1 Kings 10:14 kjv
Now the weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was six hundred threescore and six talents of gold,
1 Kings 10:14 nkjv
The weight of gold that came to Solomon yearly was six hundred and sixty-six talents of gold,
1 Kings 10:14 niv
The weight of the gold that Solomon received yearly was 666 talents,
1 Kings 10:14 esv
Now the weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was 666 talents of gold,
1 Kings 10:14 nlt
Each year Solomon received about 25 tons of gold.
1 Kings 10 14 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Ki 3:13 | "...And I have also given you what you have not asked, both riches and honor, so that there shall not be any among the kings like you all your days." | God promised Solomon unprecedented wealth. |
| 1 Ki 4:21-28 | Describes the extent of Solomon's dominion, tribute, and vast provisions daily. | Shows widespread prosperity and abundance. |
| 1 Ki 9:26-28 | Details Solomon's merchant fleet bringing in immense amounts of gold from Ophir. | Illustrates the source of his gold. |
| 1 Ki 10:23 | "So King Solomon excelled all the kings of the earth in riches and in wisdom." | Direct statement of his global supremacy in wealth. |
| 1 Ki 10:24 | "...and all the earth sought the presence of Solomon to hear his wisdom..." | Riches and wisdom drew admiration. |
| 1 Ki 10:27 | "And the king made silver as common in Jerusalem as stones, and cedar trees as plentiful as the sycamore trees in the Shephelah." | Exaggeration showing the scale of wealth. |
| 2 Chr 9:13 | Parallel account stating the same annual gold income. | Confirms the astonishing amount. |
| 2 Chr 9:22 | "So King Solomon surpassed all the kings of the earth in riches and wisdom." | Corroborates his global preeminence. |
| Deut 17:16-17 | "...nor shall he acquire many horses... nor shall he acquire for himself excessive silver and gold... nor shall he acquire many wives..." | Mosaic law warning kings against accumulating excessive wealth, which Solomon violated. |
| Prov 11:28 | "Whoever trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will flourish like a green leaf." | Warning against trusting in material wealth. |
| Prov 28:20 | "A faithful man will abound with blessings, but he who hastens to be rich will not be unpunished." | Implies danger in seeking extreme riches. |
| Jer 9:23-24 | "Thus says the Lord: 'Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom... let not the rich man boast in his riches...'" | God's perspective on human boasting in earthly possessions. |
| Ecc 2:8 | "I also gathered for myself silver and gold and the treasure of kings and provinces..." | Solomon's reflection on the vanity of his own pursuits including wealth. |
| Ecc 5:10 | "He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves abundance with its income." | The insatiability of earthly wealth. |
| Mt 6:19-20 | "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and rust destroy..." | Christ's teaching on the fleeting nature of earthly riches. |
| Lk 12:15 | "...take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions." | Jesus warns against covetousness. |
| 1 Tim 6:9-10 | "But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare..." | The danger of desiring to be rich, leading to ruin. |
| 1 Ki 11:1-8 | Details Solomon's many foreign wives and turning away from God. | His accumulated wealth allowed for forbidden wives and idolatry. |
| 1 Chr 22:14 | David describes his immense preparation of materials for the Temple for Solomon to use. | Solomon built on existing national wealth, demonstrating a capacity for accumulation. |
| Rev 13:18 | "Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man: His number is 666." | While distinct context, the number 666 often leads to theological discussion linking earthly excess or human rebellion with this figure. |
1 Kings 10 verses
1 Kings 10 14 Meaning
The verse states that the astounding amount of six hundred sixty-six talents of gold came into King Solomon's possession annually. This highlights his unparalleled wealth, signifying a period of immense material prosperity and glory for Israel, gifted by God. It marks the pinnacle of the kingdom's earthly splendor, largely amassed through trade and tribute, though it also subtly foreshadows potential spiritual dangers associated with such vast riches.
1 Kings 10 14 Context
1 Kings chapter 10 recounts the zenith of King Solomon's reign, focusing on his extraordinary wisdom and immense wealth. The visit of the Queen of Sheba, profoundly impressed by his wisdom and kingdom's opulence, precedes descriptions of his trade networks, tributes from various nations, and luxurious possessions. Verse 14 is a quantitative summary, pinpointing the precise staggering amount of gold received annually, demonstrating the scale of his unprecedented prosperity. Historically, Solomon's reign was a period of unrivaled peace and material blessing for Israel, fulfilling God's promises of blessing for obedience. However, this verse, immediately preceding accounts of his excessive accumulation of horses and chariots (1 Ki 10:26) and foreshadowing his later acquisition of numerous foreign wives (1 Ki 11:1), highlights Solomon's growing departure from the Deuteronomic commands given to kings (Deut 17:16-17).
1 Kings 10 14 Word analysis
- Now: Implies continuity from the preceding narrative, summarizing the sources of Solomon's wealth.
- the weight (מִשְׁקַל - mishqal): Denotes an exact, measured quantity, emphasizing precision and the physical mass of the gold. It underlines the careful accounting of this immense wealth.
- of gold (הַזָּהָב - haz'zahav): Specifies the highly precious commodity, universally valued, indicating peak prosperity. Gold was a primary measure of national power and wealth in the ancient world.
- that came (הַבָּא - hab'bā): Indicates that this gold was received or flowed in, largely through tribute from vassal states, taxes, trade, and gifts, rather than being personally extracted or mined by Solomon directly.
- to Solomon (לִשְׁלֹמֹה - li'Sh'lōmōh): Clearly identifies the king as the sole beneficiary and central figure of this wealth, emphasizing his personal power and reign's splendor.
- in one year (בְּשָׁנָה אֶחָת - b'shānāh eḥāt): Crucial for establishing the annual, consistent nature of this vast income, rather than a singular event. This points to a sustained and massive economic flow.
- six hundred sixty-six (שֵׁשׁ מֵאוֹת שִׁשִּׁים וָשֵׁשׁ - shēsh mē'ōt shishim vā'shēsh): This specific numerical figure (666) is central. In its immediate context, it is simply a vast quantity indicating Solomon's unmatched riches. While the number has a different eschatological significance in Revelation 13:18 as "the number of the beast" (representing human imperfection and rebellion striving for divinity), in the context of 1 Kings, it simply underscores the unprecedented and potentially overwhelming nature of his earthly wealth.
- talents (כִּכַּר - kikkar): A large unit of weight, approximately 75 pounds (or 34 kilograms) for a gold talent. Its use here indicates the colossal scale of the wealth; 666 talents of gold represent a truly astronomical amount, equivalent to tens of thousands of pounds or tons of gold annually.
- of gold (זָהָב - zāhāv): A repetition of "gold" after "talents" for emphatic clarity, underscoring that this immense weight was exclusively of the most valuable metal.
Words-Group Analysis:
- "The weight of gold that came to Solomon": This phrase encapsulates the essence of the verse: an objective, quantifiable statement of the king's vast incoming riches. It emphasizes his royal privilege and the magnetic draw of his prosperous kingdom.
- "in one year": This detail establishes the astounding annual regularity and consistency of such colossal financial inflows, suggesting the profound and widespread economic dominion of Solomon's empire.
- "six hundred sixty-six talents of gold": This specific quantification is the climactic statement. It impresses upon the reader the unparalleled material prosperity. For many readers through history, the distinct repetition of 'six' in this numerical figure, especially as a recurring annual amount, often prompts theological reflection regarding its association with earthly perfection or human excess.
1 Kings 10 14 Bonus section
- Symbolic interpretations: While not directly stated, some interpretations connect the numerical precision of "666 talents" to a broader biblical theme. For ancient Jewish readers, this figure would primarily denote overwhelming, incomparable wealth. However, given the number's later, distinctly negative symbolic role in Revelation (the number of "a man" and associated with "the beast"), some theological readings consider this specific number in Solomon's account a subtle literary or prophetic hint. It might represent the maximum human achievement or glory, still short of divine perfection, and thus susceptible to the failings inherent in relying on earthly power rather than fully on God.
- Economic Impact: This astronomical inflow of gold allowed Solomon to execute massive building projects like the Temple and his palace, establish advanced trade routes (such as the fleet of Tarshish and Ophir voyages), maintain a vast army (particularly chariots and cavalry as mentioned later in the chapter), and support an exceptionally lavish court. It cemented Israel's economic dominance in the ancient Near East during his rule.
1 Kings 10 14 Commentary
1 Kings 10:14 serves as a precise accounting of King Solomon's staggering annual gold revenue, marking the apex of Israel's national prosperity and global prestige under his reign. This sum of 666 talents represents an almost inconceivable wealth in ancient terms, placing Solomon among the wealthiest monarchs known. While undeniably a sign of God's blessing and fulfillment of His promise for Solomon's wisdom, the detailed chronicling of this immense material accumulation also introduces a note of caution. This verse stands in stark contrast to the Deuteronomic warnings against kings amassing excessive gold, horses, and wives (Deut 17:16-17). Solomon's subsequent fall into idolatry, often attributed to his foreign wives, is subtly foreshadowed by the very abundance detailed here. Thus, the verse signifies both a period of divine favor and the inherent dangers of unchecked material acquisition and earthly splendor that could, and did, lead to spiritual compromise.