Definition: Howbeit I believed not their words, until I came, and mine eyes had seen [it]: and, behold, the one half of the greatness of thy wisdom was not told me: [for] thou exceedest the fame that I heard.

Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this verse from 2 Chronicles 9:6. It's a really interesting and slightly poetic passage about David’s faith. Here’s what it means in simpler terms: The Basic Idea: This verse is saying David was not fully convinced of the words and teachings of King Solomon. He didn’t fully understand or accept them at first. But, when he came to see Solomon, things changed. He finally realized the true value of Solomon's wisdom – it was much greater than what he had heard from others. Let’s unpack it piece by piece: “Howbeit I believed not their words…” - This means David wasn't fully agreeing with what Solomon was saying. He wasn’t fully accepting the message. “Howbeit” is a word that indicates a contrast or difference. “…until I came, and mine eyes had seen [it]…” - This is the key part. "Mine eyes had seen it" – David finally started to see it. It wasn’t just something he heard; he was seeing it with his own understanding, a deeper realization. “And, behold, the one half of the greatness of thy wisdom…” - “And, behold” is an emphatic pause – it highlights what's happening. "The one half of the greatness..." This means that David recognized that Solomon’s wisdom was more significant than he had previously understood. "...was not told me.” - He didn't receive this realization from anyone else, only through direct observation. “[for] thou exceedest the fame that I heard…” – "Thou exceedest..." means "you are greater than." This is a powerful statement! It shows that Solomon’s wisdom was significantly better and more impressive than what David had been told. Overall Meaning: It's a beautiful expression of humbling realization. David, who wasn't fully convinced at first, finally understood the profound depth and importance of Solomon’s wisdom. It shows that true understanding comes from direct experience and revelation, not just hearsay or tradition. In short: David realized that Solomon's wisdom was much greater than what he had initially heard. --- Do you want me to: Explain this verse in more detail? Connect it to a specific story or event from the Bible? Offer a different perspective on why this passage is significant?