1 Kings 3:9 — Meaning and Application

King James Version

“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

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Understanding the surrounding verses prevents misinterpretation:

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}

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1 Kings 3:1

"And Solomon made affinity with Pharaoh king of Egypt, and took Pharaoh's daughter, and brought her into the city of David, until he had made an end of building his own house, and the house of the LORD, and the wall of Jerusalem round about."

1 Kings 3:2

"Only the people sacrificed in high places, because there was no house built unto the name of the LORD, until those days."

1 Kings 3:3

"And Solomon loved the LORD, walking in the statutes of David his father: only he sacrificed and burnt incense in high places."

1 Kings 3:4

"And the king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there; for that {was} the great high place: a thousand burnt offerings did Solomon offer upon that altar."

1 Kings 3:5

"In Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and God said, Ask what I shall give thee."

1 Kings 3:6

"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. {mercy: or, bounty}"

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