New Living Translation
1 Kings 3:28
28When all Israel heard the king’s decision, the people were in awe of the king, for they saw the wisdom God had given him for rendering justice.
1 Kings 3:28 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And all Israel heard of the judgment which the king had judged; and they feared the king: for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him, to do judgment.
- New International Version (NIV)When all Israel heard the verdict the king had given, they held the king in awe, because they saw that he had wisdom from God to administer justice.
- English Standard Version (ESV)And all Israel heard of the judgment that the king had rendered, and they stood in awe of the king, because they perceived that the wisdom of God was in him to do justice.
- New King James Version (NKJV)And all Israel heard of the judgment which the king had rendered; and they feared the king, for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him to administer justice.
Context of 1 Kings 3:28
26Then the woman who was the real mother of the living child, and who loved him very much, cried out, “Oh no, my lord! Give her the child—please do not kill him!” But the other woman said, “All right, he will be neither yours nor mine; divide him between us!” 27Then the king said, “Do not kill the child, but give him to the woman who wants him to live, for she is his mother!” When all Israel heard the king’s decision, the people were in awe of the king, for they saw the wisdom God had given him for rendering justice.
Read all of 1 Kings 31 Kings 3:28 word by word
וַיִּשְׁמְע֣וּ כָל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל אֶת־הַמִּשְׁפָּט֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר שָׁפַ֣ט הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ וַיִּֽרְא֖וּ מִפְּנֵ֣י הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ כִּ֣י רָא֔וּ כִּֽי־חָכְמַ֧ת אֱלֹהִ֛ים בְּקִרְבּ֖וֹ לַעֲשׂ֥וֹת מִשְׁפָּֽט׃ סRead the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And all Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלyiώrâ'êl · IsraelH3478
- heardשָׁמַעshâma‛ · to hear: hearH8085
- of the judgmentמִשְׁפָּטmishpâţ · justice: judgementH4941
- which the kingמֶ֫לֶךְmelek · kingH4428
- had judgedשָׁפַטshâphaţ · to judgeH8199
- and they fearedיָרֵאyârê' · to fear: revereH3372
- the kingפָּנֶהpânîym · face ofH6440
- for they sawרָאָהrâ'âh · to see: examineH7200
- that the wisdomחׇכְמָהchokmâh · wisdomH2451
- of Godאֱלֹהִים'ĕlôhîym · GodH430
- in himקֶ֫רֶבqereb · entrails: amongH7130
- to doעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to make: doH6213
- judgmentמִשְׁפָּטmishpâţ · justiceH4941
Cross-references for 1 Kings 3:28
- Exodus 14:31When the people of Israel saw the mighty power that the Lord had unleashed against the Egyptians, they were filled with awe before him. They put their faith in the Lord and in his servant Moses.
- Joshua 4:14That day the Lord made Joshua a great leader in the eyes of all the Israelites, and for the rest of his life they revered him as much as they had revered Moses.
- 1 Samuel 12:18So Samuel called to the Lord, and the Lord sent thunder and rain that day. And all the people were terrified of the Lord and of Samuel.
- 1 Chronicles 29:24All the officials, the warriors, and the sons of King David pledged their loyalty to King Solomon.
- Proverbs 24:21My child, fear the Lord and the king. Don’t associate with rebels,
- 1 Kings 3:9Give me an understanding heart so that I can govern your people well and know the difference between right and wrong. For who by himself is able to govern this great people of yours?”
- Ezra 7:25“And you, Ezra, are to use the wisdom your God has given you to appoint magistrates and judges who know your God’s laws to govern all the people in the province west of the Euphrates River. Teach the law to anyone who does not know it.
- Ecclesiastes 7:19One wise person is stronger than ten leading citizens of a town!
- Daniel 2:21He controls the course of world events; he removes kings and sets up other kings. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the scholars.
- Daniel 5:11There is a man in your kingdom who has within him the spirit of the holy gods. During Nebuchadnezzar’s reign, this man was found to have insight, understanding, and wisdom like that of the gods. Your predecessor, the king—your predecessor King Nebuchadnezzar—made him chief over all the magicians, enchanters, astrologers, and fortune-tellers of Babylon.
- 1 Corinthians 1:24But to those called by God to salvation, both Jews and Gentiles, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God.
- Colossians 2:3In him lie hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
- Psalms 72:2Help him judge your people in the right way; let the poor always be treated fairly.
Commentaries on 1 Kings 3:28
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 28They feared the king - This decision proved that they could not impose upon him; and they were afraid to do those things which might bring them before his judgment-seat. They saw that the wisdom of God was in him - They perceived that he was taught of God, judged impartially, and could not be deceived. What was done to the other woman we are not told; justice certainly required that she should be punished for her lies and fraud.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 28The wisdom of God - i. e. “Divine wisdom,” “a wisdom given by God” 1 Kings 3:12. The ready tact and knowledge of human nature exhibited in this pattern judgment, and its special fitness to impress Orientals, have generally been admitted.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 16-28Verses 16-28 An instance of Solomon's wisdom is given. Notice the difficulty of the case. To find out the true mother, he could not try which the child loved best, and therefore tried which loved the child best: the mother's sincerity will be tried, when the child is in danger. Let parents show their love to their children, especially by taking care of their souls, and snatching them as brands out of the burning. By this and other instances of the wisdom…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 28Kings often said they had special wisdom and could make fair decisions. God promised that Solomon's wisdom was greater than other wise men (1 Kings 4:29–34; 10:6–9, 23–24).Read the comment
Topics related to 1 Kings 3:28
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
New Living Translation — © 1996, 2004, 2015 Tyndale House Foundation
Commentaries