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; behold, I have done according to your word. Behold, I have given you a wise and understanding heart; so that there has been no one like you before you, and after you none will arise like you. I have also given you that which you have not asked, both riches and honor, so that there will not be any among the kings like you for all your days. If you will walk in my ways, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your days.”
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1 Kings 3:11-14 sits inside this longer paragraph.
This request pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing. 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; behold, I have done according to your word. Behold, I have given you a wise and understanding heart; so that there has been no one like you before you, and after you none will arise like you. I have also given you that which you have not asked, both riches and honor, so that there will not be any among the kings like you for all your days. If you will walk in my ways, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your days.”
Parallel Translations
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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;
behold, I have done according to your word. Behold, I have given you a wise and understanding heart; so that there has been no one like you before you, and after you none will arise like you.
I have also given you that which you have not asked, both riches and honor, so that there will not be any among the kings like you for all your days.
If you will walk in my ways, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your days.”
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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;
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.
And I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches, and honour: so that there shall not be any among the kings like unto thee all thy days.
And if thou wilt walk in my ways, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as thy father David did walk, then I will lengthen thy days.
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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 justice;
behold, I have done according to thy word: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there hath been none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee.
And I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches and honour — so that there hath not been any among the kings like unto thee — all thy days.
And if thou wilt walk in My ways, to keep My statutes and My commandments, as thy father David did walk, then I will lengthen thy days.'
Examined in Scripture Analysis
Contradictions (1)
Questions where the Bible appears to say two different things, with the passages on each side set together.
Cross-references (54)
- 1 John 5:14-15 (v12) This is the boldness which we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will, he listens to us. And if we know that he…
- Ephesians 3:20 (v13) Now to him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,
- Ecclesiastes 1:16 (v12) I said to myself, “Behold, I have obtained for myself great wisdom above all who were before me in Jerusalem. Yes, my heart has had great…
- Matthew 6:33 (v13) But seek first God’s Kingdom, and his righteousness; and all these things will be given to you as well.
- Proverbs 3:16 (vv13–14) Length of days is in her right hand. In her left hand are riches and honor.
Show all 53 cross-references
- Matthew 12:42 (v12) The Queen of the South will rise up in the judgment with this generation, and will condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to…
- 1 Kings 5:12 (v12) Yahweh gave Solomon wisdom, as he promised him. There was peace between Hiram and Solomon, and the two of them made a treaty together.
- 1 Kings 3:28 (v12) 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…
- 1 Kings 10:23-24 (v12) So king Solomon exceeded all the kings of the earth in riches and in wisdom. All the earth sought the presence of Solomon, to hear his…
- Romans 8:32 (v13) He who didn’t spare his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how would he not also with him freely give us all things?
- Romans 8:26-27 (v12) In the same way, the Spirit also helps our weaknesses, for we don’t know how to pray as we ought. But the Spirit himself makes intercession…
- 1 Kings 4:21-24 (v13) Solomon ruled over all the kingdoms from the River to the land of the Philistines, and to the border of Egypt. They brought tribute and…
- 2 Chronicles 2:12 (v12) Huram continued, “Blessed be Yahweh, the God of Israel, who made heaven and earth, who has given to David the king a wise son, endowed with…
- Psalms 84:11-12 (v13) For Yahweh God is a sun and a shield. Yahweh will give grace and glory. He withholds no good thing from those who walk blamelessly. Yahweh…
- Isaiah 65:24 (v12) It will happen that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.
- Luke 21:15 (v12) for I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries will not be able to withstand or to contradict.
- Proverbs 3:2 (v14) for they will add to you length of days, years of life, and peace.
- 1 Kings 2:9 (v12) Now therefore don’t hold him guiltless, for you are a wise man; and you will know what you ought to do to him, and you shall bring his gray…
- Psalms 91:16 (v14) I will satisfy him with long life, and show him my salvation.”
- Colossians 2:3 (v12) in whom all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden.
- 1 Kings 2:6 (v12) Do therefore according to your wisdom, and don’t let his gray head go down to Sheol in peace.
- 1 Kings 10:3-8 (v12) Solomon answered all her questions. There wasn’t anything hidden from the king which he didn’t tell her. When the queen of Sheba had seen…
- 1 Kings 10:23-29 (v13) So king Solomon exceeded all the kings of the earth in riches and in wisdom. All the earth sought the presence of Solomon, to hear his…
- 2 Chronicles 1:11-12 (v12) God said to Solomon, “Because this was in your heart, and you have not asked riches, wealth, honor, or the life of those who hate you, nor…
- Psalms 10:17 (v12) Yahweh, you have heard the desire of the humble. You will prepare their heart. You will cause your ear to hear,
- Ecclesiastes 1:13 (v12) I applied my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom concerning all that is done under the sky. It is a heavy burden that God has given…
- 1 Kings 4:29-34 (v12) God gave Solomon abundant wisdom and understanding, and very great understanding, even as the sand that is on the seashore. Solomon’s…
- 1 Kings 15:5 (v14) because David did that which was right in Yahweh’s eyes, and didn’t turn away from anything that he commanded him all the days of his life,…
- 2 Chronicles 9:5-8 (v12) She said to the king, “It was a true report that I heard in my own land of your acts and of your wisdom. However I didn’t believe their…
- Zechariah 3:7 (v14) “Yahweh of Armies says: ‘If you will walk in my ways, and if you will follow my instructions, then you also shall judge my house, and shall…
- Romans 8:26 (v11) In the same way, the Spirit also helps our weaknesses, for we don’t know how to pray as we ought. But the Spirit himself makes intercession…
- 1 Corinthians 3:22-23 (v13) whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come. All are yours, and you are…
- James 4:2-3 (v11) You lust, and don’t have. You murder and covet, and can’t obtain. You fight and make war. You don’t have, because you don’t ask. You ask,…
- 1 Kings 2:3-4 (v14) and keep the instruction of Yahweh your God, to walk in his ways, to keep his statutes, his commandments, his ordinances, and his…
- 1 Kings 3:6 (v14) Solomon said, “You have shown to your servant David my father great loving kindness, because he walked before you in truth, in…
- 1 Kings 3:9 (v11) Give your servant therefore an understanding heart to judge your people, that I may discern between good and evil; for who is able to judge…
- 2 Chronicles 34:2 (v14) He did that which was right in Yahweh’s eyes, and walked in the ways of David his father, and didn’t turn away to the right hand or to the…
- Proverbs 16:31 (v11) Gray hair is a crown of glory. It is attained by a life of righteousness.
- Deuteronomy 5:16 (v14) “Honor your father and your mother, as Yahweh your God commanded you; that your days may be long, and that it may go well with you in the…
- 1 Kings 9:4-5 (v14) As for you, if you will walk before me, as David your father walked, in integrity of heart, and in uprightness, to do according to all that…
- 1 Chronicles 22:12-13 (v14) May Yahweh give you discretion and understanding, and put you in charge of Israel; that so you may keep the law of Yahweh your God. Then…
- 1 Chronicles 28:9 (v14) You, Solomon my son, know the God of your father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind; for Yahweh searches all…
- 2 Chronicles 7:17-19 (v14) “As for you, if you will walk before me as David your father walked, and do according to all that I have commanded you, and will keep my…
- 2 Chronicles 17:3-4 (v14) Yahweh was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the first ways of his father David, and didn’t seek the Baals, but sought to the God of…
- Psalms 21:4 (v14) He asked life of you and you gave it to him, even length of days forever and ever.
- Psalms 132:12 (v14) If your children will keep my covenant, my testimony that I will teach them, their children also will sit on your throne forever more.”
- Acts 13:22 (v14) When he had removed him, he raised up David to be their king, to whom he also testified, ‘I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after…
- Deuteronomy 25:15 (v14) You shall have a perfect and just weight. You shall have a perfect and just measure, that your days may be long in the land which Yahweh…
- 1 Kings 3:3 (v14) Solomon loved Yahweh, walking in the statutes of David his father; except that he sacrificed and burned incense in the high places.
- 2 Chronicles 29:2 (v14) He did that which was right in Yahweh’s eyes, according to all that David his father had done.
- Psalms 4:6 (v11) Many say, “Who will show us any good?” Yahweh, let the light of your face shine on us.
- Matthew 20:21-22 (v11) He said to her, “What do you want?” She said to him, “Command that these, my two sons, may sit, one on your right hand, and one on your…
- 1 Timothy 4:8 (v14) For bodily exercise has some value, but godliness has value in all things, having the promise of the life which is now, and of that which…
53 distinct cross-references across this passage (54 total citations).
Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)
Explain this passage (15 sources)
Historical commentary, presented as a primary source — not an endorsement.
Private notes
Saved on this device only — never synced or sent anywhere.
Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain On vv11, 13, 14 That is, that thine enemy should die.
That is, that thine enemy should die.
Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.
John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain On vv11–14 1Ki 3:11 And God said unto him, Because thou…
1Ki 3:11 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;
Ver. 11. And hast not asked for thyself long life.] Which yet most men covet. {Psa 34:12} {See Trapp on "Psa 34:12"}
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Neither hast asked riches.] As the many do. {Psa 4:7}
Nor hast asked the life of thine enemies.] Which, oh, how sweet is it to vindictive spirits! And God, we see, here taketh distinct notice of that which men most desire.
John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain On vv11–14 Nor hast asked the life of thine enemies; that…
Nor hast asked the life of thine enemies; that God would take away their lives, or put them into thy power to destroy them.
Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain On vv11–14 Behold, I have done according to thy words,.... Expressed…
Behold, I have done according to thy words,.... Expressed in his request: he not only promised he would grant him it, but he had already done it, or at least had begun to do it:
lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; had greatly increased his wisdom and understanding in things political, things respecting civil government, and also in things natural, in the knowledge of the things of nature as appears from Kg1 4:33; and of the arts and sciences:
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so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee: which some restrain to kings, and to the kings of Israel; that there were none of the kings before him, as Saul and David, like him for wisdom, nor any of the kings of Judah and Israel after him; but it may include all men of all nations in the world, since he is said to be wiser than all men; and some other nations, and particular men of other nations, famous for wisdom, are expressly mentioned as inferior to him, Kg1 4:30; but then this must be understood of men since the fall; for Adam, doubtless, had a larger stock of knowledge and understanding in his state of innocence than ever Solomon had; and it must be restrained to political and natural knowledge; for, as for divine knowledge, Kimchi excepts Moses; and we may well except the apostles of Christ for spiritual and evangelical knowledge; and as for our Lord, the antitype of Solomon, he is greater than him in all kind of knowledge, all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge being hid in him, see Mat 12:42.
John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
John Wesley 1765 · Public Domain On vv13–14 All thy days - Whereby he signifies that these…
All thy days - Whereby he signifies that these gifts of God were not transient, as they were in Saul, but such as should abide with him whilst he lived.
John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain On v12 Verse 12. I have given thee a wise and…
Verse 12. I 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, 1Kg 3:14. Was it not to depend upon his proper use of initiatory inspirations? Did he ever receive all this wisdom? Did not his unfaithfulness prevent the fulfilment of the Divine purpose? Instead of being the wisest of men, did he not become more brutish than any man? Did he not even lose the knowledge of his Creator, and worship the abominations of the Moabites, Zidonians, c., &c.! And was not such idolatry a proof of the grossest stupidity? How few proofs does his life give that the gracious purpose of God was fulfilled in him! He received much but he would have received much more, had he been faithful to the grace given. No character in the sacred writings disappoints us more than the character of Solomon.
None like thee before thee] That is, no king, either in Israel or among the nations, as the following verse explains.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Joseph Benson 1811 · Public Domain On vv11, 13 1Ki 3:11-12. Nor hast asked the life of thine…
1Ki 3:11-12. Nor hast asked the life of thine enemies — That God would take away their lives, or put it into his power to destroy them. Behold I have done according to thy word — I have granted, and do at this present grant thy desire. And accordingly at this time God did infuse into him a far higher degree of wisdom than he had before possessed; and that not only to govern his people, and to know and do the several duties which he owed to God and them, but also the knowledge of divers arts and sciences, and of things human and divine, as appears from 1Ki 4:29-34; and that in a far greater measure and proportion, than with the best natural understanding he could have attained by the most diligent study, if he had been employed therein from a child. So that there was none like thee before thee — Either no king, or rather no man. For in these respects he is preferred, (1Ki 4:31,) not only before all kings, but before all men. No mere man, it appears, since the fall of Adam, ever equalled him in universal knowledge, especially in the art of well governing his people. But, it may be asked, did not the apostles excel him? Not in natural and political knowledge, but only in the knowledge of the mysteries of faith, which were more freely and more fully imparted in these latter times; the ignorance whereof was no disparagement to Solomon’s wisdom, because they were not discoverable by any creature without that divine revelation which God saw fit not to afford in Solomon’s time.
Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Albert Barnes 1834 · Public Domain On vv11–14 Thine enemies - e. g. Hadad the Edomite 1Ki…
Thine enemies - e. g. Hadad the Edomite 1Ki 11:14-22 and Rezon the son of Eliadah 1Ki 11:23-25, whom Solomon might well have wished to remove.
Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary 1859 · Public Domain On vv12–14 After thee. Solomon has given us some idea of…
After thee. Solomon has given us some idea of his wisdom in the works which he has left. They were dictated by the Holy Spirit, who adorned his soul with so many graces, chap. iv. 29, 30. (Haydock) --- His knowledge of nature, and of the art of governing, excelled that of any of the kings of Israel; (Lyranus, &c.; 2 Paralipomenon ix.) though Moses and the apostles had a more comprehensive knowledge of the mysteries of God. (Calmet) --- Yet, even granting that no mere man might come up to him, Jesus Christ, in whom the treasures of wisdom were contained, was far superior. (Haydock) --- General propositions are often to be understood with a limitation. (Menochius)
George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain On vv11–14 11. Understanding to discern judgment — Literally, to know…
11. Understanding to discern judgment — Literally, to know to hear judgment; that is, ability to understand how to hear suits or causes, and dispense justice.
Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain On vv11–14 11. to discern judgement] Literally,‘to hear judgement.’ The word…
11. to discern judgement] Literally,‘to hear judgement.’ The word is the same as in 1Ki_3:9, where see note.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain On vv11, 14 (11) Because thou hast asked.—It is obvious to note…
(11) Because thou hast asked.—It is obvious to note this verse as a fulfilment of the Divine law, “Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and -all these things shall be added unto you” (Mat_6:33). All these secondary blessings are good, just so far as they conduce to the supreme good, which is the growth of the human nature, by the knowledge of God and by faithfully doing His work on earth, to the perfection designed for it in His wisdom. So long as Solomon used them in subordination to true wisdom, they were a blessing to him; when he made them idols, they became a curse. The connection of these lower gifts with the moral and intellectual gifts of wisdom, is the result of the natural law of God’s Providence, so far as that law overcomes the resistance of evil and folly, still allowed to strive against it.
A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain On vv11–14 And God said unto him. Because thou hast asked…
And God said unto him. Because thou hast asked this thing and hast not asked for thyself long life (Heb. many days); neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life (i.e., destruction in battle) of thine enemies (not so much personal enemies, like Hadad and Rezon, (Rawlinson) as military foes. The meaning is explained by the corresponding word, "honour" (dwObK glory) in ver. 13); but hast asked (The word is repeated, according to Hebrew usage, now for the sixth time) for thyself understanding to discern (Heb. hear; see on ver. 9) Judgment.
The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Biblical Illustrator 1887 · Public Domain On v14 I will lengthen thy days.
1Ki_3:14
I will lengthen thy days.
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Long life
I get a good deal of comfort out of that promise, with long life will I satisfy thee. I dont think that means a short life down here--seventy years, eighty years, ninety years, or one hundred years. Do you think that any man living would be satisfied if he could live to be one hundred years old, and then have to die? Not by a good deal. Suppose Adam had lived until to-day, and had to die tonight; would he be satisfied? Not a bit of it! Not if he had lived a million years, and then had to die. You know we are all the time coming to the end of things here--the end of the week, the end of the month, the end of the year, the end of schooldays. It is the end, end, end all the time. But, thank God, He is going to satisfy us with long life; no end to it, an endless life. Life is very sweet. It would be a pretty dark world if death were eternal, and when our loved ones die we were to be eternally separated from them. Thank God, it is not so; we shall be reunited. It is just moving out of this house into a better one; stepping up higher and living on and on for ever. (D. L. Moody.)
The Biblical Illustrator, edited by Joseph S. Exell (c. 1880s–1900s) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On v13 walk in my ways to keep
walk in my ways to keep
Living one's life is spoken of as walking on a path. AT: "live as I want you to live and obey" (See: Metaphor)
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lengthen your days
"make you live a long time"
translationWords
honor
king
walk
statute
command
unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.