1 Kings 3:14

14 And if you will walk in my ways, keeping my statutes and my commandments, 1as your father David walked, then 2I will lengthen your days."

1 Kings 3:14 Meaning and Commentary

1 Kings 3:14

And if thou wilt walk in my ways
Prescribed and directed to in his word, to keep my statutes and my commandments;
ceremonial, moral, and judicial: as thy father David did walk;
which Solomon himself had observed, ( 1 Kings 3:6 ) ; and whose walk was worthy of his imitation: then I will lengthen thy days;
the other promises of riches and honour are absolute, but this of long life conditional, depending upon his holy walk and conversation; and hence, because he failed in this the Jews observe he did not attain to long life, dying, as they suppose, at fifty two years of age; which is grounded on a wrong hypothesis, that he was but twelve years of age when he he began to reign, and he reigned forty years, as before observed.

1 Kings 3:14 In-Context

12 behold, I now do according to your word. Behold, I give you a wise and discerning mind, so that none like you has been before you and none like you shall arise after you.
13 I give you also what you have not asked, both riches and honor, so that no other king shall compare with you, all your days.
14 And if you will walk in my ways, keeping my statutes and my commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your days."
15 And Solomon awoke, and behold, it was a dream. Then he came to Jerusalem and stood before the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and offered up burnt offerings and peace offerings, and made a feast for all his servants.
16 Then two prostitutes came to the king and stood before him.

Cross References 2

  • 1. ver. 6; 1 Kings 15:5
  • 2. [Psalms 91:16; Proverbs 3:2]
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.