New English Translation
1 Kings 3:9
9So give your servant a discerning mind so he can make judicial decisions for your people and distinguish right from wrong. Otherwise no one is able to make judicial decisions for this great nation 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
7Now, O Lord my God, you have made your servant king in my father David’s place, even though I am only a young man and am inexperienced. 8Your servant stands among your chosen people; they are a great nation that is too numerous to count or number. So give your servant a discerning mind so he can make judicial decisions for your people and distinguish right from wrong. Otherwise no one is able to make judicial decisions for this great nation of yours.” 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,
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 22:12Only may the Lord give you insight and understanding when he places you in charge of Israel, so you may obey the law of the Lord your God.
- 1 Chronicles 29:19Make my son Solomon willing to obey your commands, rules, and regulations, and to complete building the palace for which I have made preparations.”
- 2 Chronicles 1:10Now give me wisdom and discernment so I can effectively lead this nation. Otherwise no one is able to make judicial decisions for this great nation of yours.”
- Psalms 119:34Give me understanding so that I might observe your law, and keep it with all my heart.
- Proverbs 2:3indeed, if you call out for discernment – raise your voice 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 acquire wisdom than gold; to acquire understanding is more desirable than silver.
- James 1:5But if anyone is deficient in wisdom, he should ask God, who gives to all generously and without reprimand, and it will be given to him.
- James 3:17But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, accommodating, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, and not hypocritical.
- Proverbs 20:12The ear that hears and the eye that sees – the Lord has made them both.
- 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.
- Psalms 72:1O God, grant the king the ability to make just decisions! Grant the king’s son the ability to make fair decisions!
- Proverbs 14:8The wisdom of the shrewd person is to discern his way, but the folly of fools is deception.
- Ecclesiastes 7:11Wisdom, like an inheritance, is a good thing; it benefits those who see the light of day.
- Ecclesiastes 9:15However, a poor but wise man lived in the city, and he could have delivered the city by his wisdom, but no one listened to that poor man.
- John 5:30I can do nothing on my own initiative. Just as I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just, because I do not seek my own will, but the will of the one who sent me.
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
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