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?”

Berean Standard Bible

Follow its threads on the canvas →

Study note

Setting — Solomon addresses Yahweh in prayer immediately after his coronation, referencing God’s pledge to David and his own rule over a vast population. He asks for divine enablement to lead and poses a rhetorical question about his natural capacity to govern.

The words — The petition hinges on חָכְמָה (chokh.mah) for “wisdom” and מַדָּע (ma.Da') for “knowledge,” paired with the imperative תֵּן (ten) meaning “give.” Solomon links these terms to the phrase לִפְנֵי הָעָם הַזֶּה (lifnei ha'am ha-zeh) to specify his operational duty “before this people.”

The thread — This specific request for governing discernment appears in the parallel narrative at 1 Kings 3:9 and mirrors the wisdom tradition’s repeated commands to pursue understanding in Proverbs 2:2 and Proverbs 4:7. The biblical record consistently treats divine wisdom as the prerequisite for managing a large community.

Why it lands — The text states that leadership requires a resource beyond human capability and places communal governance above personal security or status. It requires the reader to identify their own areas of insufficient capacity and to request the specific discernment needed to serve those under their authority.

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

עַתָּ֗ה'a.Tahnow חָכְמָ֤הchokh.mahwisdom וּמַדָּע֙u./ma.Da'and/ knowledge תֶּן־ten-giveלִ֔יL/ito/ meוְאֵֽצְאָ֛הve./'e.tze.'Ahso/ let me go out לִפְנֵ֥יli/f.Nei<to>/ before הָֽעָם־ha./'om-the/ people הַזֶּ֖הha./Zeh<the>/ this וְאָב֑וֹאָהve./'a.Vo.'ahso/ I may come כִּֽי־ki-for מִ֣יmiwho?יִשְׁפֹּ֔טyish.Potwill he judge אֶת־'et-<obj.>עַמְּךָ֥'a.me./Khapeople/ your הַזֶּ֖הha./Zeh<the>/ this הַגָּדֽוֹל׃ סha./ga.Dol<the>/ great

King James Version

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?

Cross-references

1 Kings 3:9 Therefore give Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people and to discern between good and evil. For who is able to govern this great people of Yours?”
Proverbs 2:2 if you incline your ear to wisdom and direct your heart to understanding,
Proverbs 4:7 Wisdom is supreme; so acquire wisdom. And whatever you may acquire, gain understanding.
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.
2 Samuel 5:2 Even in times past, while Saul was king over us, you were the one who led Israel out and brought them back. And to you the LORD said, ‘You will shepherd My people Israel, and you will be ruler over them.’”
Psalms 119:34 Give me understanding that I may obey Your law, and follow it with all my heart.
Proverbs 3:13 Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who acquires understanding,
Numbers 27:17 who will go out and come in before them, and who will lead them out and bring them in, so that the congregation of the LORD will not be like sheep without a shepherd.”
Psalms 119:73 Your hands have made me and fashioned me; give me understanding to learn Your commandments.
2 Corinthians 3:5 Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim that anything comes from us, but our competence comes from God.