1 Kings 3:9

3:9 So give your servant a discerning mind¹ so he can make judicial decisions for² your people and distinguish right from wrong.³ Otherwise⁴ no one is able⁵ to make judicial decisions for⁶ this great nation of yours.”⁷

1 Kings 3:12

3:12 I⁸ grant your request,⁹ and give¹⁰ you a wise and discerning mind¹¹ superior to that of anyone who has preceded or will succeed you.¹²

1 Kings 3:28

3:28 When all Israel heard about the judicial decision which the king had rendered, they respected¹³ the king, for they realized¹⁴ that he possessed supernatural wisdom¹⁵ to make judicial decisions.

¹tn Heb “a hearing heart.” (The Hebrew term translated “heart” often refers to the mental faculties.)

²tn Heb “to judge.”

³tn Heb “to understand between good and evil.”

⁴tn Heb “for”; the word “otherwise” is used to reflect the logical sense of the statement.

⁵tn Heb “who is able?” The rhetorical question anticipates the answer, “no one.”

⁶tn Heb “to judge.”

⁷tn Heb “your numerous people.”

⁸tn This statement is introduced in the Hebrew text by the particle הִנֵּה (hinneh, “look”) which draws attention to and emphasizes what follows.

⁹tn Heb “I am doing according to your words.” The perfect tense is sometimes used of actions occurring at the same time a statement is made.

¹⁰tn This statement is introduced by the particle הִנֵּה (hinneh, “look”) which draws attention to and emphasizes what follows. The translation assumes that the perfect tense here indicates that the action occurs as the statement is made (i.e., “right now I give you”).

¹¹tn Heb “heart.” (The Hebrew term translated “heart” often refers to the mental faculties.)

¹²tn Heb “so that there has not been one like you prior to you, and after you one will not arise like you.”

¹³tn Heb “feared,” perhaps in the sense, “stood in awe of.”

¹⁴tn Heb “saw.”

¹⁵tn Heb “the wisdom of God within him.”