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.
Parallel Translations
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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.
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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.
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And they told the king, saying: 'Behold Nathan the prophet.' And when he was come in before the king, he bowed down before the king with his face to the ground.
Cross-references (3)
Passages linked to 1 Kings 1:23 in the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge, ordered by reader-vote popularity; verse text shown in World English Bible.
- 1 Kings 1:16 Bathsheba bowed, and showed respect to the king. The king said, “What would you like?”
- Romans 13:7 Therefore give everyone what you owe: if you owe taxes, pay taxes; if customs, then customs; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.
- 1 Peter 2:17 Honor all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.
Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)
Explain this verse (4 sources)
Historical commentary, presented as a primary source — not an endorsement.
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Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain Acknowledging him to be the true and worthy King…
Acknowledging him to be the true and worthy King appointed of God, as the figure of his Christ.
Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.
John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain 1Ki 1:23 And they told the king, saying, Behold…
1Ki 1:23 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.
Ver. 23. Behold Nathan the prophet.] Who was a privy counsellor to David, though he had so sharply reproved him. {2Sa 12:1-12}
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He bowed himself before the king.] Note here the exemplary modesty and submission of so great a prophet. How far from this is the false prophet of Rome!
John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain And they told the king,.... Some that attended at…
And they told the king,.... Some that attended at the door, or were in the chamber:
saying, behold, Nathan the prophet; or he is in the room, which the king through his infirmities might not be sensible of:
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and when he was come in before the king; nearer to him, and as to be properly in his presence:
he bowed himself before the king with his face to the ground; showing him the same reverence, though in bed, as if on his throne.
John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain And they told the king, saying, Behold Nathan the…
And they told the king, saying, Behold Nathan the prophet we are scarcely justified in seeing in this "solemn announcement of his approach" an "indication of the consideration in which he was held" (Stanley). It is difficult to see how otherwise he could be announced. It is clear that he was constantly spoken of as "the prophet" (vers. 10, 22, 34, 38, etc. Cf. 2Sa_7:2 2Sa_12:25) And when he was come in before Hebrews and he came before three words instead of six the king, he bowed himself before the king with his face to the ground see on vers. 16, 20; and cf. ver. 31, where we have a similar expression. "In the Assyrian sculptures, ambassadors are represented with their faces actually touching the earth before the feet of the monarch" (Rawlinson). This profound reverence on the part of Nathan is the more remarkable, when we remember how he had once denounced David to his face. (1Sa_12:7) Then promptly, without hesitation said the king, The one saith Heb. this is saying," i.e., keeps saying This is my son that liveth, and thy son is the dead; and the other saith, Nay, but thy son is the dead and my son is the living.
The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.