1 Kings 2:20
New International Version
“I have one small request to make of you,” she said. “Do not refuse me.” The king replied, “Make it, my mother; I will not refuse you.”

New Living Translation
“I have one small request to make of you,” she said. “I hope you won’t turn me down.” “What is it, my mother?” he asked. “You know I won’t refuse you.”

English Standard Version
Then she said, “I have one small request to make of you; do not refuse me.” And the king said to her, “Make your request, my mother, for I will not refuse you.”

Berean Standard Bible
“I have just one small request of you,” she said. “Do not deny me.” “Make your request, my mother,” the king replied, “for I will not deny you.”

King James Bible
Then she said, I desire one small petition of thee; I pray thee, say me not nay. And the king said unto her, Ask on, my mother: for I will not say thee nay.

New King James Version
Then she said, “I desire one small petition of you; do not refuse me.” And the king said to her, “Ask it, my mother, for I will not refuse you.”

New American Standard Bible
Then she said, “I am making one small request of you; do not refuse me.” And the king said to her, “Ask, my mother, for I will not refuse you.”

NASB 1995
Then she said, “I am making one small request of you; do not refuse me.” And the king said to her, “Ask, my mother, for I will not refuse you.”

NASB 1977
Then she said, “I am making one small request of you; do not refuse me.” And the king said to her, “Ask, my mother, for I will not refuse you.”

Legacy Standard Bible
Then she said, “I am making one small request of you; do not turn me away.” And the king said to her, “Ask, my mother, for I will not turn you away.”

Amplified Bible
Then she said, “I am making one small request of you; do not refuse me.” And the king said to her, “Ask, my mother, for I will not refuse you.”

Christian Standard Bible
Then she said, “I have just one small request of you. Don’t turn me down.” “Go ahead and ask, mother,” the king replied, “for I won’t turn you down.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Then she said, “I have just one small request of you. Don’t turn me down."” Go ahead and ask, mother,” the king replied, “for I won’t turn you down.”

American Standard Version
Then she said, I ask one small petition of thee; deny me not. And the king said unto her, Ask on, my mother; for I will not deny thee.

Contemporary English Version
Bathsheba sat down and then asked, "Would you do me a small favor?" Solomon replied, "Mother, just tell me what you want, and I will do it."

English Revised Version
Then she said, I ask one small petition of thee; deny me not. And the king said unto her, Ask on, my mother: for I will not deny thee.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"I'm asking you for one little thing," she said. "Don't refuse me." "Ask, Mother," the king told her. "I won't refuse you."

Good News Translation
She said, "I have a small favor to ask of you; please do not refuse me." "What is it, mother?" he asked. "I will not refuse you."

International Standard Version
and told him, "I would like to make a minor request of you. Please don't refuse me." "What is your request, mother?" the king asked her. "I won't turn you down."

Majority Standard Bible
“I have just one small request of you,” she said. “Do not deny me.” “Make your request, my mother,” the king replied, “for I will not deny you.”

NET Bible
She said, "I would like to ask you for just one small favor. Please don't refuse me." He said, "Go ahead and ask, my mother, for I would not refuse you."

New Heart English Bible
Then she said, "I ask one small petition of you; do not deny me." The king said to her, "Ask on, my mother; for I will not deny you."

Webster's Bible Translation
Then she said, I desire one small petition of thee; I pray thee, deny me not. And the king said to her, Ask on, my mother: for I will not deny thee.

World English Bible
Then she said, “I ask one small petition of you; don’t deny me.” The king said to her, “Ask on, my mother, for I will not deny you.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And she says, “I ask one small petition of you, do not turn back my face”; and the king says to her, “Ask, my mother, for I do not turn back your face.”

Young's Literal Translation
And she saith, 'One small petition I ask of thee, turn not back my face;' and the king saith to her, 'Ask, my mother, for I do not turn back thy face.'

Smith's Literal Translation
And she will say, One small asking I ask from thee; thou wilt not turn away my face. And the king will say to her, Ask, my mother, for I will not turn away thy face.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And she said to him: I desire one small petition of thee, do not put me to confusion. And the king said to her: My mother, ask: for I must not turn away thy face.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And she said to him: “I petition one small request from you. May you not confound my face.” And the king said to her: “Ask, my mother. For it is not right that I turn away your face.”

New American Bible
She said, “There is one small favor I would ask of you. Do not refuse me.” The king said to her, “Ask it, my mother, for I will not refuse you.”

New Revised Standard Version
Then she said, “I have one small request to make of you; do not refuse me.” And the king said to her, “Make your request, my mother; for I will not refuse you.”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Then she said, I desire one small petition of you; do not refuse me. And the king said to her, Ask on, my mother; for I will not refuse you.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And she said: “One small request I ask of you. Do not turn away my face.” And the King said to her: “Ask me, mother, for I will not turn away your face.”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Then she said: 'I ask one small petition of thee; deny me not.' And the king said unto her: 'Ask on, my mother; for I will not deny thee.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And she said to him, I ask of thee one little request; turn not away my face from thee. And the king said to her, Ask, my mother, and I will not reject thee.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Execution of Adonijah
19So Bathsheba went to King Solomon to speak to him for Adonijah. The king stood up to greet her, bowed to her, and sat down on his throne. Then the king had a throne brought for his mother, who sat down at his right hand. 20“I have just one small request of you,” she said. “Do not deny me.” “Make your request, my mother,” the king replied, “for I will not deny you.” 21So Bathsheba said, “Let Abishag the Shunammite be given to your brother Adonijah as his wife.”…

Cross References
Esther 5:3
“What is it, Queen Esther?” the king inquired. “What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be given to you.”

Matthew 14:7-9
so much that he promised with an oath to give to her whatever she asked. / Prompted by her mother, she said, “Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist.” / The king was grieved, but because of his oaths and his guests, he ordered that her wish be granted

Mark 6:22-26
When the daughter of Herodias came and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests, and the king said to the girl, “Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will give it to you.” / And he swore to her, “Whatever you ask of me, I will give you, up to half my kingdom!” / Then she went out and asked her mother, “What should I request?” And her mother answered, “The head of John the Baptist.” ...

John 2:3-5
When the wine ran out, Jesus’ mother said to Him, “They have no more wine.” / “Woman, what is that to you and to Me?” Jesus replied. “My hour has not yet come.” / His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever He tells you.”

John 14:13-14
And I will do whatever you ask in My name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. / If you ask Me for anything in My name, I will do it.

John 15:7
If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.

John 16:23-24
In that day you will no longer ask Me anything. Truly, truly, I tell you, whatever you ask the Father in My name, He will give you. / Until now you have not asked for anything in My name. Ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete.

1 John 5:14-15
And this is the confidence that we have before Him: If we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. / And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we already possess what we have asked of Him.

Genesis 18:27-32
Then Abraham answered, “Now that I have ventured to speak to the Lord—though I am but dust and ashes— / suppose the fifty righteous ones lack five. Will You destroy the whole city for the lack of five?” He replied, “If I find forty-five there, I will not destroy it.” / Once again Abraham spoke to the LORD, “Suppose forty are found there?” He answered, “On account of the forty, I will not do it.” ...

Genesis 19:21
“Very well,” he answered, “I will grant this request as well, and will not demolish the town you indicate.

1 Samuel 1:17
“Go in peace,” Eli replied, “and may the God of Israel grant the petition you have asked of Him.”

1 Samuel 25:35
Then David accepted from her hand what she had brought him, and he said to her, “Go home in peace. See, I have heeded your voice and granted your request.”

2 Samuel 14:11
“Please,” she replied, “may the king invoke the LORD your God to prevent the avenger of blood from increasing the devastation, so that my son may not be destroyed!” “As surely as the LORD lives,” he vowed, “not a hair of your son’s head will fall to the ground.”

2 Samuel 19:38
The king replied, “Chimham will cross over with me, and I will do for him what is good in your sight, and I will do for you whatever you desire of me.”

1 Kings 3:5
One night at Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream, and God said, “Ask, and I will give it to you!”


Treasury of Scripture

Then she said, I desire one small petition of you; I pray you, say me not no. And the king said to her, Ask on, my mother: for I will not say you no.

I desire

Matthew 20:20,21
Then came to him the mother of Zebedee's children with her sons, worshipping him, and desiring a certain thing of him…

John 2:3,4
And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine…

Ask on

Matthew 7:7-11
Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: …

Matthew 18:19
Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.

Matthew 10:35,36
For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law…

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1 Kings 2
1. David, having given a charge to Solomon
3. of Reverence
5. of Joab
7. of Barzillai
8. of Shimei
10. Solomon succeeds
12. Adonijah, moving Bathsheba to ask unto Solomon for Abishag,
13. is put to death
26. Abiathar, having his life given him, is deprived of the priesthood
28. Joab fleeing to the horns of the altar, is there slain
35. Benaiah is put in Joab's room, and Zadfok in Abiathar's
36. Shimei, confined to Jerusalem, by occasion of going to Gath, is put to death.














I have one small request to make of you
This phrase is spoken by Bathsheba, the mother of King Solomon, as she approaches her son with a petition. The Hebrew word for "request" is "שְׁאֵלָה" (she'elah), which implies a petition or plea. In the cultural and historical context of ancient Israel, a request from a queen mother held significant weight, as the queen mother often wielded considerable influence in the royal court. Bathsheba's approach is humble, acknowledging the authority of the king while also leveraging her maternal relationship.

do not refuse me.”
The plea "do not refuse me" underscores the urgency and importance of Bathsheba's request. The Hebrew root "מָאֵן" (ma'en) means to refuse or deny. In the context of ancient Near Eastern customs, a refusal could imply a breach of respect or familial duty. Bathsheba's words reflect a cultural expectation that a son, especially a king, would honor his mother's requests, highlighting the familial bonds and respect inherent in their relationship.

“Make your request, my mother,”
Solomon's response, "Make your request, my mother," is both respectful and formal. The use of "my mother" (אִמִּי, 'immi) is significant, as it acknowledges Bathsheba's status and the respect due to her. In the royal court, the queen mother often held a position of honor and influence, and Solomon's address reflects this cultural norm. His willingness to listen indicates a readiness to honor her request, showcasing the importance of family ties and respect for parental authority in biblical times.

“for I will not refuse you.”
Solomon's assurance, "for I will not refuse you," is a promise of compliance. The Hebrew phrase here conveys a strong commitment to fulfilling his mother's request. This reflects the biblical principle of honoring one's parents, as outlined in the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:12). Solomon's response is not just a personal promise but also a reflection of his adherence to God's commandments, demonstrating the intertwining of familial duty and spiritual obedience.

Verse 20. - Then she said, I desire one small petition of thee. [So it seemed, no doubt, to her, in her inexperience and ignorance of Adonijah's real motives. She thought she held the threads of a love story in her hands, and that it would be a small thing for Solomon to make these handsome lovers happy]: I pray thee, say me not nay. And the king said unto her, Ask on, my mother: for I will not say thee nay. [The readiness of the king to grant whatever she asked proves that the reasons which induced him to deny her request must have been weighty; i.e., Adonijah's suit cannot have been devoid of political consequences.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
“I
אָֽנֹכִי֙ (’ā·nō·ḵî)
Pronoun - first person common singular
Strong's 595: I

have just one
אַחַ֤ת (’a·ḥaṯ)
Number - feminine singular construct
Strong's 259: United, one, first

small
קְטַנָּה֙ (qə·ṭan·nāh)
Adjective - feminine singular
Strong's 6996: Small, young, unimportant

request of you,”
שְׁאֵלָ֨ה (šə·’ê·lāh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 7596: Request, thing asked for

she said.
וַתֹּ֗אמֶר (wat·tō·mer)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

“Do not
אַל־ (’al-)
Adverb
Strong's 408: Not

deny
תָּ֖שֶׁב (tā·šeḇ)
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect Jussive - second person masculine singular
Strong's 7725: To turn back, in, to retreat, again

me.”
פָּנָ֑י (pā·nāy)
Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common singular
Strong's 6440: The face

“Make your request,
שֹׁאֶ֣לֶת (šō·’e·leṯ)
Verb - Qal - Participle - feminine singular
Strong's 7592: To inquire, to request, to demand

my mother,”
אִמִּ֔י (’im·mî)
Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 517: A mother, )

the king
הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ (ham·me·leḵ)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4428: A king

replied,
וַיֹּֽאמֶר־ (way·yō·mer-)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

“for
כִּ֥י (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

I will not
לֹֽא־ (lō-)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

deny
אָשִׁ֖יב (’ā·šîḇ)
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - first person common singular
Strong's 7725: To turn back, in, to retreat, again

you.”
פָּנָֽיִךְ׃ (pā·nā·yiḵ)
Noun - common plural construct | second person feminine singular
Strong's 6440: The face


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OT History: 1 Kings 2:20 Then she said I ask one small (1Ki iKi i Ki 1 Kg 1kg)
1 Kings 2:19
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