1 Kings 3:7
New International Version
“Now, LORD my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties.

New Living Translation
“Now, O LORD my God, you have made me king instead of my father, David, but I am like a little child who doesn’t know his way around.

English Standard Version
And now, O LORD my God, you have made your servant king in place of David my father, although I am but a little child. I do not know how to go out or come in.

Berean Standard Bible
And now, O LORD my God, You have made Your servant king in my father David’s place. But I am only a little child, not knowing how to go out or come in.

King James Bible
And now, O LORD my God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of David my father: and I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in.

New King James Version
Now, O LORD my God, You have made Your servant king instead of my father David, but I am a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in.

New American Standard Bible
And now, LORD my God, You have made Your servant king in place of my father David, yet I am like a little boy; I do not know how to go out or come in.

NASB 1995
“Now, O LORD my God, You have made Your servant king in place of my father David, yet I am but a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in.

NASB 1977
“And now, O LORD my God, Thou hast made Thy servant king in place of my father David, yet I am but a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in.

Legacy Standard Bible
So now, O Yahweh my God, You have made Your slave king in place of my father David, yet I am but a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in.

Amplified Bible
So now, O LORD my God, You have made Your servant king in place of David my father; and as for me, I am but a little boy [in wisdom and experience]; I do not know how to go out or come in [that is, how to conduct business as a king].

Christian Standard Bible
“LORD my God, you have now made your servant king in my father David’s place. Yet I am just a youth with no experience in leadership.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
LORD my God, You have now made Your servant king in my father David’s place. Yet I am just a youth with no experience in leadership.

American Standard Version
And now, O Jehovah my God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of David my father: and I am but a little child; I know not how to go out or come in.

Contemporary English Version
LORD God, I'm your servant, and you've made me king in my father's place. But I'm very young and know so little about being a leader.

English Revised Version
And now, O LORD my God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of David my father: and I am but a little child; I know not how to go out or come in.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"LORD my God, although I'm young and inexperienced, you've made me king in place of my father David.

Good News Translation
O LORD God, you have let me succeed my father as king, even though I am very young and don't know how to rule.

International Standard Version
Now, LORD my God, you have set me as king to replace my father David, but I'm still young. I don't have any leadership skills.

Majority Standard Bible
And now, O LORD my God, You have made Your servant king in my father David?s place. But I am only a little child, not knowing how to go out or come in.

NET Bible
Now, O LORD my God, you have made your servant king in my father David's place, even though I am only a young man and am inexperienced.

New Heart English Bible
Now, LORD my God, you have made your servant king instead of David my father. I am but a little child. I do not know how to go out or come in.

Webster's Bible Translation
And now, O LORD my God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of David my father: and I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in.

World English Bible
Now, Yahweh my God, you have made your servant king instead of David my father. I am just a little child. I don’t know how to go out or come in.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And now, O YHWH my God, You have caused Your servant to reign instead of my father David; and I [am] a little child, I do not know [how] to go out and to come in;

Young's Literal Translation
And now, O Jehovah my God, Thou hast caused thy servant to reign instead of David my father; and I am a little child, I do not know to go out and to come in;

Smith's Literal Translation
And now, Jehovah my God, thou madest thy servant king instead of David my father and I a little boy, shall not know to go out and come in.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And now, O Lord God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of David my father: and I am but a child, and know not how to go out and come in.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And now, O Lord God, you have caused your servant to reign in place of David, my father. But I am a small child, and I am ignorant of my entrance and departure.

New American Bible
Now, LORD, my God, you have made me, your servant, king to succeed David my father; but I am a mere youth, not knowing at all how to act—

New Revised Standard Version
And now, O LORD my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David, although I am only a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And now, O LORD God, thou hast made thy servant king in place of David my father; and I am but a little child; I know not how to go out or come in among thy people, whom thou hast chosen,

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And now, LORD JEHOVAH God, you have made your servant King for the sake of David my father, and I am a small boy and I do not know how to go out and to come in among your people whom you have chosen
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And now, O LORD my God, Thou hast made Thy servant king instead of David my father; and I am but a little child; I know not how to go out or come in.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And now, O Lord my God, thou hast appointed thy servant in the room of David my father; and I am a little child, and know not my going out an my coming in.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Solomon's Prayer for Wisdom
6Solomon replied, “You have shown much loving devotion to Your servant, my father David, because he walked before You in faithfulness, righteousness, and uprightness of heart. And You have maintained this loving devotion by giving him a son to sit on his throne this very day. 7And now, O LORD my God, You have made Your servant king in my father David’s place. But I am only a little child, not knowing how to go out or come in. 8Your servant is here among the people You have chosen, a people too numerous to count or number.…

Cross References
James 1:5
Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.

Proverbs 2:6
For the LORD gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.

Jeremiah 1:6
“Ah, Lord GOD,” I said, “I surely do not know how to speak, for I am only a child!”

2 Chronicles 1:10
Now grant me wisdom and knowledge, so that I may lead this people. For who is able to govern this great people of Yours?”

Matthew 7:7
Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you.

Psalm 119:125
I am Your servant; give me understanding, that I may know Your testimonies.

Exodus 3:11
But Moses asked God, “Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?”

1 Timothy 4:12
Let no one despise your youth, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.

Isaiah 6:5
Then I said: “Woe is me, for I am ruined, because I am a man of unclean lips dwelling among a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of Hosts.”

Luke 21:15
For I will give you speech and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict.

Psalm 25:4-5
Show me Your ways, O LORD; teach me Your paths. / Guide me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; all day long I wait for You.

2 Corinthians 3:5
Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim that anything comes from us, but our competence comes from God.

Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; / in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.

Jeremiah 10:23
I know, O LORD, that a man’s way is not his own; no one who walks directs his own steps.

Philippians 4:13
I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.


Treasury of Scripture

And now, O LORD my God, you have made your servant king instead of David my father: and I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in.

thou hast

Daniel 2:21
And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding:

Daniel 4:25,32
That they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and they shall wet thee with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over thee, till thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will…

Daniel 5:18,21
O thou king, the most high God gave Nebuchadnezzar thy father a kingdom, and majesty, and glory, and honour: …

a little

1 Chronicles 29:1
Furthermore David the king said unto all the congregation, Solomon my son, whom alone God hath chosen, is yet young and tender, and the work is great: for the palace is not for man, but for the LORD God.

Job 32:6-8
And Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite answered and said, I am young, and ye are very old; wherefore I was afraid, and durst not shew you mine opinion…

Ecclesiastes 10:16
Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and thy princes eat in the morning!

to go

Numbers 27:17
Which may go out before them, and which may go in before them, and which may lead them out, and which may bring them in; that the congregation of the LORD be not as sheep which have no shepherd.

Deuteronomy 31:2
And he said unto them, I am an hundred and twenty years old this day; I can no more go out and come in: also the LORD hath said unto me, Thou shalt not go over this Jordan.

1 Samuel 18:16
But all Israel and Judah loved David, because he went out and came in before them.

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Although Boy Carry Caused Child David Duties Instead Little Reign Servant Young
1 Kings 3
1. Solomon marries Pharaoh's daughter
2. High places being in use, Solomon sacrifices at Gibeon
5. Solomon at Gibeon, in the choice which God gave him,
10. preferring wisdom, obtains wisdom, riches, and honor
16. Solomon's judgment makes him renowned














Now, O LORD my God
This phrase begins with an acknowledgment of the present moment and a direct address to God, emphasizing a personal relationship. The Hebrew word for "LORD" is "Yahweh," the covenant name of God, which signifies His eternal presence and faithfulness. "My God" indicates Solomon's personal devotion and recognition of God's sovereignty over his life. This reflects a deep, personal faith and reliance on God, which is foundational for any leader seeking wisdom.

You have made Your servant king
Here, Solomon acknowledges that his kingship is not by his own doing but by divine appointment. The term "servant" (Hebrew: "ebed") is significant, as it denotes humility and submission to God's will. Solomon sees his role as one of service to God and His people, rather than a position of power for personal gain. This perspective is crucial for understanding biblical leadership, which is characterized by servanthood and obedience to God's commands.

in place of my father David
This phrase situates Solomon's reign within the Davidic covenant, a promise God made to David that his lineage would endure forever (2 Samuel 7:12-16). Solomon's kingship is a continuation of God's faithfulness to David, highlighting the importance of legacy and divine promise in the biblical narrative. Historically, David is revered as a man after God's own heart, and Solomon's succession underscores the continuity of God's plan for Israel.

But I am only a little child
Solomon's self-description as "a little child" (Hebrew: "na'ar") is a metaphor for his perceived inadequacy and inexperience. Although Solomon was likely in his early twenties, this expression conveys humility and a recognition of his need for divine wisdom. It reflects a biblical principle that true wisdom begins with acknowledging one's limitations and dependence on God.

not knowing how to go out or come in
This phrase is an idiom in ancient Near Eastern culture, referring to the ability to lead and govern effectively. It encompasses the skills needed for both military leadership and civil administration. Solomon's admission of not knowing how to "go out or come in" underscores his awareness of the complexities of leadership and his need for God's guidance. This humility is a key theme in Scripture, where reliance on God is portrayed as the foundation for true wisdom and effective leadership.

Verse 7. - And now, O Lord my Cod, thou hast made thy servant king instead of David my father; and I am but [Heb. and I... ] a little child: [These words are generally understood as indicating Solomon's humility rather than his age. No doubt, there is some exaggeration in the expression, which manifestly is not to be taken au pied de la lettre; at the same time it is questionable whether such words would be used of himself by a young man of twenty, which Solomon is commonly supposed to have been. See on 1 Kings 2:2, and 1 Kings 12:8] I know not how to go out or come in. [The same phrase is found in the Pentateuch, Deuteronomy 28:6; Deuteronomy 31:2. Also in 1 Samuel 18:13; 2 Samuel 3:25; Psalm 121:8. It is the formula for expressing behaviour, conduct, the outward life of man.]

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
And now,
וְעַתָּה֙ (wə·‘at·tāh)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb
Strong's 6258: At this time

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

my God,
אֱלֹהָ֔י (’ĕ·lō·hāy)
Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common singular
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative

You
אַתָּה֙ (’at·tāh)
Pronoun - second person masculine singular
Strong's 859: Thou and thee, ye and you

{have made} Your servant
עַבְדְּךָ֔ (‘aḇ·də·ḵā)
Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 5650: Slave, servant

king
הִמְלַ֣כְתָּ (him·laḵ·tā)
Verb - Hifil - Perfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 4427: To reign, inceptively, to ascend the throne, to induct into royalty, to take counsel

in my father
אָבִ֑י (’ā·ḇî)
Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 1: Father

David’s
דָּוִ֣ד (dā·wiḏ)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 1732: David -- perhaps 'beloved one', a son of Jesse

place.
תַּ֖חַת (ta·ḥaṯ)
Preposition
Strong's 8478: The bottom, below, in lieu of

But I [am]
וְאָֽנֹכִי֙ (wə·’ā·nō·ḵî)
Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - first person common singular
Strong's 595: I

only a little
קָטֹ֔ן (qā·ṭōn)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 6996: Small, young, unimportant

child,
נַ֣עַר (na·‘ar)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5288: A boy, lad, youth, retainer

not
לֹ֥א (lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

knowing [how]
אֵדַ֖ע (’ê·ḏa‘)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular
Strong's 3045: To know

to exit
צֵ֥את (ṣêṯ)
Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 3318: To go, bring, out, direct and proxim

or enter.
וָבֹֽא׃ (wā·ḇō)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go


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OT History: 1 Kings 3:7 Now Yahweh my God you have made (1Ki iKi i Ki 1 Kg 1kg)
1 Kings 3:6
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