Christian Standard Bible
1 Kings 3:12
12I will therefore do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and understanding heart, so that there has never been anyone like you before and never will be again.
1 Kings 3:12 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee.
- New International Version (NIV)I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be.
- English Standard Version (ESV)behold, I now do according to your word. Behold, I give you a wise and discerning mind, so that none like you has been before you and none like you shall arise after you.
- New King James Version (NKJV)behold, I have done according to your words; see, I have given you a wise and understanding heart, so that there has not been anyone like you before you, nor shall any like you arise after you.
Context of 1 Kings 3:12
10Now it pleased the Lord that Solomon had requested this. 11So God said to him, “Because you have requested this and did not ask for long life or riches for yourself, or the death of your enemies, but you asked discernment for yourself to administer justice, I will therefore do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and understanding heart, so that there has never been anyone like you before and never will be again. 13In addition, I will give you what you did not ask for: both riches and honor, so that no king will be your equal during your entire life. 14If you walk in my ways and keep my statutes and commands just as your father David did, I will give you a long life.”
Read all of 1 Kings 31 Kings 3:12 word by word
הִנֵּ֥ה עָשִׂ֖יתִי כִּדְבָרֶ֑יךָ הִנֵּ֣ה׀ נָתַ֣תִּי לְךָ֗ לֵ֚ב חָכָ֣ם וְנָב֔וֹן אֲשֶׁ֤ר כָּמ֙וֹךָ֙ לֹא־הָיָ֣ה לְפָנֶ֔יךָ וְאַחֲרֶ֖יךָ לֹא־יָק֥וּם כָּמֽוֹךָ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Behold, I have doneעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to make: doH6213
- according to thy wordsדָּבָרdâbâr · wordH1697
- lo, I have givenנָתַןnâthan · to give: giveH5414
- thee a wiseחָכָםchâkâm · wiseH2450
- and an understandingבִּיןbîyn · to understandH995
- heartלֵבlêb · heartH3820
- so that there was none like thee beforeפָּנֶהpânîym · face: beforeH6440
- thee, neither afterאַחַר'achar · afterH310
- thee shall any ariseקוּםqûm · to arise: riseH6965
Cross-references for 1 Kings 3:12
- Psalms 10:17Lord, you have heard the desire of the humble; you will strengthen their hearts. You will listen carefully,
- Isaiah 65:24Even before they call, I will answer; while they are still speaking, I will hear.
- Romans 8:26In the same way the Spirit also helps us in our weakness, because we do not know what to pray for as we should, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with inexpressible groanings.
- 1 John 5:14This is the confidence we have before him: If we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.
- 1 Kings 3:28All Israel heard about the judgment the king had given, and they stood in awe of the king because they saw that God’s wisdom was in him to carry out justice.
- 1 Kings 2:6Act according to your wisdom, and do not let his gray head descend to Sheol in peace.
- 1 Kings 4:29God gave Solomon wisdom, very great insight, and understanding as vast as the sand on the seashore.
- 1 Kings 5:12The Lord gave Solomon wisdom, as he had promised him. There was peace between Hiram and Solomon, and the two of them made a treaty.
- 1 Kings 10:3So Solomon answered all her questions; nothing was too difficult for the king to explain to her.
- 2 Chronicles 1:11God said to Solomon, “Since this was in your heart, and you have not requested riches, wealth, or glory, or for the life of those who hate you, and you have not even requested long life, but you have requested for yourself wisdom and knowledge that you may judge my people over whom I have made you king,
- 2 Chronicles 2:12Hiram also said: Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, who made the heavens and the earth! He gave King David a wise son with insight and understanding, who will build a temple for the Lord and a royal palace for himself.
- 2 Chronicles 9:5She said to the king, “The report I heard in my own country about your words and about your wisdom is true.
- Ecclesiastes 1:13I applied my mind to examine and explore through wisdom all that is done under heaven. God has given people this miserable task to keep them occupied.
- Luke 21:15for I will give you such words and a wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict.
- 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.
- Colossians 2:3In him are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
Commentaries on 1 Kings 3:12
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 12I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart - I have given thee a capacious mind, one capable of knowing much: make a proper use of thy powers, under the direction of my Spirit, and thou shalt excel in wisdom all that have gone before thee; neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee. But, query, Was not all this conditional? If he should walk in his ways, and keep his statutes and commandments, 1 Kings 3:14. Was it not to depend upon his…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 12A wise and an understanding heart - Solomon‘s wisdom seems to have been both moral and intellectual (see 1 Kings 4:29-34). But it was moral wisdom alone which he requested, and which was promised him. The terms translated “wise” and “understanding,” both denote practical wisdom. (See Genesis 41:33, Genesis 41:39; Deuteronomy 4:6; Proverbs 1:2, etc.) Neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee - i. e. in the knowledge of what was in man, and in the…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. 10-12God was pleased with Solomon's selfless request and gave him a wise and understanding heart. These unique qualities are shown in the next section (1 Kings 3:16–28) and as Solomon organizes his administration (1 Kings 4), business dealings, construction projects, international relations, and worship practices (1 Kings 5–10).Read the comment
Topics related to 1 Kings 3:12
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
Christian Standard Bible — © 2017 Holman Bible Publishers
Commentaries