1 Kings 3:24 kjv
And the king said, Bring me a sword. And they brought a sword before the king.
1 Kings 3:24 nkjv
Then the king said, "Bring me a sword." So they brought a sword before the king.
1 Kings 3:24 niv
Then the king said, "Bring me a sword." So they brought a sword for the king.
1 Kings 3:24 esv
And the king said, "Bring me a sword." So a sword was brought before the king.
1 Kings 3:24 nlt
All right, bring me a sword." So a sword was brought to the king.
1 Kings 3 24 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Ki 3:9 | "Give your servant therefore an understanding heart to govern... | Solomon asks for discerning wisdom. |
| 1 Ki 3:12 | "Behold, I give you a wise and discerning mind..." | God grants Solomon wisdom. |
| 1 Ki 3:28 | "all Israel heard of the judgment that the king had rendered.. | Israel recognizes Solomon's God-given wisdom. |
| Prov 2:6 | "For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge..." | Wisdom originates from God. |
| Jas 1:5 | "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God..." | Encouragement to seek wisdom from God. |
| Heb 4:12 | "For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword..." | God's Word discerns and judges hearts. |
| Ps 37:30-31 | "The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks justice. The law of his God is in his heart..." | Wisdom from a righteous heart. |
| Prov 16:23 | "The heart of the wise instructs his mouth and adds persuasiveness to his lips." | Wisdom guides speech. |
| Matt 10:34 | "Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword." | Jesus brings division based on truth. |
| Lk 12:51 | "Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division." | Echoes Matt 10:34, emphasizing division. |
| Rev 1:16 | "From his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword..." | Christ's discerning and judging word. |
| Rev 19:15 | "From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations..." | Christ's judgment and power. |
| Rom 13:4 | "For he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain..." | Ruler's authority to enforce justice. |
| Deut 1:16 | "I charged your judges at that time, 'Hear the cases between your brothers, and judge righteously...'" | Call for righteous judgment. |
| Ps 45:3 | "Gird your sword on your thigh, O mighty one, in your splendor and your majesty!" | Royal authority and power. |
| Ecc 8:4 | "For the word of a king is powerful, and who can say to him, 'What are you doing?'" | Kingly authority and irresistible command. |
| Gen 3:24 | "...he drove out the man, and at the east of the garden of Eden he placed the cherubim and a flaming sword that turned every way..." | Sword symbolizes judgment and separation. |
| Eze 21:3-5 | "Thus says the Lord: Behold, I am against you, and will draw my sword from its sheath..." | Divine judgment represented by a sword. |
| Lk 2:35 | "(and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed." | Internal revelation and pain from truth. |
| 1 Cor 4:5 | "...the Lord will come, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart." | Hidden things revealed by divine power. |
| Jn 3:20-21 | "For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light... But whoever does what is true comes to the light..." | Truth revealed by light (metaphor for God/judgment). |
1 Kings 3 verses
1 Kings 3 24 Meaning
This verse describes King Solomon's immediate and unexpected command during the legal dispute between the two prostitutes regarding the living child. By requesting a sword, Solomon initiates a pivotal, dramatic test designed to reveal the true mother. The bringing of the sword before him underscores his royal authority and the swift obedience to his decree, setting the stage for his discerning judgment.
1 Kings 3 24 Context
1 Kings chapter 3 records Solomon's prayer for wisdom at Gibeon and God's granting of an "understanding mind" to govern Israel and "discern between good and evil" (v. 9). The narrative immediately following this divine endowment is the "Judgment of Solomon," a dispute between two women, both prostitutes, over a living child after one of their infants died during the night. The setting presents a profound test for Solomon's newly acquired wisdom, as there are no witnesses to verify either claim. Verse 24 is the critical turning point where Solomon introduces an unexpected element – the sword – which serves not as a tool of execution but as a strategic device to expose the true maternal affection and resolve the legal impasse. The resolution in verses 26-27 validates God's gift of wisdom to Solomon, demonstrating his discernment to all Israel.
1 Kings 3 24 Word analysis
And the king said, (וַיֹּ֤אמֶר הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ - vai·yo·mer ham·me·lekh): "And" connects to the previous discourse, highlighting the immediate shift to Solomon's action. "The king" refers to Solomon, now seated in his authority, prepared to judge. The phrase indicates a formal decree from the reigning monarch. His pronouncement holds absolute authority, backed by his divinely given wisdom.
'Bring me (קְח֞וּ - qe·ḥū): This is a plural imperative verb, meaning "Take ye" or "Bring ye," directed at his attendants or guards. It signifies a direct, unhesitating command, implying the immediate expectation of obedience. It is not a request, but a directive reflecting sovereign power.
a sword.' (לִי חָ֑רֶב - lî ḥā·rev; Hebrew: חֶ֖רֶב - ḥe·rev): The noun ḥe·rev specifically denotes a sword, a common weapon. In this context, it is not merely a military instrument but a potent symbol. It represents ultimate authority, the power to inflict judgment, enforce justice, and, paradoxically, to separate or divide truth from falsehood. Its sudden request is jarring and intentionally dramatic.
So they brought (וַיָּבִ֥יאוּ - vai·yā·ḇî·ū): This uses a waw-consecutive imperfect verb, signifying immediate, subsequent action. It shows prompt and unquestioning obedience by Solomon's servants. There is no hesitation, demonstrating the swift response to the king's command.
a sword (חֶ֖רֶב - ḥe·rev): The repetition of the word for "sword" emphasizes its central role in the ensuing drama. Its physical presence on the judgment scene underlines the seriousness of the situation and the perceived potential for severe judgment.
before the king. (לִפְנֵ֥י הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ - lif·nê ham·me·lekh): This phrase places the action in Solomon's direct view and presence, signifying his complete oversight and control of the proceedings. It also emphasizes the public nature of his judgment and the display of his authority to all present.
Words-group Analysis:
- "And the king said, 'Bring me a sword.'": This phrase represents Solomon's decisive, unexpected move. It signifies a profound shift from deliberation to a dramatic, testing action. It highlights the non-conventional nature of his divinely-inspired wisdom, which goes beyond standard legal protocols.
- "So they brought a sword before the king.": This group of words underscores the swift and absolute implementation of Solomon's command. It reinforces his kingly power and the immediate, practical demonstration of authority and readiness to act upon his discerning plan. The public display of the sword is crucial for the psychological effect.
1 Kings 3 24 Bonus section
This incident of the sword request serves as a brilliant demonstration of a key aspect of Solomon's God-given wisdom: practical, applied discernment (binah in Hebrew). Unlike purely intellectual knowledge, this wisdom allowed Solomon to navigate complex human situations with profound insight, revealing hidden truths and motives. This dramatic act was not about physical threat as an end, but psychological revelation as a means to justice. It also had a powerful polemic message, demonstrating the superiority of the God of Israel and His divine wisdom over the various forms of pagan divination or mere human cunning that characterized other Near Eastern kings and their justice systems. The immediate and public recognition of this wisdom by all Israel (1 Ki 3:28) solidified Solomon's rule, showing that his authority stemmed directly from God's favor.
1 Kings 3 24 Commentary
Verse 24 of 1 Kings 3 presents the turning point in the renowned Judgment of Solomon. The king, having received divine wisdom, employs an extraordinary method to discern the truth between the two disputing women. His command to "bring a sword" is not an arbitrary act, but a divinely inspired strategy to probe the deepest affections of the mothers. The sword, in this context, symbolizes absolute authority, decisive judgment, and the power to divide and separate, exposing the true heart. The prompt obedience of the servants in bringing the sword "before the king" accentuates the awe and submission to Solomon's discerning power. This dramatic action sets the stage for the true mother's raw, self-sacrificing love to be revealed, affirming that genuine maternal affection would rather give up the child than see it harmed. It showcases that true wisdom from God provides innovative, effective solutions that bypass conventional methods to uncover truth.