New English Translation
1 Kings 10:1
1When the queen of Sheba heard about Solomon, she came to challenge him with difficult questions.
1 Kings 10:1 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the Lord, she came to prove him with hard questions.
- New International Version (NIV)When the queen of Sheba heard about the fame of Solomon and his relationship to the Lord, she came to test Solomon with hard questions.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Now 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.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Now 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.
Context of 1 Kings 10:1
When the queen of Sheba heard about Solomon, she came to challenge him with difficult questions. 2She arrived in Jerusalem with a great display of pomp, bringing with her camels carrying spices, a very large quantity of gold, and precious gems. She visited Solomon and discussed with him everything that was on her mind. 3Solomon answered all her questions; there was no question too complex for the king.
Read all of 1 Kings 101 Kings 10:1 word by word
וּמַֽלְכַּת־שְׁבָ֗א שֹׁמַ֛עַת אֶת־שֵׁ֥מַע שְׁלֹמֹ֖ה לְשֵׁ֣ם יְהוָ֑ה וַתָּבֹ֥א לְנַסֹּת֖וֹ בְּחִידֽוֹת׃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
- concerning the nameשֵׁםshêm · nameH8034
- of the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
- she cameבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): comeH935
- to proveנָסָהnâsâh · to testH5254
- him with hard questionsחִידָהchîydâh · riddleH2420
Cross-references for 1 Kings 10:1
- 2 Chronicles 9:1When the queen of Sheba heard about Solomon, she came to challenge him with difficult questions. She arrived in Jerusalem with a great display of pomp, bringing with her camels carrying spices, a very large quantity of gold, and precious gems. She visited Solomon and discussed with him everything that was on her mind.
- 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 now, something greater than Solomon is here!
- Luke 11:31The queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with the people of this generation and condemn them, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon – and now, something greater than Solomon is here!
- Genesis 10:7The sons of Cush were Seba, Havilah, Sabtah, Raamah, and Sabteca. The sons of Raamah were Sheba and Dedan.
- Genesis 25:3Jokshan became the father of Sheba and Dedan. The descendants of Dedan were the Asshurites, Letushites, and Leummites.
- Job 6:19The caravans of Tema looked intently for these streams; the traveling merchants of Sheba hoped for them.
- Psalms 72:10The kings of Tarshish and the coastlands will offer gifts; the kings of Sheba and Seba will bring tribute.
- Isaiah 60:6Camel caravans will cover your roads, young camels from Midian and Ephah. All the merchants of Sheba will come, bringing gold and incense and singing praises to the Lord.
- Jeremiah 6:20I take no delight when they offer up to me frankincense that comes from Sheba or sweet-smelling cane imported from a faraway land. I cannot accept the burnt offerings they bring me. I get no pleasure from the sacrifices they offer to me.’
- Ezekiel 27:22The merchants of Sheba and Raamah engaged in trade with you; they traded the best kinds of spices along with precious stones and gold for your products.
- Ezekiel 38:13Sheba and Dedan and the traders of Tarshish with all its young warriors will say to you, “Have you come to loot? Have you assembled your armies to plunder, to carry away silver and gold, to take away cattle and goods, to haul away a great amount of spoils?”’
- 1 Kings 4:31He was wiser than any man, including Ethan the Ezrahite or Heman, Calcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol. He was famous in all the neighboring nations.
- Job 28:28And he said to mankind, ‘The fear of the Lord – that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.’”
- Proverbs 2:3indeed, if you call out for discernment – raise your voice for understanding –
- John 17:3Now this is eternal life – that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you sent.
- 1 Corinthians 1:20Where is the wise man? Where is the expert in the Mosaic law? Where is the debater of this age? Has God not made the wisdom of the world foolish?
Commentaries on 1 Kings 10:1
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 1When the queen of Sheba heard - As our Lord calls her queen of the south, ( Matthew 12:42;), it is likely the name should be written Saba, Azab, or Azaba, all of which signify the south. She is called Balkis by the Arabians, but by the Abyssinians Maqueda. See the account at the end of this chapter, 1 Kings 10:29; (note). With hard questions - בחידות bechidoth ; Septuagint, , riddles. With parables and riddles, says the Arabic.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1Doubt has arisen whether the “queen of Sheba” was an Ethiopian or an Arabian princess. Both countries profess to have traditions on the subject connecting the queen of Sheba with their history; and in both countries, curiously enough, government by queens was common. But the claims of Arabia decidedly preponderate. The Arabian Sheba was the great spice country of the ancient world; whereas Ethiopia furnished no spices. The Arabian Sheba was an important…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 1The queen of Sheba's visit to Solomon. (1-13) Solomon's wealth. (14-29) Verses 1-13 The queen of Sheba came to Solomon to hear his wisdom, thereby to improve her own. Our Saviour mentions her inquiries after God, by Solomon, as showing the stupidity of those who inquire not after God, by our Lord Jesus Christ. By waiting and prayer, by diligently searching the Scriptures, by consulting wise and experienced Christians, and by practising what we have…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1The queen probably heard about Solomon's wisdom and wealth because of his trade trips to Ophir (1 Kings 10:11; see 1 Kings 9:26–28). Sheba, in southwestern Arabia (modern Yemen), was a fertile trade center. The ancient Sabeans traded across vast areas, including Syria, Africa, and India. test … with difficult questions (literally riddles): Arabian literature is known for its riddles and proverbs. The queen tested Solomon's wisdom and explored her own…Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-131Ki 10:1-13. The Queen of Sheba Admires the Wisdom of Solomon. 1. the queen of Sheba--Some think her country was the Sabean kingdom of Yemen, of which the capital was Saba, in Arabia-Felix; others, that it was in African Ethiopia, that is, Abyssinia, towards the south of the Red Sea. The opinions preponderate in favor of the former. This view harmonizes with the language of our Lord, as Yemen means "South"; and this country, extending to the shores of the…Read the comment
Topics related to 1 Kings 10:1
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on 1 Kings 10
- 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
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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