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Sunday, July 20th, 2025
the Week of Proper 11 / Ordinary 16
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Read the Bible

New Living Translation

1 Kings 3:12

I will give you what you asked for! I will give you a wise and understanding heart such as no one else has had or ever will have!

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Children;   Communion;   Dream;   Heart;   Longevity;   Prayer;   Solomon;   Wisdom;   Thompson Chain Reference - Prayer;   The Topic Concordance - Obedience;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Dreams;   Justice;   Prayer, Answers to;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Ecclesiastes;   Gibeon;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Solomon;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Biblical Theology;   Justice;   Kings, First and Second, Theology of;   Mind/reason;   Prayer;   Wisdom;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Gibeon;   Heart;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Ecclesiastes, the Book of;   Meshach;   Solomon;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Gibeon;   Intercession;   Kings, 1 and 2;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Israel;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Hardening of Heart;   Worldliness (2);   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Dream;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Wisdom (1);  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Hebrew Monarchy, the;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Covenant, in the Old Testament;   Divide;   Dream;   Ecclesiastes, or the Preacher;   Intercession;   Wisdom of Solomon, the;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
I will therefore do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and understanding heart, so that there has never been anyone like you before and never will be again.
Hebrew Names Version
behold, I have done according to your word: behold, I have given you a wise and an understanding heart; so that there has been none like you before you, neither after you shall any arise like you.
King James Version
Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee.
English Standard Version
behold, I now do according to your word. Behold, I give you a wise and discerning mind, so that none like you has been before you and none like you shall arise after you.
New Century Version
I will do what you asked. I will give you wisdom and understanding that is greater than anyone has had in the past or will have in the future.
New English Translation
I grant your request, and give you a wise and discerning mind superior to that of anyone who has preceded or will succeed you.
Amplified Bible
behold, I have done as you asked. I have given you a wise and discerning heart (mind), so that no one before you was your equal, nor shall anyone equal to you arise after you.
New American Standard Bible
behold, I have done according to your words. Behold, I have given you a wise and discerning heart, so that there has been no one like you before you, nor shall one like you arise after you.
Geneva Bible (1587)
Beholde, I haue done according to thy wordes: lo, I haue giuen thee a wise and an vnderstanding heart, so that there hath bene none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall arise the like vnto thee.
Legacy Standard Bible
behold, I have done according to your words. Behold, I have given you a wise and discerning heart, so that there has been no one like you before you, nor shall one like you arise after you.
Contemporary English Version
So I'll make you wiser than anyone who has ever lived or ever will live.
Complete Jewish Bible
I am doing what you requested. I am giving you a wise and understanding heart, so that there has never been anyone like you, nor will there ever again be anyone like you.
Darby Translation
behold, I have done according to thy word: behold, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart, so that there hath been none like unto thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee.
Easy-to-Read Version
So I will give you what you asked for. I will make you wise and intelligent. I will make you wiser than anyone who ever lived or ever will live.
George Lamsa Translation
Behold, I have done according to your words; lo, I have given you a wise and understanding heart, so that there has been none like you before you, neither shall any arise after you like you.
Good News Translation
I will do what you have asked. I will give you more wisdom and understanding than anyone has ever had before or will ever have again.
Lexham English Bible
behold, I do hereby do according to your word. I hereby give you a wise and discerning heart; there was no one like you before you, nor afterwards will one like you arise.
Literal Translation
behold, I have done according to your words. Behold, I have given to you a wise and understanding heart, so that there was none like you before you, and after you none shall rise up like you.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
beholde, therfore haue I done acordynge to thy wordes. Beholde, I haue geuen the an hert of wy?dome and vnderstondynge, so that soch one as thou hath not bene before the, nether shall ryse vp after the.
American Standard Version
behold, I have done according to thy word: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there hath been none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee.
Bible in Basic English
I have done as you said: I have given you a wise and far-seeing heart, so that there has never been your equal in the past, and never will there be any like you in the future.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Behold, I haue done according to thy wordes, lo I haue geuen thee a wyse & an vnderstanding heart, so that there was none lyke thee before thee, neither after thee shal any aryse lyke vnto thee.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
behold, I have done according to thy word: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there hath been none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee.
King James Version (1611)
Behold, I haue done according to thy word: loe, I haue giuen thee a wise and an vnderstanding heart, so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like vnto thee.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
behold, I have done according to thy word: behold, I have given thee an understanding and wise heart: there has not been any one like thee before thee, and after thee there shall not arise one like thee.
English Revised Version
behold, I have done according to thy word: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there hath been none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee.
Berean Standard Bible
behold, I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Y haue do to thee vpe thi wordis, and Y haue youe to thee a wyse herte and vndirstondynge, in so myche that no man bifor thee was lijk thee, nether schal rise aftir thee.
Young's Literal Translation
lo, I have done according to thy words; lo, I have given to thee a heart, wise and understanding, that like thee there hath not been before thee, and after thee there doth not arise like thee;
Update Bible Version
look, I have done according to your word: see, I have given you a wise and an understanding heart; so that there has been none like you before you, neither after you shall any arise like you.
Webster's Bible Translation
Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there hath been none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like to thee.
World English Bible
behold, I have done according to your word: behold, I have given you a wise and an understanding heart; so that there has been none like you before you, neither after you shall any arise like you.
New King James Version
behold, I have done according to your words; see, I have given you a wise and understanding heart, so that there has not been anyone like you before you, nor shall any like you arise after you.
New Life Bible
I have done what you said. See, I have given you a wise and understanding heart. No one has been like you before, and there will be no one like you in the future.
New Revised Standard
I now do according to your word. Indeed I give you a wise and discerning mind; no one like you has been before you and no one like you shall arise after you.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
lo! I have done according to thy word, - lo! I have given unto thee a wise and discerning heart, so that, like thee, hath been none, before thee, and, after thee, shall rise up none, like thee.
Douay-Rheims Bible
Behold I have done for thee according to thy words, and have given thee a wise and understanding heart, in so much that there hath been no one like thee before thee, nor shall arise after thee.
Revised Standard Version
behold, I now do according to your word. Behold, I give you a wise and discerning mind, so that none like you has been before you and none like you shall arise after you.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
behold, I have done according to your words. Behold, I have given you a wise and discerning heart, so that there has been no one like you before you, nor shall one like you arise after you.

Contextual Overview

5 That night the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream, and God said, "What do you want? Ask, and I will give it to you!" 6 Solomon replied, "You showed great and faithful love to your servant my father, David, because he was honest and true and faithful to you. And you have continued to show this great and faithful love to him today by giving him a son to sit on his throne. 7 "Now, O Lord my God, you have made me king instead of my father, David, but I am like a little child who doesn't know his way around. 8 And here I am in the midst of your own chosen people, a nation so great and numerous they cannot be counted! 9 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?" 10 The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for wisdom. 11 So God replied, "Because you have asked for wisdom in governing my people with justice and have not asked for a long life or wealth or the death of your enemies— 12 I will give you what you asked for! I will give you a wise and understanding heart such as no one else has had or ever will have! 13 And I will also give you what you did not ask for—riches and fame! No other king in all the world will be compared to you for the rest of your life! 14 And if you follow me and obey my decrees and my commands as your father, David, did, I will give you a long life."

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

I have done: Psalms 10:17, Isaiah 65:24, Romans 8:26, Romans 8:27, 1 John 5:14, 1 John 5:15

I have given: 1 Kings 3:28, 1 Kings 2:6, 1 Kings 2:9, 1 Kings 4:29-34, 1 Kings 5:12, 1 Kings 10:3-8, 1 Kings 10:23, 1 Kings 10:24, 2 Chronicles 1:11, 2 Chronicles 1:12, 2 Chronicles 2:12, 2 Chronicles 9:5-8, Ecclesiastes 1:13, Ecclesiastes 1:16, Luke 21:15

neither: Matthew 12:42, Colossians 2:3

Reciprocal: Exodus 31:6 - wise hearted Exodus 35:35 - he filled Deuteronomy 34:9 - full of the spirit 1 Kings 4:31 - wiser 2 Chronicles 9:2 - there 2 Chronicles 9:22 - passed all the kings Job 32:8 - the inspiration Psalms 119:173 - for Proverbs 2:6 - the Lord Proverbs 16:21 - wise Ecclesiastes 2:9 - General Ecclesiastes 2:15 - even to me Ecclesiastes 7:23 - I said Daniel 1:17 - God James 1:5 - any James 3:17 - the wisdom 2 Peter 3:15 - according

Cross-References

Genesis 2:18
Then the Lord God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper who is just right for him."
Genesis 2:20
He gave names to all the livestock, all the birds of the sky, and all the wild animals. But still there was no helper just right for him.
Genesis 2:22
Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib, and he brought her to the man.
Genesis 3:13
Then the Lord God asked the woman, "What have you done?" "The serpent deceived me," she replied. "That's why I ate it."
Genesis 3:15
And I will cause hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will strike your head, and you will strike his heel."
Genesis 3:20
Then the man—Adam—named his wife Eve, because she would be the mother of all who live.
Genesis 3:21
And the Lord God made clothing from animal skins for Adam and his wife.
Genesis 3:24
After sending them out, the Lord God stationed mighty cherubim to the east of the Garden of Eden. And he placed a flaming sword that flashed back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life.
Job 31:33
"Have I tried to hide my sins like other people do, concealing my guilt in my heart?
Proverbs 19:3
People ruin their lives by their own foolishness and then are angry at the Lord .

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Behold, I have done according to thy words,.... Expressed in his request: he not only promised he would grant him it, but he had already done it, or at least had begun to do it:

lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; had greatly increased his wisdom and understanding in things political, things respecting civil government, and also in things natural, in the knowledge of the things of nature as appears from 1 Kings 4:33; and of the arts and sciences:

so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee: which some restrain to kings, and to the kings of Israel; that there were none of the kings before him, as Saul and David, like him for wisdom, nor any of the kings of Judah and Israel after him; but it may include all men of all nations in the world, since he is said to be wiser than all men; and some other nations, and particular men of other nations, famous for wisdom, are expressly mentioned as inferior to him, 1 Kings 4:30; but then this must be understood of men since the fall; for Adam, doubtless, had a larger stock of knowledge and understanding in his state of innocence than ever Solomon had; and it must be restrained to political and natural knowledge; for, as for divine knowledge, Kimchi excepts Moses; and we may well except the apostles of Christ for spiritual and evangelical knowledge; and as for our Lord, the antitype of Solomon, he is greater than him in all kind of knowledge, all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge being hid in him, see Matthew 12:42.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

A wise and an understanding heart - Solomon’s wisdom seems to have been both moral and intellectual (see 1 Kings 4:29-34). But it was moral wisdom alone which he requested, and which was promised him. The terms translated “wise” and “understanding,” both denote practical wisdom. (See Genesis 41:33, Genesis 41:39; Deuteronomy 4:6; Proverbs 1:2, etc.)

Neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee - i. e. in the knowledge of what was in man, and in the wisdom to direct men’s goings, he was to be the wisest of “all” mere men. In such wisdom the world would know one only “greater than Solomon” Matthew 12:42; Luke 11:31.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 1 Kings 3:12. I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart — I have given thee a capacious mind, one capable of knowing much: make a proper use of thy powers, under the direction of my Spirit, and thou shalt excel in wisdom all that have gone before thee; neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee. But, query, Was not all this conditional? If he should walk in his ways, and keep his statutes and commandments, 1 Kings 3:14. Was it not to depend upon his proper use of initiatory inspirations? Did he ever receive all this wisdom? Did not his unfaithfulness prevent the fulfilment of the Divine purpose? Instead of being the wisest of men, did he not become more brutish than any man? Did he not even lose the knowledge of his Creator, and worship the abominations of the Moabites, Zidonians, c., &c.! And was not such idolatry a proof of the grossest stupidity? How few proofs does his life give that the gracious purpose of God was fulfilled in him! He received much but he would have received much more, had he been faithful to the grace given. No character in the sacred writings disappoints us more than the character of Solomon.

None like thee before thee — That is, no king, either in Israel or among the nations, as the following verse explains.


 
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