I Kings 10:27 · Bible study
1 Kings 10:27 Commentary: Silver as Stones, Sign of Blessing or Warning Sign?
Hebrew · 8 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Examine the hyperbole of silver as stones in Solomon’s Jerusalem, and the tension between divine blessing and Deuteronomic warning in this verse.
Research Summary
- Meaning: Solomon’s wealth was so great that silver and cedars lost their value, becoming as common as local stones and sycamore trees.
- Key words: Silver (כֶּסֶף, kesef), stones (אֲבָנִים, avanim), cedar (אֶרֶז, erez), sycamore (שִׁקְמָה, shiqmah), Shephelah (שְׁפֵלָה, lowland), abundance (רֹב, rov).
- Main debate: Does this hyperbole celebrate divine blessing (fulfillment of covenant promises) or warn of coming decline (violation of Deut 17:17)?
- Theological theme: The tension between God’s generous gifts and the human tendency to let those gifts lead away from covenant loyalty.
- Best use: A passage for reflecting on the nature of blessing, the danger of multiplied wealth, and the need to keep the Giver central when His gifts are abundant.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
The king made silver as common in Jerusalem as stones, and cedar as abundant as sycamore in the foothills.
WEB World English Bible 2000
The king made silver as common as stones in Jerusalem, and cedars as common as the sycamore trees that are in the lowland.
KJV King James Version 1769
And the king made silver to be in Jerusalem as stones, and cedars made he to be as the sycomore trees that are in the vale, for abundance.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
And the king made silver to be in Jerusalem as stones, and cedars made he to be as the sycomore-trees that are in the lowland, for abundance.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
And the king maketh the silver in Jerusalem as stones, and the cedars he hath made as the sycamores that are in the low country, for abundance.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
And the king made silver in Jerusalem as stones, and cedars made he as the sycamores that are in the lowland for abundance.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
And he made silver to be as plentiful in Jerusalem as stones: and cedars to be as common as sycamores which grow in the plains.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Y puso el rey en Jerusalem plata como piedras, y cedros como los cabrahigos que están por los campos en abundancia.
E pôs o rei em Jerusalém prata como pedras, e cedros como os sicômoros que estão pelos campos em abundância.
Le roi rendit l’ argent aussi commun à Jérusalem que les pierres, et les cèdres aussi nombreux que les sycomores qui croissent dans la plaine.
Und der König machte, daß des Silbers zu Jerusalem so viel war wie die Steine, und Zedernholz so viel wie die wilden Feigenbäume in den Gründen
En de koning maakte het zilver in Jeruzalem te zijn als stenen, en de cederen maakte hij te zijn als de wilde vijgebomen, die in de laagte zijn, in menigte.
E il re fece sì che l’argento era in Gerusalemme così comune come le pietre, e i cedri tanto abbondanti quanto i sicomori della pianura.
I złożył król srebra w Jeruzalemie tak wiele, jako kamienia, a ceder jako sykomorów, których na polu rośnie bardzo wiele.
И сделал царь серебро в Иерусалиме равноценным с простыми камнями, а кедры, по их множеству, сделал равноценными с сикоморами, растущими на низких местах.
王 在耶路撒冷 使 銀子 多如石頭， 香柏木 多 如高原 的 桑樹。
And the king made silver as common as stones in Jerusalem and cedars like the sycamore-trees of the lowlands in number.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · I Kings 10:27
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators across traditions agree that this verse uses deliberate hyperbole to underscore the extraordinary wealth of Jerusalem under Solomon. Barnes calls it a “strong hyperbole” marking the capital’s prosperity during his reign. Clarke notes that the abundance of silver “destroyed its value” by making it as common as stones. Keil and Delitzsch describe the language as “a hyperbolical description of his collection of enormous quantities of precious metals and costly wood.” The sycamore trees (שִׁקְמָה, shiqmah) are singled out as a common tree in the Shephelah (lowland), so the comparison to cedars emphasizes that even the most prized imported timber became ordinary. All sources treat the verse as a snapshot of Israel’s golden age under Solomon, though several also hint that such abundance carried a hidden cost.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- Celebration of blessing: The immediate context (vv. 23-25) celebrates Solomon’s wisdom and wealth as gifts from God. The hyperbole matches the tone of royal praise typical of ancient Near Eastern texts.
- Ironic warning of decline: Deuteronomy 17:17 explicitly forbids multiplying gold; Solomon’s later violations (11:1-8) show the king turning away. The verse’s placement before the fall suggests intentional foreshadowing.
What is clear: The verse describes an extreme abundance of silver and imported cedar in Jerusalem, using the common stones and sycamore trees of the region as a comparison point.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Hyperbole as a literary device | All commentators recognize that the comparison of silver to stones and cedars to sycamores is intentional hyperbole meant to convey extraordinary abundance. | Some read the hyperbole as straightforward celebration; others see ironic undertones that hint at overabundance becoming a liability. |
| Source of Solomon’s wealth | The wealth came from trade, tribute, and the God-given wisdom that attracted foreign rulers (v. 24). | Does this wealth represent faithful fulfillment of God’s promises, or does it already show the king’s violation of Deut 17:17? The verse itself does not judge, but the surrounding narrative raises the question. |
| The sycamore tree as a point of comparison | Sycamores were common trees in the Shephelah, valued for fruit and timber but ordinary in abundance. | No debate on the factual background; the tree’s relative ordinariness is used by both sides to highlight either the magnitude of cedars imported or the commonness of what was once rare. |
| Connection to Deuteronomy 17:17 | Most commentators note the explicit prohibition against kings multiplying silver and gold, and see a potential link with Solomon’s actions. | Some argue the verse is purely descriptive and not meant as a theological evaluation at this point; others see it as a deliberate ironic echo that anticipates Solomon’s downfall in chapter 11. |
| LXX textual variant | The LXX reads 'gold and silver' instead of just 'silver,' a minor expansion. | Most scholars treat this as a harmonization with 2 Chronicles 9:27 or 2 Chronicles 1:15. No significant theological difference is introduced. |
Historical & Cultural Context
The verse sits within the grand summary of Solomon’s wealth and wisdom in 1 Kings 10. Earlier verses list his annual gold income (666 talents), his throne of ivory, and his drinking vessels of gold. Silver had become so plentiful that it “was nothing accounted of” (10:21). Verse 27 pushes the image further: the king made silver like stones and cedars like sycamores.
The “lowland” (שְׁפֵלָה, Shephelah) is the fertile foothill region between the Judean mountains and the Mediterranean coast, famous for its sycamore trees. The Cambridge Bible notes that this term became a proper name, “Sephela,” and that the area was “fertile and specially well-wooded.” Sycamores were valued for their fruit and timber, David even appointed a specific overseer for them (1 Chronicles 27:28). So when the writer says cedars became as common as sycamores, it means the most prestigious building material (cedars from Lebanon, imported through Hiram’s domain) had become as accessible as the ordinary trees of the countryside.
Yet this very abundance echoes a warning. Deuteronomy 17:17 commands the king not to “greatly multiply to himself silver and gold.” The surrounding chapters show Solomon violating this: he multiplies horses from Egypt (v. 28-29) and wives (11:1-3). The lavish expenditure that enriched Jerusalem also “impoverished the provinces,” as Barnes observes, leading to the discontent that erupted under Jeroboam. So while the verse appears to celebrate blessing, its placement within the larger narrative invites the reader to see the seeds of decline.
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note one significant variant. The Septuagint (LXX) reads “gold and silver” in place of the Hebrew “silver” alone. The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges observes that this same reading appears in the parallel passage of 2 Chronicles 9:27 and 2 Chronicles 1:15. This is likely a harmonization, adding “gold” to match the context of Solomon’s wealth. The variant does not alter the overall meaning, though it does heighten the hyperbole. No other notable textual issues are raised in the supplied material.
Reception History
Early interpreters such as Origen and Jerome read this verse as proof of the historical splendor of Solomon’s kingdom, often using it to illustrate the literal fulfillment of God’s promises to David. In medieval Jewish commentary, Rashi and Kimchi focused on the precise meaning of “sycamore” and the geography of the Shephelah, connecting it to agricultural prosperity. Protestant Reformers like Calvin and Matthew Henry emphasized the warning embedded in the hyperbole: abundance can dull spiritual senses. Across traditions, the verse has been cited in sermons on the theme of God’s generous provision and the danger of making material blessings the measure of one’s faith. More recently, liberation theologians have pointed to the contrast between Jerusalem’s opulence and the provinces’ impoverishment, reading the verse as a critique of centralized wealth.
Preaching This Verse
Three-Point Outline
- The wealth of God’s gifts. Solomon’s prosperity was a fulfillment of promises to Abraham (Genesis 22:17) and David (1 Chronicles 22:9). Silver and cedars in abundance show God’s generosity, but also hint at the test that comes with blessing.
- The danger of forgetting the Giver. When silver becomes “common as stones,” it can lose its sense of gift. Deuteronomy 17:17 warns against multiplying riches because the heart can turn away. Solomon’s later choices confirm the warning.
- Hyperbole as a mirror. The exaggerated language forces us to ask: Do we measure blessing by quantity or by faithfulness? The same abundance that signified God’s favor also exposed Solomon’s drift from the command.
Five-Point Outline
- Solomon’s unprecedented prosperity (vv. 23-27).
- The hyperbole of silver as stones and cedars as sycamores.
- The Shephelah: sycamore trees as a baseline for ordinary abundance.
- The Deuteronomic caution: multiplication of gold forbidden (Deut 17:17).
- The hidden danger: ease can lead to neglect of covenant obligations.
Illustration Hooks
- Everyday ordinary: Imagine a time when a luxury item becomes so common that people treat it like trash (e.g., plastic bags, or computer parts in a tech dump). The thing itself isn’t bad, but its abundance can change how we value it and the God who provides it.
- The two-edged blessing: A sudden windfall (inheritance, bonus, lottery) often brings both joy and new pressures. Solomon’s wealth made Jerusalem shine but also sowed resentment in the provinces. Blessing without wisdom can become a burden.
Questions Your Congregation Is Asking
- “If wealth is a blessing from God, why does Solomon’s story end badly? Does God want us to be poor?”
- “How do I know if my own material blessings are leading me toward God or pulling me away from Him?”
- “Is it possible to be wealthy and still obey Deuteronomy 17:17?”
Leading a Discussion
This verse is often read as a highlight of Solomon’s glory, but it sits in a story that ends in division (1 Kings 11). Discussing it as a group helps us see both God’s generosity and the human tendency to turn gifts into idols.
Discussion Questions
- What does the hyperbole of silver as “stones” tell you about the scale of Solomon’s wealth? Does it feel like pure celebration or is there a hint of excess?
- Read Deuteronomy 17:16-17. Which of these commands did Solomon begin to violate during his reign? How does this verse connect to that warning?
- The sycamore tree was a common, everyday tree in the lowland. Why does the writer choose this particular comparison for the cedars of Lebanon? What point is being made about value and abundance?
- Barnes suggests that the lavish spending enriched Jerusalem but impoverished the provinces. Does the Bible ever criticize prosperity that benefits one group at the expense of others? (Consider Amos 6:1-6.)
- In what ways might material abundance today become a spiritual danger, even when it comes from God’s hand? How can a believer hold wealth without being held by it?
- The verse does not explicitly condemn Solomon; it simply describes. Why might the narrator choose to present this information without a moral label?
- How does this passage challenge your own definition of “enough”? What would it take for you to see God’s goodness as more valuable than the things He provides?
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)
| Deuteronomy 17:17 | He shall not multiply wives to himself, that his heart not turn away. He shall not greatly multiply to himself silver and gold. |
| II Chronicles 1:15 | The king made silver and gold to be as common as stones in Jerusalem, and he made cedars to be as common as the sycamore trees that are in the lowland. |
| II Chronicles 1:17 | They imported from Egypt then exported a chariot for six hundred pieces of silver and a horse for one hundred fifty. They also exported them to the Hittite kings and the Syrian kings. |
| II Chronicles 9:27 | The king made silver as common in Jerusalem as stones, and he made cedars to be as abundant as the sycamore trees that are in the lowland. |
| Job 22:24 | Lay your treasure in the dust, the gold of Ophir among the stones of the brooks. |
| Job 22:25 | The Almighty will be your treasure, and precious silver to you. |
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
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What the Commentators Say
7 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke observes that Solomon's abundance of silver made it as common and worthless as stones. He similarly notes that cedar, once rare, became as plentiful as sycamore trees due to heavy importation. He adds a brief botanical note: the sycamore's name comes from Greek words for fig and mulberry, reflecting its mixed fruit and leaf.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes reads "silver as stones" as deliberate hyperbole highlighting how Jerusalem's wealth under Solomon enriched the capital while impoverishing the provinces, fueling discontent. He also notes that sycomore trees, placed under a royal overseer by David, were valued for both fruit and timber.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
This commentator clarifies that "vale" in this verse refers to a specific geographical region, the lowland west of Judah, not a generic valley. He also notes that the Greek Old Testament reads "gold and silver" here, adding a word absent from the Hebrew.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The note emphasizes that the king's wealth was so immense that silver became as common as ordinary stones and cedar trees as plentiful as wild fig trees, which grow in the plain without any planting or care. The comparison highlights the sheer, overwhelming abundance of what were normally precious goods.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill treats these descriptions as deliberate hyperbole, not literal fact. The vast amount of silver from Tarshish made it as common as stones in Jerusalem, and the imported cedars from Hiram's territory became as plentiful as the lowly sycamore trees that grow everywhere in the plains. The exaggeration underscores the extraordinary abundance of both materials.
Keil & Delitzsch OT Commentary Protestant 1876
Keil-Delitzsch emphasizes that the description of Solomon's wealth is hyperbolical, comparing silver to stones and cedars to sycamores. They argue the horse trade from Egypt was a state-run enterprise, not a customs duty, with merchants trading for the royal account. The Hittite and Aramean kings were Solomon's vassals.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange interprets Solomon's wealth and splendor as the supreme example of the old covenant's visible, earthly glory. This outward greatness, described just before Solomon's fall, underscores its temporary nature and points ahead to Christ's imperishable, spiritual kingdom. The twelve lions on the throne symbolize Israel as a royal