The Meaning of 1 Kings 14:27 Explained

1 Kings 14:27

KJV: And king Rehoboam made in their stead brasen shields, and committed them unto the hands of the chief of the guard, which kept the door of the king's house.

YLT: And king Rehoboam maketh in their stead shields of brass, and hath made them a charge on the hand of the heads of the runners, those keeping the opening of the house of the king,

Darby: And king Rehoboam made in their stead brazen shields, and committed them to the hands of the chief of the couriers who kept the entrance of the king's house.

ASV: And king Rehoboam made in their stead shields of brass, and committed them to the hands of the captains of the guard, who kept the door of the king's house.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And king  Rehoboam  made  in their stead brasen  shields,  and committed  [them] unto the hands  of the chief  of the guard,  which kept  the door  of the king's  house. 

What does 1 Kings 14:27 Mean?

Context Summary

1 Kings 14:17-31 - South Rivals Worth In Sinning
Rehoboam's mother's name signifies beauty, and she may have been attractive in her person; but we are twice told that she was an Ammonitess, as if to emphasize the disastrous influence which she exercised over her son, 1 Kings 14:21; 1 Kings 14:31. In the earlier part of the chapter, there are tender reminiscences of David-that he kept God's commandments, followed Him with all his heart, did what was right in His eyes. How dear is such a life to God! How He keeps it in remembrance! How He holds it up to veneration, notwithstanding a serious lapse! But this only serves by contrast to make the corruption of later times the more terrible.
The national sins compelled God to withdraw His environing protection. He no longer went out with their armies. The deterioration in the metal from gold to brass is an apt illustration of how the fine gold of character had become dimmed, Lamentations 4:1. To what may we not come if the grace of God is withdrawn! Well may the Apostle beseech us not to receive it in vain! When corruption sets in, the best and ripest becomes the worst. Traditional goodness-that of our parents-cannot save the soul from the inevitable drift. We must have our personal anchorage in God! [source]

Chapter Summary: 1 Kings 14

1  Abijah being sick,
2  Jeroboam sends his wife, disguised, with presents to the prophet Ahijah
5  Ahijah forewarned by God, denounces God's judgment
17  Abijah dies, and is buried
19  Nadab succeeds Jeroboam
21  Rehoboam's wicked reign,
25  Shishak raids Jerusalem
29  Abijam succeeds Rehoboam

What do the individual words in 1 Kings 14:27 mean?

And made King Rehoboam in their place shields bronze and committed [them] to the hands of the captains of the guard who guarded the doorway of house of the king
וַיַּ֨עַשׂ הַמֶּ֤לֶךְ רְחַבְעָם֙ תַּחְתָּ֔ם מָגִנֵּ֖י נְחֹ֑שֶׁת וְהִפְקִ֗יד עַל־ יַד֙ שָׂרֵ֣י הָרָצִ֔ים הַשֹּׁ֣מְרִ֔ים פֶּ֖תַח בֵּ֥ית הַמֶּֽלֶךְ

וַיַּ֨עַשׂ  And  made 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: עָשָׂה 
Sense: to do, fashion, accomplish, make.
הַמֶּ֤לֶךְ  King 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: מֶלֶךְ 
Sense: king.
רְחַבְעָם֙  Rehoboam 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: רְחַבְעָם  
Sense: son of Solomon and the st king of Judah after the split up of the kingdom of Israel.
תַּחְתָּ֔ם  in  their  place 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine plural
Root: מִתְחָה 
Sense: the under part, beneath, instead of, as, for, for the sake of, flat, unto, where, whereas.
מָגִנֵּ֖י  shields 
Parse: Noun, common plural construct
Root: מָגֵן 
Sense: shield, buckler.
נְחֹ֑שֶׁת  bronze 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: נְחֹשֶׁת 
Sense: copper, bronze.
וְהִפְקִ֗יד  and  committed  [them] 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Conjunctive perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: פָּקַד 
Sense: to attend to, muster, number, reckon, visit, punish, appoint, look after, care for.
יַד֙  the  hands 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: יָד  
Sense: hand.
שָׂרֵ֣י  of  the  captains 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: סָרַר 
Sense: prince, ruler, leader, chief, chieftain, official, captain.
הָרָצִ֔ים  of  the  guard 
Parse: Article, Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural
Root: רוּץ 
Sense: to run.
הַשֹּׁ֣מְרִ֔ים  who  guarded 
Parse: Article, Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural
Root: שָׁמַר  
Sense: to keep, guard, observe, give heed.
פֶּ֖תַח  the  doorway 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: פֶּתַח  
Sense: opening, doorway, entrance.
בֵּ֥ית  of  house 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: בַּיִת 
Sense: house.
הַמֶּֽלֶךְ  of  the  king 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: מֶלֶךְ 
Sense: king.