1 Kings 3:8

Translations

Modern

Your servant is here among the people You have chosen, a people too numerous to count or number.

Traditional

And thy servant is in the midst of thy people which thou hast chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude.

Literal

And Your servant is in the midst of Your people whom You have chosen, a people numerous that is not to be numbered and not to be counted for multitude.

Latin

Et servus tuus in medio est populi quem elegisti, populi infiniti, qui numerari et supputari non potest præ multitudine.

Original

Hebrew

English

Your servant is here among the people You have chosen, a people too numerous to count or number.

Notes

1 Kings 3:7–9

The Hebrew term for little child often referred to someone inexperienced in their job, like an "assistant" (1 Kings 19:21). Solomon humbly admitted his lack of experience and his need for wisdom. He understood that to govern the people well and make good decisions, he needed God's help.

1 Kings 3:4–15

The story of God giving wisdom to Solomon is told as a chiasm (a mirrored structure where A and B reflect B' and A'). It highlights Solomon's interaction with the Lord:

A: While Solomon was sacrificing at Gibeon, the Lord appeared to him in a dream (1 Kings 3:4–5).
- B: Solomon asked for wisdom to govern his people fairly and effectively (1 Kings 3:6–9).
- B’: The Lord agreed to his request and gave him extra blessings (1 Kings 3:10–14).
A’: Solomon woke up from the dream and made more sacrifices to the Lord (1 Kings 3:15).

Theme notes and profiles

Solomon God’s Covenant with Israel’s Kings Pride and Humility Solomon’s Wisdom Wisdom

Events

Reign of Solomon

Related verses

Genesis 15:5
And the LORD took him outside and said, “Now look to the heavens and count the stars, if you are able.” Then He told him, “So shall your offspring be.”
1 Chronicles 21:2
So David said to Joab and the commanders of the troops, “Go and count the Israelites from Beersheba to Dan and bring me a report, so that I may know their number.”
Genesis 13:16
I will make your offspring like the dust of the earth, so that if one could count the dust of the earth, then your offspring could be counted.
Genesis 22:17
I will surely bless you, and I will multiply your descendants like the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will possess the gates of their enemies.
Deuteronomy 7:6–8
For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for His prized possession out of all peoples on the face of the earth.
Psalm 78:71
…from tending the ewes He brought him to be shepherd of His people Jacob, of Israel His inheritance.
1 Samuel 12:22
Indeed, for the sake of His great name, the LORD will not abandon His people, because He was pleased to make you His own.
Exodus 19:5–6
Now if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, you will be My treasured possession out of all the nations—for the whole earth is Mine.
1 Chronicles 21:5–6
And Joab reported to David the total number of the troops. In all Israel there were 1,100,000 men who drew the sword, including 470,000 in Judah.
1 Chronicles 27:23–24
David did not count the men aged twenty or under, because the LORD had said that He would make Israel as numerous as the stars of the sky.

1 Kings 3:8

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