New English Translation
1 Kings 3:12
12I grant your request, and give you a wise and discerning mind superior to that of anyone who has preceded or will succeed you.
1 Kings 3:12 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee.
- New International Version (NIV)I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be.
- English Standard Version (ESV)behold, I now do according to your word. Behold, I give you a wise and discerning mind, so that none like you has been before you and none like you shall arise after you.
- New King James Version (NKJV)behold, I have done according to your words; see, I have given you a wise and understanding heart, so that there has not been anyone like you before you, nor shall any like you arise after you.
Context of 1 Kings 3:12
10The Lord was pleased that Solomon made this request. 11God said to him, “Because you asked for the ability to make wise judicial decisions, and not for long life, or riches, or vengeance on your enemies, I grant your request, and give you a wise and discerning mind superior to that of anyone who has preceded or will succeed you. 13Furthermore, I am giving you what you did not request – riches and honor so that you will be the greatest king of your generation. 14If you follow my instructions by obeying my rules and regulations, just as your father David did, then I will grant you long life.”
Read all of 1 Kings 31 Kings 3:12 word by word
הִנֵּ֥ה עָשִׂ֖יתִי כִּדְבָרֶ֑יךָ הִנֵּ֣ה׀ נָתַ֣תִּי לְךָ֗ לֵ֚ב חָכָ֣ם וְנָב֔וֹן אֲשֶׁ֤ר כָּמ֙וֹךָ֙ לֹא־הָיָ֣ה לְפָנֶ֔יךָ וְאַחֲרֶ֖יךָ לֹא־יָק֥וּם כָּמֽוֹךָ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Behold, I have doneעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to make: doH6213
- according to thy wordsדָּבָרdâbâr · wordH1697
- lo, I have givenנָתַןnâthan · to give: giveH5414
- thee a wiseחָכָםchâkâm · wiseH2450
- and an understandingבִּיןbîyn · to understandH995
- heartלֵבlêb · heartH3820
- so that there was none like thee beforeפָּנֶהpânîym · face: beforeH6440
- thee, neither afterאַחַר'achar · afterH310
- thee shall any ariseקוּםqûm · to arise: riseH6965
Cross-references for 1 Kings 3:12
- Psalms 10:17Lord, you have heard the request of the oppressed; you make them feel secure because you listen to their prayer.
- Isaiah 65:24Before they even call out, I will respond; while they are still speaking, I will hear.
- Romans 8:26In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness, for we do not know how we should pray, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with inexpressible groanings.
- 1 John 5:14And this is the confidence that we have before him: that whenever we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.
- 1 Kings 3:28When all Israel heard about the judicial decision which the king had rendered, they respected the king, for they realized that he possessed supernatural wisdom to make judicial decisions.
- 1 Kings 2:6Do to him what you think is appropriate, but don’t let him live long and die a peaceful death.
- 1 Kings 4:29God gave Solomon wisdom and very great discernment; the breadth of his understanding was as infinite as the sand on the seashore.
- 1 Kings 5:12So the Lord gave Solomon wisdom, as he had promised him. And Hiram and Solomon were at peace and made a treaty.
- 1 Kings 10:3Solomon answered all her questions; there was no question too complex for the king.
- 2 Chronicles 1:11God said to Solomon, “Because you desire this, and did not ask for riches, wealth, and honor, or for vengeance on your enemies, and because you did not ask for long life, but requested wisdom and discernment so you can make judicial decisions for my people over whom I have made you king,
- 2 Chronicles 2:12Huram also said, “Worthy of praise is the Lord God of Israel, who made the sky and the earth! He has given David a wise son who has discernment and insight and will build a temple for the Lord, as well as a royal palace for himself.
- 2 Chronicles 9:5She said to the king, “The report I heard in my own country about your wise sayings and insight was true!
- Ecclesiastes 1:13I decided to carefully and thoroughly examine all that has been accomplished on earth. I concluded: God has given people a burdensome task that keeps them occupied.
- Luke 21:15For I will give you the words along with the wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict.
- 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!
- Colossians 2:3in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
Commentaries on 1 Kings 3:12
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 12I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart - I have given thee a capacious mind, one capable of knowing much: make a proper use of thy powers, under the direction of my Spirit, and thou shalt excel in wisdom all that have gone before thee; neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee. But, query, Was not all this conditional? If he should walk in his ways, and keep his statutes and commandments, 1 Kings 3:14. Was it not to depend upon his…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 12A wise and an understanding heart - Solomon‘s wisdom seems to have been both moral and intellectual (see 1 Kings 4:29-34). But it was moral wisdom alone which he requested, and which was promised him. The terms translated “wise” and “understanding,” both denote practical wisdom. (See Genesis 41:33, Genesis 41:39; Deuteronomy 4:6; Proverbs 1:2, etc.) Neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee - i. e. in the knowledge of what was in man, and in the…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 3:12
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
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