Queen living at the time of United Monarchy
The Queen of Sheba visited King Solomon, tested him with questions, and praised his wisdom and prosperity.
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Also known as Queen of the South
The Queen of Sheba, whose kingdom was likely located in modern-day Yemen or Ethiopia, heard about the fame and wisdom of King Solomon and traveled to Jerusalem to meet him (1Ki.10.1-13; 2Ch.9.1-12). She brought a large entourage and expensive gifts, including gold, spices, and precious stones. The queen tested Solomon with difficult questions, and he answered them all, demonstrating his God-given wisdom. Impressed by his wisdom, wealth, and the organization of his court, the Queen of Sheba praised Solomon and his God, acknowledging that his wisdom and prosperity were divine blessings. She gave Solomon many gifts, and he reciprocated, giving her all she desired. Jesus later referenced the Queen of Sheba's visit, noting that she came from the ends of the earth to hear Solomon's wisdom, and yet someone greater than Solomon was present in Jesus himself (Mat.12.42; Luk.11.31).
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10 verses in 4 books · English text: BSB (change it from the menu at the top) · Strong’s H4436
Now when the queen of Sheba heard about the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the LORD, she came to test him with difficult questions.
When the queen of Sheba saw all the wisdom of Solomon, the palace he had built,
Then she gave the king 120 talents of gold, a great quantity of spices, and precious stones. Never again were spices in such an abundance brought in as those the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon.
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.
Now when the queen of Sheba heard about the fame of Solomon, she came to test him with difficult questions. She arrived in Jerusalem with a very large caravan—with camels bearing spices, gold in abundance, and precious stones. So she came to Solomon and spoke with him about all that was on her mind.
When the queen of Sheba saw the wisdom of Solomon, the palace he had built,
Then she gave the king 120 talents of gold, a great quantity of spices, and precious stones. There had never been such spices as those the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon.
King Solomon gave the queen of Sheba all she desired—whatever she asked—far more than she had brought the king. Then she left and returned to her own country, along with her servants.
The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and now One greater than Solomon is here.
The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with the men of this generation and condemn them; for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and now One greater than Solomon is here.
Names, family links and references: STEPBible TIPNR (Tyndale House Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). Short descriptions were drafted with AI assistance by STEPBible. Family links follow STEPBible’s scholarly decisions where genealogies are ambiguous.