1 Kings 3 · Verse 12

1 Kings 3:12

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.
1 Kings 3:12, King James Version

1 Kings 3:12 in other translations

BSBbehold, I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there has never been nor will ever be another like you.
WEBbehold, I have done according to your word. Behold, I have given you a wise and understanding heart, so that there has been no one like you before you, and after you none will arise like you.
ASVbehold, 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.
YLTlo, 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;
DARBYbehold, 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.
BBEI 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.
WebsterBehold, 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.

What does 1 Kings 3:12 mean?

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 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, 1Kgs 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 fulfillment 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, etc., etc.! 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.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 1 Kings 3:5-15

Solomon's dream was not a common one. While his bodily powers were locked up in sleep, the powers of his soul were strengthened; he was enabled to receive the Divine vision, and to make a suitable choice. God, in like manner, puts us in the ready way to be happy, by assuring us we shall have what we need, and pray for. Solomon's making such a choice when asleep, and the powers of reason least active, showed it came…

Read the full comment on 1 Kings 3:5-15 →

1 Kings 3:12 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.

הִנֵּ֥הhi.Nehhere!H2009
עָשִׂ֖יתִי'a.Si.tiI doH6213
כִּדְבָרֶ֑יךָkid.va.Rei.khaaccording to words yourH1697
הִנֵּ֣ה\׀hi.Nehhere!H2009
נָתַ֣תִּיna.Ta.tiI giveH5414
לְךָ֗le.Khato you
לֵ֚בleva heartH3820
חָכָ֣םcha.KhamwiseH2450
וְנָב֔וֹןve.na.Vonand understandingH995
אֲשֶׁ֤ר'a.SherthatH834
כָּמ֙וֹךָ֙ka.Mo.khalike youH3644
לֹא\־lo'-notH3808
הָיָ֣הha.Yahanyone has beenH1961
לְפָנֶ֔יךָle.fa.Nei.kha<to> before youH6440
וְאַחֲרֶ֖יךָve.'a.cha.Rei.khaand after youH310
לֹא\־lo'-notH3808
יָק֥וּםya.Kumanyone will ariseH6965
כָּמֽוֹךָ\׃ka.Mo.khalike youH3644

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

Cross references for 1 Kings 3:12

  • 1 John 5:14-15

    And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.

  • Ecclesiastes 1:16

    I communed with mine own heart, saying, Lo, I am come to great estate, and have gotten more wisdom than all they that have been before me in Jerusalem: yea, my heart had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.

  • 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.

  • 1 Kings 5:12

    And the Lord gave Solomon wisdom, as he promised him: and there was peace between Hiram and Solomon; and they two made a league together.

  • 1 Kings 10:23-24

    So king Solomon exceeded all the kings of the earth for riches and for wisdom. And all the earth sought to Solomon, to hear his wisdom, which God had put in his heart.

  • 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.

  • Romans 8:26-27

    Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

  • 2 Chronicles 2:12

    Huram said moreover, Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, that made heaven and earth, who hath given to David the king a wise son, endued with prudence and understanding, that might build an house for the Lord, and an house for his kingdom.

  • Isaiah 65:24

    And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.

  • Luke 21:15

    For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.

  • 1 Kings 2:9

    Now therefore hold him not guiltless: for thou art a wise man, and knowest what thou oughtest to do unto him; but his hoar head bring thou down to the grave with blood.

  • Colossians 2:3

    In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
I have done.
Ps 10:17; Isa 65:24; Ro 8:26,27; 1Jo 5:14,15
I have given.
28; 2:6,9; 4:29-34; 5:12; 10:3-8,23,24; 2Ch 1:11,12; 2:12; 9:5-8
Ec 1:13,16; Lu 21:15
neither.
Mt 12:42; Col 2:3

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

Context

  • 1 Kings 3:11

    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;

  • 1 Kings 3:12

    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.

  • 1 Kings 3:13

    And I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches, and honour: so that there shall not be any among the kings like unto thee all thy days.

Read all of 1 Kings 3

1 Kings 3:12 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		He aquí lo he hecho conforme á tus palabras: he aquí que te he dado corazón sabio y entendido, tanto que no haya habido antes de ti otro como tú, ni después de ti se levantará otro como tú.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		voici, j’ai fait selon ta parole; voici, je t’ai donné un cœur sage et intelligent, en sorte qu’il n’y aura eu personne comme toi, avant toi, et qu’après toi il ne se lèvera personne comme toi.
German
Elberfelder 1871		siehe, so habe ich nach deinem Worte getan; siehe, ich habe dir ein weises und einsichtsvolles Herz gegeben, daß deinesgleichen vor dir nicht gewesen ist, und deinesgleichen nach dir nicht aufstehen wird.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		ecce feci tibi secundum sermones tuos, et dedi tibi cor sapiens et intelligens, in tantum ut nullus ante te similis tui fuerit, nec post te surrecturus sit.