The Meaning of 1 Kings 4:5 Explained

1 Kings 4:5

KJV: And Azariah the son of Nathan was over the officers: and Zabud the son of Nathan was principal officer, and the king's friend:

YLT: and Azariah son of Nathan is over the officers; and Zabud son of Nathan is minister, friend of the king;

Darby: and Azariah the son of Nathan was over the superintendents; and Zabud the son of Nathan was principal officer, the king's friend;

ASV: and Azariah the son of Nathan was over the officers; and Zabud the son of Nathan was chief minister, and the king's friend;

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And Azariah  the son  of Nathan  [was] over the officers:  and Zabud  the son  of Nathan  [was] principal officer,  [and] the king's  friend: 

What does 1 Kings 4:5 Mean?

Context Summary

1 Kings 4:1-7 - A Prosperous Nation
What a picture is here given of national contentment and prosperity! We can almost hear the gladsome voice of the myriad-peopled land, teeming with young life and laden with golden harvests. It was the summer of their national existence. The sacred scribe enumerates first the high officials of the court, then the daily provision of the king, his studies, and his fame. Abundant proof was yielded by all these circumstances to the manner in which God kept the pledges which had been made to David, his father.
Here is Solomon "in all his glory," but as we turn from him to the lowly Carpenter of Nazareth, who had nowhere to lay His head; who found His friends among the poor; and who ultimately laid down His life a ransom for many, we realize that, even apart from His divine nature, His was the nobler ideal and the richer existence. "A greater than Solomon is here." Who can measure His empire or resources? What tongue can recount His wisdom? Happy and safe are they that sit at His table, hear His words, and are joint-heirs with Him in His Kingdom! Romans 8:17.
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 4:5 mean?

and Azariah son of Nathan over the officers and Zabud son a priest friend [and] the king
וַעֲזַרְיָ֥הוּ בֶן־ נָתָ֖ן עַל־ הַנִּצָּבִ֑ים וְזָב֧וּד בֶּן־ כֹּהֵ֖ן רֵעֶ֥ה הַמֶּֽלֶךְ

וַעֲזַרְיָ֥הוּ  and  Azariah 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: עֲזַרְיָה 
Sense: son of king Amaziah of Judah and king of Judah himself for 52 years; also ‘Uzziah’.
בֶן־  son 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
נָתָ֖ן  of  Nathan 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: נָתָן  
Sense: a son of David by Bathsheba.
עַל־  over 
Parse: Preposition
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.
הַנִּצָּבִ֑ים  the  officers 
Parse: Article, Verb, Nifal, Participle, masculine plural
Root: הֻצַּב 
Sense: to stand, take one’s stand, stand upright, be set (over), establish.
וְזָב֧וּד  and  Zabud 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: זָבוּד  
Sense: a priest, son of Nathan, who held the post of ‘king’s friend’ to Solomon.
בֶּן־  son 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
כֹּהֵ֖ן  a  priest 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: כֹּהֵן  
Sense: priest, principal officer or chief ruler.
רֵעֶ֥ה  friend 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: רֵעֶה  
Sense: friend, friend of the king (technical sense).
הַמֶּֽלֶךְ  [and]  the  king 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: מֶלֶךְ 
Sense: king.