Bible Strands
1 Kings 4:31
He was wiser than all men—wiser than Ethan the Ezrahite, and wiser than Heman, Calcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol. And his fame spread throughout the surrounding nations.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The narrator describes Solomon’s reign, positioning this assessment of his intellect immediately after God’s promise in 1 Kings 3:12 and before his literary output in 1 Kings 4:32.
The words — The verb וַ/יֶּחְכַּם֮ (va/i.yech.Kam) literally renders “and he was wise,” while the comparative phrase מִ/כָּל\־ (mi./kol) translates to “more than any.”
The thread — The named figures Ethan, Heman, Calcol, and Darda reappear in 1 Chronicles 2:6 as sons of Zerah and in 1 Chronicles 15:19 as temple musicians. Solomon’s declared superiority fulfills the specific grant recorded in 1 Kings 3:12.
Why it lands — The text states Solomon’s fame spread throughout surrounding nations after establishing his intellectual supremacy over known figures. It asks the reader to accept this historical claim of widespread renown as presented, without adding theological speculation.
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
For he was wiser than all men; than Ethan the Ezrahite, and Heman, and Chalcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol: and his fame was in all nations round about.
Cross-references
- 1 Chronicles 2:6 The sons of Zerah: Zimri, Ethan, Heman, Calcol, and Dara—five in all.
- 1 Chronicles 15:19 The musicians Heman, Asaph, and Ethan were to sound the bronze cymbals.
- 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.
- 1 Chronicles 6:33 These are the men who served, together with their sons. From the Kohathites: Heman the singer, the son of Joel, the son of Samuel,
- Psalms 89:1 A Maskil of Ethan the Ezrahite. I will sing of the loving devotion of the LORD forever; with my mouth I will proclaim Your faithfulness to all generations.
- Matthew 12:42 The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and now One greater than Solomon is here.
- Luke 11:31 The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with the men of this generation and condemn them; for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and now One greater than Solomon is here.
- 1 Kings 5:7 When Hiram received Solomon’s message, he rejoiced greatly and said, “Blessed be the LORD this day! He has given David a wise son over this great people!”
- 1 Kings 10:1 Now when the queen of Sheba heard about the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the LORD, she came to test him with difficult questions.
- 1 Kings 10:6 She said to the king, “The report I heard in my own country about your words and wisdom is true.