Darby Bible
1 Kings 3:9
9Give therefore to thy servant an understanding heart, to judge thy people, to discern between good and bad; for who is able to judge this thy numerous people?
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, Jehovah my God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of David my father; and I am but a little child: I know not to go out and to come in. 8And thy servant is in the midst of thy people which thou hast chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude. Give therefore to thy servant an understanding heart, to judge thy people, to discern between good and bad; for who is able to judge this thy numerous people? 10And the word pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing. 11And God said to him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life, neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies, but hast asked for thyself discernment to understand judgment;
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
- Giveנָתַןnâthan · to give: giveH5414
- servantעֶ֫בֶד‛ebed · servant/slaveH5650
- understandingבִּיןbîyn · to understandH995
- heartלֵבlêb · heartH3820
- judgeשָׁפַטshâphaţ · to judgeH8199
- peopleעַם‛am · peopleH5971
- goodטוֹבţôb · goodH2896
- badרַעra‛ râ‛âh · bad: harmfulH7451
- ableיָכֹלyâkôl yâkôl · be ableH3201
- numerousכָּבֵדkâbêd · heavyH3515
Cross-references for 1 Kings 3:9
- 1 Chronicles 22:12Only, Jehovah give thee wisdom and understanding, and place thee over Israel, and to keep the law of Jehovah thy God.
- 1 Chronicles 29:19And give to Solomon my son a perfect heart, to keep thy commandments, thy testimonies, and thy statutes, and to do all, and to build the palace, for which I have made provision.
- 2 Chronicles 1:10Give me now wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people; for who can judge this thy great people?
- Psalms 119:34Give me understanding, and I will observe thy law; and I will keep it with [my] whole heart.
- Proverbs 2:3yea, if thou criest after discernment [and] liftest up thy voice to understanding;
- Proverbs 3:13Blessed is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.
- Proverbs 16:16How much better is it to get wisdom than fine gold, and the getting of intelligence to be preferred to silver!
- James 1:5But if any one of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all freely and reproaches not, and it shall be given to him:
- James 3:17But the wisdom from above first is pure, then peaceful, gentle, yielding, full of mercy and good fruits, unquestioning, unfeigned.
- Proverbs 20:12The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, Jehovah hath made even both of them.
- 1 Kings 3:28And all Israel heard of the judgment which the king had judged; and they feared the king, for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him, to do justice.
- Psalms 72:1O God, give the king thy judgments, and thy righteousness unto the king's son.
- Proverbs 14:8The wisdom of the prudent is to discern his way; but the folly of the foolish is deceit.
- Ecclesiastes 7:11Wisdom is as good as an inheritance, and profitable to them that see the sun.
- Ecclesiastes 9:15and there was found in it a poor wise man, who by his wisdom delivered the city; but no man remembered that poor man.
- John 5:30I cannot do anything of myself; as I hear, I judge, and my judgment is righteous, because I do not seek my will, but the will of him that has 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
Darby Bible — 1889 — Public Domain
Commentaries