1 Kings
“Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?”
1 Kings 3:9
1 Kings 3:9 (KJV) speaks to wisdom, leadership, and prayer — words set in 1 Kings, the history of Israel's kings and the temple. Read it unhurried, and let it become a prayer you return to.
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Verses that sit beside this one
“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?”
2 Chronicles 1:10“If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.”
James 1:5“Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.”
Proverbs 4:7“Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established.”
Proverbs 4:26“Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth.”
Proverbs 4:5“But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.”
James 3:17
Common questions
What does 1 Kings 3:9 mean?
In the King James Version, 1 Kings 3:9 reads: "Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?" The verse speaks to wisdom, leadership, and prayer. To read it well, take it in the flow of 1 Kings 3 rather than on its own, and let the words settle slowly — reading it aloud, or turning it into a short prayer, is often what makes its meaning land.
Is 1 Kings 3:9 in the King James Version?
Yes. "Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?" is 1 Kings 3:9 in the King James Version (KJV), found in 1 Kings chapter 3.
What are some related Bible verses to 1 Kings 3:9?
Verses that sit beside 1 Kings 3:9 include 2 Chronicles 1:10, James 1:5, and Proverbs 4:7. Reading them alongside 1 Kings 3:9 deepens the theme of wisdom.
How can I pray with 1 Kings 3:9?
Read 1 Kings 3:9 slowly, take a breath, and turn it into a short prayer in your own words — thanking God for what it promises, or asking for what it points to. Keep it somewhere you will see it today, and let it be a companion rather than a task to finish.