This verse begins in Hebrew with the words traditionally rendered in English as “And it came to pass.” A more literal translation of this verse reads “And there was the word of the LORD to Solomon saying.”

The expression the word of the LORD came to is common in the Old Testament, especially in Jeremiah and Ezekiel. But it is not natural English to say that a word “comes” to someone. For this reason Good News Translation says simply that “The LORD said to Solomon.” International Children’s Bible is only slightly different with “The Lord spoke his word to Solomon,” which sounds more solemn.

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on 1-2 Kings, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2008. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .