1 Kings 4:29-34
Lexham English Bible
Solomon’s Wisdom: Literature, Zoology, Biology, Dendrology
29 God gave wisdom to Solomon and very great discernment, as well as breadth of understanding,[a] as the sand which is on the edge of the seashore. 30 The wisdom of Solomon was greater than the wisdom of all the people[b] of the east and more than all the wisdom of Egypt. 31 He was wiser than all the men: Ethan the Ezrahite; Heman, Calcol, and Darda the children of Mahol; and he was very well known.[c] 32 He spoke three thousand proverbs, and his songs were one thousand and five. 33 He spoke concerning the trees, from the cedar which is in Lebanon up to the hyssop which grows on the wall; he also spoke concerning the animals, concerning the birds, concerning the creeping things, and concerning the fish. 34 They came from all the nations to hear the wisdom of Solomon; from all the kings of the earth who had heard of his wisdom.
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- 1 Kings 4:29 Literally “width of heart”
- 1 Kings 4:30 Or “sons/children”
- 1 Kings 4:31 Literally “his name was among all the peoples around”
1 Kings 4:29-34
New English Translation
29 God gave Solomon wisdom and very great discernment; the breadth of his understanding[a] was as infinite as the sand on the seashore. 30 Solomon was wiser than all the men of the east and all the sages of Egypt.[b] 31 He was wiser than any man, including Ethan the Ezrahite or Heman, Calcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol. He was famous in all the neighboring nations.[c] 32 He composed[d] 3,000 proverbs and 1,005 songs. 33 He produced manuals on botany, describing every kind of plant,[e] from the cedars of Lebanon to the hyssop that grows on walls. He also produced manuals on biology, describing[f] animals, birds, insects, and fish. 34 People from all nations came to hear Solomon’s display of wisdom;[g] they came from all the kings of the earth who heard about his wisdom.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 1 Kings 4:29 tn Heb “heart,” i.e., mind. (The Hebrew term translated “heart” often refers to the mental faculties.)
- 1 Kings 4:30 tn Heb “the wisdom of Solomon was greater than the wisdom of all the sons of the east and all the wisdom of Egypt.”
- 1 Kings 4:31 tn Heb “his name was in all the surrounding nations.”
- 1 Kings 4:32 tn Heb “spoke.”
- 1 Kings 4:33 tn Heb “he spoke about plants.”
- 1 Kings 4:33 tn Heb “he spoke about.”
- 1 Kings 4:34 tn Heb “the wisdom of Solomon.”
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