1 Kings 3:14 (WEB)

Passage

If you will walk in my ways, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your days.”

Nearby Context

1 Kings 3:12 behold, I have done according to your word. Behold, I have given you a wise and understanding heart; so that there has been no one like you before you, and after you none will arise like you.

1 Kings 3:13 I have also given you that which you have not asked, both riches and honor, so that there will not be any among the kings like you for all your days.

1 Kings 3:14 If you will walk in my ways, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your days.”

1 Kings 3:15 Solomon awoke; and behold, it was a dream. Then he came to Jerusalem, and stood before the ark of Yahweh’s covenant, and offered up burnt offerings, offered peace offerings, and made a feast for all his servants.

1 Kings 3:16 Then two women who were prostitutes came to the king, and stood before him.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "walk", "ways", "keep", "statutes", "commandments", "father", "david", and "walked". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "walk" and "ways", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 13's "I have also given you that which..." into verse 15's "Solomon awoke and behold it was a...", so "walk" and "ways" belong inside that flow. In 1 Kings context, the local focus is covenant, worship, and faithfulness.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "walk" and "ways" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.