Verse Lens · Expanded explanation

1 Kings 3:13 Explained in Context

Use this verse as a doorway into the larger passage—not as an isolated saying.

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Verse 13. And I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches, and honour: so that there shall not be any among the kings like unto thee all thy days.

King James Version — public domain in the United States · Bible text and permissions

Quick Meaning

At 1 Kings 3:13, the narrator adds riches and honor that Solomon did not request.

Read It With

  • 1 Kings 3:5–3:15

Read 1 Kings 3:13 with 1 Kings 3:5–3:15, titled “Solomon asks for a discerning heart.” Adds riches and honor that Solomon did not request.

Why This Verse Appears Here

1 Kings 3:13 adds riches and honor that Solomon did not request; this distinct detail carries 1 Kings 3:5–3:15 from “1 Kings 3:1–3:4 has just shown: Solomon's alliance, devotion, and high-place worship.” toward “1 Kings 3:16–3:28 next develops: Solomon judges between two mothers.”

Read 1 Kings 3:5–15 together

Why these verses belong together: Solomon asks for a discerning heart is the complete reviewed scene, prayer, oracle, list, or regnal notice bounded at 3:5–3:15.

Verse 5. In Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and God said, Ask what I shall give thee.

Verse 6. And Solomon said, Thou hast shewed unto thy servant David my father great mercy, according as he walked before thee in truth, and in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with thee; and thou hast kept for him this great kindness, that thou hast given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day.

Verse 7. 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.

Verse 8. And thy servant is in the midst of thy people which thou hast chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude.

Verse 9. Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?

Verse 10. And the speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing.

Verse 11. And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies; but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment;

Verse 12. Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee.

Verse 13. And I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches, and honour: so that there shall not be any among the kings like unto thee all thy days.

Verse 14. And if thou wilt walk in my ways, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as thy father David did walk, then I will lengthen thy days.

Verse 15. And Solomon awoke; and, behold, it was a dream. And he came to Jerusalem, and stood before the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and offered up burnt offerings, and offered peace offerings, and made a feast to all his servants.

Follow the Context

  1. Introduces the divine dream invitation for Solomon to ask for a gift
  2. Returns Solomon from the dream to Jerusalem, covenant worship, sacrifices, and a feast for his servants

What This Verse Is Not Saying

Solomon's gift does not make him morally infallible, turn vulnerable mothers into illustrations only, or promise wealth and health to everyone who asks for wisdom.

What Remains True

Because 1 Kings 3:13 adds riches and honor that Solomon did not request, responsible reading keeps the narrated action, source limits, accountable agents, and affected people together; Solomon's gift does not make him morally infallible, turn vulnerable mothers into illustrations only, or promise wealth and health to everyone who asks for wisdom.

How It Can Shape Life

  • When an analogous issue arises, use 1 Kings 3:13 to name the specific conduct—adds riches and honor that Solomon did not request—then document power, evidence, uncertainty, safeguards, and people at risk.

Teach It Back

In 55–180 words, explain how 1 Kings 3:13 adds riches and honor that Solomon did not request, why it needs 1 Kings 3:5–3:15, and what the complete unit does not authorize.

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Continue in Context

The full thought-unit study remains the final contextual authority for this Verse Lens.

Read 1 Kings 3:5–3:15 — Solomon asks for a discerning heart
Sources used for this Verse Lens

How certain is this explanation? probable

Where care is needed

The received Hebrew narrative and its KJV presentation are clear enough to follow this movement, while precise source history, chronology, motives, textual development, and external correlation require graded confidence rather than invented certainty.

These are the sources used directly for this lens. Language, grammar, disagreements, and the complete source shelf remain attached to the full thought-unit research record.

Biblical text

King James (Authorized) Version — eng-kjv2006

eBible.org and CrossWire Bible Society

USFM archive eng-kjv2006_usfm.zip; source files dated 2026-08-19; downloaded 2026-08-24; archive SHA-256 aec1b3b26c622fd3d963d2bbac963016b9513246ffbfa20da00bb100372ea007; normalized corpus SHA-256 09aef51d90488aa7b9722b3fd9a93f4b25f6bf2064c5fd798fb39673c300ddf2.

Supports: Exact displayed KJV wording, paragraph metadata, supplied-word markup, and complete verse coverage.

Exact location: 1 Kings 3:5–3:15, pinned eng-kjv2006 USFM corpus

Open source ↗

hebrew text and morphology

Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible: 1 Kings

Open Scriptures

Open Scriptures, release 2.2

Supports: Hebrew wording and morphology used for lexical, grammatical, name, clause, and older-English checks; this is not a critical apparatus or historical proof.

Exact location: Open Scriptures MorphHB v.2.2, commit 6a5db284c715c18b239422e57bb89684e6a19f00, wlc/1Kgs.xml, Masoretic words and morphology for 3:5–3:15

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