2 Chronicles 1:10 kjv
Give me now wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people: for who can judge this thy people, that is so great?
2 Chronicles 1:10 nkjv
Now give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people; for who can judge this great people of Yours?"
2 Chronicles 1:10 niv
Give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may lead this people, for who is able to govern this great people of yours?"
2 Chronicles 1:10 esv
Give me now wisdom and knowledge to go out and come in before this people, for who can govern this people of yours, which is so great?"
2 Chronicles 1:10 nlt
Give me the wisdom and knowledge to lead them properly, for who could possibly govern this great people of yours?"
2 Chronicles 1 10 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Kgs 3:9 | "Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people..." | Parallel account of Solomon's request for wisdom. |
| 1 Kgs 3:11 | "Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life..." | God's approval of Solomon's unselfish request. |
| Prov 2:6 | "For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding." | Wisdom and knowledge are gifts from God. |
| Jam 1:5 | "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously..." | New Testament principle of asking God for wisdom. |
| Eph 1:17 | "that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom..." | Paul's prayer for spiritual wisdom. |
| Isa 11:2 | "And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding..." | Prophecy of the Spirit's gifts for righteous rule. |
| Exod 18:21 | "Moreover, look for able men from all the people, men who fear God...of truth..." | Need for qualified leaders with discernment. |
| Deut 1:9 | "I am not able to carry you by myself." | Moses acknowledging the burden of leadership. |
| Deut 31:2 | "...I am no longer able to go out and come in..." | "Go out and come in" as an idiom for leadership. |
| Num 27:17 | "...who shall go out before them and come in before them..." | Joshua appointed with leadership capabilities. |
| Matt 6:33 | "But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." | Prioritizing God's will results in blessing. |
| Psa 37:4 | "Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart." | God grants desires aligned with His will. |
| Psa 51:10 | "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me." | A request for inner transformation, related to good motives. |
| Prov 8:12 | "I, wisdom, dwell with prudence, and I find knowledge and discretion." | Personification of wisdom, indicating its benefits. |
| Eccl 7:12 | "For wisdom is a protection, just as money is a protection, but the advantage of knowledge is that wisdom preserves the life of him who has it." | Wisdom's superior protective and preserving power. |
| Col 2:3 | "in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge." | Christ as the fount of all wisdom and knowledge. |
| Jer 9:23-24 | "Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom...but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me..." | True wisdom is knowing God. |
| Prov 11:14 | "Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety." | Need for good leadership to prevent societal decay. |
| Heb 4:12 | "For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart." | Divine word enables spiritual discernment. |
| Phil 4:6 | "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God." | Encouragement to make requests to God. |
| Luke 11:9 | "And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you..." | Jesus' teaching on persistence in prayer. |
| 1 Jn 5:14 | "And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us." | God grants requests according to His will. |
2 Chronicles 1 verses
2 Chronicles 1 10 Meaning
This verse records King Solomon's direct and humble plea to God at Gibeon. Having been offered by God whatever he desired, Solomon requests the profound spiritual and practical wisdom and knowledge necessary to effectively lead and govern the vast nation of Israel, recognizing that such a monumental task is beyond human capability without divine enablement. His request prioritized God's kingdom and people above personal gain or power.
2 Chronicles 1 10 Context
This verse is part of an important theological moment early in Solomon's reign. After securing his throne and establishing the kingdom, Solomon, with all Israel, goes to Gibeon, where the Tabernacle of Meeting (and the bronze altar) was located at that time. There, he offers a massive sacrifice of a thousand burnt offerings, demonstrating his devotion and consecration to God as the new king. In response to this act of worship and dedication, God appears to Solomon in a dream by night and invites him to ask for anything he desires. Solomon's profound request in 2 Chronicles 1:10 (parallel to 1 Kings 3:9) is his humble, divinely inspired response to God's gracious invitation, laying the spiritual foundation for his future rule. He understands the immense responsibility of leading "this great people," who are in fact "God's people."
2 Chronicles 1 10 Word analysis
- Give me now: An urgent, immediate, and direct plea for divine provision. It implies a sense of dependence on God.
- wisdom (Hebrew: חָכְמָה, chochmah): Refers not just to intellectual knowledge but more profoundly to practical skill, discerning insight, and godly sagacity for daily life and governance. It's the ability to apply knowledge effectively and make righteous decisions. It speaks to a deep spiritual understanding necessary for divine counsel.
- and knowledge (Hebrew: דַּעַת, da'at): Refers to experiential knowledge, understanding, and discernment. While related to chochmah, da'at often implies intimate acquaintance and practical understanding gained through experience or divine revelation. It's the information needed to act wisely, enabling discernment between right and wrong, good and evil.
- that I may go out and come in: This is a common Hebrew idiom representing the full scope of one's public activity, particularly in leadership or military command. It signifies free movement, conducting affairs, making decisions, and exercising full administrative authority and leadership over a people. It implies being fully equipped for one's duties.
- before this people: Denotes open, public leadership, subject to observation and accountability. Solomon acknowledges he leads in the sight of the people and, by extension, in the sight of God.
- for who can govern: A rhetorical question underscoring the impossibility of ruling such a nation justly and wisely purely by human effort or ability. It highlights Solomon's humility and deep awareness of the immense challenge.
- this great people of Yours: This phrase emphasizes Israel's vast population and God's divine ownership of the nation. Solomon correctly sees Israel as God's covenant people, making their governance a sacred trust that requires God's own wisdom. It frames his role as a shepherd under the Great Shepherd.
2 Chronicles 1 10 Bonus section
- The setting at Gibeon, where the Tabernacle was, suggests a formal and sacred act of worship and consecration before the king made his request. This context underscores the spiritual weight of Solomon's actions.
- The parallel account in 1 Kings 3 emphasizes that Solomon "loved the LORD, walking in the statutes of David his father" (1 Kgs 3:3), indicating a pure motive behind his unprecedented request.
- Solomon's choice contrasts sharply with common human desires for long life, riches, or victory over enemies, demonstrating a kingdom-first mentality that is universally blessed by God.
- The wisdom God gave Solomon was not just for governance but also for daily living, judicial decisions (e.g., the two prostitutes and the child), scientific inquiry, and poetic expression (1 Kgs 4:29-34), illustrating the holistic nature of divine wisdom.
2 Chronicles 1 10 Commentary
Solomon's request in 2 Chronicles 1:10 represents a profound theological statement. It is a king's recognition that true leadership for God's covenant people flows from divine enablement, not human prowess. His appeal for "wisdom and knowledge" specifically to "go out and come in before this people" demonstrates a singular focus on his God-given duty of governance rather than personal power, prestige, or wealth. This selfless petition delighted God because it prioritized His people and His purposes. The request implies that genuine spiritual and practical discernment is paramount for ruling a people called "great" yet also identified as "Yours," highlighting God's ultimate sovereignty and ownership over Israel. Solomon implicitly contrasts this divine wisdom with mere human cleverness, acknowledging its inadequacy for the immense task of guiding a nation chosen by God. His example teaches that a heart truly devoted to God and His will is a prerequisite for receiving divine wisdom for service.