II Chronicles 9:2 · Bible study
2 Chronicles 9:2 Commentary: Solomon’s Complete Answers
Hebrew · 4 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
A study of II Chronicles 9:2, where Solomon answers all the queen’s questions, revealing the nature of divine wisdom that fully satisfies seekers.
Research Summary
- Meaning: Solomon fully answered the queen’s questions, leaving nothing hidden, demonstrating God’s gift of wisdom.
- Key words: ‘hidden’ (H5956 נֶעְלַם, Niphal: was concealed), ‘told’ (H5046 הִגִּיד, Hiphil: caused to be declared).
- Main debate: More exegetical than controversial; differences exist over whether the ‘hard questions’ were riddles, theological queries, or diplomatic tests.
- Théological theme: Divine wisdom fully satisfies the sincere seeker; God generously reveals hidden things.
- Best use: To illustrate the nature of God-given wisdom as complete and open, culminating in Christ’s full revelation.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
And Solomon answered all her questions; nothing was too difficult for him to explain.
WEB World English Bible 2000
Solomon answered all her questions. There wasn’t anything hidden from Solomon which he didn’t tell her.
KJV King James Version 1769
And Solomon told her all her questions: and there was nothing hid from Solomon which he told her not.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
And Solomon told her all her questions; and there was not anything hid from Solomon which he told her not.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
and Solomon declareth to her all her matters, and there hath not been hid a thing from Solomon that he hath not declared to her.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
And Solomon explained to her all she spoke of, and there was not a thing hidden from Solomon that he did not explain to her.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
And Solomon explained to her all that she proposed: and there was not any thing that he did not make clear unto her.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Pero Salomón le declaró todas sus palabras: ninguna cosa quedó que Salomón no le declarase.
Porém Salomão lhe declarou todas suas palavras: nenhuma coisa restou que Salomão não lhe declarasse.
Salomon répondit à toutes ses questions, et il n’ y eut rien que Salomon ne sût lui expliquer.
Und der König sagte ihr alles, was sie fragte, und war Salomo nichts verborgen, das er ihr nicht gesagt hätte.
En Salomo verklaarde haar al haar woorden; en geen ding was er verborgen voor Salomo, dat hij haar niet verklaarde.
Salomone rispose a tutte le questioni propostegli da lei, e non ci fu cosa che fosse oscura per il re, e ch’ei non sapesse spiegare.
Ale jej odpowiedział Salomon na wszystkie jej słowa, a nie było nic skrytego przed Salomonem, na coby jej nie odpowiedział.
И объяснил ей Соломон все слова ее, и не нашлось ничего незнакомого Соломону, чего он не объяснил бы ей.
所羅門 將 她所問的 都 答上了，沒有 一句 不明白、 不能 答的。
And Solomon gave her answers to all her questions; there was no secret which he did not make clear to her.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · II Chronicles 9:2
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
The supplied commentaries agree that this verse shows the complete success of the queen’s test. Matthew Henry notes that Solomon answered ‘all her questions,’ leaving none unresolved. Lange’s commentary treats the verse as the narrative hinge, after Solomon’s answers, the queen’s spirit is overwhelmed (v.4). The Hebrew construction reinforces the point. The verb for ‘hidden’ (נֶעְלַם, ne’lam) is Niphal perfect, passive: nothing remained concealed. The Hiphil form of נָגַד (higgid) means Solomon caused the hidden things to be declared, actively making them known. Commentators across traditions see this as the fulfillment of the divine promise in I Kings 3:12: God gave Solomon a wise and understanding heart so that he could answer anything. The emphasis is not intellectual capacity alone but God’s generous willingness to reveal truth to those who seek.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Low
What is clear: Solomon answered all the queen’s questions; nothing remained hidden, fully demonstrating the divinely given wisdom promised to him.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Source of Solomon’s wisdom | All Christians affirm that Solomon’s wisdom was a gift from God, as stated in I Kings 3:12 and 4:29. | The extent to which this wisdom was a supernatural infusion of knowledge versus a naturally heightened intellect blessed by God is debated. Some traditions see it as a miraculous ability to answer any hidden matter; others view it as general wisdom in governance and discourse. |
| Nature of the queen’s questions | It is agreed that the questions were designed to test Solomon’s reported wisdom. | Interpreters differ on whether these were complex riddles (as in 1 Kings 10:1 which uses ‘ḥîdôt’), theological inquiries about God and worship, or diplomatic negotiations. The Hebrew term in Chronicles (‘kōl-də·ḇā·re·hā’, ‘all her words’) is less specific. |
| Typological reading | Many Christians see Solomon’s wisdom as a type that points to Christ, in whom are hidden all treasures of wisdom (Colossians 2:3). | The degree of direct prophecy is disputed; some view the visit as a clear messianic type, while others see it as a general parallel of God’s wisdom revealed in the Son. |
Historical & Cultural Context
The visit of the Queen of Sheba likely occurred around 940 BC. Sheba was a prosperous kingdom in southwest Arabia (modern Yemen), controlling trade in spices, gold, and precious stones. Her ‘hard questions’ (the parallel account in 1 Kings 10:1 uses the Hebrew ḥîdôt, ‘riddles’) were a standard test of a monarch’s wisdom in ancient Near Eastern courts. The queen came with a ‘very great caravan’ (v.1), indicating both diplomatic significance and potential for trade agreements. The Chronicler, writing after the exile, highlights this visit to show God’s blessing on Solomon’s reign and the temple’s glory. Solomon’s wisdom was not merely political; it was a direct gift from God (I Kings 3:12; 4:29). The queen’s reaction, ‘no more spirit in her’ (v.4), points to the awe that genuine divine wisdom produces. Her confession that ‘the half was not told me’ (v.6) shows that God’s gifts surpass human reports. This encounter prefigures the greater revelation in Christ, who unveils the hidden mysteries of the Kingdom (Mark 4:11,34). Historically, the account has been cherished as an example of God’s openness to sincere seekers.
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note no significant textual variants for this verse. The differences between the Hebrew text and the parallel account in 1 Kings 10:3 are minor, Chronicles uses a slightly different phrasing for ‘her questions’ (‘kōl-də·ḇā·re·hā’ instead of ‘kōl-də·ḇā·re·hā’), but the meaning is identical. The verse is stable across the main manuscript traditions.
Reception History
In Jewish tradition, this story highlighted the renown of Solomon’s wisdom and the fulfillment of the promise to Abraham that all nations would be blessed. The Queen of Sheba appears in later legends as a seeker who acknowledged the God of Israel. Christian interpreters from the early church onward saw her as a Gentile seeker finding the true God through Israel’s wisdom. The verse itself, with its emphasis on ‘nothing hidden’, has been used in teaching on the openness of God’s revelation: there is no secret that God will not reveal to those who seek him. In Reformation thought, it was cited to argue that God’s wisdom is sufficient for all questions of faith and life.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- God gives wisdom that fully answers the honest seeker.
- Nothing remains hidden when we bring our hardest questions to the source of all wisdom.
- Solomon’s wisdom points to Jesus, who reveals the Father completely (John 15:15).
Five-point outline
- The queen’s preparation: she came with questions and an open heart (v.1).
- Solomon’s response: complete disclosure, nothing withheld (v.2).
- The queen’s reaction: awe and praise to God (v.3-4).
- The witness: this wisdom attracted nations to Israel’s God (v.5-8).
- The greater fulfillment: Christ, the wisdom of God, unveils the mysteries of the Kingdom (Colossians 2:3).
Illustration hooks
- A child who asks a parent a difficult question about the world and receives a patient, full explanation that leaves no confusion.
- A student wrestling with a complex problem who finally meets a teacher able to explain it clearly, satisfying every doubt.
- A traveler who visits a famous site after only seeing pictures and finds the reality far surpasses every report.
Questions your congregation is asking
- “Why doesn’t God answer all my questions like he answered the queen’s?”
- “How can I get wisdom like Solomon for hard decisions in my own life?”
- “Does this story mean God will answer any question I bring to him, or are some things hidden?”
Leading a Discussion
This passage invites us to consider the character of divine wisdom. The queen of Sheba brought her hardest questions to Solomon, and nothing was hidden from her. What does that say about God’s willingness to reveal truth to those who seek? In a world full of unanswered questions, this story offers hope that God’s wisdom is complete and personally accessible.
Discussion questions
- What do we learn about the queen’s approach from verse 1? Why did she come with such a caravan?
- The Hebrew verb for “hidden” (נֶעְלַם) is passive, something was concealed. Why does the text emphasize that nothing was hidden from Solomon?
- How does Solomon’s answering of all her questions fulfill the promise in I Kings 3:12? What does that tell us about God’s faithfulness?
- The queen’s reaction was “no more spirit in her” (v.4). What does that phrase suggest about encountering genuine wisdom?
- In the New Testament, Jesus tells his disciples that to them is given the mystery of the Kingdom explained (Mark 4:11). How is this similar to Solomon’s openness with the queen?
- Think of a time you had a deep question that bothered you. Where did you find an answer? How can this passage encourage us to bring our hardest questions to God?
- What does it mean to say that Jesus is the true wisdom in whom all treasures are hidden (Colossians 2:3)? How does that shape how we seek knowledge?
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 3:12 | behold, I have done according to your word. Behold, I have given you a wise and understanding heart, so that there has been no one like you before you, and after you none will arise like you. |
| I Kings 4:29 | God gave Solomon abundant wisdom, understanding, and breadth of mind like the sand that is on the seashore. |
| Proverbs 13:20 | One who walks with wise men grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm. |
| Proverbs 18:4 | The words of a man’s mouth are like deep waters. The fountain of wisdom is like a flowing brook. |
| Mark 4:11 | He said to them, “To you is given the mystery of God’s Kingdom, but to those who are outside, all things are done in parables, |
| Mark 4:34 | Without a parable he didn’t speak to them; but privately to his own disciples he explained everything. |
| John 15:15 | No longer do I call you servants, for the servant doesn’t know what his lord does. But I have called you friends, for everything that I heard from my Father, I have made known to you. |
| Colossians 2:3 | in whom all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden. |
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
2 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The Cambridge Bible for Schools notes a textual variation in this verse: the King James Version reads "nothing," but the Revised Version translates it as "not any thing." This same rendering appears in 1 Kings, showing a consistent revision of the original Hebrew phrase.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva Note highlights that Solomon's wisdom was so complete that he left no question unanswered, concealing nothing from the queen. This full disclosure shows that the wisdom God granted to Solomon was perfect and lacking nothing.