English Standard Version
2 Chronicles 9:1
1Now when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon, she came to Jerusalem to test him with hard questions, having a very great retinue and camels bearing spices and very much gold and precious stones. And when she came to Solomon, she told him all that was on her mind.
2 Chronicles 9:1 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon, she came to prove Solomon with hard questions at Jerusalem, with a very great company, and camels that bare spices, and gold in abundance, and precious stones: and when she was come to Solomon, she communed with him of all that was in her heart.
- New International Version (NIV)When the queen of Sheba heard of Solomon’s fame, she came to Jerusalem to test him with hard questions. Arriving with a very great caravan—with camels carrying spices, large quantities of gold, and precious stones—she came to Solomon and talked with him about all she had on her mind.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Now when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon, she came to Jerusalem to test Solomon with hard questions, having a very great retinue, camels that bore spices, gold in abundance, and precious stones; and when she came to Solomon, she spoke with him about all that was in her heart.
- New Living Translation (NLT)When the queen of Sheba heard of Solomon’s fame, she came to Jerusalem to test him with hard questions. She arrived with a large group of attendants and a great caravan of camels loaded with spices, large quantities of gold, and precious jewels. When she met with Solomon, she talked with him about everything she had on her mind.
Context of 2 Chronicles 9:1
Now when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon, she came to Jerusalem to test him with hard questions, having a very great retinue and camels bearing spices and very much gold and precious stones. And when she came to Solomon, she told him all that was on her mind. 2And Solomon answered all her questions. There was nothing hidden from Solomon that he could not explain to her. 3And when the queen of Sheba had seen the wisdom of Solomon, the house that he had built,
Read all of 2 Chronicles 92 Chronicles 9:1 word by word
וּמַֽלְכַּת־שְׁבָ֗א שָֽׁמְעָה֮ אֶת־שֵׁ֣מַע שְׁלֹמֹה֒ וַתָּב֣וֹא לְנַסּוֹת֩ אֶת־שְׁלֹמֹ֨ה בְחִיד֜וֹת בִּירֽוּשָׁלִַ֗ם בְּחַ֣יִל כָּבֵ֣ד מְאֹ֡ד וּ֠גְמַלִּים נֹשְׂאִ֨ים בְּשָׂמִ֧ים וְזָהָ֛ב לָרֹ֖ב וְאֶ֣בֶן יְקָרָ֑ה וַתָּבוֹא֙ אֶל־שְׁלֹמֹ֔ה וַתְּדַבֵּ֣ר עִמּ֔וֹ אֵ֛ת כָּל־אֲשֶׁ֥ר הָיָ֖ה עִם־לְבָבָֽהּ׃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
- she cameבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): comeH935
- to proveנָסָהnâsâh · to testH5254
- with hard questionsחִידָהchîydâh · riddleH2420
- at Jerusalemיְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵםyerûshâlaim yerûshâlayim · JerusalemH3389
- with a veryמְאֹדme'ôd · muchH3966
- greatכָּבֵדkâbêd · heavyH3515
- companyחַ֫יִלchayil · strength: richH2428
- and camelsגָּמָלgâmâl · camelH1581
- that bareנָשָׂאnâώâ' nâsâh · to lift: bearH5375
- spicesבֶּ֫שֶׂםbeώem bôώem · spiceH1314
- and goldזָהָבzâhâb · goldH2091
- in abundanceרֹבrôb · abundanceH7230
- and preciousיָקָרyâqâr · preciousH3368
- stonesאֶ֫בֶן'eben · stoneH68
- she communedדָבַרdâbar · to speak: speakH1696
- with him of all that was in her heartלֵבָבlêbâb · heartH3824
Cross-references for 2 Chronicles 9:1
- 1 Kings 10:1Now 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.
- Matthew 12:42The queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, 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, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, something greater than Solomon is here.
- Genesis 10:7The sons of Cush: Seba, Havilah, Sabtah, Raamah, and Sabteca. The sons of Raamah: Sheba and Dedan.
- Genesis 25:3Jokshan fathered Sheba and Dedan. The sons of Dedan were Asshurim, Letushim, and Leummim.
- 2 Chronicles 1:1Solomon the son of David established himself in his kingdom, and the Lord his God was with him and made him exceedingly great.
- 1 Kings 4:31For he was wiser than all other men, wiser than Ethan the Ezrahite, and Heman, Calcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol, and his fame was in all the surrounding nations.
- Psalms 72:10May the kings of Tarshish and of the coastlands render him tribute; may the kings of Sheba and Seba bring gifts!
- Isaiah 60:6A multitude of camels shall cover you, the young camels of Midian and Ephah; all those from Sheba shall come. They shall bring gold and frankincense, and shall bring good news, the praises of the Lord.
- 2 Chronicles 9:9Then she gave the king 120 talents of gold, and a very great quantity of spices, and precious stones. There were no spices such as those that the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon.
- Matthew 2:11And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.
- 1 Samuel 1:15But Hannah answered, "No, my lord, I am a woman troubled in spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I have been pouring out my soul before the Lord.
- Psalms 142:2I pour out my complaint before him; I tell my trouble before him.
- Matthew 12:34You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.
Commentaries on 2 Chronicles 9:1
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 1The queen of Sheba - See all the particulars of this royal visit distinctly marked and explained in the notes on 1 Kings 10:1-10; (note). The Targum calls her queen of Zemargad.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1-12Verses 1-12 The narrative here is parallel with that in marginal reference, from which it varies but little, and to which it adds nothing. 2 Chronicles 9:11 Terraces - Rather, as in the margin, “stairs” (see the 1 Kings 10:12 note). 2 Chronicles 9:12 Beside that which she had brought unto the king - It is difficult to assign any sense to these words as they now stand in the Hebrew text. A slight alteration will give the meaning: “Beside that which the…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 1The queen of Sheba. (1-12) Solomon's riches, and his death. (13-31) Verses 1-12 This history has been considered, 1Ki 10; yet because our Saviour has proposed it as an example in seeking after him, Mt 12:42, we must not pass it over without observing, that those who know the worth of true wisdom will grudge no pains or cost to obtain it. The queen of Sheba put herself to a great deal of trouble and expense to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and yet, learning…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-2Solomon had long-term economic and political ties with Hiram of Tyre (2 Chronicles 8:17–18; 9:10–11), but the queen of Sheba visited only once. Ancient Sheba, roughly modern Yemen, was known for its female rulers and a wealthy economy based on trading frankincense and myrrh. An ancient tradition suggests the queen of Sheba came from Cush (Ethiopia), possibly due to Sheba, son of Raamah, a descendant of Cush (Genesis 10:7; 1 Chronicles 1:9).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-122Ch 9:1-12. The Queen of Sheba Visits Solomon; She Admires His Wisdom and Magnificence. 1-4. when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon--(See on 1Ki 10:1-13). It is said that among the things in Jerusalem which drew forth the admiration of Solomon's royal visitor was "his ascent by which he went up into the house of the Lord." This was the arched viaduct that crossed the valley from Mount Zion to the opposite hill. In the commentary on the…Read the comment
Topics related to 2 Chronicles 9:1
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on 2 Chronicles 9
- 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
- John Wesley’s Notes
- 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
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries