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2 Chronicles 1:11

in 2 Chronicles 1

God said to Solomon, “Since this was in your heart instead of requesting riches or wealth or glory for yourself or death for your enemies—and since you have not even requested long life but have asked for wisdom and knowledge to govern My people over whom I have made you king—

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾

ASV

And God said to Solomon, Because this was in thy heart, and thou hast not asked riches, wealth, or honor, nor the life of them that hate thee, neither yet hast asked long life; but hast asked wisdom and knowledge for thyself, that thou mayest judge my people, over whom I have made thee king:

KJV

And God said to Solomon, Because this was in thine heart, and thou hast not asked riches, wealth, or honour, nor the life of thine enemies, neither yet hast asked long life; but hast asked wisdom and knowledge for thyself, that thou mayest judge my people, over whom I have made thee king:

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This verse in 2 Chronicles 1

Commentary

2 notes on this verse

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

(1.) God gave him the wisdom that he asked for because he asked for it. Wisdom is a gift that God gives as freely and liberally as any gift to those that value it, and wrestle for it; and will resolve to make use of it; and he upbraids not the poor petitioners with their folly, James i. God's grace shall never be wanting to those who sincerely desire to know and do their duty.

This site's exposition

Since this was in your heart

on 2 Chronicles 1:11-12

God's answer lists riches, wealth, glory, the death of enemies and long life, before naming the one petition, “wisdom and knowledge to govern My people”. Chronicles keeps the shape of 1 Kings 3:11-13, and the wealth catalog fills the rest of this chapter and the next.

How the passage was read

What the Jewish commentators add

Since this was in your heart For a person does not request this thing unless he has the fear of Heaven in his heart, as it is stated (Ex.:21): “But you must seek out from the people men of ability, God-fearing men.”
Rashi: France, 1040–1105 · Rashi on II Chronicles 1:11:1, via Sefaria, The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg
1 more on this passage, in their own words ▾
and I shall go forth before this people and come in And also, a king requires a wise heart to know how to judge, and I am young and tender.
Rashi: France, 1040–1105 · Rashi on II Chronicles 1:10:1, via Sefaria, The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg

This section is reception history: how the passage was read and kept in the Jewish tradition. Where a reading parts from an essential of the Christian faith, the section says so at that point.

Texts and citation data: Sefaria; each excerpt follows its version’s licence. 3 further sources are cited on this chapter that carry no English text this site may quote or only restate the verse.

The words behind it

33 Hebrew words

Every Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.

  • וַיֹּ֣אמֶר־and he said

    vaiyomer-H559 →5305 times

  • אֱלֹהִ֣ים׀God

    ʾelohimH430 →2601 times

  • לִשְׁלֹמֹ֡הto Solomon

    lishlomohH8010 →291 times

  • יַ֣עַןbecause

    yaanH3282 →99 times

  • אֲשֶׁר֩that

    ʾasherH834 →5497 times

  • הָיְתָ֨הit was

    hayetahH1961 →3559 times

  • זֹ֜אתthis

    zotH2063 →603 times

  • עִם־with

    ʾim-H5973 →1050 times

  • לְבָבֶ֗ךָheart your

    levavekhaH3824 →252 times

  • וְלֹֽא־and not

    velosha'-H3808 →5168 times

  • שָׁ֠אַלְתָּyou have asked for

    shaaltaH7592 →171 times

  • עֹ֣שֶׁרwealth

    ʾosherH6239 →37 times

  • נְכָסִ֤יםriches

    nekhasimH5233 →

  • וְכָבוֹד֙and honor

    vekhavodH3519 →200 times

  • וְאֵת֙and <obj.>

    veetH853 →10935 times

  • נֶ֣פֶשׁ[the] life of

    nefeshH5315 →754 times

  • שֹׂנְאֶ֔יךָ[those who] hate you

    soneeikhaH8130 →146 times

  • וְגַם־and also

    vegam-H1571 →769 times

  • יָמִ֥יםdays

    yamimH3117 →2304 times

  • רַבִּ֖יםmany

    rabimH7227 →454 times

  • לֹ֣אnot

    lo'H3808 →5168 times

  • שָׁאָ֑לְתָּyou have asked for

    shaaletaH7592 →171 times

  • וַתִּֽשְׁאַל־and you have asked for

    vatishal-H7592 →171 times

  • לְךָ֙for yourself

    lekha

  • חָכְמָ֣הwisdom

    chokhmahH2451 →153 times

  • וּמַדָּ֔עand knowledge

    umada'H4093 →6 times

  • אֲשֶׁ֤רthat

    ʾasherH834 →5497 times

  • תִּשְׁפּוֹט֙you will judge

    tishpotH8199 →202 times

  • אֶת־<obj.>

    ʾet-H853 →10935 times

  • עַמִּ֔יpeople my

    ʾamiH5971 →1873 times

  • אֲשֶׁ֥רwhich

    ʾasherH834 →5497 times

  • הִמְלַכְתִּ֖יךָI have made king you

    himlakhtikhaH4427 →348 times

  • עָלָֽיו׃over it

    ʾalavH5921 →5755 times

A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.

Related verses

13 in all, six open

The number beside each verse is how many compiled reference works tie it to this one. The strongest six stand open.

James 3:17But the wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peace-loving, gentle, accommodating, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, and sincere.11 worksProverbs 23:7for he is keeping track, inwardly counting the cost. “Eat and drink,” he says to you, but his heart is not with you.8 works1 Samuel 16:7But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or height, for I have rejected him; the LORD does not see as man does. For man sees the outward appearance, but the LORD sees the heart.”4 works1 Kings 3:11–13So God said to him, “Since you have asked for this instead of requesting long life or wealth for yourself or death for your enemies—but you have asked for discernment to administer justice—3 works1 Chronicles 29:17–18I know, my God, that You test the heart and delight in uprightness. All these things I have given willingly and with an upright heart, and now I have seen Your people who are present here giving joyfully and willingly to You.3 works1 Kings 3:28When 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.3 works
The other 7 cross-references, with their words ▾
James 3:13Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good conduct, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.3 works1 Kings 8:18But the LORD said to my father David, ‘Since it was in your heart to build a house for My Name, you have done well to have this in your heart.2 worksHebrews 4:12For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it pierces even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It judges the thoughts and intentions of the heart.2 worksProverbs 14:8The wisdom of the prudent is to discern his way, but the folly of fools deceives them.2 works1 Chronicles 28:2Then King David rose to his feet and said, “Listen to me, my brothers and my people. It was in my heart to build a house as a resting place for the ark of the covenant of the LORD and as a footstool for our God. I had made preparations to build it,2 worksActs 5:4Did it not belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? How could you conceive such a deed in your heart? You have not lied to men, but to God!”2 worksEcclesiastes 6:2God gives a man riches, wealth, and honor, so that he lacks nothing his heart desires; but God does not allow him to enjoy them. Instead, a stranger will enjoy them. This is futile and a grievous affliction.2 works

The walk

8 stops

Each card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.

  • Through

    1 Samuel 16:7

    But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or height, for I have rejected him; the LORD does not see as man does. For man sees the outward appearance, but the…

    it leads to

    • John 7:24

      Stop judging by outward appearances, and start judging justly.”

    • Jeremiah 17:10

      I, the LORD, search the heart; I examine the mind to reward a man according to his way, by what his deeds deserve.

    • Luke 16:15

      So He said to them, “You are the ones who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is prized among men is detestable before God.

    • 1 Peter 3:4

      but from the inner disposition of your heart, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in God’s sight.

    • Isaiah 55:8–9

      “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways,” declares the LORD.

  • Through

    James 3:17

    But the wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peace-loving, gentle, accommodating, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, and sincere.

    it leads to

    • Galatians 5:22–23

      But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

    • Proverbs 2:6

      For the LORD gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.

    • 1 Corinthians 13:4–7

      Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.

Where this verse is studied

About 2 Chronicles

Saphan Reading the Book of the Law to Josiah, Philip Galle, engraving after Maarten van Heemskerck, 1569, Royal Library of Belgium. Public domain.
Saphan Reading the Book of the Law to Josiah, Philip Galle, engraving after Maarten van Heemskerck, 1569, Royal Library of Belgium. Public domain.
2 Chronicles: the study guide →Read 2 Chronicles 1 →

This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.

Read on in 2 Chronicles 1 →