1 Kings 10:3

KJV

And Solomon told her all her questions: there was not [any] thing hid from the king, which he told her not.

KJV (with Strong's)

And Solomon {H8010} told {H5046} her all her questions {H1697}: there was not any thing {H1697} hid {H5956} from the king {H4428}, which he told {H5046} her not.

Complete Jewish Bible

and Shlomo answered all her questions; nothing was hidden from the king that he could not explain to her.

Berean Standard Bible

And Solomon answered all her questions; nothing was too difficult for the king to explain.

American Standard Version

And Solomon told her all her questions: there was not anything hid from the king which he told her not.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
1 Kings 10:3 vividly portrays the extraordinary, divinely-granted wisdom of King Solomon. As the Queen of Sheba, renowned for her discerning intellect, presented him with "hard questions," this verse affirms Solomon's unparalleled ability to comprehend and articulate answers to every single one of her inquiries. It underscores that no question, no matter how intricate or perplexing, remained beyond his grasp, thereby confirming the widespread reports of his profound insight and the fulfillment of God's promise to him.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is situated within the celebrated account of the Queen of Sheba's visit to King Solomon, detailed in [1 Kings 10:1-13](/1_kings/10 "1 Kings 10 - The Queen of Sheba Visits Solomon"). It immediately follows the Queen's arrival in Jerusalem with a vast entourage and her expressed intention to test Solomon with "hard questions" ([1 Kings 10:1](/1_kings/10-1 "1 Kings 10:1 - Queen of Sheba Tests Solomon")). Verse 3 serves as the direct response to this challenge, demonstrating Solomon's complete mastery over all her inquiries, setting the stage for the Queen's astonished reaction and lavish praise in the subsequent verses ([1 Kings 10:4-9](/1_kings/10-4 "1 Kings 10:4-9 - Queen of Sheba's Astonishment")). It highlights the climax of her intellectual challenge and the irrefutable evidence of Solomon's wisdom.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In the ancient Near East, a monarch's wisdom was not merely an intellectual attribute but a crucial aspect of their legitimacy and ability to govern. Kings were expected to be sagacious judges, astute administrators, and insightful problem-solvers. The testing of a ruler's wisdom by foreign dignitaries, often through riddles or complex inquiries, was a recognized diplomatic practice to assess their capabilities and the strength of their kingdom. The Queen of Sheba's arduous journey from a distant land (likely modern-day Yemen or Ethiopia) to Jerusalem underscores the immense reputation Solomon had garnered, not just for his wealth, but primarily for his God-given wisdom, which transcended geographical and cultural boundaries. Her visit was a significant international event, validating Solomon's standing among the nations and implicitly, the God of Israel who granted such wisdom.
* **Key Themes:** The central theme illuminated by this verse is the **Supernatural Wisdom of Solomon**. This wisdom was not merely human intellect but a direct, divine endowment, fulfilling God's promise to Solomon after his prayer for an "understanding heart" to govern God's people ([1 Kings 3:9](/1_kings/3-9 "1 Kings 3:9 - Solomon's Prayer for Wisdom")). The verse also powerfully illustrates the theme of **Divine Equipping of Leaders**, showcasing how God fully enables those He chooses for specific purposes, empowering Solomon to represent divine wisdom to the nations. Furthermore, it reinforces the theme of **Confirmed Reputation**, as the Queen's direct experience of Solomon's flawless answers served to solidify his widespread fame as the wisest king of his time, a fact she explicitly acknowledges in her later testimony ([1 Kings 10:6-7](/1_kings/10-6 "1 Kings 10:6-7 - Queen of Sheba's Affirmation of Solomon's Wisdom")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **questions (Hebrew, _chîydah'_):** This term refers to riddles, perplexing sayings, or difficult questions designed to test one's intellect and insight. It implies inquiries that require deep understanding, discernment, and perhaps even spiritual insight, rather than simple factual recall. The Queen's "questions" were not trivial but challenges intended to probe the very limits of Solomon's wisdom.
* **hid (Hebrew, _ʿālam'_):** This word means "to conceal," "to be hidden," or "to be obscure." In this context, it signifies that nothing was too difficult, too intricate, or too obscure for Solomon to comprehend and explain. It emphasizes the absolute completeness and depth of his knowledge, leaving no stone unturned and no mystery unsolved.
* **told (Hebrew, _nagad'_):** This verb means "to declare," "to make known," "to report," or "to explain fully." It implies not just a simple answer, but a comprehensive and articulate disclosure of understanding. Solomon didn't just give brief replies; he fully expounded upon her questions, demonstrating his profound grasp of every subject.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And Solomon told her all her questions":** This clause establishes the immediate response to the Queen of Sheba's challenge. It indicates Solomon's active engagement with her inquiries, signifying his willingness and ability to address every single one of them. The use of "all" emphasizes the comprehensive nature of his replies, leaving no question unaddressed.
* **"there was not [any] thing hid from the king,":** This phrase, a negative construction, powerfully conveys the idea that nothing was too obscure, too difficult, or too complex for Solomon to understand. The bracketed "any" in the KJV clarifies the breadth of "thing," meaning not a single item or concept was beyond his comprehension. This is a testament to the depth of his divinely-granted insight.
* **"which he told her not."**: This final clause acts as a double negative, reinforcing the preceding statement. It means that everything that was not hidden from him, he indeed told her. This emphatically confirms his complete and unreserved disclosure of knowledge, leaving no question unanswered and no explanation incomplete. It underscores the absolute fulfillment of the Queen's intellectual challenge.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several literary devices to emphasize Solomon's extraordinary wisdom. **Hyperbole** is evident in the declaration that "there was not [any] thing hid from the king, which he told her not." While Solomon was not omniscient, this exaggerated language effectively conveys the *completeness* and *perfection* of his God-given wisdom in the context of the Queen's challenge. It creates a sense of awe and leaves no doubt about his intellectual supremacy. There is also an element of **Foreshadowing**, as Solomon's wisdom, which draws nations to Jerusalem, implicitly points to a greater wisdom to come in the person of Christ, who would draw all people to Himself. Finally, the verse functions as a **Divine Fiat** in narrative form, demonstrating the direct fulfillment of God's promise to Solomon in [1 Kings 3:12](/1_kings/3-12 "1 Kings 3:12 - God's Promise of Wisdom to Solomon"), where God declares, "Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart."

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
1 Kings 10:3 serves as a powerful testament to the source and nature of true wisdom. Solomon's ability to answer every question, leaving nothing hidden, points beyond mere human intellect to a divine endowment. This wisdom is not self-generated but is a gracious gift from God, demonstrating His faithfulness to His promises and His desire to equip His chosen servants for their tasks. The theological implication is that ultimate wisdom resides in God alone, and any true wisdom found in humanity is a reflection or impartation of His own infinite knowledge and understanding. This narrative encourages a posture of dependence on God for insight, recognizing that He is the fount of all knowledge and the one who reveals mysteries.

* [Proverbs 2:6](/proverbs/2-6 "Proverbs 2:6 - The Lord Gives Wisdom")
* [James 1:5](/james/1-5 "James 1:5 - Asking God for Wisdom")
* [Colossians 2:3](/colossians/2-3 "Colossians 2:3 - Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The account of Solomon's unparalleled wisdom in 1 Kings 10:3 offers profound lessons for contemporary believers. It reminds us that genuine wisdom, the kind that can navigate life's most complex questions and perplexities, originates not from human ingenuity alone, but from God. In a world increasingly saturated with information but often lacking true discernment, this verse calls us to humbly seek the wisdom that comes from above. This wisdom is not merely intellectual prowess but a spiritual insight that enables us to understand God's will, make righteous decisions, and offer counsel that honors Him. Just as Solomon's wisdom attracted the Queen of Sheba, our lives, when guided by divine wisdom, can become a compelling witness to the transformative power of God, drawing others to seek the truth found in Him. We are encouraged to approach God with our own "hard questions" and challenges, trusting that He will provide the understanding we need to live purposefully and glorify His name.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does Solomon's divinely-granted wisdom in this verse challenge our modern understanding of intelligence and success?**
* **In what areas of your life are you currently facing "hard questions" that require wisdom beyond your own understanding?**
* **What practical steps can you take to more intentionally seek God's wisdom in your daily decisions and interactions?**
* **How might a life lived in God's wisdom serve as a witness to those around you, drawing them to consider the source of your insight?**

### FAQ

**What kind of "questions" did the Queen of Sheba ask Solomon?**

Answer: While the Bible doesn't specify the exact nature of the Queen's "hard questions" (Hebrew: _chîydah_), the term implies riddles, enigmatic sayings, or complex inquiries designed to test the depth of Solomon's understanding and discernment. These were likely not simple factual questions but rather profound matters of statecraft, philosophy, ethics, natural science, or even spiritual mysteries, intended to truly probe the limits of his renowned wisdom. Her aim was to determine if his reputation was indeed deserved, requiring comprehensive and insightful answers that demonstrated profound insight.

**Does Solomon's comprehensive knowledge in this verse imply he was omniscient?**

Answer: No, Solomon's ability to answer all the Queen's questions does not imply omniscience, which is an attribute belonging only to God. Instead, it signifies a divinely-enabled, comprehensive understanding within his human capacity, specifically granted by God to fulfill His promise to Solomon in [1 Kings 3:12](/1_kings/3-12 "1 Kings 3:12 - God's Promise of Wisdom to Solomon"). God supernaturally equipped Solomon with an extraordinary measure of wisdom and discernment for his role as king, allowing him to excel in all areas of knowledge and administration, and to represent God's glory to the nations. This was a specific, miraculous endowment, not an inherent divine attribute.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The account of Solomon's unparalleled wisdom, which drew the Queen of Sheba from the ends of the earth, finds its ultimate and perfect fulfillment in Jesus Christ. While Solomon's wisdom was a magnificent, divinely-granted gift to a human king, it was still finite and ultimately limited by his humanity and later moral failings. Jesus, however, is not merely wise but is the very embodiment and source of all wisdom. He is the divine Wisdom of God incarnate, in whom "are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge" ([Colossians 2:3](/colossians/2-3 "Colossians 2:3 - Christ, the Treasure of Wisdom")). Jesus Himself declared that "a greater than Solomon is here" ([Matthew 12:42](/matthew/12-42 "Matthew 12:42 - The Queen of the South and Jesus' Greater Wisdom"); [Luke 11:31](/luke/11-31 "Luke 11:31 - The Queen of the South and Jesus' Greater Wisdom")), directly contrasting His own inherent, divine wisdom with Solomon's received wisdom. Just as the Queen sought Solomon for answers, humanity, burdened by its deepest questions and spiritual perplexities, finds the complete and perfect answer in Christ. He is not just a wise teacher, but "God made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption" ([1 Corinthians 1:30](/1_corinthians/1-30 "1 Corinthians 1:30 - Christ Our Wisdom")). The nations that marveled at Solomon's wisdom now have the opportunity to bow before the One who is Wisdom itself, finding in Him the solution to every riddle of life and the path to eternal truth.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.