Bible Strands
1 Kings 4:32
Solomon composed three thousand proverbs, and his songs numbered a thousand and five.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The narrator records Solomon’s literary output during the reign of peace and wisdom detailed in 1 Kings 4. The statement appears between accounts of his recognized superiority over other wise men and his subsequent teachings on the natural world.
The words — מָשָׁל (ma.Shal) denotes a proverb or proverbial saying, paired with שִׁיר (shi.R) for song. The numerals שְׁלֹשֶׁת אֲלָפִים (she.Lo.shet 'a.la.Fim) and חֲמִשָּׁה וָאָלֶף (cha.mi.Shah va.'A.lef) explicitly quantify three thousand and one thousand five.
The thread — These collections are identified as Solomon’s work in Proverbs 1:1 and Song of Solomon 1:1, while the parabolic method of his teaching anticipates the fulfillment noted in Matthew 13:35.
Why it lands — The text measures Solomon’s wisdom through exact counts of composed proverbs and songs rather than abstract acclaim. It requires the reader to treat his documented literary output as the concrete evidence of the wisdom granted to him.
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 he spake three thousand proverbs: and his songs were a thousand and five.
Cross-references
- Proverbs 1:1 These are the proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel,
- Song of Solomon 1:1 This is Solomon’s Song of Songs.
- Matthew 13:35 So was fulfilled what was spoken through the prophet: “I will open My mouth in parables; I will utter things hidden since the foundation of the world.”
- Ecclesiastes 12:9 Not only was the Teacher wise, but he also taught the people knowledge; he pondered, searched out, and arranged many proverbs.