Bible Strands
1 Kings 2:38
“The sentence is fair,” Shimei replied. “Your servant will do as my lord the king has spoken.” And Shimei lived in Jerusalem for a long time.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Shimei speaks to Solomon after the king’s decree forbidding him from crossing the Kidron Valley. He acknowledges the royal judgment and pledges immediate compliance before remaining in Jerusalem.
The words — The phrase טוֹב הַדָּבָר (Tov ha-davar) literally means “the word is good,” and אֲדֹנִ/י הַמֶּלֶךְ ('adoni ha-melekh) translates to “my lord the king.” These terms frame Shimei’s response as a formal acknowledgment of royal authority.
The thread — This deferential formula appears in 1 Kings 20:4, where a vassal pledges loyalty to his superior, and 2 Kings 20:19, where a ruler accepts a prophetic decree as favorable. The language marks a recurring biblical pattern of acknowledging sovereign judgment.
Why it lands — The text records a subject’s verbal compliance without endorsing future faithfulness. It demands recognition that spoken submission does not guarantee lasting obedience to divine or royal commands.
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The Hebrew words
King James Version
And Shimei said unto the king, The saying is good: as my lord the king hath said, so will thy servant do. And Shimei dwelt in Jerusalem many days.
Cross-references
- 1 Kings 20:4 And the king of Israel replied, “Just as you say, my lord the king: I am yours, along with all that I have.”
- 2 Kings 20:19 But Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “The word of the LORD that you have spoken is good.” For he thought, “Will there not at least be peace and security in my lifetime?”