II Chronicles 9:27 · Bible study
2 Chronicles 9:27 Commentary: Solomon's Wealth
Hebrew · 5 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
What does Solomon's silver-as-stones hyperbole mean? Divine blessing or foreshadowing of materialism?
Research Summary
- Meaning: Hyperbolic description of Solomon's wealth, emphasizing God's blessing through abundant provision.
- Key words: silver, stones, cedars, sycamores, Shephelah (lowland).
- Main debate: Does this verse celebrate divine blessing, or does it subtly warn against materialism?
- Theological theme: God's generosity and the human tendency to take blessings for granted.
- Best use: Sermon on contentment, God's provision, or the trajectory of Solomon's reign.
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 in Jerusalem as stones, and he made cedars to be as abundant as the sycamore trees that are in the lowland.
KJV King James Version 1769
And the king made silver in Jerusalem as stones, and cedar trees made he as the sycomore trees that are in the low plains in 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 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 as plentiful in Jerusalem as stones: and cedars as common as the sycamores, which grow in the plains.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Y puso el rey plata en Jerusalem como piedras, y cedros como los cabrahigos que nacen por las campiñas en abundancia.
E pôs o rei prata em Jerusalém como pedras, e cedros como os sicômoros que nascem pelas campinas 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 Silber so viel war zu Jerusalem wie die Steine und der Zedern so viel wie die Maulbeerbäume in den Gründen.
Ook maakte de koning 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.
A złożył król srebra w Jeruzalemie jako kamienia, a ceder złożył jako płonnych fig, których rośnie na polu bardzo wiele.
И сделал царь [золото и] серебро в Иерусалиме равноценным простому камню, а кедры, по их множеству, сделал равноценными сикоморам, которые 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。
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 · II Chronicles 9:27
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 show Solomon's extraordinary wealth. Keil and Delitzsch note that it repeats the general estimate of Solomon's riches from 2 Chronicles 1:15, rounding off the description of his reign. The Cambridge Bible adds geographical precision: the Shephelah lowlands where sycamore figs once grew. Matthew Henry places the verse within Solomon's magnificence, where silver and cedar lost their value through sheer abundance. None of the supplied commentators read the verse as a critique; they present it as a sign of God's blessing. Yet the broader biblical narrative of Solomon's later apostasy leads some to ask whether such material excess contains a subtle warning. That question goes beyond what this verse explicitly says.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Low
What is clear: The verse clearly intends to portray Solomon's wealth as extraordinary through hyperbolic comparison to common stones and sycamore trees.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| The nature of the hyperbole | All agree the verse uses intentional overstatement to highlight Solomon's wealth. | Some see it as straightforward celebration of God's blessing; others argue the exaggeration carries a tone of critique when read against the full story. |
| Meaning of 'silver as stones' | Christians agree that the phrase means silver lost its rarity and value due to sheer abundance. | Traditions differ on whether this is meant positively (God's generosity) or cautiously (the dulling effect of wealth on spiritual perception). |
| Parallel with 2 Chronicles 1:15 | Commentators recognize this verse restates 2 Chronicles 1:15, forming an inclusio. | Some view the repetition as a simple summary; others see it as a deliberate framing device that contrasts Solomon's early and later days. |
| The role of the Shephelah | The Shephelah is a known geographical region west of the Judean mountains, where sycamore figs grew abundantly. | Interpreters debate how much the original audience would have known about the decline of sycamore trees there, and whether the comparison is purely local or carries symbolic weight. |
Historical & Cultural Context
The verse comes near the end of the chronicler's account of Solomon's reign, after the queen of Sheba's visit and the lists of royal wealth. The Hebrew term for 'lowland' is Shephelah, a specific strip of low hills between the Judean mountains and the coastal plain. The Cambridge Bible explains that the sycamore tree (the sycomore fig) was once common there, though it is no longer. By comparing cedars, precious imported timber from Lebanon, to these abundant local trees, the text magnifies Solomon's prosperity. The same comparison appears in 2 Chronicles 1:15, forming a bookend around the narrative. The chronicler uses hyperbole typical of ancient Near Eastern royal inscriptions, where a king's wealth makes precious metals as common as stones.
Some interpreters see this as the fulfillment of God's promise to Solomon in 1 Kings 3:13, that he would have both wisdom and riches. Others note that Deuteronomy 17:17 warns Israel's kings against multiplying silver and gold, placing this abundance in an ambivalent light. The immediate context is celebratory: verse 23 says 'all the kings of the earth sought the presence of Solomon to hear his wisdom, which God had put in his heart.' The verse functions both as a concluding summary of God's blessing and, for those who know the whole story, a hint of what is to come.
Textual Notes
The consulted commentaries note no significant textual variants for this verse. The parallel in 1 Kings 10:27 matches closely, with only minor differences in phrasing (e.g., the order of the comparisons).
Reception History
Throughout church history, this verse has been celebrated as a picture of God's faithfulness to Solomon, who sought wisdom first. Early Jewish and Christian readers saw it as literal history confirming the wisdom tradition. Medieval allegorists read the cedars and sycamores as types of Christ and the Church. Reformation commentators like Matthew Henry emphasized the historical fulfillment of God's promise. In modern times, the verse has been used both to encourage those who trust God's provision and to caution against the seduction of abundance. Recent scholarship notes the hyperbolic style as characteristic of ancient Near Eastern royal inscriptions.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- The source of abundance. Solomon's wealth came from God's promise in response to his request for wisdom. The hyperbole points to divine generosity, not human achievement.
- The sign of abundance. Comparisons to stones and sycamores are Hebraic praise language, intensifying God's goodness through vivid exaggeration.
- The shadow of abundance. Even extraordinary blessing can become a snare. The verse stands in tension with the warning of Deuteronomy 17:17 and the later account of Solomon's decline.
Five-point outline
- Silver as stones: wealth becomes ordinary.
- Cedars like sycamores: prestige becomes commonplace.
- The Shephelah: a rooted context for the metaphor.
- Hyperbole as biblical language: the chronicler's method.
- The wider narrative: blessing that tests the heart.
Illustration hooks
- A child given so many toys that none are special anymore, abundance can dull gratitude.
- Modern affluence: we have more than ancient kings, yet often feel less content. The verse challenges our relationship with 'ordinary' abundance.
- A treasure chest vs. a junk drawer: when gold (or silver) loses its value through sheer quantity, we may need to ask whether we value God or his gifts.
Questions your congregation is asking
- If God blessed Solomon so much, why did he later fall?
- Does God want all his people to be wealthy?
- How do we enjoy God's gifts without letting them become idols?
Leading a Discussion
This verse sits in a passage celebrating the extraordinary wealth and wisdom God gave Solomon. But the chronicler, writing after the kingdom divided, likely intended his readers to see both the glory and the seeds of tragedy. As a group, explore how abundance can be both a blessing and a test.
Discussion questions
- What comparisons does the verse make? Why would the chronicler use stones and sycamore trees as the baseline?
- Read 2 Chronicles 1:15. Why do you think this same statement is repeated here? What does it tell us about the chronicler's priorities?
- The Hebrew word for 'lowland' is Shephelah. How does the geographical specificity add to the force of the description?
- Some Christians see this verse as pure celebration of God's provision. Others detect a warning about materialism. Which reading do you find more persuasive, and why?
- How does this verse connect to the later description of Solomon's downfall (2 Chronicles 10-12)? Do you think the chronicler is being ironic?
- In what ways do we today treat material blessings as 'ordinary stones' or 'common sycamores'? Is that a good thing or a dangerous thing?
- What would it look like to enjoy God's gifts while keeping God himself as the real treasure?
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 10:27 | The king made silver as common as stones in Jerusalem, and cedars as common as the sycamore trees that are in the lowland. |
| I Kings 10:29 | A chariot was imported from Egypt for six hundred shekels of silver, and a horse for one hundred fifty shekels; and so they exported them to all the kings of the Hittites and to the kings of Syria. |
| I Chronicles 27:28 | Over the olive trees and the sycamore trees that were in the lowland was Baal Hanan the Gederite. Over the cellars of oil was Joash. |
| 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 9:20 | All King Solomon’s drinking vessels were of gold, and all the vessels of the House of the Forest of Lebanon were of pure gold. Silver was not considered valuable in the days of Solomon. |
| 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
3 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The commentator clarifies that "cedar trees" should be read as "cedar wood" and identifies "sycomore" as the fig-mulberry, a tree now uncommon in Palestine. He also notes that "the low plains" refers to the Shephelah, the lowland region described by G.A. Smith.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva note highlights the hyperbole: the king's wealth was so immense that silver became as common as stones and cedar as plentiful as wild sycamore fig trees. This comparison underscores the extraordinary abundance Solomon enjoyed, not literal equality of value but a vivid picture of overwhelming prosperity.
Keil & Delitzsch OT Commentary Protestant 1876
Keil-Delitzsch observe that the Chronicler does not simply copy the parallel account in 1 Kings but instead draws from different passages there, condensing his own earlier statements about Solomon's wealth and horse trade into one general concluding summary. The description is deliberately rounded off.