The Meaning of 1 Kings 4:33 Explained

1 Kings 4:33

KJV: And he spake of trees, from the cedar tree that is in Lebanon even unto the hyssop that springeth out of the wall: he spake also of beasts, and of fowl, and of creeping things, and of fishes.

YLT: and he speaketh concerning the trees, from the cedar that is in Lebanon, even unto the hyssop that is coming out in the wall, and he speaketh concerning the cattle, and concerning the fowl, and concerning the creeping things, and concerning the fishes,

Darby: And he spoke of the trees, from the cedar-tree that is on Lebanon even to the hyssop that springs out of the wall; he spoke also of cattle, and of fowls, and of creeping things, and of fishes.

ASV: And he spake of trees, from the cedar that is in Lebanon even unto the hyssop that springeth out of the wall; he spake also of beasts, and of birds, and of creeping things, and of fishes.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And he spake  of trees,  from the cedar tree  that [is] in Lebanon  even unto the hyssop  that springeth out  of the wall:  he spake  also of beasts,  and of fowl,  and of creeping things,  and of fishes. 

What does 1 Kings 4:33 Mean?

Context Summary

1 Kings 4:29-34 - The Wise King's Great Purpose
David, before his death, had made great preparations for building the Temple, but had not been permitted to proceed with its construction. "Thou didst well that it was in thy heart," 2 Chronicles 6:8. God credits us with what we would have done, had it been in our power. But now war on every side had been exchanged for peace, and the time for temple-building had come. A great principle is here involved which has many applications.
It is true of the Church at large. When the Church throughout all Judea and Galilee had peace, it was edified; and as it walked in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it was multiplied, Acts 9:31. When the love of God reigns amid professing Christians, and they neither war against nor vex each other, then the world believes, and the very Hirams help to build.
It is also true of the inner life. The days of peace are those in which the heart thrives. See 1 Thessalonians 5:23, and Hebrews 13:20. God is not in the earthquake nor in the fire, but in the "still small voice." Cultivate a quiet heart, as did Mary, at the feet of Christ. It will result in deeds to be spoken of throughout the whole world, Luke 10:39 and Matthew 26:13.
1 Kings 4:1-34 - 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 4

1  Solomon's princes
7  His twelve officers for provision
20  The peace and largeness of his kingdom
22  His daily provision
26  His stable
29  His wisdom

What do the individual words in 1 Kings 4:33 mean?

And he spoke of trees from the cedar tree of Lebanon and even to the hyssop that springs out of the wall animals and of birds of creeping things of fish
וַיְדַבֵּר֮ עַל־ הָֽעֵצִים֒ מִן־ הָאֶ֙רֶז֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר בַּלְּבָנ֔וֹן וְעַד֙ הָאֵז֔וֹב אֲשֶׁ֥ר יֹצֵ֖א בַּקִּ֑יר הַבְּהֵמָ֣ה וְעַל־ הָע֔וֹף הָרֶ֖מֶשׂ הַדָּגִֽים

וַיְדַבֵּר֮  And  he  spoke 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Piel, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: דָּבַר 
Sense: to speak, declare, converse, command, promise, warn, threaten, sing.
הָֽעֵצִים֒  trees 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: עֵץ  
Sense: tree, wood, timber, stock, plank, stalk, stick, gallows.
הָאֶ֙רֶז֙  the  cedar  tree 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֶרֶז  
Sense: cedar.
בַּלְּבָנ֔וֹן  Lebanon 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: לְבָנׄון  
Sense: a wooded mountain range on the northern border of Israel.
וְעַד֙  and  even  to 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition
Root: עַד  
Sense: as far as, even to, until, up to, while, as far as.
הָאֵז֔וֹב  the  hyssop 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֵזׄוב  
Sense: hyssop, a plant used for medicinal and religious purposes.
אֲשֶׁ֥ר  that 
Parse: Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
יֹצֵ֖א  springs  out 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: יׄוצֵאת 
Sense: to go out, come out, exit, go forth.
בַּקִּ֑יר  of  the  wall 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: קִיר  
Sense: wall, side.
הַבְּהֵמָ֣ה  animals 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: בְּהֵמָה  
Sense: beast, cattle, animal.
הָע֔וֹף  of  birds 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: עֹוף  
Sense: flying creatures, fowl, insects, birds.
הָרֶ֖מֶשׂ  of  creeping  things 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: רֶמֶשׂ  
Sense: creeping things, moving things, creeping organism.
הַדָּגִֽים  of  fish 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: דָּאג 
Sense: fish.