1 Kings 4:33 kjv
And he spake of trees, from the cedar tree that is in Lebanon even unto the hyssop that springeth out of the wall: he spake also of beasts, and of fowl, and of creeping things, and of fishes.
1 Kings 4:33 nkjv
Also he spoke of trees, from the cedar tree of Lebanon even to the hyssop that springs out of the wall; he spoke also of animals, of birds, of creeping things, and of fish.
1 Kings 4:33 niv
He spoke about plant life, from the cedar of Lebanon to the hyssop that grows out of walls. He also spoke about animals and birds, reptiles and fish.
1 Kings 4:33 esv
He spoke of trees, from the cedar that is in Lebanon to the hyssop that grows out of the wall. He spoke also of beasts, and of birds, and of reptiles, and of fish.
1 Kings 4:33 nlt
He could speak with authority about all kinds of plants, from the great cedar of Lebanon to the tiny hyssop that grows from cracks in a wall. He could also speak about animals, birds, small creatures, and fish.
1 Kings 4 33 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Kgs 3:9 | "Give thy servant therefore an understanding heart... discern between good and bad..." | Solomon asks for wisdom. |
| 1 Kgs 3:12 | "I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee..." | God grants Solomon wisdom. |
| 1 Kgs 4:29 | "God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding exceeding much, and largeness of heart..." | Scope of Solomon's wisdom. |
| 1 Kgs 4:30 | "Solomon's wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the children of the east, and all the wisdom of Egypt." | Solomon's superior wisdom. |
| 1 Kgs 4:32 | "And he spake three thousand proverbs: and his songs were a thousand and five." | Wisdom expressed through proverbs and songs. |
| 2 Chr 1:10 | "Give me now wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people..." | Solomon's prayer for wisdom. |
| Prov 1:7 | "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction." | Source of true knowledge. |
| Prov 2:6 | "For the Lord giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding." | Wisdom comes from God. |
| Prov 8:22-31 | "The Lord possessed me in the beginning of his way... when he established the heavens..." | Wisdom's personification and divine origin. |
| Job 28:12-28 | "But where shall wisdom be found? and where is the place of understanding?" | Search for the true source of wisdom. |
| Jas 1:5 | "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally..." | How to obtain wisdom. |
| Col 2:3 | "In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge." | Christ is the embodiment of all wisdom. |
| Gen 1:1-31 | "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth..." | God's comprehensive creation. |
| Psa 8:6-8 | "Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands..." | Man's God-given dominion over creation. |
| Psa 19:1-4 | "The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork." | Creation testifies to God. |
| Psa 104:1-30 | "O Lord my God, thou art very great... He watereth the hills from his chambers..." | God's provision and care for all creation. |
| Rom 1:20 | "For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen..." | God revealed through creation. |
| Gen 2:19-20 | "And out of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of the field... and Adam called them." | Adam's initial knowledge of creation. |
| Isa 55:13 | "Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree..." | Transformation and flourishing in creation. |
| Psa 92:12-14 | "The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon." | Cedar as a symbol of prosperity/righteous. |
| Psa 51:7 | "Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow." | Hyssop's use in ritual purification. |
| Mk 4:30-32 | "The kingdom of God... as a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown in the earth, is less than all the seeds..." | Nature used for teaching spiritual truth. |
1 Kings 4 verses
1 Kings 4 33 Meaning
This verse illuminates the extraordinary breadth and depth of King Solomon's God-given wisdom, which extended beyond governance and human affairs to a comprehensive understanding of the natural world. It specifies his knowledge across botanical categories, ranging from the majestic cedars of Lebanon to the humble hyssop growing on walls, and encompassing all animal classifications: beasts, fowl, creeping things, and fishes. This comprehensive scope underscores the unparalleled nature of his wisdom, reflecting God's order and creation.
1 Kings 4 33 Context
1 Kings chapter 4 provides an administrative and intellectual snapshot of Solomon's reign, emphasizing his unmatched prosperity and, crucially, his profound wisdom gifted by God. Verses 1-28 detail his officials and the vast provision required for his lavish court, establishing his administrative prowess and the peaceful abundance of his kingdom. Verses 29-34 specifically focus on his extraordinary wisdom. Verse 29 declares the divine source and measure of his wisdom, stating it surpassed that of all previous and contemporary sages. Verse 32 mentions his literary output of 3,000 proverbs and 1,005 songs. Verse 33, then, details the subject matter of his teachings and discourses, revealing his deep understanding of natural history. This holistic view demonstrates that Solomon's wisdom wasn't just practical for governance, but intellectual, encompassing a systematic comprehension of God's creation.
1 Kings 4 33 Word analysis
- He spoke (`וַיְדַבֵּר`, _waydaber_): Implies not merely casual conversation, but deep discourse, systematic teaching, or authoritative declaration. It denotes a deliberate and comprehensive act of verbalization, indicating he philosophized or lectured on these subjects.
- of trees (`עֵצִים`, _etsim_): Refers to botany. Solomon's knowledge wasn't just general; it encompassed specific details about plant life. This would include their characteristics, growth, and uses.
- from the cedar (`אֶרֶז`, _erez_): The _Cedrus libani_, or Cedar of Lebanon. It is the largest, most majestic, and most durable tree in the ancient Near East. Valued for its timber, symbolic of strength, grandeur, and resilience (e.g., Ps 92:12, Ezek 31:3). Its inclusion first signifies starting from the most impressive.
- that is in Lebanon (`לְבָנוֹן`, _Levanon_): The mountainous region north of Israel, renowned for its dense cedar forests. This specific geographical marker reinforces the quality and majesty of the cedars known to Solomon.
- even unto the hyssop (`אֵזוֹב`, _ezov_): A small, herbaceous plant, often found growing in rocky crevices or on walls (Origanum maru / Majoranum syriaca). In contrast to the cedar, it represents the smallest, humblest, or seemingly most insignificant of plants. It was, however, critically important for ritual purification (e.g., Exod 12:22, Lev 14:4, Num 19:6, Ps 51:7), suggesting even its humble stature did not diminish its spiritual or practical significance in Solomon's understanding.
- that springeth out of the wall: Emphasizes the hyssop's lowly and often overlooked habitat. This phrase, together with the cedar, forms a merism – a figure of speech where two contrasting parts represent the whole. It signifies that Solomon's botanical knowledge spanned the entire spectrum, from the greatest and most noble to the smallest and most common or inconspicuous, leaving no aspect unexplored.
- he spoke also of beasts (`בְּהֵמָה`, _behemah_): Refers to larger, usually domesticated, four-footed animals, but broadly covers land mammals.
- and of fowl (`עוֹף`, _ōph_): Refers to birds, flying creatures of the air.
- and of creeping things (`רֶמֶשׂ`, _remes_): Denotes smaller terrestrial creatures that move close to the ground, including reptiles, insects, and small rodents. This category represents a broad range of life, from visible to often hidden.
- and of fishes (`דָּגָה`, _dagah_): Refers to aquatic creatures. This final category ensures that all primary forms of life – land, air, creeping, and water – are covered, completing the description of his comprehensive zoological knowledge.
- "He spoke of trees... and of fishes": This phrase functions as an expansive merism, covering the entire spectrum of God's physical creation. It illustrates that Solomon's wisdom enabled him to systematically understand and articulate details about the full range of biological life on earth and in its waters. It implies an orderly, discerning mind, capable of classifying and articulating insights into God's handiwork.
1 Kings 4 33 Bonus section
Solomon's vast understanding of nature can be seen as an ancient form of natural theology, recognizing divine order and wisdom through the study of creation. While not a modern scientific treatise, it represents a wisdom tradition that saw God's character and attributes (like order, power, and diversity) revealed in the natural world. This comprehensive wisdom of Solomon, although extraordinary, foreshadows Christ, who is the ultimate embodiment of all wisdom and knowledge (Col 2:3). All of creation, which Solomon meticulously observed, exists through Christ and finds its purpose in Him (Col 1:16-17). The scope of Solomon's wisdom thus pointed beyond himself to the One greater, through whom all things were made.
1 Kings 4 33 Commentary
1 Kings 4:33 is a powerful testament to the scope of Solomon's wisdom, divinely bestowed to him, enabling a profound comprehension of the natural world. It underscores that true wisdom, sourced from God, is not confined to human interactions or governance but extends to the intricacies of creation. His ability to discourse on everything from the grandest cedar to the most minute hyssop, and across all animal classifications, signifies an ordered and exhaustive knowledge of God's universe. This capacity suggests he likely drew spiritual or moral lessons from these observations, akin to his proverbs and songs, revealing the divine blueprint evident in nature. Solomon's understanding of creation served as an undeniable witness to the God who is the sole Author and sustainer of all things.