9
"My son Solomon, always remember the God of your father. Serve him with all your heart. Do it with a mind that wants to obey him. The Lord looks deep down inside every heart. He understands the real reasons for everything you think. If you look to him, you will find him. But if you desert him, he will turn his back on you forever.
Reference
Hebrew: bar
the heir (apparent to the throne)
Greek: Σολομών (Solomṓn)
Solomon (i.e. Shelomoh), the son of David
Hebrew: Shᵉlômôh
Shelomah, David's successor
Greek: ἀεί (aeí)
"ever," by qualification regularly; by implication, earnestly
Greek: ὁ (ho)
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
Hebrew: ʼillêyn
these
Greek: κύριος (kýrios)
supreme in authority, i.e. (as noun) controller; by implication, Master (as a respectful title)
Hebrew: ʼĕlâhh
God
Greek: πατήρ (patḗr)
a "father" (literally or figuratively, near or more remote)
Hebrew: ʼab
{father}
Greek: λατρεύω (latreúō)
to minister (to God), i.e. render religious homage
Greek: τοῦτον (toûton)
this (person, as objective of verb or preposition)
Greek: ὅλος (hólos)
"whole" or "all", i.e. complete (in extent, amount, time or degree), especially (neuter) as noun or adverb
Hebrew: kôl
{properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)}
Hebrew: bâl
properly, anxiety, i.e. (by implication) the heart (as its seat)
Greek: κατατίθημι (katatíthēmi)
to place down, i.e. deposit (literally or figuratively)
Hebrew: hêm
they (only used when emphatic)
Hebrew: ʼechâd
properly, united, i.e. one; or (as an ordinal) first
Greek: νοῦς (noûs)
the intellect, i.e. mind (divine or human; in thought, feeling, or will); by implication, meaning
Hebrew: rûwach
{wind; by resemblance breath, i.e. a sensible (or even violent) exhalation; figuratively, life, anger, unsubstantiality; by extension, a region of the sky; by resemblance spirit, but only of a rational being (including its expression and functions)}
Hebrew: zôw
this or that
Greek: τοῦτον (toûton)
this (person, as objective of verb or preposition)
Greek: ὁ (ho)
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
Hebrew: ʼillêyn
these
Greek: ῥαββονί (rhabboní)
God
Hebrew: ʼâdôwn
sovereign, i.e. controller (human or divine)
Greek: βυθός (bythós)
depth, i.e. (by implication) the sea
Hebrew: maʻămâq
a deep
Hebrew: bâl
properly, anxiety, i.e. (by implication) the heart (as its seat)
Greek: ὅδε (hóde)
the same, i.e. this or that one (plural these or those); often used as a personal pronoun
Hebrew: hûwʼ
he (she or it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also (intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demonstrative) this or that; occasionally (instead of copula) as or are
Greek: ὁ (ho)
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
Hebrew: ʼillêyn
these
Greek: ἀντί (antí)
opposite, i.e. instead or because of (rarely in addition to)
Hebrew: bᵉmôw
in, with, by, etc.
Greek: ἐνθυμέομαι (enthyméomai)
to be inspirited, i.e. ponder
Hebrew: çᵉbar
to bear in mind, i.e. hope
Greek: ἀφοράω (aphoráō)
to consider attentively
Hebrew: chêzêv
a sight
Greek: τοῦτον (toûton)
this (person, as objective of verb or preposition)
Greek: θέλησις (thélēsis)
determination (properly, the act), i.e. option
Hebrew: tsᵉbâʼ
to please
Greek: ἀνευρίσκω (aneurískō)
to find out
Hebrew: shᵉkach
to discover (literally or figuratively)
Greek: τοῦτον (toûton)
this (person, as objective of verb or preposition)
Hebrew: ʼillûw
nay, i.e. (softened) if
Greek: ἔρημος (érēmos)
Hebrew: yᵉshîymôwn
a desolation
Greek: τοῦτον (toûton)
this (person, as objective of verb or preposition)
Greek: ὅδε (hóde)
the same, i.e. this or that one (plural these or those); often used as a personal pronoun
Hebrew: hûwʼ
he (she or it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also (intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demonstrative) this or that; occasionally (instead of copula) as or are
Greek: θέλησις (thélēsis)
determination (properly, the act), i.e. option
Hebrew: tsᵉbâʼ
to please
Greek: τοῦ (toû)
sometimes used for G5127 (τούτου); of this person
Greek: νῶτος (nōtos)
the back
Hebrew: gab
the back (as rounded); by analogy, the top or rim, a boss, a vault, arch of eye, bulwarks, etc.
Hebrew: ʼÔwn
On, an Israelite
Parallel theme
Jeremiah 29:13
Psalm 139:2
References God
Jeremiah 24:7
1 Kings 8:61
John 4:24
References Lord
2 Chronicles 15:2
Psalm 9:10
1 Samuel 16:7
Jeremiah 17:10
Jeremiah 9:24
Verse Explanation
David addressed Solomon directly and urged him to know the God of his father and serve Him with a loyal heart and willing mind. David reminded him that God searches hearts and understands every thought. If Solomon sought God, he would find Him, but if he abandoned Him, God would reject him.
History
c. 970 BC. The advice reflects the religious expectations placed upon the next king of Israel.