Kings in the Bible

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Compiled by The BibleStudyTools Staff on 05/20/2019
Kings in the Bible

Who were the Kings in the Bible?

In the Bible, monarchies were the common system of governance for nations. These monarchies were ruled by Kings, ranging in notoriety and moral actions. Some of the most well-known kings in the Bible include Saul, David, Solomon and of course, the king of kings, Jesus Christ. Beyond these, there are many other kings in scripture from Israel and Judah.

King Saul

Saul is the first king of the Kingdom of Israel and Judah. His reign, traditionally placed in the late 11th century BCE, led a shift from a tribal culture to statehood. The biblical descriptions of Saul's life are found in the Books of Samuel.

King David

David is described in the Old Testament as the second king of the United Kingdom of Israel and Judah after Saul. In the biblical narrative, David was a shepherd who earns recognition first as a musician and later by defeating the champion Goliath. He then obtains the favor of King Saul and friendship of Saul's son Jonathan. Following Saul and Jonathan killed in battle, David is selected as King. David captures Jerusalem, bringing the Ark of the Covenant into the city, and building the kingdom established by Saul.

King Solomon

According to the Old Testament, Solomon was a rich and clever king of Israel who succeeded his father, King David. The traditional dates of Solomon's ruling are circa 970 to 931 BCE. He is described as the third king of the United Monarchy, which would break apart into the northern Kingdom of Israel and the southern Kingdom of Judah shortly after his death.

Jesus Christ, the King of Kings

In Revelation 19:16 Jesus is named as the “KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS”. This title designates the sovereignty of Jesus as the Son of God. While the Kings of man ruled over their respective domains, Jesus and the Heavenly Father rule over all of creation.

Discover verses about Kings in the Bible in this collection of Scripture Quotes.

1 Timothy 6:15

15 which God will bring about in his own time—God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords,
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2 Chronicles 7:11

11 When Solomon had finished the temple of the LORD and the royal palace, and had succeeded in carrying out all he had in mind to do in the temple of the LORD and in his own palace,
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2 Chronicles 9:23

23 All the kings of the earth sought audience with Solomon to hear the wisdom God had put in his heart.
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Isaiah 9:6

Advent Week 2 - Peace
6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
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Proverbs 21:1

1 In the LORD’s hand the king’s heart is a stream of water that he channels toward all who please him.
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Proverbs 29:4

4 By justice a king gives a country stability, but those who are greedy for bribes tear it down.
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Psalms 47:2

2 For the LORD Most High is awesome, the great King over all the earth.
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Revelation 11:15

15 The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said: “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah, and he will reign for ever and ever.”
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Revelation 17:14

14 They will wage war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will triumph over them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings—and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers.”
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Revelation 19:16

16 On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.
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Romans 13:1

Romans 13:1
1 Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.
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1 Kings 4:21

21 And Solomon ruled over all the kingdoms from the Euphrates River to the land of the Philistines, as far as the border of Egypt. These countries brought tribute and were Solomon’s subjects all his life.
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Deuteronomy 17:15-18

15 be sure to appoint over you a king the LORD your God chooses. He must be from among your fellow Israelites. Do not place a foreigner over you, one who is not an Israelite.
16 The king, moreover, must not acquire great numbers of horses for himself or make the people return to Egypt to get more of them, for the LORD has told you, “You are not to go back that way again.”
17 He must not take many wives, or his heart will be led astray. He must not accumulate large amounts of silver and gold.
18 When he takes the throne of his kingdom, he is to write for himself on a scroll a copy of this law, taken from that of the Levitical priests.
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Proverbs 31:4-8

4 It is not for kings, Lemuel— it is not for kings to drink wine, not for rulers to crave beer,
5 lest they drink and forget what has been decreed, and deprive all the oppressed of their rights.
6 Let beer be for those who are perishing, wine for those who are in anguish!
7 Let them drink and forget their poverty and remember their misery no more.
8 Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute.
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1 Kings 11:9-13

9 The LORD became angry with Solomon because his heart had turned away from the LORD, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice.
10 Although he had forbidden Solomon to follow other gods, Solomon did not keep the LORD’s command.
11 So the LORD said to Solomon, “Since this is your attitude and you have not kept my covenant and my decrees, which I commanded you, I will most certainly tear the kingdom away from you and give it to one of your subordinates.
12 Nevertheless, for the sake of David your father, I will not do it during your lifetime. I will tear it out of the hand of your son.
13 Yet I will not tear the whole kingdom from him, but will give him one tribe for the sake of David my servant and for the sake of Jerusalem, which I have chosen.”
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