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.
The queen {G938} of the south {G3558} shall rise up {G1453} in {G1722} the judgment {G2920} with {G3326} this {G5026} generation {G1074}, and {G2532} shall condemn {G2632} it {G846}: for {G3754} she came {G2064} from {G1537} the uttermost 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 stand up at the Judgment with this generation and condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Shlomo, but what is here now is greater than Shlomo.
The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; 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 this generation, and shall condemn it: for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and behold, a greater than Solomon is here.
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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. -
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. -
2 Chronicles 9:12
And king Solomon gave to the queen of Sheba all her desire, whatsoever she asked, beside [that] which she had brought unto the king. So she turned, and went away to her own land, she and her servants. -
Hebrews 1:2
Hath in these last days spoken unto us by [his] Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; -
Hebrews 1:4
¶ Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. -
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.
Context
In Matthew 12, Jesus confronts the religious leaders, particularly the Pharisees, who accuse Him of blasphemy and working by the power of Beelzebub. After Jesus casts out a demon and heals a man, they demand a miraculous "sign from heaven" (Matthew 12:38). Jesus responds by refusing to give them a sign other than "the sign of the prophet Jonas" (referring to His resurrection), and then cites two examples of Gentiles who will condemn this generation's unbelief: the men of Nineveh and the Queen of the South. This verse specifically focuses on the Queen of Sheba.
Key Themes
Unbelief Condemned by Earnest Seeking
The "queen of the south" refers to the Queen of Sheba, who traveled a vast distance from "the uttermost parts of the earth" (modern-day Yemen or Ethiopia) to hear the renowned wisdom of King Solomon. Her arduous journey demonstrated a profound earnestness and hunger for truth and understanding. Jesus contrasts her diligent pursuit of wisdom with the hardened hearts and spiritual blindness of His contemporary generation, especially the religious elite. Despite having Jesus—the very source of divine wisdom—in their midst, they remained skeptical and demanded further proof, thereby sealing their condemnation.
Jesus: Greater Than Solomon
The core declaration of this verse is Jesus' profound statement: "behold, a greater than Solomon [is] here." Solomon was famed for his unparalleled wisdom, wealth, and understanding (1 Kings 4:29-34). Yet, Jesus asserts His own supremacy, not just over Solomon, but over all earthly kings and wisdom. This highlights Jesus' divine nature and authority, proclaiming that He is the ultimate embodiment of God's wisdom and truth, far surpassing any human king or prophet. His presence among them was the greatest sign of all, yet they failed to recognize it.
The Certainty of Judgment
Jesus declares that the Queen of the South "shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it." This paints a vivid picture of the final judgment (Revelation 20:12), where the actions and responses of individuals will serve as witnesses. The Queen of Sheba's eager faith and journey to seek truth will stand in stark contrast to the unbelief and rejection displayed by those who had the Son of God Himself ministering among them. Her example underscores the principle that those who have been given much—especially direct access to divine truth—will be held to a higher account.
Linguistic Insights
The phrase "a greater than Solomon" in Greek is pleion Solomōntos (πλεῖον Σολομῶντος), which literally means "more than Solomon." This emphasizes not just a qualitative superiority but also a quantitative fullness of wisdom and authority found in Jesus that was far beyond anything Solomon possessed.
Practical Application
This verse serves as a powerful call to spiritual discernment and humility. It challenges us to consider whether we are truly seeking God's truth with earnest hearts, or if we are like the generation that rejected Jesus, demanding signs while ignoring the profound evidence of His presence and power. We are called to recognize that in Christ, we have access to wisdom and understanding far greater than any earthly knowledge (Colossians 2:3). The Queen of Sheba's example encourages us to eagerly pursue and embrace the wisdom offered by Jesus Christ, rather than allowing skepticism or indifference to lead to spiritual condemnation.