Now grant me wisdom and knowledge, so that I may lead this people. For who is able to govern this great people of Yours?”
Parallel translations
- WEB Now give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people; for who can judge this great people of yours?”
- KJV Give me now wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people: for who can judge this thy people, that is so great?
- NKJV Now give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people; for who can judge this great people of Yours?”
- NASB Now give me wisdom and knowledge, so that I may go out and come in before this people, for who can rule this great people of Yours?”
- NLT Give me the wisdom and knowledge to lead them properly, for who could possibly govern this great people of yours?”
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 asks for wisdom and knowledge to lead God's great people rightly. He prioritizes godly governance over personal gain.
Overview
Rather than seeking wealth or power, Solomon requests the wisdom needed to lead and judge God's people, recognizing the weight of the task. This God-honoring request reveals a heart oriented toward service and the good of others. It points to Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 12
- 1 Kgs 3:9Therefore 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?”
- Prov 2:2–6if you incline your ear to wisdom and direct your heart to understanding,
- Prov 4:7Wisdom is supreme; so acquire wisdom. And whatever you may acquire, gain understanding.
- Prov 3:13–18Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who acquires understanding,
- Jas 1:5Now 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.
- Ps 119:34Give me understanding that I may obey Your law, and follow it with all my heart.
- 2 Sam 5:2Even in times past, while Saul was king over us, you were the one who led Israel out and brought them back. And to you the LORD said, ‘You will shepherd My people Israel, and you will be ruler over them.’”
- Ps 119:73Your hands have made me and fashioned me; give me understanding to learn Your commandments.
- Num 27:17who will go out and come in before them, and who will lead them out and bring them in, so that the congregation of the LORD will not be like sheep without a shepherd.”
- 2 Cor 3:5Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim that anything comes from us, but our competence comes from God.
- Deut 31:2he said to them, “I am now a hundred and twenty years old; I am no longer able to come and go, and the LORD has said to me, ‘You shall not cross the Jordan.’
- 2 Cor 2:16To the one, we are an odor of death and demise; to the other, a fragrance that brings life. And who is qualified for such a task?
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Temple, priesthood, and the repeated need for a faithful king who seeks the LORD all point past every imperfect reign to the King and Temple who finally and fully dwell with God's people.
How 2 Chronicles 1:10 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
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.