In fact, his wisdom exceeded that of all the wise men of the East and the wise men of Egypt.
Parallel translations
- WEB Solomon’s wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the children of the east and all the wisdom of Egypt.
- KJV And Solomon’s wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the children of the east country, and all the wisdom of Egypt.
- BSB Solomon’s wisdom was greater than that of all the men of the East, greater than all the wisdom of Egypt.
- NKJV Thus Solomon’s wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the men of the East and all the wisdom of Egypt.
- NASB Solomon’s wisdom surpassed the wisdom of all the people of the east and all the wisdom of Egypt.
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's wisdom surpassed that of the eastern sages and of Egypt. He exceeded the most renowned wisdom traditions of the age.
Overview
The 'children of the east' and Egypt were famed centers of ancient learning. By exceeding them, Solomon's God-given wisdom stood unrivaled in the world. His superiority testifies that true wisdom comes from the Lord, and foreshadows One greater than Solomon whose wisdom is divine (Matthew 12:42).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 9
- Dan 5:11–12There is a man in your kingdom, in whom is the spirit of the holy gods; and in the days of your father light and understanding and wisdom, like the wisdom of the gods, were found in him; and the king Nebuchadnezzar your father, the king, your father, made him master of the magicians, enchanters, Chaldeans, and soothsayers;
- Gen 25:6but to the sons of Abraham’s concubines, Abraham gave gifts. He sent them away from Isaac his son, while he yet lived, eastward, to the east country.
- Dan 1:20In every matter of wisdom and understanding, concerning which the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters who were in all his realm.
- Acts 7:22Moses was instructed in all the wisdom of the Egyptians. He was mighty in his words and works.
- Job 1:3His possessions also were seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, five hundred female donkeys, and a very great household; so that this man was the greatest of all the children of the east.
- Isa 19:11–12The princes of Zoan are utterly foolish. The counsel of the wisest counselors of Pharaoh has become stupid. How do you say to Pharaoh, “I am the son of the wise, the son of ancient kings?”
- Matt 2:1Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of King Herod, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying,
- Matt 2:16Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked by the wise men, was exceedingly angry, and sent out, and killed all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all the surrounding countryside, from two years old and under, according to the exact time which he had learned from the wise men.
- Dan 4:7Then came in the magicians, the enchanters, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers; and I told the dream before them; but they did not make known to me its interpretation.
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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 4:30 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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