Bible Strands
2 Chronicles 9:6
But I did not believe the reports until I came and saw with my own eyes. Indeed, not half of the greatness of your wisdom was told to me. You have far exceeded the report I heard.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The Queen of Sheba addresses King Solomon after inspecting his court, governance, and temple offerings. She speaks to him directly at the conclusion of her visit to verify the claims she received in her own land.
The words — The phrase לֹא־הֶאֱמַנְתִּי (lo'-he'eman'ti) literally means "I did not believe," linked to עַד (ad) "until" to mark the boundary between hearsay and verified fact. The verbs בָּאתִי (ba.ti) "I came" and תִּרְאֶינָה עֵינַי (tir.'Ei.nah 'ei.Na/i) "my eyes saw" establish personal observation as the operative standard.
The thread — This verification pattern runs directly alongside 1 Kings 10:7, where the same visitor declares she did not believe the reports until she arrived and saw with her own eyes. Both passages use empirical confirmation to validate the scope of royal wisdom and divine blessing.
Why it lands — The text requires that extraordinary claims about leadership or wisdom survive direct inspection before they are accepted. It positions personal observation over secondhand rumor as the necessary foundation for acknowledging true greatness.
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
Howbeit I believed not their words, until I came, and mine eyes had seen it: and, behold, the one half of the greatness of thy wisdom was not told me: for thou exceedest the fame that I heard.
Cross-references
- 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.
- 1 Kings 4:34 So men of all nations came to listen to Solomon’s wisdom, sent by all the kings of the earth, who had heard of his wisdom.
- 1 Kings 10:7 But I did not believe these things until I came and saw with my own eyes. Indeed, not even half was told to me. Your wisdom and prosperity have far exceeded the report I heard.
- 2 Chronicles 9:5 She said to the king, “The report I heard in my own country about your words and wisdom is true.
- Psalms 31:19 How great is Your goodness which You have laid up for those who fear You, which You have bestowed before the sons of men on those who take refuge in You!
- Song of Solomon 5:9 How is your beloved better than others, O most beautiful among women? How is your beloved better than another, that you charge us so?
- Zechariah 9:17 How lovely they will be, and how beautiful! Grain will make the young men flourish, and new wine, the young women.
- John 20:25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he replied, “Unless I see the nail marks in His hands, and put my finger where the nails have been, and put my hand into His side, I will never believe.”
- 1 Corinthians 2:9 Rather, as it is written: “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no heart has imagined, what God has prepared for those who love Him.”
- 1 John 3:2 Beloved, we are now children of God, and what we will be has not yet been revealed. We know that when Christ appears, we will be like Him, for we will see Him as He is.