1 Kings 5:7 kjv
And it came to pass, when Hiram heard the words of Solomon, that he rejoiced greatly, and said, Blessed be the LORD this day, which hath given unto David a wise son over this great people.
1 Kings 5:7 nkjv
So it was, when Hiram heard the words of Solomon, that he rejoiced greatly and said, Blessed be the LORD this day, for He has given David a wise son over this great people!
1 Kings 5:7 niv
When Hiram heard Solomon's message, he was greatly pleased and said, "Praise be to the LORD today, for he has given David a wise son to rule over this great nation."
1 Kings 5:7 esv
As soon as Hiram heard the words of Solomon, he rejoiced greatly and said, "Blessed be the LORD this day, who has given to David a wise son to be over this great people."
1 Kings 5:7 nlt
When Hiram received Solomon's message, he was very pleased and said, "Praise the LORD today for giving David a wise son to be king of the great nation of Israel."
1 Kings 5 7 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Sam 7:12-14 | When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers... | God promises David an eternal house and a son to build His house. |
| 1 Ch 22:9-10 | Behold, a son shall be born to you who shall be a man of rest... | God's specific promise of Solomon (Jedidiah), wisdom, and temple-building. |
| 1 Ch 28:5-6 | Of all my sons... he has chosen Solomon my son to sit on the throne... | David acknowledges God's choice of Solomon for kingship and Temple building. |
| 1 Ki 3:10-12 | It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this... | God grants Solomon wisdom, wealth, and honor because he asked for understanding heart. |
| 1 Ki 4:29-30 | God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding beyond measure... | Divine origin of Solomon's exceptional wisdom. |
| 1 Ki 10:9 | Blessed be the Lord your God, who has delighted in you to set you... | Queen of Sheba's acknowledgment of God's blessing on Solomon for justice. |
| Deut 4:6-8 | Keep them and do them, for that will be your wisdom... | Israel's wisdom and greatness, derived from adherence to God's law. |
| Gen 12:2 | And I will make of you a great nation... | God's foundational promise to Abraham of making his descendants a great people. |
| Ps 72:1-2 | Give the king your justice, O God, and your righteousness... | A prayer/prophecy for the king's wise and righteous rule for his people. |
| Ps 75:6-7 | For not from the east or from the west... but God is the judge; he puts... | God alone is the ultimate authority in raising up or bringing down leaders. |
| Exod 6:7 | I will take you to be my people, and I will be your God... | Foundation of Israel's identity as "this great people," God's people. |
| Isa 60:3 | Nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of... | Prophecy of Gentiles being drawn to God's light in Israel. |
| Acts 10:1-2 | At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius... | Cornelius, a Gentile, acknowledges God before hearing the Gospel from Peter. |
| Luke 11:31 | The queen of the South will rise up at the judgment... | Jesus refers to the Queen of Sheba acknowledging Solomon's wisdom and a greater King. |
| Matt 12:42 | The queen of the South will rise up at the judgment... | Parallel to Luke 11:31, highlighting universal recognition of God's wisdom. |
| Eph 1:3 | Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ... | New Testament believers' declaration of blessing to God for spiritual blessings. |
| John 12:13 | Blessed is the King of Israel! | Crowds acclaim Jesus, acknowledging Him as God's chosen King. |
| Col 2:3 | in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. | Christ as the ultimate embodiment of divine wisdom, surpassing Solomon. |
| 1 Cor 1:24 | Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. | Christ revealed as the divine wisdom of God. |
| Jas 1:5 | If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God... | God remains the source of wisdom, freely given to those who ask. |
1 Kings 5 verses
1 Kings 5 7 Meaning
1 Kings 5:7 captures Hiram, the King of Tyre's, profound reaction to Solomon's request for building the Lord's Temple. His words express immense joy and acknowledge YHWH, the God of Israel, for divinely gifting David a son, Solomon, of extraordinary wisdom to reign over the chosen people. This signifies a recognition by a powerful foreign monarch of the Lord's sovereignty and work in Israel's lineage and leadership.
1 Kings 5 7 Context
1 Kings chapter 5 details the diplomatic and logistical preparations for building the Temple in Jerusalem. After King David's reign, his son Solomon consolidates the kingdom and receives an inheritance of peace (hence his name, related to "shalom" - peace). Verse 7 immediately follows Solomon's communication to Hiram, king of Tyre, proposing their alliance for sourcing timber and skilled labor from Lebanon (1 Ki 5:1-6). Hiram's enthusiastic response, therefore, is not merely a political maneuver but a recognition of YHWH's hand in Israel's affairs and the wise king Solomon. Historically, this alliance between Israel and Phoenicia (Tyre) was crucial for Israel's infrastructure development and trade.
1 Kings 5 7 Word analysis
- And when Hiram heard: Implies attention and consideration. Hiram's awareness of God's favor upon David's line might precede this; this event solidifies it.
- the words of Solomon: Refers to Solomon's direct request for building materials and labor as described in 1 Ki 5:1-6, specifically his stated purpose to build a "house for the name of the Lord his God."
- he rejoiced greatly: (Hebrew: vayismah m'od) "Greatly" (m'od) indicates intense emotion, a strong and profound positive reaction, not mere diplomatic pleasantries. It suggests genuine pleasure and awe at God's design.
- and said: Marks the beginning of Hiram's remarkable declaration, an articulate expression of his observation and conclusion.
- "Blessed be the Lord today, (Hebrew: Baruch YHWH ha'yom) "Blessed be YHWH" is a common Israelite doxology or form of praise. For a non-Israelite king like Hiram to use it signifies his recognition of YHWH's supremacy or at least a powerful acknowledgement of His divine action. "Today" points to the immediate, visible divine act in the current leadership of Israel. It’s an acknowledgment of God’s timely and manifest providence.
- who has given to David: Attributes Solomon's ascension directly to YHWH, reinforcing divine providence over royal succession, a concept common in the ancient Near East but here specifically directed at YHWH's plan for David.
- a wise son: Solomon's wisdom, requested from and granted by God (1 Ki 3:5-14), was already renowned (1 Ki 4:29-34). Hiram directly attributes this wisdom to God's gifting. This is the quality that made Solomon suitable for the immense task.
- over this great people!": "This great people" refers to Israel, implying both their numerical strength and, more importantly, their special status as God's chosen nation (Deut 4:6-8). Hiram sees YHWH’s hand not just on Solomon but on His entire nation through this king.
1 Kings 5 7 Bonus section
The acknowledgment by King Hiram serves a polemical purpose: against polytheism and against the notion that other deities are on par with YHWH. Hiram, while not necessarily becoming a full worshipper of YHWH in the Israelite sense, publicly recognizes YHWH's supreme authority in this specific situation, highlighting His unparalleled wisdom and power among gods. This echoes future prophetic messages about the nations coming to recognize the true God.
1 Kings 5 7 Commentary
1 Kings 5:7 offers a crucial perspective: YHWH, the God of Israel, is not confined to the land of Israel, nor is His power unseen by other nations. Hiram, a Gentile king, articulates a profound theological statement, attributing Solomon's kingship and wisdom directly to YHWH's blessing upon David's house. This public praise of YHWH by a foreign dignitary demonstrates the spread of YHWH's reputation beyond Israel's borders, validating God's promises and showing His control over events. Hiram's acknowledgment serves to highlight the exceptional nature of Solomon's wisdom, underscoring it as a divine gift, not merely a natural trait. This foreign affirmation further legitimizes Solomon's reign and the Temple project as divinely sanctioned and empowered, establishing a universal context for Israel's divine purpose.