What Does 1 Kings 1:36 Mean in the King James?

And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada answered the king, and said, Amen: the LORD God of my lord the king say so too.

1 Kings 1:36 · KJV

The analysis reads the King James wording.

King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.

THE KEY

“Amen” here is not a closing word but a request that the king’s spoken future be made firm by God.

THE MEANING

A spoken future is placed before God for confirmation rather than treated as self-established. “Amen” carries the sense of firmness, and Benaiah asks the LORD to speak the same word over the king’s desire. The future does not become certain through the speaker’s confidence alone.

WHAT THIS UNDOES

Agreement is only a polite way to end a prayer. Here, “Amen” asks that what is spoken be made firm under God’s word.

THE ROOT

אָמֵן

ʾāmēn

GROWS FROM

א־מ־ן

ʾ-m-n

To be firm, support, or confirm; steady and reliable.

“Amen” grows from the language of firmness: Benaiah is asking that the king’s words stand, with the LORD’s confirmation. The same root connects that affirmation to trust that leans its full weight on what is steady.

ALSO GROWS

ʾāman: To be firm, support, or confirm.

אָמַן

This verb reveals the force of Benaiah’s “Amen”: he asks for the king’s desired future to be established.

ʾĕmûnāh: Trust and steadiness; leaning your full weight on what is firm.

אֱמוּנָה

This branch shows that “Amen” is more than agreement: it carries the weight of trust in what can stand.

THE PATTERN

Amen marks a word as firm enough to affirm before God and others.

Cursed be the man that maketh any graven or molten image, an abomination unto the LORD, the work of the hands of the craftsman, and putteth it in a secret place. And all the people shall answer and say, Amen.

Deuteronomy 27:15 · KJVThe people answer “Amen” to affirm the spoken words together.

For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.

2 Corinthians 1:20 · KJVHere “Amen” names the firmness of God’s promises and their affirmation.

And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;

Revelation 3:14 · KJV“The Amen” names the one whose witness is firm and true.

THE THREAD

For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.

2 Corinthians 1:20 · KJV

Both verses use “Amen” from the root of firmness. In 1 Kings, Benaiah asks God to confirm the king’s desired future; here, “Amen” marks God’s promises as affirmed and sure.

Read the SDV Bible.

Every verse has a Deep Dive in the app.

Get Selah Verse

The iPhone Bible app with the Selah Decoded Version.

Does something in this reading look wrong? Tell us