King James Version

What Does 1 Kings 1:2 Mean?

1 Kings 1:2 in the King James Version says “Wherefore his servants said unto him, Let there be sought for my lord the king a young virgin: and let her stand before ...” — study this verse from 1 Kings chapter 1 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“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 let her cherish him, and let her lie in thy bosom, that my lord the king may get heat. Let there: Heb. Let them seek a young: Heb. a damsel, a virgin cherish: Heb. be a cherisher unto him”

1 Kings 1:2 · KJV

Context

1

Now king David was old and stricken in years; and they covered him with clothes, but he gat no heat. stricken: Heb. entered into days

2

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 let her cherish him, and let her lie in thy bosom, that my lord the king may get heat. Let there: Heb. Let them seek a young: Heb. a damsel, a virgin cherish: Heb. be a cherisher unto him

3

So they sought for a fair damsel throughout all the coasts of Israel, and found Abishag a Shunammite, and brought her to the king.

4

And the damsel was very fair, and cherished the king, and ministered to him: but the king knew her not.

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Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
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 let her cherish him, and let her lie in thy bosom, that my lord the king may get heat. The servants' proposal reflects ancient medical practice where the body heat of a young, healthy person was thought to warm and restore vitality to the elderly or infirm. The Hebrew na'arah betulah (נַעֲרָה בְתוּלָה, 'young virgin') specifies both youth and virginity, emphasizing purity and vital energy.

The term sochenet (סֹכֶנֶת, 'cherish' or 'nurse') indicates a caregiving role rather than purely sexual relationship. The phrase 'lie in thy bosom' (shakab becheikecha, שָׁכַב בְּחֵיקֶךָ) describes intimate physical proximity for therapeutic warming, though the narrative clarifies this remains non-sexual (v. 4). This medical understanding, while foreign to modern readers, was common in ancient medicine across various cultures.

The servants' initiative reveals both their concern for David's health and awareness of the delicate political situation. David's inability to maintain body temperature signals life-threatening illness. Their proposal attempts to restore the king's vitality through recognized therapeutic means, though it also becomes entangled with succession politics when Adonijah later requests Abishag as wife (1 Kings 2:13-25), revealing how even medical care of royalty carried political implications.

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Historical & Cultural Context

Ancient Near Eastern medical texts, including Egyptian and Mesopotamian sources, describe similar practices of using body heat therapy for treating hypothermia and various ailments. The Hippocratic corpus also references therapeutic uses of body warmth. This wasn't unique to Israelite culture but reflects shared ancient medical understanding across Mediterranean and Near Eastern civilizations.

In royal contexts, personal attendants and physicians held significant positions. The servants mentioned here were likely senior palace officials responsible for the king's welfare. Their ability to make such proposals indicates their trusted status and the gravity of David's condition. The specification of virginity may relate to concepts of ritual purity associated with serving the king, or beliefs about the life force of young, unmarried women.

This incident occurs against the backdrop of David's declining years and increasing palace intrigue. Bathsheba's son Solomon and David's older son Adonijah represented competing factions. Any woman in intimate proximity to the king—even in a medical capacity—would be perceived as a royal consort, making her subsequent status politically significant, as demonstrated when Adonijah's request for Abishag cost him his life.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does this passage affirm the value of medical care and preservation of life while also acknowledging human mortality and the limits of medical intervention?
  2. What does the servants' initiative teach about the responsibility of those surrounding leaders to speak honestly and act for their welfare?
  3. How can we navigate situations where legitimate, moral actions might be misconstrued or create unintended complications?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 19 words
וַיֹּ֧אמְרוּ1 of 19

“said”

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

ל֣וֹ2 of 19
H0
עֲבָדָ֗יו3 of 19

“Wherefore his servants”

H5650

a servant

יְבַקְשׁ֞וּ4 of 19

“unto him Let there be sought”

H1245

to search out (by any method, specifically in worship or prayer); by implication, to strive after

לַֽאדֹנִ֥י5 of 19

“for my lord”

H113

sovereign, i.e., controller (human or divine)

הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃6 of 19

“the king”

H4428

a king

נַֽעֲרָ֣ה7 of 19

“a young”

H5291

a girl (from infancy to adolescence)

בְתוּלָ֔ה8 of 19

“virgin”

H1330

a virgin (from her privacy); sometimes (by continuation) a bride; also (figuratively) a city or state

וְעָֽמְדָה֙9 of 19

“and let her stand”

H5975

to stand, in various relations (literal and figurative, intransitive and transitive)

לִפְנֵ֣י10 of 19

“before”

H6440

the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi

הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃11 of 19

“the king”

H4428

a king

וּתְהִי12 of 19
H1961

to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)

ל֖וֹ13 of 19
H0
סֹכֶ֑נֶת14 of 19

“and let her cherish”

H5532

to be familiar with; by implication, to minister to, be serviceable to, to cherish, be customary

וְשָֽׁכְבָ֣ה15 of 19

“him and let her lie”

H7901

to lie down (for rest, sexual connection, decease or any other purpose)

בְחֵיקֶ֔ךָ16 of 19

“in thy bosom”

H2436

the bosom (literally or figuratively)

וְחַ֖ם17 of 19

“may get heat”

H2552

to be hot (literally or figuratively)

לַֽאדֹנִ֥י18 of 19

“for my lord”

H113

sovereign, i.e., controller (human or divine)

הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃19 of 19

“the king”

H4428

a king

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of 1 Kings. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

1 Kings 1:2 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to 1 Kings 1:2 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Ecclesiastes 4:11Genesis 16:5Micah 7:51 Samuel 16:21-22Deuteronomy 10:8Deuteronomy 13:6

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