Luke 11:31

The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with the men of this generation, and condemn them: for she came from the utmost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon [is] here.

The queen {G938} of the south {G3558} shall rise up {G1453} in {G1722} the judgment {G2920} with {G3326} the men {G435} of this {G5026} generation {G1074}, and {G2532} condemn {G2632} them {G846}: for {G3754} she came {G2064} from {G1537} the utmost parts {G4009} of the earth {G1093} to hear {G191} the wisdom {G4678} of Solomon {G4672}; and {G2532}, behold {G2400}, a greater than {G4119} Solomon {G4672} is here {G5602}.

The Queen of the South will appear at the Judgment with the people of this generation and condemn them; for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Shlomo, and what is here now is greater than Shlomo.

The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with the men of this generation and condemn them; for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and now One greater than Solomon is here.

The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with the men of this generation, and shall condemn them: for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and behold, a greater than Solomon is here.

Context

Luke 11:31 is part of Jesus' teaching on spiritual receptivity and accountability, following His rebuke of those who demanded a sign and accused Him of casting out demons by Beelzebub. Jesus had just declared that no sign would be given to "this generation" except the sign of Jonah (Luke 11:29). This verse, along with the subsequent mention of the men of Nineveh (Luke 11:32), serves as a stark warning to those who, despite witnessing Jesus' miracles and hearing His profound teachings, remained spiritually blind and resistant to the truth. Jesus contrasts their unbelief with the earnest seeking of Gentiles in the past.

Key Themes

  • Divine Judgment and Condemnation: Jesus declares that the Queen of the South will "rise up in the judgment" and condemn the people of His generation. This illustrates that those who had less light but responded faithfully will stand as witnesses against those who had greater revelation in Christ but rejected it. It underscores the principle of accountability based on the light received.
  • The Superiority of Christ: The core message is "a greater than Solomon is here." Solomon was renowned for his unparalleled wisdom, wealth, and glory (see 1 Kings 4:30-34 and 2 Chronicles 9:22). Yet, Jesus asserts His own qualitative superiority over Solomon, emphasizing that His wisdom, authority, and divine nature far surpass even the greatest human king.
  • Responsibility to Respond to Truth: The Queen of Sheba (often identified as the "queen of the south") traveled a great distance, demonstrating extraordinary effort and humility to hear Solomon's wisdom (1 Kings 10:1-10). Her diligence highlights the culpable indifference of Jesus' contemporaries who had the Son of God Himself in their midst, yet refused to believe.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "a greater than Solomon" in the Greek is pleion Solomōntos (πλεῖον Σολομῶνος). The word pleion implies not just 'more' in quantity, but 'greater' or 'superior' in quality, emphasizing Jesus' supreme authority and divine essence over Solomon's earthly wisdom and kingdom. It signifies that Jesus embodies the ultimate wisdom and truth, far exceeding any human manifestation.

Practical Application

This verse challenges us to consider our own response to God's revelation. If the Queen of Sheba made such an arduous journey to seek human wisdom, how much more should we diligently seek and respond to the divine wisdom embodied in Jesus Christ? We live in an age with full access to God's Word and the person of Christ. Our accountability is immense. We are called to:

  • Recognize Christ's Supremacy: Acknowledge that Jesus is indeed "greater than Solomon," the ultimate source of wisdom, truth, and salvation.
  • Respond with Humility and Faith: Be eager to hear and obey His teachings, not hardening our hearts against His truth.
  • Avoid Spiritual Indifference: Guard against complacency or a casual attitude toward the profound spiritual realities revealed in Christ, understanding that our response carries eternal consequences.
Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • 2 Chronicles 9:1

    ¶ And when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon, she came to prove Solomon with hard questions at Jerusalem, with a very great company, and camels that bare spices, and gold in abundance, and precious stones: and when she was come to Solomon, she communed with him of all that was in her heart.

  • 1 Kings 10:1

    ¶ 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.

  • 1 Kings 10:13

    And king Solomon gave unto the queen of Sheba all her desire, whatsoever she asked, beside [that] which Solomon gave her of his royal bounty. So she turned and went to her own country, she and her servants.

  • Romans 2:27

    And shall not uncircumcision which is by nature, if it fulfil the law, judge thee, who by the letter and circumcision dost transgress the law?

  • Matthew 12:42

    The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for she came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon [is] here.

  • Jeremiah 3:11

    And the LORD said unto me, The backsliding Israel hath justified herself more than treacherous Judah.

  • Isaiah 9:6

    For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

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