1 Kings 3:9
King James Version
7 Jun 2026
“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?”
טוֹב
Taste and see. David does not say understand or agree — he says taste. Towb is goodness you experience, not just believe in. God's goodness is not a theological position. It is something you encounter when you draw near to Him.
שָׁפַט
Judge
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שָׁפַט
to judge, i.e. pronounce sentence (for or against); by implication, to vindicate or punish; by extenssion, to govern; passively, to litigate (literally or figuratively)
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שָׁמַע
Hear
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שָׁמַע
To hear, to listen, to obey. Shema. Hear O Israel. In Hebrew to truly hear means to obey. God is looking for those who hear with the intention to do.
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מִי
who?
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מִי
who? (occasionally, by a peculiar idiom, of things); also (indefinitely) whoever; often used in oblique construction with prefix or suffix
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לֵב
Heart
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לֵב
Heart, mind, will. Leb. The centre of human personality. Guard your heart above all else for everything you do flows from it.
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עַם
people/ your
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עַם
People, nation, folk. Am. You are My people and I am your God. This mutual belonging is the heart of the covenant.
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יָכֹל
is he able
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יָכֹל
to be able, literally (can, could) or morally (may, might)
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