Give me the wisdom and knowledge to lead them properly, for who could possibly 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?
- BSB Now grant me wisdom and knowledge, so that I may lead this people. For who is able to govern this great people of Yours?”
- 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?”
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 3:9Give your servant therefore an understanding heart to judge your people, that I may discern between good and evil; for who is able to judge this great people of yours?”
- Prov 2:2–6So as to turn your ear to wisdom, and apply your heart to understanding;
- Prov 4:7Wisdom is supreme. Get wisdom. Yes, though it costs all your possessions, get understanding.
- Prov 3:13–18Happy is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gets understanding.
- Jas 1:5But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach; and it will be given to him.
- Ps 119:34Give me understanding, and I will keep your law. Yes, I will obey it with my whole heart.
- 2 Sam 5:2In times past, when Saul was king over us, it was you who led Israel out and in. Yahweh said to you, ‘You will be shepherd of my people Israel, and you will be prince over Israel.’”
- Ps 119:73Your hands have made me and formed me. Give me understanding, that I may learn your commandments.
- Num 27:17who may go out before them, and who may come in before them, and who may lead them out, and who may bring them in; that the congregation of Yahweh not be as sheep which have no shepherd.”
- 2 Cor 3:5not that we are sufficient of ourselves, to account anything as from ourselves; but our sufficiency is from God;
- Deut 31:2He said to them, “I am one hundred twenty years old today. I can no more go out and come in. Yahweh has said to me, ‘You shall not go over this Jordan.’
- 2 Cor 2:16to the one a stench from death to death; to the other a sweet aroma from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things?
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.