1 Kings 4:6 — Word Study
WLCוַאֲחִישָׁ֖ר עַל־ הַבָּ֑יִת וַאֲדֹנִירָ֥ם בֶּן־ עַבְדָּ֖א עַל־ הַמַּֽס׃ ס
BSAAhisharʼĂchîyshâr△ [chief steward, supervisor of the king's household] [was] in charge ofʻal the palacebayith [the king's house, royal residence] and AdoniramʼĂdônîyrâm [my Lord is exalted] sonbên of AbdaʻAbdâʼ [servant of Jehovah] [was] in charge ofʻal the forced labormaç [tribute, taskwork, men subject to labor as a form of tax]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| וַאֲחִישָׁ֖ר | and Ahishar | Conjunction, noun proper masculine |
| עַל־ | [was] over | Preposition |
| הַבָּ֑יִת | the house | Particle, noun common masculine singular absolute |
| וַאֲדֹנִירָ֥ם | and Adoniram | Conjunction, noun proper masculine |
| בֶּן־ | [the] son of | Noun common, masculine singular construct |
| עַבְדָּ֖א | Abda | Noun proper masculine |
| עַל־ | [was] over | Preposition |
| הַמַּֽס׃ ס | the forced labor | Particle, noun common masculine singular absolute |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | Ahishar was in charge of the palace; and Adoniram son of Abda was in charge of the forced labor. |
| KJV | And Ahishar was over the household: and Adoniram the son of Abda was over the tribute. |
| ASV | and Ahishar was over the household; and Adoniram the son of Abda was over the men subject to taskwork. |
| YLT | And Ahishar [is] over the household, and Adoniram son of Abda [is] over the tribute. |
| WEB | Ahishar was over the household; and Adoniram the son of Abda was over the men subject to forced labor. |
| BBE | Ahishar was controller of the king's house; Adoniram, the son of Abda, was overseer of the forced work. |
Where they part company is עַל — see How Translations Differ.
The structure shows a main clause followed by two subordinate phrases, clearly defining the roles of the officials.
8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
subjectאֲחִישָׁר
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
1 of 8 occurs nowhere else in the Old Testament — a word chosen on purpose.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — 1 Kings 4:6
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — Administration Under Solomongenerated
1 Kings 4:6 describes the roles of two officials in King Solomon's administration, indicating the structure of governance during his reign. Ahishar is identified as the chief steward responsible for the palace, while Adoniram, the son of Abda, is tasked with overseeing forced labor. This reflects the organization of the kingdom and the responsibilities assigned to key figures, paralleling other biblical accounts of leadership and service, such as in 1 Kings 12:18.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 Kings 12:18 | Then King Rehoboam sent out Adoram, who was in charge of the forced labor, but all Israel stoned him to death. And King Rehoboam mounted his chariot in haste and escaped to Jerusalem. |
| 2 | 2 Samuel 20:24 | Adoram was in charge of the forced labor; Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was the recorder; |
| 3 | 1 Kings 5:13–14 | Then King Solomon conscripted a labor force of 30,000 men from all Israel. |
| 4 | 1 Kings 9:15 | This is the account of the forced labor that King Solomon imposed to build the house of the LORD, his own palace, the supporting terraces, and the wall of Jerusalem, as well as Hazor, Megiddo, and Gezer. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 4 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — אֲחִישָׁר, va.'a.chi.Shargenerated
The name אֲחִישָׁר (Achiyshar) refers to a chief steward for King Solomon, managing the king's household and affairs. His name means 'my brother has sung' and is derived from the roots for 'brother' and 'singer.' The parsing indicates that he is a masculine proper noun, appearing only in this verse.
Ahishar's role as steward suggests a position of significant responsibility within the royal household, overseeing the palace and ensuring that the king's needs were met. His mention here emphasizes the importance of administrative roles in the functioning of the monarchy.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The finite verb עַל governs the entire structure, with two noun phrases following it: first, אֲחִישָׁר as the subject, and second, אֲדֹנִירָם as the subject of the second clause. The sentence is constructed to present the roles of these officials in a straightforward manner, highlighting their responsibilities.
The word order places emphasis on the officials' titles and responsibilities, creating a clear distinction between Ahishar's management of the palace and Adoniram's oversight of forced labor.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates אֲחִישָׁר as αξιηλ, which shows a narrowing of the meaning to a specific role without the additional context of stewardship. This choice may reflect a different understanding of the administrative structure in the Hellenistic period.
For עַל, the Septuagint uses ἐπὶ, which similarly conveys the idea of being in charge but may lack the nuance of responsibility implied in the Hebrew.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
1 Kings 4:6 tells us that Ahishar was in charge of the palace, managing the king's household, while Adoniram, the son of Abda, was responsible for the forced labor. This verse highlights the organization of King Solomon's administration.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
Ahishar was the chief steward in charge of the palace during King Solomon's reign, responsible for managing the royal household.
The name Adoniram means 'my lord is exalted' and refers to an official who oversaw forced labor under King Solomon.
Forced labor refers to individuals who were compelled to work as a form of tax or tribute, often under harsh conditions.
This verse parallels other accounts of leadership and organization in the monarchy, such as in 1 Kings 12:18, showing the structure of governance during Solomon's reign.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- What qualities do you think are important for someone in a position of leadership, like Ahishar or Adoniram?
- How can understanding the roles of these officials help us appreciate the organization of governance in biblical times?
- In what ways can we apply the principles of responsibility and service seen in this verse to our own lives?
- How does the concept of forced labor challenge our understanding of justice and fairness in ancient societies?
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on 1 Kings 4:6 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleAnd Abiathar [was] over the household,.... Steward of the household: and Adoniram the son of Abda [was] over the tribute, over those that collected the tribute, as the Targum, whether from the people
Read John Gill on 1 Kings 4 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryAnd Ahishar was over the household: and Adoniram the son of Abda was over the tribute. Over the household - steward or chamberlain of the palace (cf.
Read Robert Jamieson on 1 Kings 4 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleOver the household; steward of the king’ s household. Over the tribute, to wit, the personal tribute, or the levy of men, as appears by comparing this with ,14, it being very fit that there should be some one person to whom the chief conduct or inspection of that great business was committed.
Read Matthew Poole on 1 Kings 4 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments1 Kings 4:6 And Ahishar [was] over the household: and Adoniram the son of Abda [was] over the tribute.Ver. 6. And Abishar was over the household.] Magister Aulae magnus. Le grand maistre, comptroller of the court, or governor of the king’ s house. Was over the tribute.] Or, Levy; praefectus delectui, so Tremellius rendereth it, and referreth to 1 Kings 5:14.
Read John Trapp on 1 Kings 4 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(6) Over the household,—like the “High Steward” of a modern Court. In 2 Kings 18:18 we have the same three officers mentioned (“Eliakim, who was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and Joah the son of Asaph the recorder”). Adoniram . . . over the tribute (or “levy”),—evidently the head of Solomon’s great public works. (See 1 Kings 5:14.) The name is elsewhere given as Adoram. It is to be noticed that in the enumeration of David’s officers in the early part of the reign (2 Samuel 8:16-18) no such officer is found; but that in the latter part of his reign the list contains the name of Adoram (2 Samuel 20:24). It has been thought that the numbering of the people recorded in 2 Samuel 24…
Read Charles John Ellicott on 1 Kings 4 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 6. Ahishar was over the household] the king's chamberlain. Adoniram - was over the tribute.] What we call chancellor of the exchequer. He received and brought into the treasury all the proceeds of taxes and tributes. He was in this office under David; see 2 Samuel 20:24.
Read AdamClarke on 1 Kings 4 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges6. After the mention of Ahishar, the LXX. (Vat.) adds καὶἘλιὰκὁοἰκόνομοςκαὶἘλιὰβυἱὸςΣὰφἐπὶτῆςπατριᾶς. Adoniram] He is mentioned again 1 Kings 5:14; and the name is found in a contracted form Adoram (2 Samuel 20:24; 1 Kings 12:18) and Hadoram (2 Chronicles 10:18). He was stoned to death by the Israelites to whom Rehoboam sent him, as a collector of tribute, after the revolt of the ten tribes to Jeroboam. over the tribute] [R.V. levy.] This is the forced labour, in which form the service of tributaries was often exacted. The same word is also used (1 Kings 5:13) of the men who did this forced labour. There it is rendered ‘levy,’ in A. V. It is the German Frohndienst, French corvιe.
Read Cambridge on 1 Kings 4 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleOver the household - Comptroller of the household, like the “Steward” of the Persian court. On the importance of this office, see 2 Kings 18:18, and compare Isaiah 22:15-25.
Read Albert Barnes on 1 Kings 4 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
Ahishar was in charge of the palace; and Adoniram son of Abda was in charge of the forced labor.
Ahishar was over the household; and Adoniram the son of Abda was over the men subject to forced labor.
Ahishar was in charge of the palace; and Adoniram son of Abda was in charge of the forced labor.
Ahishar was supervisor of the palace. Adoniram son of Abda was supervisor of the work crews.
Tyndale line
And Ahishar was over the household: and Adoniram the son of Abda was over the tribute.
and Ahishar was over the household; and Adoniram the son of Abda was over the men subject to taskwork.
and Ahishar was over the household; and Adoniram the son of Abda was over the levy.
And Ahishar was over the household: and Adoniram the son of Abda was over the tribute.
And Ahishar was ouer the houshold: and Adoniram the sonne of Abda was ouer the tribute.
Strictly literal
and Ahishar was over the household; and Adoniram the son of Abda was over the levy-service.
And Ahishar [is] over the household, and Adoniram son of Abda [is] over the tribute.
and Ahishar [is] over the household, and Adoniram son of Abda [is] over the tribute.
And Achishar was over the household; and Adoniram the son of 'Abda was over the tribute.
Ahishar was over the household. Adoniram son of Abda was over the men who were subjected to forced labor.
From the Latin
And Ahisar governor of the house: and Adoniram the son of Abda over the tribute.
Simplified
Ahishar was the palace manager. Adoniram, son of Abda, was in charge of those forced to work for the king.
Ahishar was controller of the king's house; Adoniram, the son of Abda, was overseer of the forced work.
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text states that "Ahishar was in charge of the palace; and Adoniram son of Abda was in charge of the forced labor." The Septuagint, while it preserves a similar meaning, does not provide a complete word-for-word correspondence, and its wording and structure differ. The Samaritan Pentateuch and the Dead Sea Scrolls do not provide additional evidence for this specific verse, leaving the Masoretic Text as the primary witness for this passage. Overall, the main details about Ahishar and Adoniram remain consistent across the available texts, but the Septuagint's phrasing indicates some variation in how the information is presented.
וַאֲחִישָׁ֖ר עַל־ הַבָּ֑יִת וַאֲדֹנִירָ֥ם בֶּן־ עַבְדָּ֖א עַל־ הַמַּֽס׃ ס
6 of the 8 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in 1 Kings 4:6
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
אֲחִישָׁר (Achiyshar) refers to a man mentioned in the Old Testament, specifically as a chief steward for Solomon in 1 Kings 4:6. The name means 'my brother has sung' and is derived from the roots for 'brother' and 'singer.' The entries consistently identify him as an Israelite associated with the United Monarchy.
אֲחִישָׁר n.pr.m. (my brother has sung) over Solomon’s household 1 K 4:6.
done
H301 אֲחִישָׁר
301 'Achiyshar akh-ee-shawr'
from 251 and 7891; brother of (the) singer; Achishar, an
Israelite:--Ahishar.
see HEBREW for 0251
see HEBREW for 07891
אֲחִישָׁר (a.chi.shar) — Ahishar.
A man living at the time of United Monarchy, only mentioned at 1Ki.4.6
§ Ahishar = "my brother sang"
chief steward for Solomon
Conj | N-proper — Conjunction · noun proper masculineHC/Npm
a-hish'-ar ('achishar, "my brother has sung"): Mentioned in Solomon's list of heads of departments as "over the household" (1Ki 4:6).
Ahishar
Brother of song = singer, the officer who was “over the household” of Solomon (1 Kings 4:6).
the controller of Solomon’s household. (1 Kings 4:6)
brother of a prince; brother of a song
The Hebrew word עַל (*al*) is a preposition meaning 'upon' and encompasses a wide range of meanings, including 'on account of,' 'beside,' 'above,' and 'against.' It can indicate physical placement, emotional burdens, or duties imposed on a person. The entries also note its use in idiomatic expressions and with verbs of motion. There is a mention of its function as a conjunction in certain contexts.
כִּי עַל כֵּן forasmuch as
base
עַל, עָ֑ל
subst. height
As prep. upon, and hence on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against
Upon, of the substratum upon which an object in any way rests, or on which an action is performed
—
of clothing, etc., which any one wears
With verbs of covering or protecting, even though the cover or veil be not over or above the thing covered, but around or before it
Of what rests heavily upon a person, or is a burden to him
Of a duty, payment, care, etc., imposed upon a person, or devolving on him
על is used idiom. to give pathos to the expression of an emotion, by emphasizing the person who is its subject, and who, as it were, feels it acting upon him
חָיָה עַל to live upon (as upon a foundation or support)
H5921a עַל, עָ֑ל . As prep. upon, and hence on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against . Upon, of the substratum upon which an object in any way rests, or on which an action is performed . — . of clothing, etc., which any one wears
. With verbs of covering or protecting, even though the cover or veil be not over or above the thing covered, but around or before it
. Of what rests heavily upon a person, or is a burden to him
. Of a duty, payment, care, etc., imposed upon a person, or devolving on him
. על is used idiom. to give pathos to the expression of an emotion, by emphasizing the person who is its subject, and who, as it were, feels it acting upon him
. חָיָה עַל to live upon (as upon a foundation or support)
5921 `al al
properly, the same as 5920 used as a preposition (in the
singular or plural often with prefix, or as conjunction with a
particle following); above, over, upon, or against (yet always
in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great
variety of applications (as follow):--above, according
to(-ly), after, (as) against, among, and, X as, at, because
of, beside (the rest of), between, beyond the time, X both
and, by (reason of), X had the charge of, concerning for, in
(that), (forth, out) of, (from) (off), (up-)on, over, than,
through(-out), to, touching, X with.
see HEBREW for 05920
עַל (al) — upon.
prep
1) upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against
1a) upon, on the ground of, on the basis of, on account of, because of, therefore, on behalf of, for the sake of, for, with, in spite of, notwithstanding, concerning, in the matter of, as regards
1b) above, beyond, over (of excess)
1c) above, over (of elevation or pre-eminence)
1d) upon, to, over to, unto, in addition to, together with, with (of addition)
1e) over (of suspension or extension)
1f) by, adjoining, next, at, over, around (of contiguity or proximity)
1g) down upon, upon, on, from, up upon, up to, towards, over towards, to, against (with verbs of motion)
1h) to (as a dative)
[כִּי] עַל [כֵּן] ([ki] al [ken]) — as.
conj
Prep — PrepositionHR
The Hebrew word בַּיִת (*bayith*) means 'house' and encompasses a wide range of meanings, including dwelling, family, and place. It can refer to physical structures, such as homes and temples, as well as metaphorical uses like the body or household affairs. The word is built from the root related to 'between' and appears in various contexts throughout the Old Testament.
בֵּית fem. of בַּיִן, בֵּין prep. between
base
בַּ֫יִת 2034 n.m. house
house
place
receptacle
of house as containing a family
household, family (592 t.)
house, including household affairs
lit. housewards, hence metaph. inwards
מִבַּיִת
adv. on the inside
prep. within
base
H1004a בֵּית fem. of בַּיִן, בֵּין prep. between H1004b בַּ֫יִת house
1004 bayith bah'-yith
probably from 1129 abbreviated; a house (in the greatest
variation of applications, especially family, etc.):--court,
daughter, door, + dungeon, family, + forth of, X great as
would contain, hangings, home(born), (winter)house(-hold),
inside(-ward), palace, place, + prison, + steward, + tablet,
temple, web, + within(-out).
see HEBREW for 01129
בֵּית (bet) — place.
nm
place, origin, between
בַּ֫יִת (ba.yit) — house: home.
: home/temple/building
nm
1) house
1a) house, dwelling habitation
1b) shelter or abode of animals
1c) human bodies (fig.)
1d) of Sheol
1e) of abode of light and darkness
1f) of land of Ephraim
2) place
3) receptacle
4) home, house as containing a family
5) household, family
5a) those belonging to the same household
5b) family of descendants, descendants as organized body
6) household affairs
7) inwards (metaph.)
8) (TWOT) temple
adv
9) on the inside
prep
10) within
בַּ֫יִת (ba.yit) — Beth-(ashbea).
nm
This name is used for a house, habitation
Combined with ash.be.a (אַשְׁבֵּעַ "Ashbea" H0791)
בַּ֫יִת (ba.yit) — Beth (Haggan).
nm
This name is used for a house, habitation
Combined with hag (גַּן "Haggan" H1588)
בַּ֫יִת (ba.yit) — Beth-(togarmah).
nm
This name is used for a house, habitation
Art | N-ms — Particle · noun common masculine singular absoluteHTd/Ncmsa
hous (bayith; oikos, in classical Greek generally "an estate," oikia, oikema (literally, "habitation"), in Ac 12:1, "prison"):
I. CAVE DWELLINGS
II. STONE-BUILT AND MUD/BRICK-BUILT HOUSES
1. Details of Plan and Construction
(1) Corner-Stone
(2) Floor
(3) Gutter
(4) Door
(5) Hinge
(6) Lock and Key
(7) Threshold
(8) Hearth
(9) Window
(10) Roof
2. Houses of More than One Story
(1) Upper Chambers and Stairs
(2) Palaces and Castles
3. Internal Appearance
III. OTHER MEANINGS
LITERATURE
I. Cave Dwellings.
The earliest permanent habitations of the prehistoric inhabitants of Palestine were the natural caves which abound throughout the country. As the people increased and grouped themselves into communities, these abodes were supplemented by systems of artificial caves which, in some cases, developed into extensive burrowings of many adjoining compartments, having…
House
Till their sojourn in Egypt the Hebrews dwelt in tents. They then for the first time inhabited cities (Gen. 47:3; Ex. 12:7; Heb. 11:9). From the earliest times the Assyrians and the Canaanites were builders of cities. The Hebrews after the Conquest took possession of the captured cities, and seem to have followed the methods of building that had been pursued by the Canaanites. Reference is made to the stone (1 Kings 7:9; Isa. 9:10) and marble (1 Chr. 29:2) used in building, and to the internal wood-work of the houses (
The houses of the rural poor in Egypt, as well as in most parts of Syria, Arabia and Persia, are generally mere huts of mud or sunburnt bricks. In some parts of Palestine and Arabia stone is used, and in certain districts caves in the rocks are used as dwellings. (Amos 5:11) The houses are usually of one story only, viz., the ground floor, and often contain only one apartment. Sometimes a small court for the cattle is attached; and in some cases the cattle are housed in the same building, or the live in a raised platform, and, the cattle round them on the ground. (1 Samuel 28:24) The windows are small apertures high up in the walls, sometimes grated with wood. The roofs are commonly but not always flat, and are usually formed of plaster of mud and straw laid upon boughs or…
Is often put for dwelling, residence; and hence the temple, and even the tabernacle, are called the house of God.
The universal mode of building houses in the East, is in the form of a hollow square, with an open court or yard in the center; which is thus entirely shut in by the walls of the house around it. Into this court all the windows open, there being usually no windows towards the street. Some houses of large size require several courts, and these usually communicate with each other. These courts are commonly paved; and in many large houses parts of them are planted with shrubs and trees, Ps 84:3 128:3; they have also, when possible, a fountain in them, often with a jet d’ eau, 2Sa 17:18. It is customary in many houses to extend an awning over the whole court in hot…
אֲדֹנִירָם (Adoniyram) is a proper name meaning 'my lord is exalted.' It refers to an Israelite official during the United Monarchy, first mentioned in 2 Samuel 20:24. The name is derived from elements meaning 'lord' and 'height.' Adoniram is also known as Hadoram in 2 Chronicles 10:18, and there is a connection to another name, Adoram.
אֲדֹנִירָם n.pr.m. (my Lord is exalted) official of Solom.
base
H141 אֲדֹנִירָם
141 'Adoniyram ad-o-nee-rawm'
from 113 and 7311; lord of height; Adoniram, an
Israelite:--Adoniram.
see HEBREW for 0113
see HEBREW for 07311
אֲדֹנִירָם (a.do.ni.ram) — Adoniram.
A man living at the time of United Monarchy, first mentioned at 2Sa.20.24;
son of: Abda (H5653); also called Adoniram at 1Ki.4.6; 5.14; Hadoram at 2Ch.10.18;
Another name of a.do.ram (אֲדֹרָם "Adoram" H0151)
§ Adoniram = "my lord is exalted"
one of Solomon's officers
Conj | N-proper — Conjunction · noun proper masculineHC/Npm
ad-o-ni'-ram ('adhoniram, "my lord is exalted"): An official of Solomon (1Ki 4:6; 5:14). Near the close of the reign of David, and at the opening of the reign of Rehoboam, the same office was held by Adoram (2Sa 20:24; 1Ki 12:18).
The name Adoram seems to be a contraction of Adoniram, and doubtless the same person held the office in all the three reigns. The name also appears as Hadoram (2Ch 10:18). In the King James Version and the Revised Version (British and American) the office is variantly described as "over the tribute," which is misleading, and "over the levy," which is correct, though obscure. In the American Standard Revised Version it is uniformly "over the men…
Adoniram
(Adoram, 1 Kings 12:18), the son of Abda, was “over the tribute,” i.e., the levy or forced labour. He was stoned to death by the people of Israel (1 Kings 4:6; 5:14)
(lord of heights), (1 Kings 4:6) by an unusual contraction ADORAM, (2 Samuel 20:24) and 1Kin 12:18 Also HADORAM, (2 Chronicles 10:18) chief receiver of the tribute during the reigns of David, (2 Samuel 20:24) Solomon, (1 Kings 4:6) and Rehoboam. (1 Kings 12:18) This last monarch sent him to collect the tribute from the rebellious Israelites, by whom he was stoned to death, (B.C. 1014-973.)
A receiver of tributes under David and Solomon, and director of the thirty thousand men sent to Lebanon to cut timber, 1Ki 5:14. The same person is also called Adoram, by contraction, 2Sa 20:21 1Ki 12:8; and also Hadoram, 2Ch 10:18. He was stoned to death by the revolted ten tribes, having been sent to them by Rehoboam, either to induce them to return, or to test by gathering the taxes.
בֵּן (ben) means 'son' or 'male child' and encompasses a wide range of meanings, including descendants, young animals, and even figurative uses like sparks or arrows. It can refer to members of a tribe or class and is used in various contexts throughout the Old Testament, such as in 1 Chronicles 24:26. The word is derived from a root meaning 'to build' and implies a connection to family or lineage.
בֵּן 4870 n.m. son
son, male child, born of a woman
children (male and female)
youth, young men
the young of animals
of plant shoots
fig. of lifeless things, sparks, stars, arrows
member of a guild, order or class
of animals son of (the) herd
ב׳ as n. relat. followed by word of quality, characteristic, etc.
n. relat. of age
base
בְּנוֹ 1 Ch 24:26, 27 as n.pr.m. in AV, RV, but render: the sons of Jaaziah his son, & the sons of Merari by Jaaziah his son, cf. VB & Be Öt.
done
H1121a בֵּן son . son, male child, born of a woman
. children (male and female)
. youth, young men
. the young of animals
. of plant shoots
. fig. of lifeless things, sparks, stars, arrows
. . member of a guild, order or class
. of animals son of (the) herd
. ב׳ as n. relat. followed by word of quality, characteristic, etc.
. n. relat. of age
H1121b בְּנוֹ as n. pr. m. in AV, RV, but render: the sons of Jaaziah his son, & the sons of Merari by Jaaziah his son
1121 ben bane
from 1129; a son (as a builder of the family name), in the
widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship,
including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition,
etc., (like 1, 251, etc.)):--+ afflicted, age, (Ahoh-)
(Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-)ite, (anoint-)ed one, appointed to,
(+) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-)ian, one born,
bough, branch, breed, + (young) bullock, + (young) calf, X
came up in, child, colt, X common, X corn, daughter, X of
first, + firstborn, foal, + very fruitful, + postage, X in, +
kid, + lamb, (+) man, meet, + mighty, + nephew, old, (+)
people, + rebel, + robber, X servant born, X soldier, son, +
spark, + steward, + stranger, X surely, them of, + tumultuous
one, + valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth.
see HEBREW for 01129
see HEBREW for 01
see HEBREW for 0251
בֵּן (ben) — son: child.
: child/son
בְּנוֹ (be.no) — Beno.
A man of the tribe of Levi living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Ch.24.26;
son of: Jaaziah (H3269);
brother of: Shoham (H7719), Zaccur (H2139I) and Ibri (H5681)
§ Beno = "his son"
the sons of Jaaziah and the sons of Merari by Jaahziah (his son)
בֵּן (ben) — son: descendant/people.
: descendant, people, tribe, nation
A sub-meaning of ben (בֵּן ": child" H1121)
§ : child/son
בֵּן (ben) — son: young animal.
: calf/lamb/young(ANIMAL)
A sub-meaning of ben (בֵּן ": child" H1121)
§ : descendant
בֵּן (ben) — son: type of.
: rebel/son(Belial)
A sub-meaning of ben (בֵּן ": child" H1121)
§ : people/men/nation/tribe
בֵּן (ben) — son.
: [inheriting]son/heir
A sub-meaning of ben (בֵּן ": child" H1121)
בֵּן (ben) — son: warrior.
: warrior/son(strong)
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular constructHNcmsc
ov:
(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.
OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]
1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.
I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.
For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.
It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.
Lamentations 3:1.
The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.
Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.
That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.
Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…
עַבְדָּא (Abda) is a Hebrew name meaning 'servant of Jehovah.' It refers to two individuals in the Old Testament: one is a Levite, father of Adoniram, mentioned in 1 Kings 4:6, and the other is a Levite son of Shammua, also known as Obadiah, noted in 1 Chronicles 9:16 and Nehemiah 11:17. The word is derived from a root meaning 'work.'
עַבְדָּא n.pr.m. (servant of י׳)
father of Adoniram
a Levite
base
H5653 עַבְדָּא
5653 `Abda' ab-daw'
from 5647; work; Abda, the name of two Israelites:--Abda
see HEBREW for 05647
עַבְדָּא (av.da) — Abda.
A man living at the time of United Monarchy, only mentioned at 1Ki.4.6;
father of: Adoram (H0151)
§ Abda = "servant of Jehovah"
1) father of Adoniram
2) a Levite, son of Shammua; also called 'Obadiah'
עַבְדָּא (av.da) — Abda.
A man of the tribe of Levi living at the time of Exile and Return, first mentioned at 1Ch.9.16;
son of: Shemaiah (H8098F); also called Abda at Neh.11.17;
Another name of o.vad.yah (עֹבַדְיָ֫הוּ "Obadiah" H5662K)
§ Abda = "servant of Jehovah"
1) father of Adoniram
2) a Levite, son of Shammua; also called 'Obadiah'
N-proper — Noun proper masculineHNpm
ab'-da (`abhda', perhaps, by abbreviation, "servant of Yahweh"):
(1) The father of Adoniram, King Solomon's superintendent of forced labor (1Ki 4:6).
(2) A Levite mentioned in the statistical note in (Ne 11:17). This "Abda the son of Shammua" is in the partly duplicate passage in (1Ch 9:16) called "Obadiah the son of Shemaiah."
Abda
Servant. (1.) The father of Adoniram, whom Solomon set over the tribute (1 Kings 4:6); i.e., the forced labour (R.V., “levy”).
(2.) A Levite of the family of Jeduthun (Neh. 11:17), also called Obadiah (1 Chr. 9:16).
Father of Adoniram. (1 Kings 4:6) Son of Shammua, (Nehemiah 11:17) called Obadiah in (1 Chronicles 9:16)
a servant; servitude
The Hebrew word עַל (*al*) is a preposition meaning 'upon' and encompasses a wide range of meanings, including 'on account of,' 'beside,' 'above,' and 'against.' It can indicate physical placement, emotional burdens, or duties imposed on a person. The entries also note its use in idiomatic expressions and with verbs of motion. There is a mention of its function as a conjunction in certain contexts.
כִּי עַל כֵּן forasmuch as
base
עַל, עָ֑ל
subst. height
As prep. upon, and hence on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against
Upon, of the substratum upon which an object in any way rests, or on which an action is performed
—
of clothing, etc., which any one wears
With verbs of covering or protecting, even though the cover or veil be not over or above the thing covered, but around or before it
Of what rests heavily upon a person, or is a burden to him
Of a duty, payment, care, etc., imposed upon a person, or devolving on him
על is used idiom. to give pathos to the expression of an emotion, by emphasizing the person who is its subject, and who, as it were, feels it acting upon him
חָיָה עַל to live upon (as upon a foundation or support)
H5921a עַל, עָ֑ל . As prep. upon, and hence on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against . Upon, of the substratum upon which an object in any way rests, or on which an action is performed . — . of clothing, etc., which any one wears
. With verbs of covering or protecting, even though the cover or veil be not over or above the thing covered, but around or before it
. Of what rests heavily upon a person, or is a burden to him
. Of a duty, payment, care, etc., imposed upon a person, or devolving on him
. על is used idiom. to give pathos to the expression of an emotion, by emphasizing the person who is its subject, and who, as it were, feels it acting upon him
. חָיָה עַל to live upon (as upon a foundation or support)
5921 `al al
properly, the same as 5920 used as a preposition (in the
singular or plural often with prefix, or as conjunction with a
particle following); above, over, upon, or against (yet always
in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great
variety of applications (as follow):--above, according
to(-ly), after, (as) against, among, and, X as, at, because
of, beside (the rest of), between, beyond the time, X both
and, by (reason of), X had the charge of, concerning for, in
(that), (forth, out) of, (from) (off), (up-)on, over, than,
through(-out), to, touching, X with.
see HEBREW for 05920
עַל (al) — upon.
prep
1) upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against
1a) upon, on the ground of, on the basis of, on account of, because of, therefore, on behalf of, for the sake of, for, with, in spite of, notwithstanding, concerning, in the matter of, as regards
1b) above, beyond, over (of excess)
1c) above, over (of elevation or pre-eminence)
1d) upon, to, over to, unto, in addition to, together with, with (of addition)
1e) over (of suspension or extension)
1f) by, adjoining, next, at, over, around (of contiguity or proximity)
1g) down upon, upon, on, from, up upon, up to, towards, over towards, to, against (with verbs of motion)
1h) to (as a dative)
[כִּי] עַל [כֵּן] ([ki] al [ken]) — as.
conj
Prep — PrepositionHR
The Hebrew word מַס (mas) refers to a body of forced laborers or task-workers, encompassing concepts like serfdom and tribute. It is derived from a root meaning 'burden' and is associated with enforced labor and service. The entries highlight its use in contexts related to labor gangs and taskmasters.
מַס n.m. usu. coll. body of forced labourers, task-workers, labour-band or gang, also (late) forced service, task-work, serfdom
base
H4522 מַס body of forced labourers, task-workers, labour-band or gang, also (late) forced service, task-work, serfdom
4522 mac mas
or mic {mees}; from 4549; properly, a burden (as causing to
faint), i.e. a tax in the form of forced labor:--discomfited,
levy, task(-master), tribute(-tary).
see HEBREW for 04549
מַס (mas) — taskworker.
1) gang or body of forced labourers, task-workers, labour band or gang, forced service, task-work, serfdom, tributary, tribute, levy, taskmasters, discomfited
1a) labour-band, labour-gang, slave gang
1b) gang-overseers
1c) forced service, serfdom, tribute, enforced payment
Art | N-ms — Particle · noun common masculine singular absoluteHTd/Ncmsa
la'-ber (yeghia`, `amal; kopos): The word (noun and verb) denoting hard work or "toil" (thus in the Revised Version (British and American) of De 26:7; Jos 7:3; Re 2:2) represents several Hebrew and Greek words, chiefly those above. Occasionally, as in Hab 3:17 (ma`aseh), it stands for "fruit of labor." Sometimes, in conjunction with "travail," it refers to childbirth (Ge 35:16,17, yaladh; compare 1Th 2:9; 2Th 3:8). Examples of the word in the ordinary sense are: of yeghia`,