1 Kings 10 · Verse 1

1 Kings 10:1

And when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the Lord, she came to prove him with hard questions.
1 Kings 10:1, King James Version

1 Kings 10:1 in other translations

BSBNow when the queen of Sheba heard about the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the LORD, she came to test him with difficult questions.
WEBWhen the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the LORD’s name, she came to test him with hard questions.
ASVAnd when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of Jehovah, she came to prove him with hard questions.
YLTAnd the queen of Sheba is hearing of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of Jehovah, and cometh to try him with enigmas,
DARBYAnd the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon in connection with the name of Jehovah, and came to prove him with enigmas.
BBENow the queen of Sheba, hearing great things of Solomon, came to put his wisdom to the test with hard questions.
WebsterAnd when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the LORD, she came to prove him with hard questions.

What does 1 Kings 10:1 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
1Ki 10:1-13. The Queen of Sheba Admires the Wisdom of Solomon. 1. the queen of Sheba--Some think her country was the Sabean kingdom of Yemen, of which the capital was Saba, in Arabia-Felix; others, that it was in African Ethiopia, that is, Abyssinia, towards the south of the Red Sea. The opinions preponderate in favor of the former. This view harmonizes with the language of our Lord, as Yemen means "South"; and this country, extending to the shores of the Indian ocean, might in ancient times be considered "the uttermost parts of the earth." heard of the fame of Solomon--doubtless by the Ophir fleet. concerning the name of the Lord--meaning either his great knowledge of God, or the extraordinary things which God had done for him. hard questions--enigmas or riddles. The Orientals delight in this species of intellectual exercise and test wisdom by the power and readiness to solve them.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Introduction

The queen of Sheba visits Solomon, and brings rich presents; and tries him by hard questions, which he readily solves, 1Kgs 10:1-3. She expresses great surprise at his wisdom, his buildings, his court, etc.; and praises God for placing him on the Jewish throne, 1Kgs 10:4-9. She gives him rich presents, 1Kgs 10:10. What the navy of Hiram brought from Ophir, 1Kgs 10:11, 1Kgs 10:12. The queen of Sheba returns, 1Kgs 10:13. Solomon's annual revenue, 1Kgs 10:14, 1Kgs 10:15. He makes two hundred targets and three hundred shields of gold, 1Kgs 10:16, 1Kgs 10:17. His magnificent ivory throne, 1Kgs 10:18-20. His drinking vessels all of gold, 1Kgs 10:21. What the navy of Tharshish brought every three years to Solomon, 1Kgs 10:22. His great riches, numerous chariots, and horsemen, 1Kgs 10:23-27. He brings chariots and horses out of Egypt, 1Kgs 10:28, 1Kgs 10:29. Verse 1 When the queen of Sheba heard - As our Lord calls her queen of the south, (Mat 12:42), it is likely the name should be written Saba, Azab, or Azaba, all of which signify the south. She is called Balkis by the Arabians, but by the Abyssinians Maqueda. See the account at the end of this chapter, 1Kgs 10:29 (note). With hard questions - בחידות bechidoth; Septuagint, εν αινιγμασι, riddles. With parables and riddles, says the Arabic.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 1 Kings 10:1-13
The queen of Sheba came to Solomon to hear his wisdom, thereby to improve her own. Our Saviour mentions her inquiries after God, by Solomon, as showing the stupidity of those who inquire not after God, by our Lord Jesus Christ. By waiting and prayer, by diligently searching the Scriptures, by consulting wise and experienced Christians, and by practising what we have learned, we shall be delivered from difficulties. Solomon's wisdom made more impression upon the queen of Sheba than all his prosperity and grandeur. There is a spiritual excellence in heavenly things, and in consistent Christians, to which no reports can do justice. Here the truth exceeded; and all who, through grace, are brought to commune with God, will say the one half was not told them of the pleasures and the advantages of wisdom's ways. Glorified saints, much more, will say of heaven, that the thousandth part was not told them, 1Co 2:9. She pronounced them happy that constantly attended Solomon. With much more reason may we say of Christ's servants, Blessed are they that dwell in his house; they will be still praising him. She made a noble present to Solomon. What we present to Christ, he needs not, but will have us do so to express our gratitude. The believer who has been with Jesus, will return to his station, discharge his duties with readiness, and from better motives; looking forward to the day when, being absent from the body, he shall be present with the Lord.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

1 Kings 10:1 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וּמַֽלְכַּת\־u.mal.kat-and [the] queen ofH4436
שְׁבָ֗אshe.Va'ShebaH7614
שֹׁמַ֛עַתsho.Ma.'at[was] hearingH8085
אֶת\־'et-<obj.>H853
שֵׁ֥מַעShe.ma'[the] report ofH8088
שְׁלֹמֹ֖הshe.lo.MohSolomonH8010
לְשֵׁ֣םle.Shemto [the] name ofH8034
יְהוָ֑הYah.wehYahwehH3068
וַתָּבֹ֥אva.ta.Vo'and she cameH935
לְנַסֹּת֖וֹle.na.so.Toto put to [the] test himH5254
בְּחִידֽוֹת\׃be.chi.Dotby difficult mattersH2420

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for 1 Kings 10:1

  • Matthew 12:42

    The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for she came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here.

  • Luke 11:31

    The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with the men of this generation, and condemn them: for she came from the utmost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here.

  • Psalms 72:15

    And he shall live, and to him shall be given of the gold of Sheba: prayer also shall be made for him continually; and daily shall he be praised.

  • Genesis 10:28

    And Obal, and Abimael, and Sheba,

  • 2 Chronicles 9:1-12

    And when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon, she came to prove Solomon with hard questions at Jerusalem, with a very great company, and camels that bare spices, and gold in abundance, and precious stones: and when she was come to Solomon, she communed with him of all that was in her heart. And Solomon told her all her questions: and there was nothing hid from Solomon which he told her not. And when the queen of Sheba had seen the wisdom of Solomon, and the house that he had built, And the meat of his table, and the sitting of his servants, and the attendance of his ministers, and their apparel; his cupbearers also, and their apparel; and his ascent by which he went up into the house of the Lord; there was no more spirit in her. …

  • Genesis 10:7

    And the sons of Cush; Seba, and Havilah, and Sabtah, and Raamah, and Sabtecha: and the sons of Raamah; Sheba, and Dedan.

  • 1 Kings 4:31

    For he was wiser than all men; than Ethan the Ezrahite, and Heman, and Chalcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol: and his fame was in all nations round about.

  • Job 28:28

    And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.

  • Proverbs 1:5-6

    A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels: To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings.

  • Judges 14:12-14

    And Samson said unto them, I will now put forth a riddle unto you: if ye can certainly declare it me within the seven days of the feast, and find it out, then I will give you thirty sheets and thirty change of garments: But if ye cannot declare it me, then shall ye give me thirty sheets and thirty change of garments. And they said unto him, Put forth thy riddle, that we may hear it. And he said unto them, Out of the eater came forth meat, and out of the strong came forth sweetness. And they could not in three days expound the riddle.

  • Psalms 49:4

    I will incline mine ear to a parable: I will open my dark saying upon the harp.

  • Isaiah 60:6

    The multitude of camels shall cover thee, the dromedaries of Midian and Ephah; all they from Sheba shall come: they shall bring gold and incense; and they shall shew forth the praises of the Lord.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
1 The queen of Sheba admires the wisdom of Solomon.
14 Solomon's gold.
16 His targets.
18 The throne of ivory.
21 His vessels.
24 His presents.
26 His chariots and horse.
28 His tribute.

A.M. 3014. B.C. 990. And when.
2Ch 9:1-12; Mt 12:42; Lu 11:31
Sheba.
Ge 10:7,28; 25:3; Job 6:19; Ps 72:10,15; Isa 60:6; Jer 6:20
Eze 27:22,23; 38:13
heard.
4:31,34
concerning.
Job 28:28; Pr 2:3-6; Joh 17:3; 1Co 1:20,21
prove him.
Jud 14:12-14; Ps 49:4; Pr 1:5,6; Mt 13:11,35; Mr 4:34

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • 1 Kings 10:1

    And when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the Lord, she came to prove him with hard questions.

  • 1 Kings 10:2

    And she came to Jerusalem with a very great train, with camels that bare spices, and very much gold, and precious stones: and when she was come to Solomon, she communed with him of all that was in her heart.

Read all of 1 Kings 10

1 Kings 10:1 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y OYENDO la reina de Seba la fama de Salomón en el nombre de Jehová, vino á probarle con preguntas.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		*Et la reine de Sheba entendit parler de la renommée de Salomon, en relation avec le nom de l’ Éternel, et elle vint pour l’éprouver par des énigmes.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und die Königin von Scheba hörte den Ruf Salomos wegen des Namens Jehovas; und sie kam, um ihn mit Rätseln zu versuchen.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Sed et regina Saba, audita fama Salomonis in nomine Domini, venit tentare eum in ænigmatibus.