"Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who …" — 1 Kings 3:9

1 Kings 3:9 · KJV

“Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people? {understanding: Heb. hearing}”

— 1 Kings 3:9

Verse 8

And thy servant {is} in the midst of thy people which thou hast chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude.

Verse 10

And the speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing.

1 Kings 3 — Context

And now, O LORD my God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of David my father: and I {am but} a little child: I know not {how} to go out or come in.

And thy servant {is} in the midst of thy people which thou hast chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude.

Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people? {understanding: Heb. hearing}

And the speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing.

And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies; but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment; {long life: Heb. many days} {discern: Heb. hear}

Cross References

James 1:5

If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all {men} liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

Proverbs 16:16

How much better {is it} to get wisdom than gold! and to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver!

Hebrews 5:14

But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, {even} those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. {of full age: or, perfect} {use: or, an habit, or, perfection}

John 5:30

I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.

Proverbs 2:3-9

Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, {and} liftest up thy voice for understanding; {liftest...: Heb. givest thy voice}

2 Samuel 14:17

Then thine handmaid said, The word of my lord the king shall now be comfortable: for as an angel of God, so {is} my lord the king to discern good and bad: therefore the LORD thy God will be with thee. {comfortable: Heb. for rest} {to discern: Heb. to hear}

Proverbs 3:13-18

Happy {is} the man {that} findeth wisdom, and the man {that} getteth understanding. {that getteth...: Heb. that draweth out understanding}

Isaiah 11:2-4

And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD;

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