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.
Parallel translations
- WEB 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.
- BSB Moreover, I will give you what you did not request—both riches and honor—so that during all your days no man in any kingdom will be your equal.
- NKJV And I have also given you what you have not asked: both riches and honor, so that there shall not be anyone like you among the kings all your days.
- NASB I have also given you what you have not asked, both riches and honor, so that there will not be any among the kings like you all your days.
- NLT And I will also give you what you did not ask for—riches and fame! No other king in all the world will be compared to you for the rest of your life!
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
God also gives Solomon unrequested riches and honor surpassing all other kings. Seeking wisdom first, Solomon receives blessings he never asked for.
Overview
Because Solomon sought wisdom rather than wealth, God freely adds riches and honor beyond any contemporary king. This gracious addition illustrates the principle that those who seek God's kingdom first receive what they need besides (Matthew 6:33). God's generosity exceeds the request of His servant, displaying His delight in rewarding rightly ordered desires.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 8
- Eph 3:20Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
- Matt 6:33But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
- Prov 3:16Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour.
- Rom 8:32He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
- Ps 84:11–12For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.
- 1 Kgs 4:21–24And Solomon reigned over all kingdoms from the river unto the land of the Philistines, and unto the border of Egypt: they brought presents, and served Solomon all the days of his life.
- 1 Kgs 10:23–29So king Solomon exceeded all the kings of the earth for riches and for wisdom.
- 1 Cor 3:22–23Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours;
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Christ at the center
Solomon's glory, wisdom, and temple where God's presence dwells are a shadow of the greater Son of David — 'one greater than Solomon is here' — and of the true Temple, Christ himself.
How 1 Kings 3:13 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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