God’s Word Translation
1 Kings 3:9
9Give me a heart that listens so that I can judge your people and tell the difference between good and evil. After all, who can judge this great people of yours?”
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
7“Lord my God, although I’m young and inexperienced, you’ve made me king in place of my father David. 8I’m among your people whom you have chosen. They are too numerous to count or record. Give me a heart that listens so that I can judge your people and tell the difference between good and evil. After all, who can judge this great people of yours?” 10The Lord was pleased that Solomon asked for this. 11God replied, “You’ve asked for this and not for a long life, or riches for yourself, or the death of your enemies. Instead, you’ve asked for understanding so that you can do what is right.
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
Words taken from the KJV.
- Giveנָתַןnâthan · to give: giveH5414
- therefore thy servantעֶ֫בֶד‛ebed · servant/slaveH5650
- an understandingשָׁמַעshâma‛ · to hear: understandH8085
- heartלֵבlêb · heartH3820
- to judgeשָׁפַטshâphaţ · to judgeH8199
- thy peopleעַם‛am · peopleH5971
- that I may discernבִּיןbîyn · to understandH995
- between goodטוֹבţôb · goodH2896
- and badרַעra‛ râ‛âh · bad: evilH7451
- for who is ableיָכֹלyâkôl yâkôl · be ableH3201
- this thy so greatכָּבֵדkâbêd · heavyH3515
Cross-references for 1 Kings 3:9
- 1 Chronicles 22:12The Lord will give you insight and understanding as he commands you to take charge of Israel and to follow the Teachings of the Lord your God.
- 1 Chronicles 29:19Make my son Solomon completely committed ⌞to you⌟ so that he will obey your commands, requests, and laws and do everything to build the palace I have planned.”
- 2 Chronicles 1:10Give me wisdom and knowledge so that I may lead these people. After all, who can judge this great people of yours?”
- Psalms 119:34Help me understand so that I can follow your teachings. I will guard them with all my heart.
- Proverbs 2:3if indeed you call out for insight, if you ask aloud for understanding,
- Proverbs 3:13Blessed is the one who finds wisdom and the one who obtains understanding.
- Proverbs 16:16How much better it is to gain wisdom than gold, and the gaining of understanding should be chosen over silver.
- James 1:5If any of you needs wisdom to know what you should do, you should ask God, and he will give it to you. God is generous to everyone and doesn’t find fault with them.
- James 3:17However, the wisdom that comes from above is first of all pure. Then it is peaceful, gentle, obedient, filled with mercy and good deeds, impartial, and sincere.
- Proverbs 20:12The ear that hears, the eye that sees— the Lord made them both.
- 1 Kings 3:28All Israel heard about the decision the king made. They respected the king very highly, because they saw he possessed wisdom from God to do what was right.
- Psalms 72:1O God, give the king your justice and the king’s son your righteousness
- Proverbs 14:8The wisdom of a sensible person guides his way of life, but the stupidity of fools misleads them.
- Ecclesiastes 7:11Wisdom is as good as an inheritance. It is an advantage to everyone who sees the sun.
- Ecclesiastes 9:15A poor, wise person was found in that town. He saved the town using his wisdom. But no one remembered that poor person.
- John 5:30I can’t do anything on my own. As I listen ⌞to the Father⌟, I make my judgments. My judgments are right because I don’t try to do what I want but what the one who sent me wants.
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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
Commentaries