I Kings 10:13 · Bible study
1 Kings 10:13 Commentary: The queen's desire and Solomon's generous response
Hebrew · 7 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Explore what the queen of Sheba 'desired' from Solomon, the tradition of a son Menilek, and the meaning of his royal bounty.
Research Summary
- Meaning: The queen of Sheba departed fully satisfied, having received from Solomon everything she desired plus extra royal gifts.
- Key words: Desire (H2656 chephets: delight, longing); ask (H7592 shaal: to request); royal bounty (literally 'according to the hand of the king': idiom for lavish generosity).
- Main debate: Whether 'all her desire' included sexual relations and a son (Menilek tradition) or only material goods and knowledge.
- Theological theme: The lavish generosity of a wise king mirrors God’s readiness to give beyond what His seekers ask.
- Best use: A passage for teaching on God's provision for those who earnestly seek wisdom, and a call to live generously toward others.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
King Solomon gave the queen of Sheba all she desired—whatever she asked—besides what he had given her out of his royal bounty. Then she left and returned to her own country, along with her servants.
WEB World English Bible 2000
King Solomon gave to the queen of Sheba all her desire, whatever she asked, in addition to that which Solomon gave her of his royal bounty. So she turned and went to her own land, she and her servants.
KJV King James Version 1769
And king Solomon gave unto the queen of Sheba all her desire, whatsoever she asked, beside that which Solomon gave her of his royal bounty. So she turned and went to her own country, she and her servants.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
And king Solomon gave to the queen of Sheba all her desire, whatsoever she asked, besides that which Solomon gave her of his royal bounty. So she turned, and went to her own land, she and her servants.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
And king Solomon gave to the queen of Sheba all her desire that she asked, apart from that which he gave to her as a memorial of king Solomon, and she turneth and goeth to her land, she and her servants.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
And king Solomon gave to the queen of Sheba all her desire, whatever she asked, besides what he gave her of the bounty of king Solomon. And she turned and went to her own land, she and her servants.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
And king Solomon gave the queen of Saba all that she desired, and asked of him: besides what he offered her of himself of his royal bounty. And she returned, and went to her own country, with her servants.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Y el rey Salomón dió á la reina de Seba todo lo que quiso, y todo lo que pidió, además de lo que Salomón le dió como de mano del rey Salomón. Y ella se volvió, y se fué á su tierra con sus criados.
E o rei Salomão deu à rainha de Sabá tudo o que quis, e tudo o que pediu, ademais do que Salomão lhe deu como da mão do rei Salomão. E ela se voltou, e se foi a sua terra com seus criados.
Le roi Salomon donna à la reine de Séba tout ce qu’ elle désira, ce qu’ elle demanda, et lui fit en outre des présents dignes d’ un roi tel que Salomon. Puis elle s’ en retourna et alla dans son pays, elle et ses serviteurs.
Und der König Salomo gab der Königin von Reicharabien alles, was sie begehrte und bat, außer was er ihr von selbst gab. Und sie wandte sich und zog in ihr Land samt ihren Knechten.
En de koning Salomo gaf de koningin van Scheba al haar behagen, wat zij begeerde; behalve dat hij haar gaf naar het vermogen van den koning Salomo; zo keerde zij en toog in haar land, zij en haar knechten.
Il re Salomone diede alla regina di Sceba tutto quel che essa bramò e chiese, oltre a quello ch’ei le donò con la sua munificenza sovrana. Poi ella si rimise in cammino, e coi suoi servi se ne tornò al suo paese.
Król także Salomon dał królowej z Saby wszystko, czego chciała i czego żądała, oprócz tego, co jej dał z dobrej woli ręką królewską. Potem odjechawszy, wróciła się do ziemi swojej, ona i słudzy jej.
И царь Соломон дал царице Савской все, чего она желала и чего просила, сверх того, что подарил ей царь Соломон своими руками. И отправилась она обратно в свою землю, она и все слуги ее.
示巴 女王 一切 所 要 所求的，所羅門 王 都送 給她，另外 照 自己 的厚意 餽送 她。於是女王 和她臣僕 轉回 本國 去了。
And King Solomon gave the queen of Sheba all her desire, whatever she made request for, in addition to what he gave her freely from the impulse of his heart. So she went back to her country, she and her servants.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · I Kings 10:13
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators agree this verse concludes the queen of Sheba's visit with a picture of Solomon's extraordinary generosity. The Hebrew phrase rendered 'of his royal bounty' reads literally 'according to the hand of King Solomon', an idiom for open-handed, lavish giving (Cambridge Bible, citing Esther 1:7; 2:18). Adam Clarke notes a tradition that the queen desired a son, Menilek, and received one. Other commentators (Gill, Jamieson-Fausset-Brown) interpret 'all her desire' as material gifts and the satisfaction of her intellectual curiosity. The text does not specify what the desire was, only that Solomon granted it fully. All agree the queen departed satisfied, turning and going to her own land with her servants.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- Literal desire for gifts and knowledge: Most commentators (Gill, JFB, Cambridge) focus on material and intellectual exchange, noting no mention of a child in the text.
- Desire for a son (Menilek tradition): Adam Clarke and later Ethiopian/Islamic sources claim the queen desired progeny; this reliance on extra-biblical documents like the <em>Kebra Nagast</em>.
- Spiritual desire for divine wisdom: Some interpret 'desire' as a longing for the God of Israel, given her initial interest in 'the name of the Lord' (1 Kings 10:1).
What is clear: Solomon gave the queen everything she asked for, and she departed to her own land, satisfied and bearing additional royal gifts.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| What the queen desired | She received everything she asked for; the text emphasizes complete satisfaction. | Traditional Jewish and Christian readings focus on knowledge and material gifts; Ethiopian and Islamic traditions believe she desired a son (Menilek), a view not stated in the biblical text. |
| The meaning of 'royal bounty' | The Hebrew idiom 'according to the hand of the king' describes generous, befitting gifts. | Some see it as reciprocal gift-giving (Jamieson-Fausset-Brown); others as gracious extras (Clarke, Gill). |
| Did the queen become a worshiper of Yahweh? | She blessed Yahweh and praised Him for setting Solomon on the throne (v.9). | Some interpreters see this as conversion; others as respectful acknowledgment without personal commitment. |
| Location of Sheba | The biblical evidence points to Arabia Felix (modern Yemen). | Early tradition (Josephus) connected Sheba to Ethiopia; modern scholarship favours the Arabian location (Lange). |
Historical & Cultural Context
The queen of Sheba came from a wealthy trading kingdom in Arabia Felix (modern Yemen), renowned for spices, gold, and precious stones (Lange's Commentary). Her visit was both diplomatic and personal: she had heard of Solomon's fame 'concerning the name of the Lord' and came to test him with hard questions (1 Kings 10:1-3). In the ancient Near East, royal visits involved extravagant gift exchanges as gestures of honour and negotiation. The queen brought 120 talents of gold and ‘a very great quantity of spices’; Solomon’s return gift matched or exceeded that display of wealth.
The phrase 'royal bounty' in Hebrew is literally 'according to the hand of the king', a standard way to describe generosity befitting a monarch. Cultural background shows that such visits often sealed alliances or trade relationships. Later traditions, especially in Ethiopia and the Islamic world, added the detail that the queen desired a son from Solomon. But the biblical narrative stays focused on her amazement at his wisdom, his court, and the worship of Yahweh. She blesses God for setting Solomon on the throne (v.9), and then departs. The text does not say she converted or that she left with a child, though many readers have wondered.
Textual Notes
The supplied sources note no significant textual variants for this verse. The Masoretic Text is consistent across traditions. The LXX and Vulgate differ slightly in the phrase describing the additional gifts: the LXX reads 'besides all that she brought to the king,' while the Hebrew, Syriac, and Targum support 'according to the hand of king Solomon.' These differences do not change the meaning of the verse.
Reception History
The queen of Sheba has captured the imagination of many cultures. In Jewish tradition, she appears as a genuine seeker of wisdom, and some midrashim embellish her visit with romantic overtones. The most developed tradition comes from Ethiopia, where the Kebra Nagast recounts that the queen (named Maqueda) conceived a son, Menilek, who later brought the Ark of the Covenant to Ethiopia. This tradition is celebrated by the Ethiopian Orthodox Church.
In Christian interpretation, the queen is often seen as a prototype of the Gentile world seeking Christ, Jesus himself refers to her as a witness who came from afar to hear Solomon's wisdom (Matthew 12:42). Islamic tradition (Quran 27:15, 44) names her Bilqis and tells of her acceptance of Solomon's faith. Within the broader church, I Kings 10:13 has been read as a quiet reminder that God answers the desires of those who seek Him, often exceeding their requests.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- Seeking wisdom brings satisfaction. The queen came with honest, hard questions and left with everything she desired. God honours those who genuinely seek truth.
- Generosity overflows expectations. Solomon gave not only what she asked but also special royal gifts. This mirrors the God who does abundantly more than we ask (Ephesians 3:20).
- The journey ends in joyful departure. The queen turned and went, not empty-handed or disappointed. A true encounter with wisdom sends people home changed.
Five-point outline
- The queen’s quest, testing wisdom.
- Solomon’s response, answering every question.
- The exchange of gifts, honour and generosity.
- The royal bounty, extra, unasked-for grace.
- The departure, satisfied and blessed.
Illustration hooks
- A person visits a mentor or counsellor with deep questions and receives not only answers but also unexpected encouragement and practical help.
- An international student comes to a new country expecting a good education and finds a host family that treats them like family, giving far more than a school experience.
- Friendship or marriage where one person brings a specific need and finds the other gives lavishly beyond the need.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Did the queen become a worshiper of Yahweh? The text says she blessed Solomon's God, but it doesn't explicitly show her faith.
- Does this verse teach that God will give us everything we want? It shows Solomon as a type of Christ, but the queen's desires were probably aligned with wisdom and honour, not selfish wishes.
- What does 'royal bounty' look like in our lives? It may be the extra kindness God provides beyond our specific prayers.
Leading a Discussion
This short verse wraps up the queen of Sheba’s visit. It highlights Solomon’s generosity and the queen’s satisfaction. The phrase ‘all her desire, whatever she asked’ raises interesting questions about what she really wanted, and whether the desire extended beyond material gifts to knowledge, connection, or even an heir. The group should engage both the plain reading and the later traditions.
Discussion questions
- What do you think the queen ‘desired’ from Solomon? What clues does the story give?
- Why do you think the writer includes the detail ‘whatever she asked’ rather than listing specific items?
- How does Solomon’s ‘royal bounty’ compare with the gifts the queen brought? What does this say about his reign?
- Some traditions (Ethiopian, Islamic) say the queen received a son from Solomon. Why might this idea have developed, and how should we handle traditions that go beyond Scripture?
- In what ways does this story point to Jesus, who gives ‘more than we ask or think’ (Ephesians 3:20)?
- Have you ever gone to God with a specific request and received unexpected extras?
- How can we imitate Solomon’s generosity in our own relationships, giving not only what is asked but also additional gifts of kindness?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| I Kings 9:1 | When Solomon had finished the building of Yahweh’s house, the king’s house, and all Solomon’s desire which he was pleased to do, |
| I Kings 10:2 | She came to Jerusalem with a very great caravan, with camels that bore spices, very much gold, and precious stones; and when she had come to Solomon, she talked with him about all that was in her heart. |
| Psalms 20:4 | May he grant you your heart’s desire, and fulfill all your counsel. |
| Psalms 37:4 | Also delight yourself in Yahweh, and he will give you the desires of your heart. |
| Matthew 15:28 | Then Jesus answered her, “Woman, great is your faith! Be it done to you even as you desire.” And her daughter was healed from that hour. |
| John 14:13 | Whatever you will ask in my name, I will do it, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. |
| John 14:14 | If you will ask anything in my name, I will do it. |
| Ephesians 3:20 | Now to him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
6 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke notes a tradition that the queen's "desire" was for a child from Solomon, not merely gifts. Her supposed son Menilek was raised at the Israelite court, later ruled Sheba, and introduced Judaism to his people. Clarke presents this as a tradition some imagine, not as settled fact.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The commentator clarifies the Hebrew idiom “according to the hand of king Solomon,” which means “according to his bounty” or liberality. This explains that Solomon’s gift to the queen went beyond what she brought. He also notes that the parallel account in 2 Chronicles phrases it differently in a way that is difficult to make sense of.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva note highlights that Solomon gave the queen not only everything she requested but also additional gifts from his own royal bounty. This emphasizes that his generosity exceeded her asking, reflecting the lavish abundance of a king's provision.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill emphasizes that Solomon gave the queen not only everything she specifically asked for but also additional gifts from his own royal generosity, beyond her requests. He also notes her large retinue, pointing out that she and her servants returned to her own country of Sheba.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB notes that Solomon's gift to the queen went beyond satisfying her curiosity. Following Eastern custom, he gave her a generous reciprocal present, amply repaying the gifts she had brought to him.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange treats the queen's visit as the historical climax of Solomon's kingdom, not a mere anecdote. He sees in her journey a foreshadowing of the nations coming to worship the Messiah, and emphasizes that the wisdom