1 Kings 10:13 kjv
And king Solomon gave unto the queen of Sheba all her desire, whatsoever she asked, beside that which Solomon gave her of his royal bounty. So she turned and went to her own country, she and her servants.
1 Kings 10:13 nkjv
Now King Solomon gave the queen of Sheba all she desired, whatever she asked, besides what Solomon had given her according to the royal generosity. So she turned and went to her own country, she and her servants.
1 Kings 10:13 niv
King Solomon gave the queen of Sheba all she desired and asked for, besides what he had given her out of his royal bounty. Then she left and returned with her retinue to her own country.
1 Kings 10:13 esv
And King Solomon gave to the queen of Sheba all that she desired, whatever she asked besides what was given her by the bounty of King Solomon. So she turned and went back to her own land with her servants.
1 Kings 10:13 nlt
King Solomon gave the queen of Sheba whatever she asked for, besides all the customary gifts he had so generously given. Then she and all her attendants returned to their own land.
1 Kings 10 13 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Ki 3:13 | "I give you also what you have not asked, both riches and honor..." | God gives beyond requests to Solomon. |
| 1 Ki 4:29-34 | "And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding... so that he was wiser..." | Source of Solomon's wisdom and global fame. |
| 1 Ki 10:2-9 | "When the Queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon... and gave him..." | Queen tested and witnessed Solomon's wisdom/wealth. |
| 1 Ki 10:23 | "King Solomon excelled all the kings of the earth in riches and wisdom." | Summarizes Solomon's supreme standing. |
| 2 Chr 9:12 | "And King Solomon gave to the Queen of Sheba all that she desired..." | Parallel account confirming Solomon's generosity. |
| Psa 23:5 | "You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint..." | God's lavish provision for His people. |
| Psa 37:4 | "Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart." | God fulfilling the righteous' desires. |
| Psa 84:11 | "For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor..." | God's ultimate source of good gifts. |
| Matt 6:33 | "But seek first the kingdom of God... and all these things will be added to you." | God's provision for those who seek Him. |
| Matt 7:7-8 | "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock..." | Encouragement to ask and receive. |
| Matt 12:42 | "The Queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with this generation..." | Queen's diligence in seeking wisdom contrasts rejection of Christ. |
| Lk 11:31 | "The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with the men of this..." | Queen as an example of seeking and responding to truth. |
| Rom 11:35 | "Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?" | God is the ultimate giver; no one can out-give Him. |
| 2 Cor 9:8 | "And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all..." | God's abounding grace enables believers' generosity. |
| Eph 3:20 | "Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask..." | God's boundless power and generosity. |
| Php 4:19 | "And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches..." | God's faithful supply according to His wealth. |
| Jas 1:5 | "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously..." | God gives wisdom freely and generously. |
| Prov 11:25 | "Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself..." | Principle of generosity leading to blessing. |
| Prov 18:16 | "A man's gift makes room for him and brings him before great men." | The power of gifts to create opportunities. |
| Isa 60:6 | "They shall bring gold and frankincense, and shall bring good news..." | Kings bringing gifts to Zion (prophetic). |
| Haggai 2:8 | "The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, declares the LORD of hosts." | God's ownership of all wealth. |
| Rev 21:24-26 | "The kings of the earth will bring their glory into it..." | Kings bringing their wealth and glory into God's eternal city. |
1 Kings 10 verses
1 Kings 10 13 Meaning
This verse culminates the account of the Queen of Sheba's visit, highlighting King Solomon's extraordinary wealth and generosity. It asserts that Solomon fulfilled every stated desire of the Queen, giving her everything she explicitly requested. Moreover, he bestowed additional, unasked-for gifts from his vast royal treasury, demonstrating a magnanimity far beyond simple reciprocal exchange. This profound act of giving solidified his global reputation for unparalleled prosperity and wisdom, reflecting the abundant blessings God had poured out upon him.
1 Kings 10 13 Context
1 Kings chapter 10 recounts the renowned visit of the Queen of Sheba to Jerusalem. Driven by reports of Solomon's exceptional wisdom and vast wealth (v.1-2), she journeyed to test him with hard questions. Having personally witnessed his administrative brilliance, architectural splendor, opulent lifestyle, and profound wisdom, she was overwhelmed (v.3-9), declaring that "the half was not told me" (v.7). She brought Solomon immense gifts of gold, spices, and precious stones (v.10). Verse 13 marks the culmination of this exchange, as Solomon, in turn, lavished upon her not only everything she asked for but also additional gifts of his own kingly bounty. Historically, such royal visits and exchanges of gifts were common in the ancient Near East, serving to establish diplomatic ties and display power. However, this account emphasizes Solomon's divinely bestowed preeminence, presenting his generosity as a testament to God's favor and Israel's unprecedented prosperity under his reign. The scene implicitly contrasts Yahweh's blessing on Solomon with the lesser glories of other nations and kings, demonstrating a kingdom that generously gives from abundance rather than exploiting others.
1 Kings 10 13 Word analysis
- And King Solomon gave: This opening highlights a deliberate, regal act. Following the Queen's gifts, Solomon's giving demonstrates his preeminent position, exceeding mere reciprocity.
- gave (וַיִּתֵּן - way·yit·tên): The Hebrew verb 'natan' denotes bestowing, granting, or presenting. It emphasizes a sovereign's deliberate act of donation, not merely a transaction.
- to the Queen of Sheba: Pinpoints the recipient, an influential foreign monarch, signifying the international recognition and scope of Solomon's influence.
- all her desire: Refers to the full range of wishes or requests the Queen had presented. Solomon's ability to satisfy this comprehensively speaks volumes about his power and resources.
- desire (חֶפְצָהּ - ḥep̄·ṣāh): From Hebrew 'ḥēp̄eṣ', meaning 'delight', 'pleasure', 'wish', 'desire'. It suggests she specified particular items or blessings she genuinely longed for.
- whatsoever she asked: This phrase strongly reiterates the completeness of his fulfillment. No request was overlooked or denied, emphasizing absolute satisfaction.
- asked (שָׁאָלָה - šā·ʾā·lāh): The Hebrew verb 'sha'al' means to ask, request, or inquire. It confirms that these were explicit requests from her.
- besides that which Solomon gave her: This pivotal phrase signals generosity far beyond fulfilling requests. It points to a surplus of giving, exceeding expectation and obligation.
- of his royal bounty: This defines the source and nature of the additional gifts. They originated from the vastness of his royal treasury and were given out of his kingly magnanimity.
- bounty (יָד - yāḏ, lit. 'hand' or 'portion'): Here, 'hand' functions idiomatically to mean 'generosity' or 'liberal portion'. It implies an outpouring from the abundance of his wealth and the largeheartedness of a benevolent ruler. This giving was not contractual but a regal expression of affluence and benevolence.
- So she turned and went: Indicates the definitive conclusion of the visit. Her purpose was fully met, and her journey back home began.
- to her own country, she and her servants: Confirms her safe departure with her entire entourage, having been fully enriched and impressed by her visit.
- "And King Solomon gave to the Queen of Sheba all her desire, whatsoever she asked": This phrase underscores Solomon's ability to fully meet and exceed all stated expectations. It reflects his divinely endowed wisdom in discerning what she truly sought and his unparalleled wealth in providing it. This was not a token gesture but a comprehensive fulfillment of a foreign dignitary's requests, demonstrating a profound capacity for hospitality and royal power. It reciprocates and surpasses her own generous gifts (v.10), magnifying his kingdom's glory.
- "besides that which Solomon gave her of his royal bounty": This crucial addition elevates Solomon's generosity to an extraordinary level. It signifies that he did not merely fulfill explicit requests but, out of his sheer abundance and noble spirit, bestowed further unasked-for gifts. This level of giving reflects God's own magnanimity towards Solomon (1 Ki 3:13, God gave him "both riches and honor"), demonstrating that Solomon's wealth was a vehicle for divine overflow. It showcases kingly largesse and an economy of plenty rather than scarcity, which deeply impressed the Queen and glorified God.
- "So she turned and went to her own country, she and her servants": This signals the successful completion and satisfying outcome of her journey. Having come to investigate the reports, test the king, and experience his wisdom and wealth, she departed not only fully convinced of the truth but also abundantly blessed. Her return confirms that the purpose of her visit was entirely fulfilled, with her receiving more than she could have imagined or explicitly requested, establishing Solomon's global repute.
1 Kings 10 13 Bonus section
- The account of the Queen of Sheba, culminating in this verse, is understood by Christian scholars as an international testament to Yahweh's glory through Solomon. The queen, a gentile ruler, seeks wisdom and receives not only profound understanding but also overwhelming material blessings, setting a pattern for the nations seeking truth from Israel.
- Solomon's generosity reflects God's own character. Just as God "gives generously to all without finding fault" (Jas 1:5) and "is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think" (Eph 3:20), Solomon exemplifies this divine quality in his kingship, showing the world the character of Israel's God.
- The Queen of Sheba's diligent journey to seek wisdom from Solomon is prophetically significant. Jesus himself refers to her as one who will condemn His generation for rejecting His greater wisdom (Matt 12:42), highlighting that Gentile nations, like the Queen, were often more open to divine truth than those with privileged access to it. Solomon's giving validates her journey and search for truth.
1 Kings 10 13 Commentary
1 Kings 10:13 acts as a powerful summation of King Solomon's glorious reign and divine favor at its zenith. The extensive gifts Solomon bestows upon the Queen of Sheba are a mirror image of the abundance God had poured into his life, fulfilling His promise of unasked-for riches and honor (1 Ki 3:13). Solomon's willingness to give "beyond what was asked" demonstrates the boundless generosity of one who has received much from God. This display of open-handedness would have left an indelible impression on a visiting foreign monarch, not merely through the material value but by illustrating a kingdom blessed beyond measure by its God. It emphasizes that true wisdom and divine blessing manifest not only in accumulation but also in a generous spirit that gives freely from a position of overflowing plenty. This scene is a practical demonstration of the spiritual principle that it is "more blessed to give than to receive," an outward manifestation of a kingdom flourishing under divine anointing.