1 Kings 3:9 “Therefore give Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your peopl…”

1 Kings 3:9

Therefore give Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people and to discern between good and evil. For who is able to govern this great people of Yours?”

Berean Standard Bible

Other translations

King James Version

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?

World English Bible

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 this great people of yours?”

American Standard Version

Give thy servant therefore an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and evil; for who is able to judge this thy great people?

Geneva Bible 1599

Giue therefore vnto thy seruant an vnderstanding heart, to iudge thy people, that I may discerne betweene good and bad: for who is able to iudge this thy mightie people?

Darby Translation

Give therefore to thy servant an understanding heart, to judge thy people, to discern between good and bad; for who is able to judge this thy numerous people?

Young's Literal Translation

and Thou hast given to Thy servant an understanding heart, to judge Thy people, to discern between good and evil; for who is able to judge this Thy great people?'

Bible in Basic English

Give your servant, then, a wise heart for judging your people, able to see what is good and what evil; for who is able to be the judge of this great people?

.mt-body { max-height: none !important; -webkit-mask-image: none !important; mask-image: none !important; } .mt-bar { display: none !important; } .o-trans::after { display: block !important; }

Cross references

“Give therefore”

James 1:5 Proverbs 16:16 Proverbs 2:3–9 Proverbs 3:13–18 1 Chronicles 22:12 Psalm 119:34

James 1:5 · BSB

Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.

Proverbs 16:16 · BSB

How much better to acquire wisdom than gold! To gain understanding is more desirable than silver.

Proverbs 2:3–9 · BSB

if you truly call out to insight and lift your voice to understanding,

Proverbs 3:13–18 · BSB

Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who acquires understanding,

1 Chronicles 22:12 · BSB

Above all, may the LORD give you insight and understanding when He puts you in command over Israel, so that you may keep the Law of the LORD your God.

Psalm 119:34 · BSB

Give me understanding that I may obey Your law, and follow it with all my heart.

“understanding”

Proverbs 20:12

Proverbs 20:12 · BSB

Ears that hear and eyes that see— the LORD has made them both.

“to judge”

John 5:30 Ecclesiastes 9:15–18 Ecclesiastes 7:11 Ecclesiastes 7:19 1 Kings 3:28 Proverbs 14:8

John 5:30 · BSB

I can do nothing by Myself; I judge only as I hear. And My judgment is just, because I do not seek My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.

Ecclesiastes 9:15–18 · BSB

Now a poor wise man was found in the city, and he saved the city by his wisdom. Yet no one remembered that poor man.

Ecclesiastes 7:11 · BSB

Wisdom, like an inheritance, is good, and it benefits those who see the sun.

Ecclesiastes 7:19 · BSB

Wisdom makes the wise man stronger than ten rulers in a city.

1 Kings 3:28 · BSB

When all Israel heard of the judgment the king had given, they stood in awe of him, for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him to administer justice.

Proverbs 14:8 · BSB

The wisdom of the prudent is to discern his way, but the folly of fools deceives them.

“discern”

Hebrews 5:14 2 Samuel 14:17 Isaiah 11:2–4 Ephesians 5:17 Philippians 1:10 1 Corinthians 2:14

Hebrews 5:14 · BSB

But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained their senses to distinguish good from evil.

2 Samuel 14:17 · BSB

And now your servant says, ‘May the word of my lord the king bring me rest, for my lord the king is able to discern good and evil, just like the angel of God. May the LORD your God be with you.’”

Isaiah 11:2–4 · BSB

The Spirit of the LORD will rest on Him— the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and strength, the Spirit of knowledge and fear of the LORD.

Ephesians 5:17 · BSB

Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.

Philippians 1:10 · BSB

so that you may be able to test and prove what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ,

1 Corinthians 2:14 · BSB

The natural man does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God. For they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.

“who is able”

Exodus 4:10–13 Matthew 3:14 Matthew 3:11 2 Corinthians 2:16 2 Corinthians 3:5 Jeremiah 1:6

Exodus 4:10–13 · BSB

“Please, Lord,” Moses replied, “I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since You have spoken to Your servant, for I am slow of speech and tongue.”

Matthew 3:14 · BSB

But John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I need to be baptized by You, and do You come to me?”

Matthew 3:11 · BSB

I baptize you with water for repentance, but after me will come One more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.

2 Corinthians 2:16 · BSB

To the one we are an odor that brings death, to the other a fragrance that brings life. And who is qualified for such a task?

2 Corinthians 3:5 · BSB

Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim that anything comes from us, but our competence comes from God.

Jeremiah 1:6 · BSB

“Ah, Lord GOD,” I said, “I surely do not know how to speak, for I am only a child!”

Cross references adapted from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0) and the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

In context

8Your servant is here among the people You have chosen, a people too numerous to count or number.

10Now it pleased the Lord that Solomon had made this request.

Read 1 Kings 3