1 Kings 10:9 Meaning and Explanation
“Blessed be the LORD thy God, which delighted in thee, to set thee on the throne of Israel: because the LORD loved Israel for ever, therefore made he thee king, to do judgment and justice.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The queen blesses the LORD, crediting Solomon's throne to God's delight and lasting love for Israel.
What Does 1 Kings 10:9 Mean?
At the height of her praise, the queen does not stop at Solomon but blesses the LORD his God. She rightly traces his reign back to its source: God delighted in him and set him on the throne, and behind that stands the LORD's everlasting love for Israel. The very purpose of the kingship, she sees, is to do judgment and justice.
A foreign ruler here confesses the heart of Israel's God: His enduring love and His commitment to justice through a chosen king. Her words look ahead to the King whom God would set over an eternal throne to establish judgment and justice forever. In Christ, the love that chose Israel opens to embrace the nations the queen represents.
1 Kings 10:9 in the Original Language
mishpat (מִשְׁפָּט), 'judgment' -- right judgment and just governance, the proper work of a godly king.
Frequently Asked Questions About 1 Kings 10:9
What does 1 Kings 10:9 mean?
The queen blesses the LORD, crediting Solomon's throne to God's delight and lasting love for Israel.