1 Kings 10:1

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

¶ And when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the LORD, she came to prove him with hard questions.

Complete Jewish Bible:

When the queen of Sh'va heard what was being said about Shlomo because of the name of ADONAI, she came to test him with difficult questions.

Berean Standard Bible:

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.

American Standard Version:

And when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of Jehovah, she came to prove him with hard questions.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And when the queen^{H4436} of Sheba^{H7614} heard^{H8085} of the fame^{H8088} of Solomon^{H8010} concerning the name^{H8034} of the LORD^{H3068}, she came^{H935} to prove^{H5254} him with hard questions^{H2420}.

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Commentary for 1 Kings 10:1

1 Kings 10:1 introduces the visit of the Queen of Sheba to King Solomon, an event that has become legendary in both Judeo-Christian and Islamic traditions. The verse situates itself in the historical context of Solomon's reign, which is traditionally dated to the 10th century BCE. Solomon was known for his wisdom, wealth, and the grandeur of his kingdom, which were seen as divine blessings for his initial faithfulness to God.

The Queen of Sheba, whose kingdom is often associated with present-day Yemen or Ethiopia, hears about Solomon's reputation, particularly in relation to his understanding and the manner in which the name of the Lord, Yahweh, is revered and exalted in his realm. Her visit is prompted by a desire to test Solomon with challenging questions, which could be riddles, philosophical queries, or theological discussions. This encounter highlights themes of wisdom, the international renown of Solomon's rule, and the inquisitive nature of the Queen, who seeks firsthand experience of Solomon's wisdom.

The verse also touches on the broader theme of the recognition of Israel's God by the nations, as Solomon's wisdom and the splendor of his kingdom draw foreign dignitaries to Jerusalem. The Queen's journey and her interaction with Solomon serve as a narrative illustration of the universal appeal of Solomon's God-given wisdom and the recognition of the Lord's greatness beyond the borders of Israel. The event underscores the biblical motif that the God of Israel is not merely a local deity but the true God of all the earth, whose wisdom is acknowledged by distant rulers.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: H4436
   There are 34 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: מַלְכָּה
   Transliteration: malkâh
   Pronunciation: mal-kaw'
   Description: feminine of מֶלֶךְ; a queen; queen.
   
2. Strong's Number: H7614
   There are 23 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: שְׁבָא
   Transliteration: Shᵉbâʼ
   Pronunciation: sheb-aw'
   Description: of foreign origin; Sheba, the name of three early progenitors of tribes and of an Ethiopian district; Sheba, Sabeans.
   
3. Strong's Number: H8085
   There are 1072 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: שָׁמַע
   Transliteration: shâmaʻ
   Pronunciation: shaw-mah'
   Description: a primitive root; to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.); [idiom] attentively, call (gather) together, [idiom] carefully, [idiom] certainly, consent, consider, be content, declare, [idiom] diligently, discern, give ear, (cause to, let, make to) hear(-ken, tell), [idiom] indeed, listen, make (a) noise, (be) obedient, obey, perceive, (make a) proclaim(-ation), publish, regard, report, shew (forth), (make a) sound, [idiom] surely, tell, understand, whosoever (heareth), witness.
   
4. Strong's Number: H8088
   There are 17 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: שֵׁמַע
   Transliteration: shêmaʻ
   Pronunciation: shay'-mah
   Description: from שָׁמַע; something heard, i.e. a sound, rumor, announcement; abstractly, audience; bruit, fame, hear(-ing), loud, report, speech, tidings.
   
5. Strong's Number: H8010
   There are 263 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: שְׁלֹמֹה
   Transliteration: Shᵉlômôh
   Pronunciation: shel-o-mo'
   Description: from שָׁלוֹם; peaceful; Shelomah, David's successor; Solomon.
   
6. Strong's Number: H8034
   There are 771 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: שֵׁם
   Transliteration: shêm
   Pronunciation: shame
   Description: a primitive word (perhaps rather from through the idea of definite and conspicuous position; compare שָׁמַיִם); an appellation, as amark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority, character; [phrase] base, (in-) fame(-ous), named(-d), renown, report.
   
7. Strong's Number: H3068
   There are 5521 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יְהֹוָה
   Transliteration: Yᵉhôvâh
   Pronunciation: yeh-ho-vaw'
   Description: from הָיָה; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God; Jehovah, the Lord. Compare יָהּ, יְהֹוִה.
   
8. Strong's Number: H935
   There are 2307 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: בּוֹא
   Transliteration: bôwʼ
   Pronunciation: bo
   Description: a primitive root; to go or come (in a wide variety of applications); abide, apply, attain, [idiom] be, befall, [phrase] besiege, bring (forth, in, into, to pass), call, carry, [idiom] certainly, (cause, let, thing for) to come (against, in, out, upon, to pass), depart, [idiom] doubtless again, [phrase] eat, [phrase] employ, (cause to) enter (in, into, -tering, -trance, -try), be fallen, fetch, [phrase] follow, get, give, go (down, in, to war), grant, [phrase] have, [idiom] indeed, (in-) vade, lead, lift (up), mention, pull in, put, resort, run (down), send, set, [idiom] (well) stricken (in age), [idiom] surely, take (in), way.
   
9. Strong's Number: H5254
   There are 34 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: נָסָה
   Transliteration: nâçâh
   Pronunciation: naw-saw'
   Description: a primitive root; to test; by implication, to attempt; adventure, assay, prove, tempt, try.
   
10. Strong's Number: H2420
    There are 17 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: חִידָה
    Transliteration: chîydâh
    Pronunciation: khee-daw'
    Description: from חוּד; a puzzle, hence, a trick, conundrum, sententious maxim; dark saying (sentence, speech), hard question, proverb, riddle.