1 Kings 10:5 kjv
And the meat of his table, and the sitting of his servants, and the attendance of his ministers, and their apparel, and his cupbearers, and his ascent by which he went up unto the house of the LORD; there was no more spirit in her.
1 Kings 10:5 nkjv
the food on his table, the seating of his servants, the service of his waiters and their apparel, his cupbearers, and his entryway by which he went up to the house of the LORD, there was no more spirit in her.
1 Kings 10:5 niv
the food on his table, the seating of his officials, the attending servants in their robes, his cupbearers, and the burnt offerings he made at the temple of the LORD, she was overwhelmed.
1 Kings 10:5 esv
the food of his table, the seating of his officials, and the attendance of his servants, their clothing, his cupbearers, and his burnt offerings that he offered at the house of the LORD, there was no more breath in her.
1 Kings 10:5 nlt
she was overwhelmed. She was also amazed at the food on his tables, the organization of his officials and their splendid clothing, the cup-bearers, and the burnt offerings Solomon made at the Temple of the LORD.
1 Kings 10 5 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Kgs 3:9 | Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people... | Solomon's request for wisdom instead of wealth/long life. |
| 1 Kgs 3:12 | ...I give you a wise and discerning mind, so that none like you... | God's grant of incomparable wisdom to Solomon. |
| 1 Kgs 4:29-30 | And God gave Solomon wisdom... so that Solomon's wisdom surpassed the wisdom of all the people of the east... | Emphasizes the divine source and unique magnitude of Solomon's wisdom. |
| 1 Kgs 4:34 | And people came from all the peoples to hear the wisdom of Solomon... | Global renown of Solomon's wisdom, fulfilling his impact. |
| 1 Kgs 7:1-12 | Solomon was building his own house thirteen years, and he finished all his house. | Details of Solomon's personal royal building projects, distinct from the Temple. |
| 1 Kgs 9:1 | Now it came to pass, when Solomon had finished building the house of the Lord and the king’s house... | Mentions the completion of both Temple and palace complex. |
| 1 Kgs 10:2-4 | She came to Jerusalem with a very great retinue... And when she came to Solomon... she had seen all the wisdom of Solomon... and the house that he had built... and the food... | Broader context of the Queen's observations and testing of Solomon. |
| 1 Kgs 10:6-7 | She said to the king, "The report was true... But I did not believe the reports until I came and my own eyes had seen it..." | The Queen's confession that reality surpassed all reports. |
| 2 Chr 9:1 | Now when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon... | Parallel account in Chronicles, affirming the fame and visit. |
| 2 Chr 9:3-4 | And when she had seen the wisdom of Solomon and the house that he had built... there was no more spirit in her. | Direct parallel, emphasizes her astonishment. |
| Ps 72:10 | May the kings of Tarshish and of the coastlands render him tribute; may the kings of Sheba and Seba bring gifts! | Prophetic picture of foreign kings bringing gifts to the righteous king. |
| Prov 8:15 | By me kings reign, and rulers decree what is just. | Wisdom is the foundation of just and effective kingship. |
| Isa 2:2 | ...all the nations shall flow to it... | Prophecy of Gentiles drawn to God's dwelling/people, foreshadowing. |
| Isa 49:6 | I will make you as a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth. | Israel's divine purpose to be a light, reflected in Solomon's reign. |
| Isa 60:3 | And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising. | Prophecy of gentile rulers drawn by God's glory among His people. |
| Hag 2:9 | The latter glory of this house shall be greater than the former, says the Lord of hosts... | Foreshadowing God's even greater future glory manifest among His people. |
| Mt 12:42 | The queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, something greater than Solomon is here. | Jesus directly refers to the Queen of Sheba's recognition of Solomon, comparing it to His own greater wisdom. |
| Lk 11:31 | The queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with the men of this generation and condemn them... something greater than Solomon is here. | Luke's parallel, reinforcing Christ's preeminence. |
| Col 2:3 | in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. | Points to Christ as the ultimate source of all divine wisdom. |
| Jas 1:5 | If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God... | Encourages believers to seek divine wisdom, recalling Solomon's example. |
| Eph 2:19-22 | ...you are fellow citizens with the saints... built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone... In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit. | The spiritual "house" of God (the church) is a "greater house" than Solomon's physical structures. |
| 1 Pet 2:5 | ...you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house... | Believers are living stones in God's spiritual temple. |
1 Kings 10 verses
1 Kings 10 5 Meaning
This verse describes the initial and overwhelming impression made upon the Queen of Sheba as she beheld the unparalleled display of King Solomon's divine wisdom and the magnificent architectural splendor of his royal complex. It signifies her immediate recognition that what she had heard was not merely true, but vastly exceeded her expectations, leading to profound astonishment. This astonishment points to God's extraordinary blessing upon Solomon and His people, demonstrating His power and glory through the king.
1 Kings 10 5 Context
This verse occurs during the Queen of Sheba's famous visit to King Solomon in Jerusalem, an event chronicled in 1 Kings 10 and 2 Chronicles 9. Having heard reports of Solomon's exceptional wisdom and prosperity (1 Kgs 10:1), she traveled a great distance to test him with "hard questions." This verse describes her initial overwhelming reaction, detailing what specifically amazed her: his divinely bestowed wisdom and the magnificent royal buildings he had constructed. The preceding verses establish her wealth and her desire to challenge Solomon. The subsequent verses detail the specific administrative and spiritual elements that comprised the "wisdom" she saw, such as the order of his court, the attire of his servants, and the food prepared. The larger chapter and historical context illustrate Solomon's golden age, a period of unprecedented peace, wealth, and international recognition for Israel, highlighting God's faithfulness to His covenant promises of blessing given to the Davidic line.
1 Kings 10 5 Word analysis
- And when she had seen: The Hebrew word for "seen" is vat·tere (וַתֵּ֣רֶא), from the root ra'ah (רָאָה). This verb signifies more than just a glance; it implies attentive observation, careful discernment, and comprehensive understanding. The Queen didn't just physically perceive Solomon's qualities; she intellectually and spiritually apprehended their significance and the divine source behind them. Her seeing led to an internal transformation and an objective evaluation.
- the wisdom: The Hebrew term is khokmah (חׇכְמַת). In the ancient Near East, khokmah encompassed not just intellectual knowledge but practical skill, administrative prowess, astute judgment, diplomatic ability, and ethical insight. Solomon's khokmah was extraordinary because it was a direct gift from God, requested specifically to govern His people (1 Kgs 3:9-12). It was manifested in his legal decisions, proverbs, knowledge of the natural world, and efficient organization of his kingdom, demonstrating an unparalleled depth of insight and understanding from a divine perspective.
- of Solomon: King Solomon (שְׁלֹמֹה - Shlomo) represents the pinnacle of Israel's human monarchy's glory, wisdom, and wealth. His name, derived from "shalom," signifies peace and completeness, characteristic of his reign. He served as a channel through which God's blessings flowed, not only to Israel but to the surrounding nations, becoming a focal point of revelation of God's greatness, thus pointing beyond himself to the ultimate source of true wisdom.
- and the house: The Hebrew word bayit (הַבַּ֣יִת) refers to a "house" or "palace." In this context, given the detailed descriptions elsewhere in 1 Kings and 2 Chronicles, this refers collectively to Solomon's magnificent royal complex built over 13 years (1 Kgs 7:1) – including his personal palace, the House of the Forest of Lebanon, the Hall of Pillars, and the Hall of the Throne – alongside, and in contrast to, the Temple of the Lord (Beit Adonai), which was a sacred structure, whereas this "house" signifies his royal dwelling and administrative centers. Its grandeur, scale, and luxurious materials were unparalleled.
- that he had built: The verb "built" is banah (בָּנָה), which denotes constructing, erecting, or establishing. Solomon was renowned for his extensive building projects, which also included the city wall of Jerusalem and other cities throughout his kingdom (1 Kgs 9:15-19). These projects were not merely structural but symbolic, demonstrating the prosperity and security of God's covenant nation under his reign, and they also displayed his exceptional administrative skill and access to vast resources.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "And when she had seen the wisdom of Solomon": This phrase highlights the discerning observation and recognition by a foreign dignitary of Solomon's exceptional, divinely-given wisdom. It wasn't hearsay; she saw its effects and manifestations. This emphasizes the tangible impact of Solomon's wise governance, judgment, and overall administrative acumen that transcended mere human skill, pointing to a supernatural source. It subtly elevates God's wisdom above all earthly wisdom.
- "and the house that he had built": This part points to the physical manifestations of Solomon's wealth, power, and administrative skill. The "house" refers to his elaborate royal palace complex. Its sheer size, architectural brilliance, and rich furnishings served as irrefutable evidence of the extraordinary blessing and prosperity bestowed upon Solomon and Israel. This structure symbolized the glory and stability of his kingdom under divine favor.
1 Kings 10 5 Bonus section
- The Queen of Sheba's response, especially the "no more spirit in her" (from the complete verse), can be understood as akin to hyperventilation or extreme awe, causing a momentary inability to speak or breathe properly. This emphasizes the truly overwhelming nature of what she witnessed.
- The details Solomon displayed, which captivated the Queen, were a testament to divine order and administration, a reflection of heavenly blueprints brought to earthly manifestation.
- While Solomon’s achievements were magnificent, the Bible ultimately presents him as a human king with flaws. This visitation highlights God's grace manifested through him despite later apostasy, demonstrating that God can use even imperfect vessels to display His glory to the nations.
- This account reinforces the Biblical principle that visible prosperity and glory can be outward signs of inward wisdom and divine favor, though not exclusively so, and certainly not the ultimate or enduring form of glory (which is found in Christ).
1 Kings 10 5 Commentary
1 Kings 10:5 is a pivotal statement, articulating the precise reasons for the Queen of Sheba's utter amazement, leading to her being "no more spirit in her" (1 Kgs 10:5c). Her astonishment stemmed from witnessing two primary, interconnected expressions of divine blessing on Solomon: his unparalleled wisdom and his magnificent architectural achievements. The "wisdom" was a gift from God, demonstrated not only in his profound judgments and prolific writings but also in the meticulous order of his court, the attire of his officials, and the provision for his table. The "house" refers to his royal palace complex, an elaborate and massive undertaking showcasing unprecedented wealth, exquisite craftsmanship, and grand design. These tangible evidences served as irrefutable proof of the reports she had heard, convincing her that the half had not been told. This scene prophetically anticipates a day when kings and nations would be drawn to the light of God's truth, later fulfilled in a far greater sense by Jesus Christ, the "one greater than Solomon."