What Does 1 Kings 9:25 Mean in the King James?

And three times in a year did Solomon offer burnt offerings and peace offerings upon the altar which he built unto the LORD, and he burnt incense upon the altar that was before the LORD. So he finished the house.

1 Kings 9:25 · 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.

This verse in the Selah Decoded Version

THE KEY

Solomon’s name and the “peace offerings” share the root of wholeness, so the king’s name echoes through the altar’s recurring offering.

THE MEANING

The verse holds completion beside return: the finished house does not end the rhythm of offering. The peace offerings carry the root-language of wholeness, and the burnt offerings carry the image of ascent.

WHAT THIS UNDOES

A completed sacred work ends the need for ongoing devotion.

THE ROOT

שְׁלָמִים

shelamim

GROWS FROM

שלם

sh-l-m

Be whole, complete, or sound; bring something to wholeness.

“peace offerings” in this verse is shelamim. ⁨שְׁלָמִים⁩ (shelamim) grows from the same root as ⁨שָׁלוֹם⁩ (shalom, wholeness), and Solomon’s Hebrew name ⁨שְׁלֹמֹה⁩ (Shelomoh) carries that root too. The king’s name and the recurring offering echo the same language of wholeness.

ALSO GROWS

shalom: Wholeness, well-being

שָׁלוֹם

It reveals the wholeness beneath the offering’s English name, “peace offerings.”

shalem: Whole, complete

שָׁלֵם

It brings the root’s sense of completeness alongside the verse’s finished house.

Shelomoh: Solomon; a name carrying the root of wholeness

שְׁלֹמֹה

The king’s name shares its root with the offerings he presents.

עֹלוֹת

olot

GROWS FROM

עלה

ʿ-l-h

Go up, ascend, rise.

“burnt offerings” in this verse is olot. The verb ⁨הֶעֱלָה⁩ (heʿelah, raised up) and the noun ⁨עֹלוֹת⁩ (olot, ascensions) both come from ⁨עלה⁩ (ʿ-l-h, ascend). Hebrew makes the upward movement audible in both the act of offering and the offering itself.

ALSO GROWS

ʿalah: To go up, ascend

עָלָה

This is the root behind both the offering verb and the burnt-offering noun.

aliyah: Ascent, going up

עֲלִיָּה

It keeps the upward motion of the offering visible beneath the English wording.

THE PATTERN

Offering before God takes recurring forms, from appointed times to praise offered continually.

Three times in a year shall all thy males appear before the LORD thy God in the place which he shall choose; in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles: and they shall not appear before the LORD empty:

Deuteronomy 16:16 · KJVLike the three yearly offerings here, appearing before the LORD follows a recurring rhythm.

And this is the law of the sacrifice of peace offerings, which he shall offer unto the LORD.

Leviticus 7:11 · KJVIt names the same shelamim offering and places it within the recurring practice of bringing offerings before the LORD.

By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.

Hebrews 13:15 · KJVThe offering takes the continuing form of praise and thanksgiving.

THE THREAD

Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.

Psalm 34:14 · KJV

The Hebrew ⁨שָׁלוֹם⁩ (shalom, wholeness) shares the root ⁨שלם⁩ (sh-l-m) with ⁨שְׁלָמִים⁩ (shelamim, the peace offerings) in this verse. The same root names both what is brought to the altar and the wholeness Psalm 34 says to seek and pursue.

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