The Meaning of 1 Kings 11:34 Explained

1 Kings 11:34

KJV: Howbeit I will not take the whole kingdom out of his hand: but I will make him prince all the days of his life for David my servant's sake, whom I chose, because he kept my commandments and my statutes:

YLT: 'And I do not take the whole of the kingdom out of his hand, for prince I make him all days of his life, for the sake of David My servant whom I chose, who kept My commands and My statutes;

Darby: But I will not take the whole kingdom out of his hand; for I will make him prince all the days of his life for David my servant's sake, whom I chose, who kept my commandments and my statutes;

ASV: Howbeit I will not take the whole kingdom out of his hand; but I will make him prince all the days of his life, for David my servant's sake whom I chose, who kept my commandments and my statutes;

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Howbeit I will not take  the whole kingdom  out of his hand:  but I will make  him prince  all the days  of his life  for David  my servant's  sake, whom I chose,  because he kept  my commandments  and my statutes: 

What does 1 Kings 11:34 Mean?

Context Summary

1 Kings 11:26-40 - The Kingdom Promised To His Servant
The opening chapters of Jeroboam's life were very promising. He sprang from the ranks of the toilers, but his business talent attracted the notice of Solomon, who set him over the forced labor which was levied from the great tribes of Manasseh and Ephraim, Whether Jeroboam had entertained the prospect of rulership before the prophet met him, we cannot tell, but after that interview his whole life was altered. And if only he had observed the injunction of 1 Kings 11:38, he might have lifted Israel to a level of prosperity and glory that would have blessed the world. But, alas! he sinned, and made Israel to sin- 1 Kings 12:30; 1 Kings 13:34; 1 Kings 14:16; 1 Kings 16:2; 1 Kings 16:9; 1 Kings 16:26, etc.
When God has given you your place, do not devise things out of your own heart, in order to retain it, 1 Kings 12:33. The plans that Jeroboam laid to secure the stability of his throne led to its undoing, and covered his name with undying infamy. "Trust in the Lord and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land." "Fret not thyself in any wise to do evil." "Thou maintainest my lot." Let those who feel compelled to do wrong in order to keep their business or position, dare to stand with God against the temptation. He will honor those who honor Him, 2 Samuel 2:30.
1 Kings 11:1-43 - Breaking Three Commandments
From a worldly point of view Naboth might have done a good stroke of business by selling his estate to. Ahab. A royal price and assured favor might have been his-but he had a conscience! Above the persuasive tones of the monarch's offer sounded the voice of God: "The land shall not be sold for ever, for the land is mine." See Leviticus 25:23; Numbers 36:7; Ezekiel 46:18.
Ahab knew perfectly well that Jezebel could not give him the property of another except by foul means, but he took pains not to inquire. Though the direct orders for Naboth's death did not come from him, yet, by his silence, he was an accomplice and an accessory; and divine justice penetrates all such specious excuses. God holds us responsible for wrongs which we do not arrest, though we have the power. The crime was blacker because of the pretext of religion, as suggested by a fast. See also 2 Kings 9:26. The blood of murdered innocence cries to God, and his requital, though delayed, is inevitable. See Revelation 6:9-10. [source]

Chapter Summary: 1 Kings 11

1  Solomon's wives and concubines
4  In his old age they draw him to idolatry
9  God threatens him,
14  Solomon's adversaries were Hadad, who was entertained in Egypt
23  Rezon, who reigned in Damascus
26  And Jeroboam, to whom Ahijah prophesied
41  Solomon's acts, reign, and death Rehoboam succeeds him

What do the individual words in 1 Kings 11:34 mean?

And However not I will take - whole the kingdom out of his hand because ruler I have made him all the days of his life for the sake of David My servant whom I chose - because he kept My commandments and My statutes
וְלֹֽא־ אֶקַּ֥ח אֶת־ כָּל־ הַמַּמְלָכָ֖ה מִיָּד֑וֹ כִּ֣י ׀ נָשִׂ֣יא אֲשִׁתֶ֗נּוּ כֹּ֚ל יְמֵ֣י חַיָּ֔יו לְמַ֨עַן דָּוִ֤ד עַבְדִּי֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר בָּחַ֣רְתִּי אֹת֔וֹ אֲשֶׁ֥ר שָׁמַ֖ר מִצְוֺתַ֥י וְחֻקֹּתָֽי

וְלֹֽא־  And  However  not 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
אֶקַּ֥ח  I  will  take 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, first person common singular
Root: יָקַח 
Sense: to take, get, fetch, lay hold of, seize, receive, acquire, buy, bring, marry, take a wife, snatch, take away.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
כָּל־  whole 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: כֹּל  
Sense: all, the whole.
הַמַּמְלָכָ֖ה  the  kingdom 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: מַמְלָכָה  
Sense: kingdom, dominion, reign, sovereignty.
מִיָּד֑וֹ  out  of  his  hand 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, feminine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: יָד  
Sense: hand.
כִּ֣י ׀  because 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: כִּי 
Sense: that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since.
נָשִׂ֣יא  ruler 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: נָשִׂיא 
Sense: one lifted up, chief, prince, captain, leader.
אֲשִׁתֶ֗נּוּ  I  have  made  him 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, first person common singular, third person masculine singular
Root: שִׁית  
Sense: to put, set.
יְמֵ֣י  the  days 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: יׄום 
Sense: day, time, year.
חַיָּ֔יו  of  his  life 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, third person masculine singular
Root: חַי 
Sense: living, alive.
לְמַ֨עַן  for  the  sake 
Parse: Preposition
Root: לְמַעַן 
Sense: purpose, intent prep.
דָּוִ֤ד  of  David 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: דָּוִד  
Sense: youngest son of Jesse and second king of Israel.
עַבְדִּי֙  My  servant 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: עֶבֶד  
Sense: slave, servant.
אֲשֶׁ֣ר  whom 
Parse: Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
בָּחַ֣רְתִּי  I  chose 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, first person common singular
Root: בָּחוּר 
Sense: to choose, elect, decide for.
אֹת֔וֹ  - 
Parse: Direct object marker, third person masculine singular
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
אֲשֶׁ֥ר  because 
Parse: Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
שָׁמַ֖ר  he  kept 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: שָׁמַר  
Sense: to keep, guard, observe, give heed.
מִצְוֺתַ֥י  My  commandments 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural construct, first person common singular
Root: מִצְוָה  
Sense: commandment.
וְחֻקֹּתָֽי  and  My  statutes 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, feminine plural construct, first person common singular
Root: חֻקָּה  
Sense: statute, ordinance, limit, enactment, something prescribed.