Bible Strands
1 Kings 11:39
Because of this, I will humble David’s descendants—but not forever.’”
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — God addresses Jeroboam directly after revealing the coming division of the kingdom, declaring the immediate consequence of Solomon’s disobedience.
The words — The Hebrew verb עָנָה (‘ānâ) literally means to afflict or humble, paired with זֶרַע דָּוִד (ze·ra‘ Dā·wîḏ) for “offspring of David.” The particle אַךְ (‘akh) and negation לֹא (lō) qualify the action as a temporary limitation rather than permanent destruction.
The thread — The text anticipates a future restoration that appears in Isaiah 9:7, Isaiah 11:1, and Luke 1:32, where the Davidic line is promised an everlasting throne.
Why it lands — The verse requires a reader to recognize that divine judgment operates with measured limits, and that historical punishment does not nullify the underlying covenant promise.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And I will for this afflict the seed of David, but not for ever.
Cross-references
- Isaiah 9:7 Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish and sustain it with justice and righteousness from that time and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of Hosts will accomplish this.
- Isaiah 11:1 Then a shoot will spring up from the stump of Jesse, and a Branch from his roots will bear fruit.
- Luke 1:32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David,
- Luke 2:11 Today in the city of David a Savior has been born to you. He is Christ the Lord!
- 1 Kings 11:36 I will give one tribe to his son, so that My servant David will always have a lamp before Me in Jerusalem, the city where I chose to put My Name.
- 1 Kings 12:16 When all Israel saw that the king had refused to listen to them, they answered the king: “What portion do we have in David, and what inheritance in the son of Jesse? To your tents, O Israel! Look now to your own house, O David!” So the Israelites went home,
- 1 Kings 14:8 I tore the kingdom away from the house of David and gave it to you. But you have not been like My servant David, who kept My commandments and followed Me with all his heart, doing only what was right in My eyes.
- 1 Kings 14:25 In the fifth year of Rehoboam’s reign, Shishak king of Egypt attacked Jerusalem.
- Psalms 89:30 If his sons forsake My law and do not walk in My judgments,
- Psalms 89:38 Now, however, You have spurned and rejected him; You are enraged by Your anointed one.