1 Kings 3:11

1 Kings 3:11 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And God said unto 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 understanding to discern judgment;
• New International Version (NIV)So God said to him, “Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice,
• English Standard Version (ESV)And God said to him, "Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches or the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right,
• New King James Version (NKJV)Then God said to him: “Because you have asked this thing, and have not asked long life for yourself, nor have asked riches for yourself, nor have asked the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern justice,

Context of 1 Kings 3:11

9So please give me a wise mind that understands things well. Then I will be able to rule your people properly. I will know the difference between right things and wrong things. I will only be able to rule this great nation of your people if you do that for me.’ 10The Lord God was pleased that Solomon had asked for this. So God said to him, ‘You have not asked me to give you a long life, or to make you very rich. You have not asked me to punish your enemies with death. Instead you have asked for a wise mind so that you can rule well. Because of that, I will give you what you have asked for. Yes, I now give to you a wise mind that understands things well. You will be wiser than anyone who has already lived and wiser than anyone who will live after you. 13I will give you even more than this. I will make you rich and famous, even though you did not ask for that. As long as you live, there will be no other king who is greater than you.

1 Kings 3:11 word by word

וַיֹּ֨אמֶר אֱלֹהִ֜ים אֵלָ֗יו יַעַן֩ אֲשֶׁ֨ר שָׁאַ֜לְתָּ אֶת־הַדָּבָ֣ר הַזֶּ֗ה וְלֹֽא־שָׁאַ֨לְתָּ לְּךָ֜ יָמִ֣ים רַבִּ֗ים וְלֹֽא־שָׁאַ֤לְתָּ לְּךָ֙ עֹ֔שֶׁר וְלֹ֥א שָׁאַ֖לְתָּ נֶ֣פֶשׁ אֹיְבֶ֑יךָ וְשָׁאַ֧לְתָּ לְּךָ֛ הָבִ֖ין לִשְׁמֹ֥עַ מִשְׁפָּֽט׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And Godאֱלֹהִים'ĕlôhîym · GodH430
• saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• unto him, Because thou hast askedשָׁאַלshâ'al shâ'êl · to askH7592
• this thingדָּבָרdâbâr · word: thingH1697
• for thyself longרַבrab · manyH7227
• lifeיוֹםyôm · dayH3117
• richesעֹ֫שֶׁר‛ôsher · richesH6239
• the lifeנֶ֫פֶשׁnephesh · soul: lifeH5315
• of thine enemiesאֹיֵב'ôyêb 'ôyêb · enemyH341
• for thyself understandingבִּיןbîyn · to understandH995
• to discernשָׁמַעshâma‛ · to hear: judgeH8085
• judgmentמִשְׁפָּטmishpâţ · justiceH4941

Cross-references for 1 Kings 3:11

• Psalms 4:6Many people say, ‘Will anyone do a good thing for us?’ Lord, let your face smile on us.
• Proverbs 16:31Grey hair is like a beautiful crown on your head! People who live in a righteous way may wear it.
• Matthew 20:21‘What do you want me to do?’ Jesus asked her. She said, ‘One day, you will be king. Then I want my two sons to rule with you. One may sit at your right side and the other one at your left side. Please will you do this?’
• Romans 8:26God's Spirit also helps us to do this. Because we are weak, we do not know how we ought to pray. But God's Spirit himself prays for us. He cries to God on our behalf in a way that nobody could say with words.
• James 4:2You want to have something for yourself, but you do not get what you want. You even kill other people. You try to take things that are not yours. But you cannot get them. So you fight and you quarrel with each other. But you do not have these things because you do not ask God for them.
• 1 Kings 3:9So please give me a wise mind that understands things well. Then I will be able to rule your people properly. I will know the difference between right things and wrong things. I will only be able to rule this great nation of your people if you do that for me.’

Commentaries on 1 Kings 3:11

• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 11Thine enemies - e. g. Hadad the Edomite 1 Kings 11:14-22 and Rezon the son of Eliadah 1 Kings 11:23-25, whom Solomon might well have wished to remove.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 3:11

• Children
• Communion
• Dream
• Heart
• Longevity
• Prayer
• Solomon

In the dictionaries

• God
• Affinity
• Divide
• Gibeon
• Solomon
• Yearn
• Abishag
• Divination
• Dream; Dreamer
• Intercession

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