1 Kings 3:9
Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?
Study Note
Study Note
Solomon's prayer 'give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad' — literally 'a hearing heart' (lev shomea') — demonstrates the priority of wisdom over wealth, long life, or military success as the ruler's defining need. God's pleasure at Solomon's choice (v. 10) and the famous subsequent test (the two women disputing the baby, 3:16-28) show that the narrative embeds the prayer's fulfilment in concrete demonstration. The 'hearing heart' concept anticipates the Shema's 'shema Yisrael' (hear, O Israel, Deuteronomy 6:4) — wisdom is the capacity for ordered, attentive receptivity to reality and to God, not merely intellectual acuity. James 1:5 ('if any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally') is the New Testament extension of Solomon's prayer into a universal invitation — the wise king's distinctive request becomes every disciple's possibility.
Other Translations
Give thy servant therefore an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and evil; for who is able to judge this thy great people?
and Thou hast given to Thy servant an understanding heart, to judge Thy people, to discern between good and evil; for who is able to judge this Thy great people?'
Give your servant, then, a wise heart for judging your people, able to see what is good and what evil; for who is able to be the judge of this great people?
Cross References
And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel …
But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he …
Then said I, Ah, Lord God! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child.
Only the Lord give thee wisdom and understanding, and give thee charge concerning Israel, that thou mayest keep the law …
And give unto Solomon my son a perfect heart, to keep thy commandments, thy testimonies, and thy statutes, and to …
Wisdom is good with an inheritance: and by it there is profit to them that see the sun.
Wisdom strengtheneth the wise more than ten mighty men which are in the city.
Now there was found in it a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city; yet no …
Wisdom is better than weapons of war: but one sinner destroyeth much good.
I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes …