, Nathan the Prophet; when he was come in to the King, hee made obeisance before the King vpon his face to the ground.

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  And they told the king, saying: Behold, here commeth Nathan the prophet. And when he was come in to the king, he made obeysaunce before the king vpo his face on the grounde.

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  And they told the king, saying, Behold Nathan the prophet. And when he was come in before the king, he bowed himself before the king with his face to the ground.

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  They told the king, saying, Behold, Nathan the prophet. When he was come in before the king, he bowed himself before the king with his face to the ground.

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  and they declare to the king, saying, `Lo, Nathan the prophet;' and he cometh in before the king, and boweth himself to the king, on his face to the earth.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  And they told the king, saying, Behold, Nathan the prophet. And when he was come in before the king, he bowed himself before the king with his face to the ground.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  And they told the king, saying, Behold, Nathan the prophet. And when he was come in before the king, he bowed himself before the king with his face to the ground.

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  And they said to the king, Here is Nathan the prophet. And when he came in before the king, he went down on his face on the earth.

• World English Bible (2000)

  They told the king, saying, "Behold, Nathan the prophet!" When he had come in before the king, he bowed himself before the king with his face to the ground.

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  The king was told,“Nathan the prophet is here.” Nathan entered and bowed before the king with his face to the floor.

Referenced Verses

• 1 Kgs 1:16 : 16 Bathsheba bowed low and paid homage to the king. The king asked her, "What is it you want?"
• Rom 13:7 : 7 Render to all what is due them: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs are due, respect to whom respect is due, and honor to whom honor is due.
• 1 Pet 2:17 : 17 Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.