1 Kings

1 Kings 3:9–12

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?”

¹⁰Now it pleased the Lord^a that Solomon had made this request. ¹¹So God said to him, “Since you have asked for this instead of requesting long life or wealth for yourself or death for your enemies — but you have asked for discernment to administer justice — ¹²behold, I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been another like you, nor will there ever be.

Footnotes

a 3:10 Hebrew Adonai; also in verse 15

Read all of 1 Kings 3

Word by word

Each English word or phrase beside the Hebrew it translates, in the order of the English. Choose a number to open that word’s study.

1 Kings 3:9

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Therefore give	וְנָתַתָּ֨	wə·nā·ṯa·tā	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular	H5414 give, put, set
Your servant	לְעַבְדְּךָ֜	lə·‘aḇ·də·ḵā	Preposition-l; Noun - masculine singular construct; second person masculine singular	H5650 slave, servant
an understanding	שֹׁמֵ֙עַ֙	šō·mê·a‘	Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular	H8085 hear
heart	לֵ֤ב	lêḇ	Noun - masculine singular	H3820 inner man, mind, will, heart
to judge	לִשְׁפֹּ֣ט	liš·pōṭ	Preposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct	H8199 judge, govern
Your people	עַמְּךָ֔	‘am·mə·ḵā	Noun - masculine singular construct; second person masculine singular	H5971 people
and to discern	לְהָבִ֖ין	lə·hā·ḇîn	Preposition-l; Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct	H995 discern
between	בֵּֽין־	bên-	Preposition	H996 interval, space between
good	ט֣וֹב	ṭō·wḇ	Noun - masculine singular	H2896 pleasant, agreeable, good
and evil	לְרָ֑ע	lə·rā‘	Preposition-l; Adjective - masculine singular	H7451 bad, evil
For	כִּ֣י	kî	Conjunction	H3588 burning, branding
who	מִ֤י	mî	Interrogative	H4310 who?
is able	יוּכַל֙	yū·ḵal	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular	H3201 be able, have power, prevail, endure
to govern	לִשְׁפֹּ֔ט	liš·pōṭ	Preposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct	H8199 judge, govern
this	הַזֶּֽה׃	haz·zeh	Article; Pronoun - masculine singular	H2088 this, that
great	הַכָּבֵ֖ד	hak·kā·ḇêḏ	Article; Adjective - masculine singular	H3515 heavy
people of Yours	עַמְּךָ֥	‘am·mə·ḵā	Noun - masculine singular construct; second person masculine singular	H5971 people

1 Kings 3:10

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Now it	הַדָּבָ֖ר	had·dā·ḇār	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H1697 speech, word
pleased	וַיִּיטַ֥ב	way·yî·ṭaḇ	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H3190 be good, well, glad, pleasing
the Lord	אֲדֹנָ֑י	’ă·ḏō·nāy	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H136 lord
that	כִּ֚י	kî	Conjunction	H3588 burning, branding
Solomon	שְׁלֹמֹ֔ה	šə·lō·mōh	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H8010 Solomon
had made this request	שָׁאַ֣ל	šā·’al	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular	H7592 ask, inquire

1 Kings 3:11

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
So God	אֱלֹהִ֜ים	’ĕ·lō·hîm	Noun - masculine plural	H430 God
said	וַיֹּ֨אמֶר	way·yō·mer	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H559 utter, say
to him	אֵלָ֗יו	’ê·lāw	Preposition; third person masculine singular	H413 motion to
Since	יַעַן֩	ya·‘an	Adverb	H3282 purpose, intention
you have asked for	שָׁאַ֜לְתָּ	šā·’al·tā	Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singular	H7592 ask, inquire
this	הַזֶּ֗ה	haz·zeh	Article; Pronoun - masculine singular	H2088 this, that
instead of	וְלֹֽא־	wə·lō-	Conjunctive waw; Adverb - Negative particle	H3808 not
requesting	שָׁאַ֨לְתָּ	šā·’al·tā	Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singular	H7592 ask, inquire
long	רַבִּ֗ים	rab·bîm	Adjective - masculine plural	H7227 much, many, great
life	יָמִ֣ים	yā·mîm	Noun - masculine plural	H3117 day
wealth	עֹ֔שֶׁר	‘ō·šer	Noun - masculine singular	H6239 be or become rich
for yourself	לְּךָ֙	lə·ḵā	Preposition; second person masculine singular
death	נֶ֣פֶשׁ	ne·p̄eš	Noun - feminine singular construct	H5315 soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, appetite, emotion, and passion
for your enemies	אֹיְבֶ֑יךָ	’ō·yə·ḇe·ḵā	Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct; second person masculine singular	H341 be hostile to
but you have asked	וְשָׁאַ֧לְתָּ	wə·šā·’al·tā	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular	H7592 ask, inquire
for discernment	הָבִ֖ין	hā·ḇîn	Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct	H995 discern
to administer	לִשְׁמֹ֥עַ	liš·mō·a‘	Preposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct	H8085 hear
justice	מִשְׁפָּֽט׃	miš·pāṭ	Noun - masculine singular	H4941 judgment

1 Kings 3:12

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
behold	הִנֵּ֥ה	hin·nêh	Interjection	H2009 lo! behold!
I will do	עָשִׂ֖יתִי	‘ā·śî·ṯî	Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular	H6213 do, make
what you have asked	כִּדְבָרֶ֑יךָ	kiḏ·ḇā·re·ḵā	Preposition-k; Noun - masculine plural construct; second person masculine singular	H1697 speech, word
I will give	נָתַ֣תִּי	nā·ṯat·tî	Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular	H5414 give, put, set
you	לְךָ֗	lə·ḵā	Preposition; second person masculine singular
a wise	חָכָ֣ם	ḥā·ḵām	Adjective - masculine singular	H2450 wise
and discerning	וְנָב֔וֹן	wə·nā·ḇō·wn	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine singular	H995 discern
heart	לֵ֚ב	lêḇ	Noun - masculine singular	H3820 inner man, mind, will, heart
so that	אֲשֶׁ֤ר	’ă·šer	Pronoun - relative	H834 particle of relation
there will never	לֹא־	lō-	Adverb - Negative particle	H3808 not
have been	הָיָ֣ה	hā·yāh	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular	H1961 fall out, come to pass, become, be
another	וְאַחֲרֶ֖יךָ	wə·’a·ḥă·re·ḵā	Conjunctive waw; Preposition; second person masculine singular	H310 behind
like you	כָּמ֙וֹךָ֙	kā·mō·w·ḵā	Preposition; second person masculine singular	H3644 like, as, when
nor	לֹא־	lō-	Adverb - Negative particle	H3808 not
will there ever be	יָק֥וּם	yā·qūm	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular	H6965 arise, stand up, stand