1 Kings 3:24

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

And the king said, Bring me a sword. And they brought a sword before the king.

Complete Jewish Bible:

Bring me a sword," said the king. They brought a sword to the king.

Berean Standard Bible:

The king continued, “Bring me a sword.” So they brought him a sword,

American Standard Version:

And the king said, Fetch me a sword. And they brought a sword before the king.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And the king{H4428} said{H559}, Bring{H3947} me a sword{H2719}. And they brought{H935} a sword{H2719} before{H6440} the king{H4428}.

Cross-References (KJV):


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Commentary for 1 Kings 3:24

1 Kings 3:24 is a part of the narrative concerning King Solomon, who is renowned for his wisdom. The verse occurs within the context of a famous story where two women come before Solomon, both claiming to be the mother of a living child. The other woman's child had died, and she had exchanged the dead child for the living one while the other mother was asleep. To resolve the dispute, Solomon calls for a sword to be brought before him, intending to cut the living child in half to give to each woman. The true mother's anguished reaction, preferring to give up her child rather than see him killed, reveals her as the child's actual mother. Solomon's request for a sword is a dramatic demonstration of his wisdom in action, using a shocking and seemingly harsh proposition to expose the truth and render a just verdict.

This verse reflects the broader themes of the book of 1 Kings, which includes the transition of leadership from King David to his son Solomon, the establishment of Solomon's reign, and the account of his famed wisdom and the construction of the First Temple in Jerusalem. The historical context is set in the early period of the United Monarchy of Israel, when Solomon's rule was marked by peace, prosperity, and international prestige. The incident with the sword is emblematic of Solomon's ability to use shrewd judgment to maintain justice in his kingdom, a quality that God had granted him in response to his request for wisdom over wealth or long life (1 Kings 3:9-12). This story has endured as a powerful illustration of Solomon's wisdom and has been retold across cultures and religions as a model of judicial insight and the pursuit of truth through unconventional means.

*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: H4428
    There are 1922 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: מֶלֶךְ
    Transliteration: melek
    Pronunciation: meh'-lek
    Description: from מָלַךְ; a king; king, royal.
  2. Strong's Number: H559
    There are 4434 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: אָמַר
    Transliteration: ʼâmar
    Pronunciation: aw-mar'
    Description: a primitive root; to say (used with great latitude); answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, [phrase] (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, [idiom] desire, determine, [idiom] expressly, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] intend, name, [idiom] plainly, promise, publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), [idiom] still, [idiom] suppose, talk, tell, term, [idiom] that is, [idiom] think, use (speech), utter, [idiom] verily, [idiom] yet.
  3. Strong's Number: H3947
    There are 909 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: לָקַח
    Transliteration: lâqach
    Pronunciation: law-kakh'
    Description: a primitive root; to take (in the widest variety of applications); accept, bring, buy, carry away, drawn, fetch, get, infold, [idiom] many, mingle, place, receive(-ing), reserve, seize, send for, take (away, -ing, up), use, win.
  4. Strong's Number: H2719
    There are 372 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: חֶרֶב
    Transliteration: chereb
    Pronunciation: kheh'-reb
    Description: from חָרַב; drought; also a cutting instrument (from its destructive effect), as a knife, sword, or other sharp implement; axe, dagger, knife, mattock, sword, tool.
  5. 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.
  6. Strong's Number: H6440
    There are 1890 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: פָּנִים
    Transliteration: pânîym
    Pronunciation: paw-neem'
    Description: plural (but always as singular) of an unused noun פָּנֶה; from פָּנָה); the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposition (before, etc.); [phrase] accept, a-(be-) fore(-time), against, anger, [idiom] as (long as), at, [phrase] battle, [phrase] because (of), [phrase] beseech, countenance, edge, [phrase] employ, endure, [phrase] enquire, face, favour, fear of, for, forefront(-part), form(-er time, -ward), from, front, heaviness, [idiom] him(-self), [phrase] honourable, [phrase] impudent, [phrase] in, it, look(-eth) (-s), [idiom] me, [phrase] meet, [idiom] more than, mouth, of, off, (of) old (time), [idiom] on, open, [phrase] out of, over against, the partial, person, [phrase] please, presence, propect, was purposed, by reason of, [phrase] regard, right forth, [phrase] serve, [idiom] shewbread, sight, state, straight, [phrase] street, [idiom] thee, [idiom] them(-selves), through ([phrase] -out), till, time(-s) past, (un-) to(-ward), [phrase] upon, upside ([phrase] down), with(-in, [phrase] -stand), [idiom] ye, [idiom] you.