( Now Hiram the king of Tyre had furnished Solomon with cedar trees and fir trees, and with gold, according to all his desire,) that then king Solomon gave Hiram twenty cities in the land of Galilee.

1 KINGS 9:11KJV
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1 Kings 9:11 (KJV)

What does 1 Kings 9:11 mean?

1 Kings 9:11 describes an exchange between two kings. Hiram of Tyre supplied Solomon with valuable building materials and gold. Solomon then gave Hiram twenty towns in Galilee, making the towns part of their dealings.

The narrator tells the reader what happened; neither king speaks in this verse. The words in parentheses explain Hiram’s earlier contribution, while the sentence moves on to Solomon’s response. “According to all his desire” describes the extent of the supplies Solomon received.

The Hebrew behind 1 Kings 9:11

  • “furnished” — נָשָׂא (nasa): The word can carry the sense of lifting or carrying. Here, it describes Hiram’s provision of materials and gold to Solomon.
  • “fir” — בְּרוֹשׁ (berosh): The word refers to a kind of evergreen tree, often understood as cypress or fir. The exact tree behind the KJV’s “fir” is uncertain.

Why 1 Kings 9:11 matters

  • The gift involved places where people lived, not simply raw materials. Solomon gave Hiram “twenty cities,” linking their exchange to a region called Galilee.
  • The story distinguishes receiving the towns from being pleased with them. In verse 12, Hiram visits the towns and finds that they do not please him.

Where else these words appear

“Galilee” Hebrew H1551 · used in 6 verses

  • Joshua 20:7 And they appointed Kedesh in Galilee in mount Naphtali, and Shechem in mount Ephraim, and Kirjatharba, which is Hebron, in the mountain of Judah.
  • Joshua 21:32 And out of the tribe of Naphtali, Kedesh in Galilee with her suburbs, to be a city of refuge for the slayer; and Hammothdor with her suburbs, and Kartan with her suburbs; three cities.
  • 1 Chronicles 6:76 And out of the tribe of Naphtali; Kedesh in Galilee with her suburbs, and Hammon with her suburbs, and Kirjathaim with her suburbs.

“Hiram” Hebrew H2438 · used in 20 verses

  • 2 Samuel 5:11 And Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar trees, and carpenters, and masons: and they built David an house.
  • 1 Kings 5:11 And Solomon gave Hiram twenty thousand measures of wheat for food to his household, and twenty measures of pure oil: thus gave Solomon to Hiram year by year.
  • 1 Kings 9:12 And Hiram came out from Tyre to see the cities which Solomon had given him; and they pleased him not.

“fir” Hebrew H1265 · used in 20 verses

  • 2 Samuel 6:5 And David and all the house of Israel played before the LORD on all manner of instruments made of fir wood, even on harps, and on psalteries, and on timbrels, and on cornets, and on cymbals.
  • 2 Chronicles 2:8 Send me also cedar trees, fir trees, and algum trees, out of Lebanon: for I know that thy servants can skill to cut timber in Lebanon; and, behold, my servants shall be with thy servants,
  • Isaiah 55:13 Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree: and it shall be to the LORD for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.

“then” Hebrew H227 · used in 22 verses

  • Genesis 12:6 And Abram passed through the land unto the place of Sichem, unto the plain of Moreh. And the Canaanite was then in the land.
  • 2 Samuel 15:34 But if thou return to the city, and say unto Absalom, I will be thy servant, O king; as I have been thy father's servant hitherto, so will I now also be thy servant: then mayest thou for me defeat the counsel of Ahithophel.
  • Ecclesiastes 2:15 Then said I in my heart, As it happeneth to the fool, so it happeneth even to me; and why was I then more wise? Then I said in my heart, that this also is vanity.