1 Kings 3 5

1 Kings 3:5 kjv

In Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and God said, Ask what I shall give thee.

1 Kings 3:5 nkjv

At Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night; and God said, "Ask! What shall I give you?"

1 Kings 3:5 niv

At Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon during the night in a dream, and God said, "Ask for whatever you want me to give you."

1 Kings 3:5 esv

At Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night, and God said, "Ask what I shall give you."

1 Kings 3:5 nlt

That night the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream, and God said, "What do you want? Ask, and I will give it to you!"

1 Kings 3 verses

1 Kings 3 5 Meaning

The verse describes a pivotal divine encounter where the LORD, the covenant God of Israel, initiated contact with young King Solomon in a dream. This event occurred at Gibeon, a significant place of worship before the building of the Temple in Jerusalem. God directly addressed Solomon with an open-ended invitation: to articulate any request, implying divine willingness to grant it. This moment was a test and a profound offer, setting the stage for Solomon's subsequent wise request and reign.

1 Kings 3 5 Context

Chapter Context: 1 Kings chapter 3 opens by establishing Solomon's initial acts as king. He forms an alliance with Egypt, sealed by marrying Pharaoh's daughter. Importantly, it mentions his devotion to the LORD, despite engaging in the contemporary practice of offering sacrifices at high places. Verse 4 details Solomon's grand sacrifice of a thousand burnt offerings at Gibeon, signifying his sincere desire to honor God at the outset of his reign. This lavish act of worship directly precedes and sets the stage for the divine appearance in verse 5, indicating that God initiated this significant encounter in response to Solomon's devotion.

Historical Context: In ancient Near Eastern monarchies, it was customary for kings to seek divine approval and guidance, often through priests, oracles, or dreams. Gibeon, though not the eventual site of the Temple, was known as the "great high place" where a portable tabernacle and the altar of burnt offering used by Moses and Aaron were kept. This made it a legitimate, albeit temporary, central location for worship prior to the building of the Jerusalem Temple. Solomon's visit to Gibeon reflected a blend of Israelite devotion and existing practices before centralized worship was fully established in Jerusalem. Dreams were a well-understood medium of divine communication in this period, providing direct and often unquestionable revelation to kings and prophets alike.

1 Kings 3 5 Word analysis

• In Gibeon (בְּגִבְעוֹן bə·ḡib·‘ōwn):
  • Word: Gibeon (גִּבְעוֹן).
  • Significance: A prominent Canaanite city allotted to the tribe of Benjamin, later a Levitical city and a high place (1 Ki 3:4). Its importance as a center of worship is highlighted by the large altar and Tabernacle presence before the Temple in Jerusalem was built. It was a site where large-scale public sacrifices were permissible, signaling legitimate worship before the centrality of Jerusalem's temple was established.
• the LORD (יְהוָה YHWH):
  • Word: YHWH, the Tetragrammaton.
  • Significance: This is the covenant name of God, indicating His personal, revealed, and redemptive nature to Israel. The use of YHWH signifies a direct, relational encounter from the sovereign God who is active in His people's history, rather than a general deity.
• appeared (נִרְאָה nir’āh):
  • Word: Niphal perfect of רָאָה (ra'ah), "to see."
  • Significance: The Niphal stem denotes a passive or reflexive action. Here, it means "He was seen" or "He caused Himself to be seen." It emphasizes that the revelation was God's initiative, a divine self-manifestation (theophany). Solomon did not seek God out for this specific appearance; God sovereignly revealed Himself.
• to Solomon (אֶל־שְׁלֹמֹה ’el-šə·lō·mōh):
  • Word: Solomon (שְׁלֹמֹה).
  • Significance: David's son and the newly anointed king. His identity here highlights God's continued involvement with the Davidic covenant and the transfer of divine favor and guidance to the new monarch at the crucial beginning of his reign.
• in a dream (בַּחֲלוֹם ba·ḥă·lōwm):
  • Word: Dream (חֲלוֹם ḥălōwm).
  • Significance: A recognized and frequently used method of divine communication in the biblical narrative (e.g., Gen 20:3, Gen 28:12, Job 33:15). Dreams often conveyed direct messages without symbolic interpretation, as is the case here. It suggests a receptive state in the recipient and a profound personal encounter, distinguished from public prophecy.
• by night (לָיְלָה lay·lāh):
  • Word: Night (לַיְלָה laylah).
  • Significance: Night often connotes a time of quietness, vulnerability, and rest, making it a receptive period for divine intervention without worldly distractions. It can also imply privacy and intimacy for such a personal revelation to the king.
• and God said (וַיֹּאמֶר אֱלֹהִים way·yō·mer ’ĕ·lō·hîm):
  • Words: Said (אָמַר ‘āmar), God (אֱלֹהִים ’ĕlōhîm).
  • Significance: While the text started with "the LORD" (YHWH), it shifts to "God" ('Elohim) when describing His direct speech. This emphasizes God's sovereign authority and universal power alongside His covenant faithfulness. The direct "said" implies clear, unmistakable communication within the dream.
• "Ask what I shall give you." (שְׁאַל מָה אֶתֵּן־לָךְ šə·’al mah ’et·tên-lāḵ):
  • Words: Ask (שְׁאַל ša’al), Give (נָתַן natan).
  • Significance:
    • "Ask" is an imperative, an immediate invitation and a command, signaling an open, genuine offer from God. It highlights human agency and response.
    • "What I shall give you" reveals God's boundless generosity and His desire to bless. It serves as a test of Solomon's priorities and heart, laying bare his deepest desires and intentions at the dawn of his kingship. This divine question underpins the entire narrative of Solomon's wise rule.

1 Kings 3 5 Bonus section

The context of Gibeon underscores the continuity of legitimate worship forms during Israel's early monarchy before the exclusive centrality of the Jerusalem Temple. God's willingness to appear at such a site affirms His presence transcends specific locations, as long as sincere devotion is present. The divine revelation in a dream, a common means of communication in the ancient Near East, indicates God's engagement with the cultural idioms understood by the people of that time, while still uniquely revealing His covenant identity as YHWH. The starkness and directness of the question, "Ask what I shall give you," implies God’s knowledge of the nascent King Solomon’s needs, and perhaps even His pre-knowledge of Solomon’s virtuous reply. This set the trajectory for Solomon's initial golden era, where divine blessing was directly tied to the nature of his heart’s request for serving God's people.

1 Kings 3 5 Commentary

1 Kings 3:5 captures a momentous turning point for King Solomon and for Israel. God's unsolicited appearance to Solomon in a dream signifies divine approval and proactive engagement with the newly established Davidic king. It was not Solomon seeking out a divination ritual, but God initiating a personal audience, a characteristic of the living God who reveals Himself. The setting at Gibeon, though a temporary "high place" for worship, confirms that God met Solomon where he demonstrated profound devotion through extensive sacrifice, indicating God's favor toward genuine seeking, even if the later Temple would become the designated central sanctuary.

The divine invitation, "Ask what I shall give you," is remarkably open-ended and generous. It functions as a profound test of Solomon's character, priorities, and understanding of his immense responsibilities as Israel's king. This unique opportunity reveals God's desire to partner with and empower human leaders who are committed to His purposes. Solomon's response to this question (recounted in subsequent verses)—asking for a "discerning heart to govern" (1 Ki 3:9)—demonstrates wisdom far beyond his years and pleases the LORD greatly, ultimately resulting in blessings far exceeding his initial request. This encounter beautifully illustrates God's grace in giving not merely what is asked for, but often abundantly more, when the request aligns with His will for the individual and for His kingdom.

Practical Usages:

• This verse teaches us about God's initiative in approaching those who earnestly seek Him.
• It highlights the importance of asking God for wisdom and understanding to fulfill our responsibilities, especially in leadership.
• It shows that God often gives us an open invitation to seek Him for our genuine needs, testing the motives of our hearts in the process.