1 Kings 3:11

3:10 And the speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing.

And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies; but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment; long life: Heb. many days discern: Heb. hear

KJV

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God said to him, “Because you have asked this thing, and have not asked for yourself long life, nor have you asked for riches for yourself, nor have you asked for the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern justice;

And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies; but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment;

And God said to him, Because you have asked this thing, and have not asked for yourself long life; neither have asked riches for yourself, nor have asked the life of your enemies; but have asked for yourself understanding to discern judgment;

3:12 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.

What does 1 Kings 3:11 mean?

1 Kings 3:11 is a verse in the book of 1 Kings, in the Old Testament. In the original Hebrew, key words include אֱלֹהִים (ʼĕlôhîym), אָמַר (ʼâmar), שָׁאַל (shâʼal). It connects to 6 cross-referenced passages elsewhere in Scripture.

Hebrew interlinear

And

Godאֱלֹהִיםʼĕlôhîym/el-o-heem'/H430gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative

saidאָמַרʼâmar/aw-mar'/H559to say (used with great latitude)

unto

him,

Because

thou

hast

askedשָׁאַלshâʼal/shaw-al'/H7592to inquire; by implication, to request; by extension, to demand

this

thing,דָּבָרdâbâr/daw-baw'/H1697a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause

and

hast

not

askedשָׁאַלshâʼal/shaw-al'/H7592to inquire; by implication, to request; by extension, to demand

for

thyself

longרַבrab/rab/H7227abundant (in quantity, size, age, number, rank, quality)

life;יוֹםyôwm/yome/H3117a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an associated term), (often used adverb)

neither

hast

askedשָׁאַלshâʼal/shaw-al'/H7592to inquire; by implication, to request; by extension, to demand

richesעֹשֶׁרʻôsher/o'-sher/H6239wealth

for

thyself,

nor

hast

askedשָׁאַלshâʼal/shaw-al'/H7592to inquire; by implication, to request; by extension, to demand

the

lifeנֶפֶשׁnephesh/neh'-fesh/H5315properly, a breathing creature, i.e. animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or mental)

thine

enemies;אֹיֵבʼôyêb/o-yabe'/H341hating; an adversary

but

hast

askedשָׁאַלshâʼal/shaw-al'/H7592to inquire; by implication, to request; by extension, to demand

for

thyself

understandingבִּיןbîyn/bene/H995to separate mentally (or distinguish), i.e.(generally) understand

discernשָׁמַעshâmaʻ/shaw-mah'/H8085to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.)

judgment;מִשְׁפָּטmishpâṭ/mish-pawt'/H4941properly, a verdict (favorable or unfavorable) pronounced judicially, especially a sentence or formal decree (human or (participant's) divine law, individual or collective), including the act, the place, the suit, the crime, and the penalty; abstractly, justice, including a participant's right or privilege (statutory or customary), or even a style

long

life:

Heb.

many

days

discern:

Heb.

hear

Commentary on 1 Kings 3:11

HENRY_FULL · 1 Kings 3:11

The historian is now drawing towards a conclusion of David's reign, and therefore gives us an account here, I. Of some of his last words, which he spoke by inspiration, and which seem to have reference to his seed that was to be for evermore, spoken of in the close of the foregoing chapter, ver. 1-7 . II. Of the great men, especially the military men, that were employed under him, the first three ( ver. 8-17 ), two of the next three ( ver. 18-23 ), and then the thirty, ver. 24-39 . David's Last Words. ( b. c. 1015.)

Cross-references

Related passages from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

Matthew 22:43

He saith unto them, How then doth David in spirit call him Lord, saying,

Mark 12:36

For David himself said by the Holy Ghost, The LORD said to my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool.

Acts 2:25

For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved:

Hebrews 3:7

Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice,

Hebrews 3:8

Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness:

2 Peter 1:21

For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. in old time: or, at any time

Topics

Dreams Longevity Solomon

Verses like this

Other verses that share key original-language words with 1 Kings 3:11.

Genesis 1:14

And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years: the day: Heb. between the day and between the night

Genesis 1:20

And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven. moving: or, creeping life: Heb. soul fowl: Heb. let fowl fly open: Heb. face of the firmament of heaven

Genesis 1:24

And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his kind: and it was so.

Genesis 1:11

And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so. grass: Heb. tender grass

Genesis 1:16

And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also. to rule the day: Heb. for the rule of the day, etc.

Genesis 1:18

And to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness: and God saw that it was good.

Genesis 1:21

And God created great whales, and every living creature that moveth, which the waters brought forth abundantly, after their kind, and every winged fowl after his kind: and God saw that it was good.

Genesis 1:22

And God blessed them, saying, Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let fowl multiply in the earth.

Frequently asked questions

What does 1 Kings 3:11 say?

1 Kings 3:11 (King James Version) reads: "And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies; but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment; long life: Heb. many days discern: Heb. hear"

Is 1 Kings 3:11 in the Old or New Testament?

1 Kings 3:11 is in the Old Testament of the Bible, in the book of 1 Kings.

Reflect

As you read 1 Kings 3:11, what is one truth here you can carry into today?

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