Bible Strands
1 Kings 4:29
And God gave Solomon wisdom, exceedingly deep insight, and understanding beyond measure, like the sand on the seashore.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The narrator records God’s direct action toward Solomon at the moment the kingdom’s administrative and military logistics are being finalized. This declaration follows the report of tribute collection and precedes the comparison of Solomon’s renown to foreign scholars.
The words — חָכְמָה (chokh.mah) translates literally as wisdom, while תְבוּנָה (te.vu.nah) means understanding or insight. Both terms are directly preceded by the verb וַיִּתֵּן (va.yi.ten), meaning “and he gave,” establishing divine origin.
The thread — The granting of wisdom echoes the earlier promise in 1 Kings 3:12 where God responds to Solomon’s request. The sand imagery reappears in 1 Kings 4:20 to describe population size, while James 3:17 contrasts this earthly grant with wisdom from above.
Why it lands — The text states that God actively supplied Solomon with profound cognitive capacity before any human achievement is recorded. It requires the reader to recognize that the capacity for governance and insight originates from divine provision rather than innate human merit.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding exceeding much, and largeness of heart, even as the sand that is on the sea shore.
Cross-references
- 1 Kings 3:12 behold, I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been another like you, nor will there ever be.
- James 3:17 But the wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peace-loving, gentle, accommodating, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, and sincere.
- 1 Kings 4:20 The people of Judah and Israel were as numerous as the sand on the seashore, and they were eating and drinking and rejoicing.
- Ecclesiastes 2:26 To the man who is pleasing in His sight, He gives wisdom and knowledge and joy, but to the sinner He assigns the task of gathering and accumulating that which he will hand over to one who pleases God. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind.
- James 1:5 Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.
- James 1:17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, with whom there is no change or shifting shadow.
- 2 Chronicles 1:10 Now grant me wisdom and knowledge, so that I may lead this people. For who is able to govern this great people of Yours?”
- Proverbs 2:6 For the LORD gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.
- Isaiah 60:5 Then you will look and be radiant, and your heart will tremble and swell with joy, because the riches of the sea will be brought to you, and the wealth of the nations will come to you.
- Genesis 41:49 So Joseph stored up grain in such abundance, like the sand of the sea, that he stopped keeping track of it; for it was beyond measure.