1 Kings 3:9
New International Version
So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?”

New Living Translation
Give me an understanding heart so that I can govern your people well and know the difference between right and wrong. For who by himself is able to govern this great people of yours?”

English Standard Version
Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people?”

Berean Standard Bible
Therefore 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?”

King James Bible
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?

New King James Version
Therefore give to Your servant 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?”

New American Standard Bible
So give Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people, to discern between good and evil. For who is capable of judging this great people of Yours?”

NASB 1995
“So give Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people to discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?”

NASB 1977
“So give Thy servant an understanding heart to judge Thy people to discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Thine?”

Legacy Standard Bible
So give Your slave a listening heart to judge Your people to discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this glorious people of Yours?”

Amplified Bible
So give Your servant an understanding mind and a hearing heart [with which] to judge Your people, so that I may discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge and rule this great people of Yours?”

Christian Standard Bible
So give your servant a receptive heart to judge your people and to discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of yours? ”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
So give Your servant an obedient heart to judge Your people and to discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?”

American Standard Version
Give thy servant therefore an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and evil; for who is able to judge this thy great people?

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
Give to your servant a hearing heart to judge your people and to discern between good and evil, for who can judge this, your great people?”

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Thou shalt give therefore to thy servant a heart to hear and to judge thy people justly, and to discern between good and evil: for who will be able to judge this thy great people?

Contemporary English Version
Please make me wise and teach me the difference between right and wrong. Then I will know how to rule your people. If you don't, there is no way I could rule this great nation of yours.

Douay-Rheims Bible
Give therefore to thy servant an understanding heart, to judge thy people, and discern between good and evil. For who shall be able to judge this people, thy people which is so numerous?

English Revised Version
Give thy servant therefore an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and evil; for who is able to judge this thy great people?

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Give me a heart that listens so that I can judge your people and tell the difference between good and evil. After all, who can judge this great people of yours?"

Good News Translation
So give me the wisdom I need to rule your people with justice and to know the difference between good and evil. Otherwise, how would I ever be able to rule this great people of yours?"

International Standard Version
So give your servant an understanding mind to govern your people, so I can discern between good and evil. Otherwise, how will I be able to govern this great people of yours?"

JPS Tanakh 1917
Give Thy servant therefore an understanding heart to judge Thy people, that I may discern between good and evil; for who is able to judge this Thy great people?'

Literal Standard Version
and You have given an understanding heart to Your servant, to judge Your people, to discern between good and evil; for who is able to judge this great people of Yours?”

Majority Standard Bible
Therefore 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?”

New American Bible
Give your servant, therefore, a listening heart to judge your people and to distinguish between good and evil. For who is able to give judgment for this vast people of yours?”

NET Bible
So give your servant a discerning mind so he can make judicial decisions for your people and distinguish right from wrong. Otherwise no one is able to make judicial decisions for this great nation of yours."

New Revised Standard Version
Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, able to discern between good and evil; for who can govern this your great people?”

New Heart English Bible
Give 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 your great people?"

Webster's Bible Translation
Give therefore to 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?

World English Bible
Give 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?”

Young's Literal Translation
and Thou hast given to Thy servant an understanding heart, to judge Thy people, to discern between good and evil; for who is able to judge this Thy great people?'

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Solomon's Prayer for Wisdom
8Your servant is here among the people You have chosen, a people too numerous to count or number. 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?”

Cross References
Hebrews 5:14
But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained their senses to distinguish good from evil.

James 1:5
Now 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.

2 Samuel 14:17
And now your servant says, 'May the word of my lord the king bring me rest, for my lord the king is able to discern good and evil, just like the angel of God. May the LORD your God be with you.'"

1 Kings 3:10
Now it pleased the Lord that Solomon had made this request.

1 Kings 3:28
When all Israel heard of the judgment the king had given, they stood in awe of him, for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him to administer justice.

1 Kings 10:24
The whole world sought an audience with Solomon to hear the wisdom that God had put in his heart.

1 Chronicles 22:12
Above all, may the LORD give you insight and understanding when He puts you in command over Israel, so that you may keep the Law of the LORD your God.


Treasury of Scripture

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

Give therefore

1 Chronicles 22:12
Only the LORD give thee wisdom and understanding, and give thee charge concerning Israel, that thou mayest keep the law of the LORD thy God.

1 Chronicles 29:19
And give unto Solomon my son a perfect heart, to keep thy commandments, thy testimonies, and thy statutes, and to do all these things, and to build the palace, for the which I have made provision.

2 Chronicles 1:10
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?

understanding [heb] hearing

Proverbs 20:12
The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD hath made even both of them.

to judge

1 Kings 3:28
And all Israel heard of the judgment which the king had judged; and they feared the king: for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him, to do judgment.

Psalm 72:1,2
A Psalm for Solomon. Give the king thy judgments, O God, and thy righteousness unto the king's son…

Proverbs 14:8
The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way: but the folly of fools is deceit.

discern

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.

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; …

1 Corinthians 2:14,15
But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned…

who is able

Exodus 3:11,12
And Moses said unto God, Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt? …

Exodus 4:10-13
And Moses said unto the LORD, O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue…

Jeremiah 1:6
Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child.

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Able Bad Discern Discerning Distinguish Evil Good Govern Great Heart Judge Judging Mind Numerous Right Servant Understanding Wise Wrong
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Able Bad Discern Discerning Distinguish Evil Good Govern Great Heart Judge Judging Mind Numerous Right Servant Understanding Wise Wrong
1 Kings 3
1. Solomon marries Pharaoh's daughter
2. High places being in use, Solomon sacrifices at Gibeon
5. Solomon at Gibeon, in the choice which God gave him,
10. preferring wisdom, obtains wisdom, riches, and honor
16. Solomon's judgment makes him renowned














Verse 9. - Give therefore thy servant an understanding [Heb. hearing. Cf. ver. 11 (Heb. "to hear judgment.") The idea is not docility, as the Vulg. (cor docile), but discrimination, penetration. Cf. 2 Samuel 14:17 (Heb.); Philippians 1:9, 10 (marg.)] heart [i.e., a judicial mind. The "hearing heart" was desired, not that it might "give heed to the law" (Keil), but to qualify him] to Judge thy people [The Hebrew king, like most ancient monarchs, was supreme judge as well as governor ("prince and judge," Exodus 5:14; and cf. Exodus 18:16). The Jews desired a king that he might judge them (1 Samuel 8:5). Their rulers so far had been purely "Judges" (שֹׁפְטִים; compare the Carthaginian name, suffetes.) When they desired one who should, lead their armies, they still put his judicial functions in the first place (loc. cit. ver. 20). And what were the duties of a king in this respect, Absalom's words (2 Samuel 15:4) show. In vers. 16-28 we see Solomon sitting as Chief Justice], that I may discern between good and bad [i.e., right and wrong, true and false; cf. Hebrews 5:14): for who is able to judge this thy so great [Heb. heavy, i.e., numerous; compare graves greges] a people. [The number of the Israelites at this period is referred to in 1 Kings 4:20.]

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Therefore give
וְנָתַתָּ֨ (wə·nā·ṯa·tā)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 5414: To give, put, set

Your servant
לְעַבְדְּךָ֜ (lə·‘aḇ·də·ḵā)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 5650: Slave, servant

an understanding
שֹׁמֵ֙עַ֙ (šō·mê·a‘)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 8085: To hear intelligently

heart
לֵ֤ב (lêḇ)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3820: The heart, the feelings, the will, the intellect, centre

to judge
לִשְׁפֹּ֣ט (liš·pōṭ)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 8199: To judge, pronounce sentence, to vindicate, punish, to govern, to litigate

Your people
עַמְּךָ֔ (‘am·mə·ḵā)
Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 5971: A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock

and to discern
לְהָבִ֖ין (lə·hā·ḇîn)
Preposition-l | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct
Strong's 995: To separate mentally, understand

between
בֵּֽין־ (bên-)
Preposition
Strong's 996: An interval, space between

good
ט֣וֹב (ṭō·wḇ)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2896: Pleasant, agreeable, good

and evil.
לְרָ֑ע (lə·rā‘)
Preposition-l | Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 7451: Bad, evil

For
כִּ֣י (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

who
מִ֤י (mî)
Interrogative
Strong's 4310: Who?, whoever, in oblique construction with prefix, suffix

is able
יוּכַל֙ (yū·ḵal)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3201: To be able, have power

to govern
לִשְׁפֹּ֔ט (liš·pōṭ)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 8199: To judge, pronounce sentence, to vindicate, punish, to govern, to litigate

this
הַזֶּֽה׃ (haz·zeh)
Article | Pronoun - masculine singular
Strong's 2088: This, that

great
הַכָּבֵ֖ד (hak·kā·ḇêḏ)
Article | Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 3515: Heavy

people of Yours?”
עַמְּךָ֥ (‘am·mə·ḵā)
Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 5971: A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock


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OT History: 1 Kings 3:9 Give your servant therefore an understanding heart (1Ki iKi i Ki 1 Kg 1kg)
1 Kings 3:8
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