And Solomon said, Thou hast shewed unto thy servant David my father great mercy, according as he walked before thee in truth, and in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with thee; and thou hast kept for him this great kindness, that thou hast given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day.
Parallel translations
- WEB Solomon said, “You have shown to your servant David my father great loving kindness, because he walked before you in truth, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with you. You have kept for him this great loving kindness, that you have given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is today.
- BSB Solomon replied, “You have shown much loving devotion to Your servant, my father David, because he walked before You in faithfulness, righteousness, and uprightness of heart. And You have maintained this loving devotion by giving him a son to sit on his throne this very day.
- NKJV And Solomon said: “You have shown great mercy to Your servant David my father, because he walked before You in truth, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with You; You have continued this great kindness for him, and You have given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day.
- NASB Then Solomon said, “You have shown great faithfulness to Your servant David my father, according as he walked before You in truth, righteousness, and uprightness of heart toward You; and You have reserved for him this great faithfulness, that You have given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day.
- NLT Solomon replied, “You showed great and faithful love to your servant my father, David, because he was honest and true and faithful to you. And you have continued to show this great and faithful love to him today by giving him a son to sit on his throne.
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
Solomon praises God's covenant faithfulness to David and acknowledges that his own kingship is a gift of that loyal love. He frames his reign in gratitude rather than entitlement.
Overview
Solomon answers God by recalling the LORD's steadfast covenant love (hesed) shown to David, who walked faithfully before Him. He recognizes that his sitting on the throne fulfills God's promise, not his own merit. This humble, covenant-rooted perspective shapes the request to come and models prayer grounded in God's character and promises.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 19
- 1 Kgs 9:4And if thou wilt walk before me, as David thy father walked, in integrity of heart, and in uprightness, to do according to all that I have commanded thee, and wilt keep my statutes and my judgments:
- 1 Kgs 1:48And also thus said the king, Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, which hath given one to sit on my throne this day, mine eyes even seeing it.
- 1 Kgs 2:4That the LORD may continue his word which he spake concerning me, saying, If thy children take heed to their way, to walk before me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul, there shall not fail thee (said he) a man on the throne of Israel.
- 2 Cor 9:11Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God.
- 2 Sam 7:8–12Now therefore so shalt thou say unto my servant David, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I took thee from the sheepcote, from following the sheep, to be ruler over my people, over Israel:
- 2 Sam 12:7–8And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man. Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I anointed thee king over Israel, and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul;
- 2 Cor 9:5Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren, that they would go before unto you, and make up beforehand your bounty, whereof ye had notice before, that the same might be ready, as a matter of bounty, and not as of covetousness.
- Ps 15:2He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart.
- 2 Kgs 20:3I beseech thee, O LORD, remember now how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight. And Hezekiah wept sore.
- Ps 119:17Deal bountifully with thy servant, that I may live, and keep thy word.
- Ps 116:7Return unto thy rest, O my soul; for the LORD hath dealt bountifully with thee.
- 1 Chr 29:12–14Both riches and honour come of thee, and thou reignest over all; and in thine hand is power and might; and in thine hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto all.
- Num 12:7My servant Moses is not so, who is faithful in all mine house.
- 2 Sam 7:5Go and tell my servant David, Thus saith the LORD, Shalt thou build me an house for me to dwell in?
- Ps 18:20–24The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me.
- Ps 13:6I will sing unto the LORD, because he hath dealt bountifully with me.
- 2 Sam 22:47–51The LORD liveth; and blessed be my rock; and exalted be the God of the rock of my salvation.
- 1 Kgs 15:5Because David did that which was right in the eyes of the LORD, and turned not aside from any thing that he commanded him all the days of his life, save only in the matter of Uriah the Hittite.
- Ps 78:70–72He chose David also his servant, and took him from the sheepfolds:
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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 3:6 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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