1 Kings 10:1

KJV1611 – Modern English

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

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

וּמַֽלְכַּת־שְׁבָ֗א שֹׁמַ֛עַת אֶת־שֵׁ֥מַע שְׁלֹמֹ֖ה לְשֵׁ֣ם יְהוָ֑ה וַתָּבֹ֥א לְנַסֹּת֖וֹ בְּחִידֽוֹת׃

Transliteration

And malkat-Sheba shomaʿat [was hearing] et-shemaʿ Shelomoh for shem YHWH; wa-tabo to nasoto with ḥidot.

Grammar Details

• *malkat*: construct state, feminine, singular - queen of
• *Sheba*: proper noun - Sheba
• *shomaʿat*: Qal participle, feminine, singular - hearing/having heard
• *et*: direct object marker
• *shemaʿ*: noun, masculine, singular construct - report/fame of
• *Shelomoh*: proper noun - Solomon
• *shem*: noun, masculine, singular construct - name/reputation of
• *YHWH*: proper noun - the LORD/Yahweh
• *wa-tabo*: Qal imperfect with waw consecutive, 3rd person feminine singular - and she came
• *nasoto*: Piel infinitive construct with 3rd masculine singular suffix - to test him
• *ḥidot*: noun, feminine plural - riddles/difficult questions

Word Meanings

• *shomaʿat*: hearing/having heard/was informed about
• *shemaʿ*: report/fame/reputation
• *shem*: name/reputation/renown
• *nasoto*: to test him/to prove him/to examine him

Other Translations

• Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

  When the queen of Sheba heard about the fame of Solomon and his relationship with the name of the LORD, she came to test him with difficult questions.

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  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.

• American Standard Version 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 Jehovah,{H3068} she came{H935} to prove{H5254} him with hard questions.{H2420}

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  And when the queen{H4436} of Sheba{H7614} heard{H8085}{(H8802)} of the fame{H8088} of Solomon{H8010} concerning the name{H8034} of the LORD{H3068}, she came{H935}{(H8799)} to prove{H5254}{(H8763)} him with hard questions{H2420}.

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  And whan kynge Salomons fame of the name of the LORDE came to the eares of the Quene of riche Arabia, she came to proue him with darke sentences.

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  And the Queene of Sheba hearing ye fame of Salomon (concerning the Name of the Lord) came to proue him with hard questions.

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  And the queene of Saba hearing the fame of Solomon (concerning the name of the Lord) came to proue him with harde questions.

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  ¶ 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.

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  When the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of Yahweh, she came to prove him with hard questions.

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  And the queen of Sheba is hearing of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of Jehovah, and cometh to try him with enigmas,

• American Standard Version (1901)

  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.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  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.

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  Now the queen of Sheba, hearing great things of Solomon, came to put his wisdom to the test with hard questions.

• World English Bible (2000)

  When the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of Yahweh, she came to prove him with hard questions.

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  Solomon Entertains a Queen When the queen of Sheba heard about Solomon, she came to challenge him with difficult questions.

Referenced Verses

• Matt 12:42 : 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.
• Luke 11:31 : 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.
• Gen 10:7 : 7 And the sons of Cush: Seba, and Havilah, and Sabtah, and Raamah, and Sabtecha. And the sons of Raamah: Sheba and Dedan.
• Gen 10:28 : 28 And Obal, and Abimael, and Sheba,
• Ps 72:10 : 10 The kings of Tarshish and of the isles shall bring presents; the kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts.
• Ps 72:15 : 15 And he shall live, and to him shall be given the gold of Sheba; prayer also shall be made for him continually, and daily he shall be praised.
• Judg 14:12-14 : 12 And Samson said to them, I will now put forth a riddle to you. If you can certainly declare it to me within the seven days of the feast, and find it out, then I will give you thirty sheets and thirty changes of garments. 13 But if you cannot declare it to me, then you shall give me thirty sheets and thirty changes of garments. And they said to him, Put forth your riddle, so we may hear it. 14 And he said to them, Out of the eater came forth meat, and out of the strong came forth sweetness. And they could not in three days explain the riddle.
• Isa 60:6 : 6 The multitude of camels shall cover you, the dromedaries of Midian and Ephah; all those from Sheba shall come; they shall bring gold and incense, and they shall proclaim the praises of the LORD.
• Jer 6:20 : 20 To what purpose does incense come to me from Sheba, and the sweet cane from a far country? Your burnt offerings are not acceptable, nor are your sacrifices pleasing to me.
• Ezek 27:22-23 : 22 The merchants of Sheba and Raamah, they were your merchants: they occupied in your fairs with the finest of all spices, and with all precious stones, and gold. 23 Haran, Canneh, and Eden, the merchants of Sheba, Asshur, and Chilmad, were your merchants.
• Ezek 38:13 : 13 Sheba, and Dedan, and the merchants of Tarshish, with all the young lions, shall say to you, Have you come to take a spoil? have you gathered your company to take a prey? to carry away silver and gold, to take away cattle and goods, to take a great spoil?
• 2 Chr 9:1-9 : 1 When the queen of Sheba heard of Solomon's fame, she came to test Solomon with difficult questions at Jerusalem, with a very large entourage, camels carrying spices, a great quantity of gold, and precious stones. When she came to Solomon, she spoke with him about everything in her heart. 2 And Solomon answered all her questions; nothing was hidden from Solomon that he did not explain to her. 3 When the queen of Sheba had seen the wisdom of Solomon and the house he had built, 4 the food on his table, the seating of his servants, the service of his ministers and their apparel, his cupbearers in their apparel, and his entryway by which he went up to the house of the LORD, there was no more spirit in her. 5 She said to the king, "The report I heard in my own land about your deeds and your wisdom was true. 6 But I did not believe their words until I came and saw it with my own eyes, and indeed, not even half of the greatness of your wisdom was told to me; you exceed the report I heard. 7 Happy are your men, and happy are these your servants who stand continually before you and hear your wisdom." 8 Blessed be the LORD your God, who delighted in you to set you on His throne as king for the LORD your God! Because your God loved Israel to establish them forever, He made you king over them to execute justice and righteousness. 9 She gave the king one hundred and twenty talents of gold, a great abundance of spices, and precious stones; never again were there such spices as those the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon. 10 The servants of Huram and the servants of Solomon who brought gold from Ophir also brought algum wood and precious stones. 11 The king made from the algum wood terraces for the house of the LORD and for the king's palace, and harps and lyres for singers; such things had never been seen before in the land of Judah. 12 King Solomon gave the queen of Sheba all she desired, whatever she asked, besides what she had brought to the king. So she turned and went back to her own land, she and her servants.
• Ps 49:4 : 4 I will incline my ear to a parable: I will open my dark saying upon the harp.
• Job 6:19 : 19 The troops of Tema looked, the companies of Sheba waited for them.
• Job 28:28 : 28 And to man he said, 'Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.'
• John 17:3 : 3 And this is eternal life, that they might know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.
• 1 Cor 1:20-21 : 20 Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? 21 For since in the wisdom of God the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of preaching to save those who believe.
• Matt 13:11 : 11 He replied, Because it is given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.
• Matt 13:35 : 35 So was fulfilled what was spoken through the prophet: I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter things hidden since the creation of the world.
• Mark 4:34 : 34 But without a parable he did not speak to them, and when they were alone, he explained all things to his disciples.
• 1 Kgs 4:31 : 31 For he was wiser than all men; than Ethan the Ezrahite, and Heman, Chalcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol; and his fame was in all the nations around.
• 1 Kgs 4:34 : 34 And people of all nations came to hear the wisdom of Solomon, from all the kings of the earth who had heard of his wisdom.
• Gen 25:3 : 3 And Jokshan begot Sheba and Dedan. And the sons of Dedan were Asshurim, Letushim, and Leummim.
• Prov 1:5-6 : 5 A wise man will hear and increase in learning, and a man of understanding will attain wise counsel; 6 To understand a proverb and the interpretation, the words of the wise and their riddles.
• Prov 2:3-6 : 3 Yes, if you cry out for knowledge, and lift up your voice for understanding; 4 If you seek her as silver, and search for her as for hidden treasures; 5 Then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God. 6 For the LORD gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.