Now the weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was six hundred threescore and six talents of gold,

1 KINGS 10:14KJV
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1 Kings 10:14 (KJV)

What does 1 Kings 10:14 mean?

1 Kings 10:14 states that King Solomon received a total of 666 talents of gold in a single year. This verse highlights the immense wealth that came to Solomon during his reign as king of Israel.

The verse is part of a larger section describing Solomon’s prosperity and the grandeur of his kingdom. The writer is giving a specific figure to show just how much gold flowed into Solomon’s treasury each year, apart from other sources of income. This detail sets the stage for understanding the scale of Solomon’s riches and the reputation he had among neighboring nations.

The Hebrew behind 1 Kings 10:14

  • "weight" (מִשְׁקַל, mishqal): This word refers to the measured amount or mass, emphasizing that the gold was carefully accounted for, not just estimated.
  • "talents" (כִּכָּר, kikkar): A talent was a large unit of weight, often understood as about 75 pounds (34 kilograms), so 666 talents would be an enormous quantity of gold.
  • "gold" (זָהָב, zahav): The focus on gold (not silver or other valuables) underlines the high value and prestige of Solomon’s wealth.

Why 1 Kings 10:14 matters

  • The verse helps clear up how extraordinary Solomon’s wealth was, giving a concrete number that would have been staggering to ancient readers.
  • By specifying “in one year,” the writer shows that this was not a one-time windfall but a regular flow of riches, reinforcing Solomon’s status and the prosperity of his reign.
  • This detail connects to the broader story of Solomon’s wisdom and the respect he commanded from other nations, as described in the surrounding chapters.

Where else these words appear

“weight” Hebrew H4948 · used in 42 verses

  • Genesis 24:22 And it came to pass, as the camels had done drinking, that the man took a golden earring of half a shekel weight, and two bracelets for her hands of ten shekels weight of gold;
  • Numbers 7:67 His offering was one silver charger, the weight whereof was an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering:
  • 1 Chronicles 28:14 He gave of gold by weight for things of gold, for all instruments of all manner of service; silver also for all instruments of silver by weight, for all instruments of every kind of service:

“talents” Hebrew H3603 · used in 55 verses

  • Genesis 13:10 And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar.
  • 2 Samuel 12:30 And he took their king's crown from off his head, the weight whereof was a talent of gold with the precious stones: and it was set on David's head. And he brought forth the spoil of the city in great abundance.
  • 1 Chronicles 29:4 Even three thousand talents of gold, of the gold of Ophir, and seven thousand talents of refined silver, to overlay the walls of the houses withal:

“threescore” Hebrew H8346 · used in 56 verses

  • Genesis 5:15 And Mahalaleel lived sixty and five years, and begat Jared:
  • Numbers 31:34 And threescore and one thousand asses,
  • 2 Chronicles 12:3 With twelve hundred chariots, and threescore thousand horsemen: and the people were without number that came with him out of Egypt; the Lubims, the Sukkiims, and the Ethiopians.