1 Kings 10:1

1 Kings 10:1 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the Lord, she came to prove him with hard questions.
• New International Version (NIV)When the queen of Sheba heard about the fame of Solomon and his relationship to the Lord, she came to test Solomon with hard questions.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Now when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the Lord, she came to test him with hard questions.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Now when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the Lord, she came to test him with hard questions.

Context of 1 Kings 10:1

The queen of Sheba heard about Solomon’s fame connected with the name of the Lord and came to test him with difficult questions. 2She came to Jerusalem with a very large entourage, with camels bearing spices, gold in great abundance, and precious stones. She came to Solomon and spoke to him about everything that was on her mind. 3So Solomon answered all her questions; nothing was too difficult for the king to explain to her.

1 Kings 10:1 word by word

וּמַֽלְכַּת־שְׁבָ֗א שֹׁמַ֛עַת אֶת־שֵׁ֥מַע שְׁלֹמֹ֖ה לְשֵׁ֣ם יְהוָ֑ה וַתָּבֹ֥א לְנַסֹּת֖וֹ בְּחִידֽוֹת׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And when the queenמַלְכָּהmalkâh · Queen (of Sheba)H4436
• of Shebaשְׁבָאshebâ' · ShebaH7614
• heardשָׁמַעshâma‛ · to hear: hearH8085
• of the fameשֵׁ֫מַעshêma‛ · reportH8088
• of Solomonשְׁלֹמֹהshelômôh · SolomonH8010
• concerning the nameשֵׁםshêm · nameH8034
• of the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
• she cameבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): comeH935
• to proveנָסָהnâsâh · to testH5254
• him with hard questionsחִידָהchîydâh · riddleH2420

Cross-references for 1 Kings 10:1

• 2 Chronicles 9:1The queen of Sheba heard of Solomon’s fame, so she came to test Solomon with difficult questions at Jerusalem with a very large entourage, with camels bearing spices, gold in abundance, and precious stones. She came to Solomon and spoke with him about everything that was on her mind.
• Matthew 12:42The queen of the south will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and look — something greater than Solomon is here.
• Luke 11:31The queen of the south will rise up at the judgment with the men of this generation and condemn them, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and look — something greater than Solomon is here.
• Genesis 10:7Cush’s sons: Seba, Havilah, Sabtah, Raamah, and Sabteca. And Raamah’s sons: Sheba and Dedan.
• Genesis 25:3Jokshan fathered Sheba and Dedan. Dedan’s sons were the Asshurim, Letushim, and Leummim.
• Job 6:19The caravans of Tema look for these streams. The traveling merchants of Sheba hope for them.
• Psalms 72:10May the kings of Tarshish and the coasts and islands bring tribute, the kings of Sheba and Seba offer gifts.
• Isaiah 60:6Caravans of camels will cover your land — young camels of Midian and Ephah — all of them will come from Sheba. They will carry gold and frankincense and proclaim the praises of the Lord.
• Jeremiah 6:20What use to me is frankincense from Sheba or sweet cane from a distant land? Your burnt offerings are not acceptable; your sacrifices do not please me.
• Ezekiel 27:22The merchants of Sheba and Raamah traded with you. For your merchandise they exchanged the best of all spices and all kinds of precious stones as well as gold.
• Ezekiel 38:13Sheba and Dedan and the merchants of Tarshish with all its rulers will ask you, “Have you come to seize spoil? Have you mobilized your assembly to carry off plunder, to make off with silver and gold, to take cattle and possessions, to seize plenty of spoil?”’
• 1 Kings 4:31He was wiser than anyone — wiser than Ethan the Ezrahite, and Heman, Calcol, and Darda, sons of Mahol. His reputation extended to all the surrounding nations.
• Job 28:28He said to mankind, “The fear of the Lord—that is wisdom. And to turn from evil is understanding.”
• Proverbs 2:3furthermore, if you call out to insight and lift your voice to understanding,
• John 17:3This is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and the one you have sent — Jesus Christ.
• 1 Corinthians 1:20Where is the one who is wise? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the debater of this age? Hasn’t God made the world’s wisdom foolish?

Commentaries on 1 Kings 10:1

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 1When the queen of Sheba heard - As our Lord calls her queen of the south, ( Matthew 12:42;), it is likely the name should be written Saba, Azab, or Azaba, all of which signify the south. She is called Balkis by the Arabians, but by the Abyssinians Maqueda. See the account at the end of this chapter, 1 Kings 10:29; (note). With hard questions - בחידות bechidoth ; Septuagint, , riddles. With parables and riddles, says the Arabic.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1Doubt has arisen whether the “queen of Sheba” was an Ethiopian or an Arabian princess. Both countries profess to have traditions on the subject connecting the queen of Sheba with their history; and in both countries, curiously enough, government by queens was common. But the claims of Arabia decidedly preponderate. The Arabian Sheba was the great spice country of the ancient world; whereas Ethiopia furnished no spices. The Arabian Sheba was an important…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 1The queen of Sheba's visit to Solomon. (1-13) Solomon's wealth. (14-29) Verses 1-13 The queen of Sheba came to Solomon to hear his wisdom, thereby to improve her own. Our Saviour mentions her inquiries after God, by Solomon, as showing the stupidity of those who inquire not after God, by our Lord Jesus Christ. By waiting and prayer, by diligently searching the Scriptures, by consulting wise and experienced Christians, and by practising what we have…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1The queen probably heard about Solomon's wisdom and wealth because of his trade trips to Ophir (1 Kings 10:11; see 1 Kings 9:26–28). Sheba, in southwestern Arabia (modern Yemen), was a fertile trade center. The ancient Sabeans traded across vast areas, including Syria, Africa, and India. test … with difficult questions (literally riddles): Arabian literature is known for its riddles and proverbs. The queen tested Solomon's wisdom and explored her own…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-131Ki 10:1-13. The Queen of Sheba Admires the Wisdom of Solomon. 1. the queen of Sheba--Some think her country was the Sabean kingdom of Yemen, of which the capital was Saba, in Arabia-Felix; others, that it was in African Ethiopia, that is, Abyssinia, towards the south of the Red Sea. The opinions preponderate in favor of the former. This view harmonizes with the language of our Lord, as Yemen means "South"; and this country, extending to the shores of the…Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Kings 10:1

• Queen
• Sheba
• Solomon
• Women

In the dictionaries

• Sheba
• Solomon
• Queen of Sheba
• Exceed
• Gold
• Navy
• Seek
• Fame
• Games
• Hard; Hardiness; Harddiness; Hardly

Commentaries on 1 Kings 10

• 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
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings