Berean Standard Bible
1 Kings 3:9
9Therefore give Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people and to discern between good and evil. For who is able to govern this great people of Yours?”
1 Kings 3:9 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?
- New International Version (NIV)So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?”
- English Standard Version (ESV)Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people?"
- New King James Version (NKJV)Therefore give to Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?”
Context of 1 Kings 3:9
7And now, O LORD my God, You have made Your servant king in my father David’s place. But I am only a little child, not knowing how to go out or come in. 8Your servant is here among the people You have chosen, a people too numerous to count or number. Therefore give Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people and to discern between good and evil. For who is able to govern this great people of Yours?” 10Now it pleased the Lord that Solomon had made this request. 11So God said to him, “Since you have asked for this instead of requesting long life or wealth for yourself or death for your enemies—but you have asked for discernment to administer justice—
Read all of 1 Kings 31 Kings 3:9 word by word
וְנָתַתָּ֨ לְעַבְדְּךָ֜ לֵ֤ב שֹׁמֵ֙עַ֙ לִשְׁפֹּ֣ט אֶֽת־עַמְּךָ֔ לְהָבִ֖ין בֵּֽין־ט֣וֹב לְרָ֑ע כִּ֣י מִ֤י יוּכַל֙ לִשְׁפֹּ֔ט אֶת־עַמְּךָ֥ הַכָּבֵ֖ד הַזֶּֽה׃Read the interlinear
- Therefore giveנָתַןnâthan · to give: giveH5414
- Your servantעֶ֫בֶד‛ebed · servant/slaveH5650
- an understandingשָׁמַעshâma‛ · to hear: understandH8085
- heartלֵבlêb · heartH3820
- to judgeשָׁפַטshâphaţ · to judgeH8199
- ·אֵת'êth · [Obj.]H853
- Your peopleעַם‛am · peopleH5971
- and to discernבִּיןbîyn · to understandH995
- betweenבַּ֫יִןbêyn · betweenH996
- goodטוֹבţôb · goodH2896
- and evilרַעra‛ râ‛âh · bad: evilH7451
- Forכִּיkîy · forH3588
- whoמִיmîy · who?H4310
- is ableיָכֹלyâkôl yâkôl · be ableH3201
- thisזֶהzeh · thisH2088
- greatכָּבֵדkâbêd · heavyH3515
Cross-references for 1 Kings 3:9
- 1 Chronicles 22:12Above all, may the LORD give you insight and understanding when He puts you in command over Israel, so that you may keep the Law of the LORD your God.
- 1 Chronicles 29:19And give my son Solomon a whole heart to keep and carry out all Your commandments, decrees, and statutes, and to build Your palace for which I have made provision.”
- 2 Chronicles 1:10Now grant me wisdom and knowledge, so that I may lead this people. For who is able to govern this great people of Yours?”
- Psalms 119:34Give me understanding that I may obey Your law, and follow it with all my heart.
- Proverbs 2:3if you truly call out to insight and lift your voice to understanding,
- Proverbs 3:13Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who acquires understanding,
- Proverbs 16:16How much better to acquire wisdom than gold! To gain understanding is more desirable than silver.
- James 1:5Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.
- James 3:17But the wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peace-loving, gentle, accommodating, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, and sincere.
- Proverbs 20:12Ears that hear and eyes that see— the LORD has made them both.
- 1 Kings 3:28When all Israel heard of the judgment the king had given, they stood in awe of him, for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him to administer justice.
- Psalms 72:1Endow the king with Your justice, O God, and the son of the king with Your righteousness.
- Proverbs 14:8The wisdom of the prudent is to discern his way, but the folly of fools deceives them.
- Ecclesiastes 7:11Wisdom, like an inheritance, is good, and it benefits those who see the sun.
- Ecclesiastes 9:15Now a poor wise man was found in the city, and he saved the city by his wisdom. Yet no one remembered that poor man.
- John 5:30I can do nothing by Myself; I judge only as I hear. And My judgment is just, because I do not seek My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.
Commentaries on 1 Kings 3:9
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 9Give - an understanding heart to judge thy people - He did not ask wisdom in general, but the true science of government. This wisdom he sought, and this wisdom he obtained.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 9One of the chief functions of the Oriental monarch is always to hear and decide causes. Hence, supreme magistrates were naturally called “judges.” (See the introduction to the Book of Judges.) In the minds of the Jews the “judge” and the “prince” were always closely associated, the direct cognisance of causes being constantly taken by their chief civil governors. (See Exodus 2:14; Exodus 18:16, Exodus 18:22; 1 Samuel 8:20; 2 Samuel 15:2-6.) Good and bad…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 5-15Verses 5-15 Solomon's dream was not a common one. While his bodily powers were locked up in sleep, the powers of his soul were strengthened; he was enabled to receive the Divine vision, and to make a suitable choice. God, in like manner, puts us in the ready way to be happy, by assuring us we shall have what we need, and pray for. Solomon's making such a choice when asleep, and the powers of reason least active, showed it came from the grace of God…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 7-9The Hebrew term for little child often referred to someone inexperienced in their job, like an "assistant" (1 Kings 19:21). Solomon humbly admitted his lack of experience and his need for wisdom. He understood that to govern the people well and make good decisions, he needed God's help.Read the comment
Topics related to 1 Kings 3:9
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on 1 Kings 3
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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