1 Kings 10:1 Now when the queen of Sheba heard about the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the LORD, she came to test him with difficult questions.

◄ 1 Kings 10:1 ►

New International Version
When the queen of Sheba heard about the fame of Solomon and his relationship to the LORD, she came to test Solomon with hard questions.

New Living Translation
When the queen of Sheba heard of Solomon’s fame, which brought honor to the name of the LORD, she came to test him with hard questions.

English Standard Version
Now when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the LORD, she came to test him with hard questions.

Berean Standard Bible
Now when the queen of Sheba heard about the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the LORD, she came to test him with difficult questions.

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
Now when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the LORD, she came to test him with hard questions.

New American Standard Bible
Now when the queen of Sheba heard about the fame of Solomon in relation to the name of the LORD, she came to test him with riddles.

NASB 1995
Now when the queen of Sheba heard about the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the LORD, she came to test him with difficult questions.

NASB 1977
Now when the queen of Sheba heard about the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the LORD, she came to test him with difficult questions.

Legacy Standard Bible
Now the queen of Sheba heard the report about Solomon concerning the name of Yahweh. So she came to test him with riddles.

Amplified Bible
Now when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the LORD, she came to test him with riddles.

Christian Standard Bible
The queen of Sheba heard about Solomon’s fame connected with the name of the LORD and came to test him with difficult questions.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The queen of Sheba heard about Solomon’s fame connected with the name of Yahweh and came to test him with difficult questions.

American Standard Version
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.

Contemporary English Version
The Queen of Sheba heard how famous Solomon was, so she went to Jerusalem to test him with difficult questions.

English Revised 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.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The queen of Sheba heard about Solomon's reputation. (He owed his reputation to the name of the LORD.) So she came to test him with riddles.

Good News Translation
The queen of Sheba heard of Solomon's fame, and she traveled to Jerusalem to test him with difficult questions.

International Standard Version
When the queen of Sheba heard about Solomon's reputation with the LORD, she came to test him with difficult questions.

Majority Standard Bible
Now when the queen of Sheba heard about the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the LORD, she came to test him with difficult questions.

NET Bible
When the queen of Sheba heard about Solomon, she came to challenge him with difficult questions.

New Heart English Bible
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 Translation
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.

World English Bible
When the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning Yahweh’s name, she came to test him with hard questions.

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
And the queen of Sheba is hearing of the fame of Solomon concerning the Name of YHWH, and comes to try him with enigmas,

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

Smith's Literal Translation
And queen Sheba heard the report of Solomon for the name of Jehovah, and she will come to try him in enigmas.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
And the queen of Saba, having; heard of the fame of Solomon in the name of the Lord, came to try him with hard questions.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Then, too, the queen of Sheba, having heard of the fame of Solomon in the name of the Lord, arrived to test him with enigmas.

New American Bible
The queen of Sheba, having heard a report of Solomon’s fame, came to test him with subtle questions.

New Revised Standard Version
When the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon (fame due to the name of the LORD), she came to test him with hard questions.

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
AND when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon and the name of the LORD, she came to try him out with proverbs.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And the Queen of Sheba heard the fame of Solomon and the name of LORD JEHOVAH, and she came to test him with riddles.

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
And when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon because of the name of the LORD, she came to prove him with hard questions.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And the queen of Saba heard of the name of Solomon, and the name of the Lord, and she came to try him with riddles.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

The Queen of Sheba
1Now when the queen of Sheba heard about the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the LORD, she came to test him with difficult questions. 2She arrived in Jerusalem with a very large caravan—with camels bearing spices, gold in great abundance, and precious stones. So she came to Solomon and spoke to him all that was on her mind.…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

2 Chronicles 9:1
Now when the queen of Sheba heard about the fame of Solomon, she came to test him with difficult questions. She arrived in Jerusalem with a very large caravan—with camels bearing spices, gold in abundance, and precious stones. And she came to Solomon and spoke with him about all that was on her mind.

Matthew 12:42
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.

Luke 11:31
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.

Psalm 72:10-11
May the kings of Tarshish and distant shores bring tribute; may the kings of Sheba and Seba offer gifts. / May all kings bow down to him and all nations serve him.

Isaiah 60:6
Caravans of camels will cover your land, young camels of Midian and Ephah, and all from Sheba will come, bearing gold and frankincense and proclaiming the praises of the LORD.

2 Chronicles 9:23-24
All the kings of the earth sought an audience with Solomon to hear the wisdom that God had put in his heart. / Year after year, each visitor would bring his tribute: articles of silver and gold, clothing, weapons, spices, horses, and mules.

1 Kings 4:34
So men of all nations came to listen to Solomon’s wisdom, sent by all the kings of the earth, who had heard of his wisdom.

1 Kings 3:28
When all Israel heard of the judgment the king had given, they stood in awe of him, for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him to administer justice.

1 Kings 5:7
When Hiram received Solomon’s message, he rejoiced greatly and said, “Blessed be the LORD this day! He has given David a wise son over this great people!”

1 Kings 9:1-2
Now when Solomon had finished building the house of the LORD and the royal palace, and had achieved all that he had desired to do, / the LORD appeared to him a second time, as He had appeared to him at Gibeon.

1 Kings 9:26-28
King Solomon also assembled a fleet of ships at Ezion-geber, which is near Eloth in Edom, on the shore of the Red Sea. / And Hiram sent his servants, sailors who knew the sea, to serve in the fleet with Solomon’s servants. / They sailed to Ophir and imported gold from there—420 talents—and delivered it to Solomon.

1 Kings 4:21
And Solomon reigned over all the kingdoms from the Euphrates to the land of the Philistines, as far as the border of Egypt. These kingdoms offered tribute and served Solomon all the days of his life.

1 Kings 8:41-43
And as for the foreigner who is not of Your people Israel but has come from a distant land because of Your name— / for they will hear of Your great name and mighty hand and outstretched arm—when he comes and prays toward this temple, / then may You hear from heaven, Your dwelling place, and do according to all for which the foreigner calls to You. Then all the peoples of the earth will know Your name and fear You, as do Your people Israel, and they will know that this house I have built is called by Your Name.

1 Kings 3:12
behold, I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been another like you, nor will there ever be.

1 Kings 5:12
And the LORD gave Solomon wisdom, as He had promised him. There was peace between Hiram and Solomon, and the two of them made a treaty.

Treasury of Scripture

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.

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.

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.

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.

Sheba

Genesis 10:7,28
And the sons of Cush; Seba, and Havilah, and Sabtah, and Raamah, and Sabtecha: and the sons of Raamah; Sheba, and Dedan…

Genesis 25:3
And Jokshan begat Sheba, and Dedan. And the sons of Dedan were Asshurim, and Letushim, and Leummim.

Job 6:19
The troops of Tema looked, the companies of Sheba waited for them.

heard

1 Kings 4:31,34
For he was wiser than all men; than Ethan the Ezrahite, and Heman, and Chalcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol: and his fame was in all nations round about…

concerning

Job 28:28
And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.

Proverbs 2:3-6
Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; …

John 17:3
And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

prove him

Judges 14:12-14
And Samson said unto them, I will now put forth a riddle unto you: if ye can certainly declare it me within the seven days of the feast, and find it out, then I will give you thirty sheets and thirty change of garments: …

Psalm 49:4
I will incline mine ear to a parable: I will open my dark saying upon the harp.

Proverbs 1:5,6
A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels: …

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Connection Difficult Enigmas Fame Great Hard Heard Hearing Prove Queen Questions Relation Sheba Solomon Test Try Wisdom

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1 Kings 10

1. The queen of Sheba admires the wisdom of Solomon
14. Solomon's gold
16. His targets
18. The throne of ivory
21. His vessels
24. His presents
26. his chariots and horse
28. his tribute

Berean Study Bible

Now when the queen of Sheba
The identity of the "queen of Sheba" has intrigued scholars and believers alike. Sheba is traditionally associated with the region of modern-day Yemen or possibly Ethiopia. The queen's visit signifies the far-reaching influence of Solomon's wisdom and the renown of Israel. Her journey underscores the historical and geographical connections between ancient Israel and other prominent civilizations of the time.

heard about the fame of Solomon
The fame of Solomon was not merely due to his wealth or political power but was intrinsically linked to his wisdom, which was a divine gift. The Hebrew word for "fame" (שֵׁמַע, shema) implies a report or reputation that spreads far and wide. This fame was a testament to the fulfillment of God's promise to Solomon, as seen in 1 Kings 3:12, where God grants him unparalleled wisdom.

concerning the name of the LORD
This phrase highlights that Solomon's wisdom and fame were not for his own glory but were intrinsically connected to the "name of the LORD" (יהוה, Yahweh). In the ancient Near Eastern context, a name represented one's character and authority. Solomon's wisdom was a reflection of God's character and a testament to His covenant with Israel. It was this divine association that piqued the queen's interest, suggesting that she recognized a divine element in Solomon's rule.

she came to test him with difficult questions
The queen's intent to "test" Solomon with "difficult questions" (חִידוֹת, chidot) indicates a practice common in the ancient world, where rulers and sages would engage in intellectual and philosophical exchanges. These "riddles" or "enigmas" were not merely trivial puzzles but profound questions about life, governance, and spirituality. Her approach reflects a genuine quest for truth and understanding, acknowledging Solomon's God-given wisdom as a source of insight into the mysteries of life.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(1) The queen of Sheba.--The name "Sheba" must be distinguished from Seba, or Saba (which begins with a different Hebrew letter), (a) The name Seba denotes a Cushite race (Genesis 10:7), connected, in Isaiah 43:3; Isaiah 45:14, with Egypt and Cush, and named with Sheba ("the kings of Sheba and Seba")in the Psalm of Solomon (Psalm 72:10). Seba is, indeed, with great probability identified (see Jos. Ant. ii. 10, 2) with the Ethiopian city and island of Meroe. It is probably from confusion between Sheba and Saba that Josephus (Ant. viii. 6, 5) represents the queen of Sheba as a "queen of Egypt and Ethiopia." (b) The name "Sheba" is found in the ethnological lists of Genesis 10:7, among the descendants of Cush of the Hamite race, in Genesis 10:28, among the Semitic Joktanites, and in Genesis 25:3, among the Abrahamic children of Keturah. The kingdom of Sheba referred to in this passage must certainly be placed in Arabia Felix, the habitation of the Joktanite race (in which the Keturahites appear to have been merged), for the Cushite Sheba is probably to be found elsewhere on the Persian Gulf. The queen of Sheba would therefore be of Semitic race, not wholly an alien from the stock of Abraham. . . .

Pulpit Commentary

Ver 1. - And when the queen of Sheba [There is no good ground for doubting that by שְׁבָא we are to understand the kingdom of Southern Arabia (Yemen). It is true that while Genesis 25:3 (cf. 1 Chronicles 1:32) speaks of Sheba, the son of Joktan, one of the colonists of southern Arabia, Genesis 10:7 and 1 Chronicles 1:9 mention another Sheba, the son of Cush, and a doubt has arisen whether this was an Arabian or an Ethiopian princess, and it is alleged that she was the latter by Josephus, who calls her "queen of Egypt and Ethopia," and by some Rabbinical writers, and in the traditions of the Abyssinian church. But the kingdoms of Sheba (שְׁבָא) and Saba (סְבָא) are entirely distinct (Psalm 72:10), the latter being the name both of the capital and country of Meroe, a province of Ethopia (Joshua, Ant. 2:10. 2); while the former in like manner designates both the chief city and also the kingdom of the Sabeans (Job 1:15). This tribe would seem to have grown richer and stronger than all the other Arabian peoples by means of its commercial enterprise, and it was especially famed for its gold, gems, and spices (Ezekiel 27:22; Jeremiah 6:20; Isaiah 60:6; Joel 3:8; Job 6:19; Psalm 72:10). It is noticeable that in both kingdoms government by female sovereigns was not uncommon (cf. Acts 8:27); but it is very remarkable to find any country under the rule of a queen at this early date. (The idea that either of these lands was always governed by queens has no real basis.) The name of this princess, according to the Koran, was Balkis, according to Abyssinian belief, Maqueda. Whether she was a widow or virgin is unknown] heard [Heb. hearing. Doubtless through the Arab traders. The record of this visit, following immediately upon the mention of the voyages (1 Kings 9:26), is a grain of evidence in favour of locating Ophir in Arabia] of the fame (Heb. hearing; cf. ἀκοή, which also means the thing heard, report. Compare ἀποκάλυψις καύχησις, etc.] of Solomon concerning the name [Heb. לְשְׁם, i.e., "in relation to, in connexion with, the name," etc. No doubt it was the house he had built לְשֵׁם יְיָ (cf. 1 Kings 3:2; 1 Kings 5:17, 18; 1 Kings 8:17, 18, 19, 20, etc.) had made him famous. But the expression is somewhat unusual, and these words are omitted by the chronicler. Gesenius and Ewald, however, regard the ל as instrumental, "the fame given him by the name," etc., as Judges 7:18; Ezekiel 12:12, etc., and Wordsworth compares the use of ἐν in Greek. The LXX. and other versions read "the name of Solomon and the name of the Lord." But the text is on every ground to be retained. The alliteration in this verse (probably accidental) is to be noticed. There is also a slight paronomasia] of the Lord, she came to prove (LXX. πειράσαι, to test)] him with hard questions [Heb. in riddles; LXX. ἐν αἰνίγμασι. The Arabian mind has ever delighted in dark sayings, enigmas, etc., and extensive collections of these have been made by Burckhardt and others (see Keil in loc.) According to Dius (cited in Josephus, Contra Ap. 1:17. 18) Solomon also had dialectical encounters with Hiram and with Abdemon, or, according to Menander, a younger son of Abdemon, a man of Tyre.]

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

Now when the queen
וּמַֽלְכַּת־ (ū·mal·kaṯ-)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 4436: Queen -- a queen

of Sheba
שְׁבָ֗א (šə·ḇā)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 7614: Sheba -- a territory in soutwest Arabia, also the name of one or more descendant of Noah

heard
שֹׁמַ֛עַת (šō·ma·‘aṯ)
Verb - Qal - Participle - feminine singular
Strong's 8085: To hear intelligently

about the fame
שֵׁ֥מַע (šê·ma‘)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 8088: Something heard, a sound, rumor, announcement, audience

of Solomon
שְׁלֹמֹ֖ה (šə·lō·mōh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 8010: Solomon -- David's son and successor to his throne

concerning the name
לְשֵׁ֣ם (lə·šêm)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 8034: A name

of the LORD,
יְהוָ֑ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

she came
וַתָּבֹ֥א (wat·tā·ḇō)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go

to test him
לְנַסֹּת֖וֹ (lə·nas·sō·ṯōw)
Preposition-l | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 5254: To test, to attempt

with difficult questions.
בְּחִידֽוֹת׃ (bə·ḥî·ḏō·wṯ)
Preposition-b | Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 2420: A riddle, an enigmatic, perplexing saying or question

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OT History: 1 Kings 10:1 When the queen of Sheba heard (1Ki iKi i Ki 1 Kg 1kg)