The Meaning of 1 Kings 9:4 Explained

1 Kings 9:4

KJV: And if thou wilt walk before me, as David thy father walked, in integrity of heart, and in uprightness, to do according to all that I have commanded thee, and wilt keep my statutes and my judgments:

YLT: And thou -- if thou dost walk before Me as David thy father walked, in simplicity of heart, and in uprightness, to do according to all that I have commanded thee -- My statutes and My judgments thou dost keep --

Darby: And as for thee, if thou wilt walk before me, as David thy father walked, in integrity of heart, and in uprightness, to do according to all that I have commanded thee, and wilt keep my statutes and mine ordinances;

ASV: And as for thee, if thou wilt walk before me, as David thy father walked, in integrity of heart, and in uprightness, to do according to all that I have commanded thee, and wilt keep my statutes and mine ordinances;

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And if thou wilt walk  before  me, as David  thy father  walked,  in integrity  of heart,  and in uprightness,  to do  according to all that I have commanded  thee, [and] wilt keep  my statutes  and my judgments: 

What does 1 Kings 9:4 Mean?

Context Summary

1 Kings 9:1-14 - A Searching Word To The Wise
God's second revelation of Himself to Solomon had a double object. In the first place, it assured the king that his prayer was heard and that the new building was accepted. It is always thus. When we yield ourselves to God, desiring to be His alone, He enters on possession, hallowing, infilling, and guaranteeing our security. In the second place, God laid down the conditions on which both king and people might be assured of permanent prosperity. We must be whole-hearted, not in the miles but in the steps of our daily walk. Obedience to the inner voice is essential. The child of God distinguishes his Father's voice from every other sound and call, because it is definite and unvarying.
It was a pity that, after such loyal cooperation, Hiram was disappointed with his recompense. Happy are they who, as they work for God, look for no reward from their fellows, because they are the servants of a Master whose generous gifts do not need to be eked out by additions from any other quarter. Do right, because it is right, and not because you are looking for any gift or reward from human hands.
1 Kings 9:1-28 - 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 9

1  God's covenant in a vision with Solomon
10  The mutual presents of Solomon and Hiran
15  In Solomon's works the Gentiles were his bondmen, the Israelites servants
24  Pharaoh's daughter removes to her house
25  Solomon's yearly solemn sacrifices
26  His navy fetches gold from Ophir

What do the individual words in 1 Kings 9:4 mean?

And you if walk before Me as walked David your father in integrity of heart and in uprightness to do according to all that I have commanded you My statutes and My judgments [and] if you keep
וְאַתָּ֞ה אִם־ תֵּלֵ֣ךְ לְפָנַ֗י כַּאֲשֶׁ֨ר הָלַ֜ךְ דָּוִ֤ד אָבִ֙יךָ֙ בְּתָם־ לֵבָ֣ב וּבְיֹ֔שֶׁר לַעֲשׂ֕וֹת כְּכֹ֖ל אֲשֶׁ֣ר צִוִּיתִ֑יךָ חֻקַּ֥י וּמִשְׁפָּטַ֖י תִּשְׁמֹֽר

וְאַתָּ֞ה  And  you 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Pronoun, second person masculine singular
Root: אַתְּ 
Sense: you (second pers.
תֵּלֵ֣ךְ  walk 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: הָלַךְ  
Sense: to go, walk, come.
לְפָנַ֗י  before  Me 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine plural construct, first person common singular
Root: לִפְנֵי 
Sense: face.
הָלַ֜ךְ  walked 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: הָלַךְ  
Sense: to go, walk, come.
דָּוִ֤ד  David 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: דָּוִד  
Sense: youngest son of Jesse and second king of Israel.
אָבִ֙יךָ֙  your  father 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: אָב  
Sense: father of an individual.
בְּתָם־  in  integrity 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: תֹּם  
Sense: integrity, completeness.
לֵבָ֣ב  of  heart 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: לֵבָב  
Sense: inner man, mind, will, heart, soul, understanding.
וּבְיֹ֔שֶׁר  and  in  uprightness 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular
Root: יׄשֶׁר  
Sense: straightness, uprightness.
לַעֲשׂ֕וֹת  to  do 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: עָשָׂה 
Sense: to do, fashion, accomplish, make.
כְּכֹ֖ל  according  to  all 
Parse: Preposition-k, Noun, masculine singular
Root: כֹּל  
Sense: all, the whole.
אֲשֶׁ֣ר  that 
Parse: Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
צִוִּיתִ֑יךָ  I  have  commanded  you 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Perfect, first person common singular, second person masculine singular
Root: צָוָה  
Sense: to command, charge, give orders, lay charge, give charge to, order.
חֻקַּ֥י  My  statutes 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, first person common singular
Root: חֹק  
Sense: statute, ordinance, limit, something prescribed, due.
וּמִשְׁפָּטַ֖י  and  My  judgments 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine plural construct, first person common singular
Root: מִשְׁפָּט  
Sense: judgment, justice, ordinance.
תִּשְׁמֹֽר  [and]  if  you  keep 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: שָׁמַר  
Sense: to keep, guard, observe, give heed.