1 Kings 5:9
וַיִּתֵּן֩ אֱלֹהִ֨ים חָכְמָ֧ה לִשְׁלֹמֹ֛ה וּתְבוּנָ֖ה הַרְבֵּ֣ה מְאֹ֑ד וְרֹ֣חַב לֵ֔ב כַּחֹ֕ול אֲשֶׁ֖ר עַל־שְׂפַ֥ת הַיָּֽם׃
Divine Action: וַיִּתֵּן אֱלֹהִים חָכְמָה לִשְׁלֹמֹה
וַיִּתֵּן (“and He gave”) is a Qal wayyiqtol 3ms from נ־ת־ן (“to give”), a typical narrative verb form indicating completed divine action. אֱלֹהִים is the subject, emphasizing that Solomon’s wisdom originates from God. חָכְמָה (“wisdom”) is the direct object, and לִשְׁלֹמֹה (“to Solomon”) marks the recipient using the preposition לְ.
Expansion of Blessing: וּתְבוּנָה הַרְבֵּה מְאֹד
וּתְבוּנָה (“and understanding”) continues the list of gifts. תְבוּנָה (“understanding, discernment”) is modified by:
- הַרְבֵּה (“much, abundant”) — indicating quantity
- מְאֹד (“very, exceedingly”) — intensifying the abundance
Together, they describe extraordinary cognitive and perceptive abilities.
Final Attribute: וְרֹחַב לֵב כַּחֹול אֲשֶׁר עַל־שְׂפַת הַיָּם
וְרֹחַב לֵב (“and breadth of heart”) describes vastness of understanding, generosity, or emotional capacity.
- רֹחַב (“breadth”) — noun for expanse, paired in construct with
- לֵב (“heart”) — symbolizing intellect and emotion in Hebrew thought
כַּחֹול אֲשֶׁר עַל־שְׂפַת הַיָּם (“like the sand that is on the seashore”) provides a vivid simile of immeasurable abundance, using כַּ (“like”) to introduce comparison and אֲשֶׁר (“which”) to further specify location.
Parsing Table: Key Forms in 1 Kings 5:9
| Hebrew Word | Root | Form | Function |
|---|---|---|---|
| וַיִּתֵּן | נ־ת־ן | Qal wayyiqtol (3ms) | “And He gave” — narrative divine action |
| חָכְמָה | ח־כ־ם | Noun (fs) | “Wisdom” — first gift bestowed on Solomon |
| תְבוּנָה | ב־י־ן | Noun (fs) | “Understanding” — intellectual discernment |
| רֹחַב לֵב | ר־ח־ב / ל־ב־ב | Construct chain | “Breadth of heart” — metaphor for vast capacity |
| כַּחֹול | ח־ו־ל | Simile introduced by כַּ | “Like the sand” — image of vastness |
The Grammar of Abundant Wisdom
In 1 Kings 5:9, Hebrew grammar layers gifts upon Solomon: verbs of divine initiative, construct chains of attributes, and vivid similes. Wayyiqtol forms propel the narrative forward, while careful noun combinations paint a portrait of superlative wisdom and understanding. The structure itself reflects the abundance it describes — rich, layered, and expansive like the sand by the sea.
