Verse
1 Kings 3:9 — Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy…
“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?”
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Read it in context
The verses around 1 Kings 3:9.
7And now, O Lord my God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of David my father: and I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in.
8And thy servant is in the midst of thy people which thou hast chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude.
9Give 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?
10And the speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing.
11And 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;
Verse explanation
Solomon’s request is not for intelligence in general, but for discernment to judge — the most concrete and most demanded function of an ancient king was settling disputes between his subjects. That is exactly what the story of the two mothers, right after this, puts to the test.
From the 1 Kings 3 study in Bible in Stories.
1 Kings 3:9 in other versions
The same verse in the 4 Bible versions we have on the site.
- KJV · King James
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?
Read the chapter in this version → - ARC · Almeida 1911Português
A teu servo pois dá um coração entendido para julgar a teu povo, para que prudentemente discerna entre o bem e o mal: porque quem poderia julgar a este teu tão grande povo?
Read the chapter in this version → - BLIVRE · Bíblia LivrePortuguês
Dá, pois, a teu servo um coração com entendimento para julgar ao teu povo, para discernir entre o bem e o mal; pois quem poderá governar este teu tão grande povo?
Read the chapter in this version → - VBL · Versión Biblia LibreEspañol
Así que, por favor, dame una mente receptiva para poder gobernar bien a tu pueblo, entendiendo la diferencia entre el bien y el mal, porque ¿quién puede gobernar a este difícil pueblo tuyo?
Read the chapter in this version →
In other languages: Português (1 Reis 3:9) · Español (1 Reyes 3:9)
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