1 Kings 3 13

1 Kings 3:13 kjv

And I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches, and honor: so that there shall not be any among the kings like unto thee all thy days.

1 Kings 3:13 nkjv

And I have also given you what you have not asked: both riches and honor, so that there shall not be anyone like you among the kings all your days.

1 Kings 3:13 niv

Moreover, I will give you what you have not asked for?both wealth and honor?so that in your lifetime you will have no equal among kings.

1 Kings 3:13 esv

I give you also what you have not asked, both riches and honor, so that no other king shall compare with you, all your days.

1 Kings 3:13 nlt

And I will also give you what you did not ask for ? riches and fame! No other king in all the world will be compared to you for the rest of your life!

1 Kings 3 verses

1 Kings 3 13 Meaning

This verse conveys God's superabundant generosity to King Solomon. Because Solomon humbly and selflessly chose wisdom—the ability to govern God's people justly—over personal desires like long life, riches, or victory over enemies, God not only granted his request for wisdom but also added unasked-for blessings. These unasked blessings include immense riches and unparalleled honor, positioning Solomon as uniquely preeminent among all kings during his lifetime. It highlights the divine principle that when one prioritizes God's purposes, God often provides exceedingly and abundantly beyond what is asked or even imagined.

1 Kings 3 13 Context

The immediate context is Solomon's prayer at Gibeon, where God appeared to him in a dream and offered to grant him any request (1 Ki 3:5). Instead of asking for selfish gain, Solomon recognized his youth and inexperience as king, asking for "an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil" (1 Ki 3:9). This selfless and wise request pleased the Lord immensely (1 Ki 3:10). The verse 1 Kings 3:13, along with verse 11 and 12, constitutes God's affirmative and indeed super-abundant response to Solomon's request.

Historically and culturally, kings in the Ancient Near East typically sought wealth, power, and long life through conquest, political maneuvering, or accumulation of resources. Solomon's choice for wisdom to justly rule God's people stood in stark contrast to these norms, demonstrating a unique reverence for divine principles and a profound understanding of his kingly duties. This also aligns with the broader narrative of God establishing a divinely appointed king in Israel, bound by a covenant of obedience and blessed by divine favor, rather than human might or cunning. The blessings of riches and honor were thus a divine endowment, not acquired through conventional means, underscoring God's sovereignty.

1 Kings 3 13 Word analysis

• And I have also given you (וְגַם֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר לֹֽא־שָׁאַ֔לְתָּ נָתַ֥תִּי לָ֖ךְ – v'gam 'asher lo-sha'alta natatti lach):

  • וְגַם֙ (v'gam) - "And also/even." The conjunction and adverb emphasize an addition beyond what was requested, highlighting divine generosity.
  • נָתַ֥תִּי (natatti) - "I have given." From the root נָתַן (natan), meaning "to give." It is a first-person singular perfect tense, signifying a completed action by God, assuring Solomon of the certainty of the promise. The divine source of the gifts is paramount.

• what you have not asked (אֲשֶׁ֣ר לֹֽא־שָׁאַ֔לְתָּ – 'asher lo-sha'alta):

  • לֹֽא־שָׁאַ֔לְתָּ (lo-sha'alta) - "you have not asked." This phrase emphasizes Solomon's selfless and wise request. He sought divine guidance for God's people, not personal gain. God, seeing the purity of his intention, extends His favor beyond human expectation, illustrating God's magnanimity and reward for right desires.

• both riches (עֹ֣שֶׁר – 'osher):

  • עֹ֣שֶׁר ('osher) - "wealth, riches." This refers to material abundance, prosperity, and financial means. In the Bible, God is often the source of true wealth, contrasting with riches gained through illicit means. It represents the temporal flourishing God can grant.

• and honor (וְכָב֖וֹד – v'khavod):

  • וְכָב֖וֹד (v'khavod) - "glory, honor, renown, dignity." This signifies respect, high esteem, recognition, and renown. Solomon would be not merely wealthy, but held in high regard globally. This indicates not just internal prosperity but external prestige.

• so that no one (אֲשֶׁ֛ר לֹא־יִהְיֶ֥ה כָמֹ֛וךָ אִ֖ישׁ – 'asher lo-yihyeh kamokha 'ish):

  • לֹא־יִהְיֶ֥ה כָמֹ֛וךָ אִ֖ישׁ (lo-yihyeh kamokha 'ish) - "there will not be anyone like you." This phrase establishes the unique, unparalleled nature of Solomon's blessing. It speaks to a divine decree ensuring his distinction.

• in all your days (בַּמְּלָכִים֙ כָּל־יָמֶ֔יךָ – bammelakhim kol-yameyka):

  • כָּל־יָמֶ֔יךָ (kol-yameyka) - "all your days, throughout your life." This limits the unparalleled status to Solomon's own lifetime, but confirms the promise for his entire reign. It highlights the divine blessing upon his personal tenure.

• shall be your equal among kings (בַּמְּלָכִים֙ – bammelakhim):

  • בַּמְּלָכִים֙ (bammelakhim) - "among the kings." This specifies the comparison group, underlining his unique position as a monarch relative to all others on earth during his era.

Words-group analysis:

• "And I have also given you what you have not asked": This phrase perfectly illustrates divine grace and superabundant blessing. It's a key theme in biblical theology, showing God's generosity far beyond human deserts or requests, especially when motivations are pure. It stands as a testament to God's heart for giving, paralleling His spiritual gifts which often surpass what we even know to desire.
• "both riches and honor": These two blessings represent complete temporal prosperity. Riches are material provision, and honor is social standing and respect. Together, they depict a comprehensive form of worldly success, explicitly granted by God. This contrasts with pagan understandings of fortune or social status as arising from human striving, fate, or arbitrary gods.
• "so that no one in all your days shall be your equal among kings": This sets Solomon apart as the pinnacle of monarchical blessedness and prestige. It's an affirmation of divine favor that made his reign singular. This specific guarantee underscores the divine intention to exalt him because of his heart, establishing a high bar for the prosperity that comes from seeking God. It also points to the potential for human experience to be extraordinary when aligned with God's will.

1 Kings 3 13 Bonus section

While this verse proclaims Solomon's unparalleled riches and honor during his lifetime, the narrative of his reign eventually reveals that he failed to uphold the implicit covenant condition mentioned in 1 Kings 3:14, which was to "walk in my ways and keep my statutes and my commandments." Despite his initial wisdom and extraordinary blessings, Solomon later amassed an excessive number of horses, chariots, gold, and most significantly, foreign wives who turned his heart away from God (1 Ki 10:26-11:8). This tragic turn serves as a potent reminder that even the greatest blessings from God can be misused or lose their intended divine purpose if one deviates from His ways. This illustrates the dual nature of blessings: they are a gift, but their sustainment and spiritual value are tied to continued fidelity. Ultimately, a greater King, Jesus Christ, would come, possessing not only ultimate wisdom but also enduring honor and riches in a spiritual and eternal sense, truly unparalleled for all time and eternity (Col 2:3, Phil 2:9-11, Rev 5:12), unlike Solomon whose unique position was for "all your days."

1 Kings 3 13 Commentary

1 Kings 3:13 unveils God's extraordinary response to Solomon's profound spiritual discernment. God's promise transcends Solomon's request for wisdom by adding immense wealth and unrivaled honor. This highlights a foundational biblical principle: when one seeks first God's kingdom and His righteousness, "all these things" (Matt 6:33) – the temporal necessities and more – will be added. Solomon’s choice, focused on fulfilling his divine kingly duty to God's people, aligned perfectly with God's will. Consequently, God poured out blessings so immense that no king before or after him would match his riches and honor within his lifetime, as evidenced later in 1 Kings 10. This outcome testifies to God's boundless generosity and the fruit of selfless obedience. The promise serves as both a demonstration of divine favor and a potential lesson in priorities: prioritizing what is eternal and God-glorifying often brings temporal blessings as a divine addition. This verse implicitly foreshadows the subsequent narratives of Solomon's kingdom, marked by unparalleled prosperity and peace, ultimately derived not from military might or cunning diplomacy, but from divine endowment linked to his initial righteous choice. However, the subsequent verse, 1 Kings 3:14, introduces a critical condition of continued obedience, implying that these extraordinary blessings were contingent upon Solomon's fidelity to the covenant.