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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>1 Kings 11:3 He had seven hundred wives of royal birth and three hundred concubines--and his wives turned his heart away.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/1_kings/11-3.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/5/11_1Ki_11_03.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="1 Kings 11:3 - Solomon's Foreign Wives" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="He had seven hundred wives of royal birth and three hundred concubines--and his wives turned his heart away." /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/vmenus/1_kings/11-3.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmc/1_kings/11-3.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/1_kings/">1 Kings</a> > <a href="/1_kings/11.htm">Chapter 11</a> > Verse 3</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad3.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/1_kings/11-2.htm" title="1 Kings 11:2">◄</a> 1 Kings 11:3 <a href="/1_kings/11-4.htm" title="1 Kings 11:4">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Heb </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/1_kings/11.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/1_kings/11.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />He had seven hundred wives of royal birth and three hundred concubines, and his wives led him astray.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/1_kings/11.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />He had 700 wives of royal birth and 300 concubines. And in fact, they did turn his heart away from the LORD.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/1_kings/11.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />He had 700 wives, who were princesses, and 300 concubines. And his wives turned away his heart.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/1_kings/11.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />He had seven hundred wives of royal birth and three hundred concubines—and his wives turned his heart away.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/1_kings/11.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines: and his wives turned away his heart.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/1_kings/11.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines; and his wives turned away his heart.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/1_kings/11.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />He had seven hundred wives, <i>who were</i> princesses, and three hundred concubines; and his wives turned his heart away.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/1_kings/11.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />He had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines, and his wives turned his heart away.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/1_kings/11.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines, and his wives turned his heart away.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/1_kings/11.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />And he had 700 wives—princesses—and 300 concubines, and his wives turned his heart away.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/1_kings/11.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />He had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines, and his wives turned his heart away [from God].<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/1_kings/11.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />He had seven hundred wives who were princesses and three hundred who were concubines, and they turned his heart away.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/1_kings/11.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />He had 700 wives who were princesses and 300 concubines, and they turned his heart away from the LORD. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/1_kings/11.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines; and his wives turned away his heart.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/1_kings/11.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines: and his wives turned away his heart.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/1_kings/11.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />He had 700 wives who were princesses and 300 wives who were concubines. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/1_kings/11.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />Solomon married seven hundred princesses and also had three hundred concubines. They made him turn away from God, <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/1_kings/11.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />He had 700 princess wives and 300 mistresses who turned his heart away from the LORD,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/1_kings/11.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />He had seven hundred wives of royal birth and three hundred concubines?and his wives turned his heart away.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/1_kings/11.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />He had 700 royal wives and 300 concubines; his wives had a powerful influence over him.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/1_kings/11.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />He had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred secondary wives; and his wives turned away his heart.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/1_kings/11.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines: and his wives turned away his heart.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/1_kings/11.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />He had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines. His wives turned his heart away. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/1_kings/11.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />And he has seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines; and his wives turn aside his heart.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/1_kings/11.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> And he hath women, princesses, seven hundred, and concubines three hundred; and his wives turn aside his heart.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/1_kings/11.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And there will be to him seven hundred chief wives, and three hundred concubines: and his wives will turn his heart.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/1_kings/11.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />And he had seven hundred wives as queens, and three hundred concubines: and the women turned away his heart. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/1_kings/11.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />And for him, there were seven hundred wives, as if they were queens, and three hundred concubines. And the women turned aside his heart.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/1_kings/11.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />He had as wives seven hundred princesses and three hundred concubines, and they turned his heart.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/1_kings/11.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />Among his wives were seven hundred princesses and three hundred concubines; and his wives turned away his heart.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/1_kings/11.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines; and his wives turned away his heart.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/1_kings/11.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />And he had seven hundred wives, free women, and three hundred Concubines, and his wives seduced his heart.<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/1_kings/11.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines; and his wives turned away his heart.And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines. And the strange women turned away his heart after their gods.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/1_kings/11-3.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Xx9A0AxPaoQ?start=4246" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/1_kings/11.htm">Solomon's Foreign Wives</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">2</span>These women were from the nations about which the LORD had told the Israelites, “You must not intermarry with them, for surely they will turn your hearts after their gods.” Yet Solomon clung to these women in love. <span class="reftext">3</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/1961.htm" title="1961: way·hî- (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- To fall out, come to pass, become, be. A primitive root; to exist, i.e. Be or become, come to pass.">He had</a> <a href="/hebrew/lōw (Prep:: 3ms) -- "></a> <a href="/hebrew/7651.htm" title="7651: šə·ḇa‘ (Number-fsc) -- Or shibrah; from shaba'; a primitive cardinal number; seven; also seven times; by implication, a week; by extension, an indefinite number.">seven</a> <a href="/hebrew/3967.htm" title="3967: mê·’ō·wṯ (Number-fp) -- Hundred. Or metyah; properly, a primitive numeral; a hundred; also as a multiplicative and a fraction.">hundred</a> <a href="/hebrew/802.htm" title="802: nā·šîm (N-fp) -- Woman, wife, female. Feminine of 'iysh or 'enowsh; irregular plural, nashiym; a woman.">wives</a> <a href="/hebrew/8282.htm" title="8282: śā·rō·wṯ (N-fp) -- Princess, noble lady. Feminine of sar; a mistress, i.e. Female noble.">of royal birth</a> <a href="/hebrew/7969.htm" title="7969: šə·lōš (Number-fsc) -- A three, triad. Or shalosh; masculine shlowshah; or shloshah; a primitive number; three; occasionally third, or Thrice.">and three</a> <a href="/hebrew/3967.htm" title="3967: mê·’ō·wṯ (Number-fp) -- Hundred. Or metyah; properly, a primitive numeral; a hundred; also as a multiplicative and a fraction.">hundred</a> <a href="/hebrew/6370.htm" title="6370: ū·p̄i·laḡ·šîm (Conj-w:: N-fp) -- Concubine. Or pilegesh; of uncertain derivation; a concubine; also a paramour.">concubines—</a> <a href="/hebrew/802.htm" title="802: nā·šāw (N-fpc:: 3ms) -- Woman, wife, female. Feminine of 'iysh or 'enowsh; irregular plural, nashiym; a woman.">and his wives</a> <a href="/hebrew/853.htm" title="853: ’eṯ- (DirObjM) -- Apparent contracted from 'owth in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self."></a> <a href="/hebrew/3820.htm" title="3820: lib·bōw (N-msc:: 3ms) -- A form of lebab; the heart; also used very widely for the feelings, the will and even the intellect; likewise for the centre of anything.">turned his heart</a> <a href="/hebrew/5186.htm" title="5186: way·yaṭ·ṭū (Conj-w:: V-Hifil-ConsecImperf-3mp) -- A primitive root; to stretch or spread out; by implication, to bend away; used in a great variety of application.">away.</a> </span><span class="reftext">4</span>For when Solomon grew old, his wives turned his heart after other gods, and he was not wholeheartedly devoted to the LORD his God, as his father David had been.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/deuteronomy/17-17.htm">Deuteronomy 17:17</a></span><br />He must not take many wives for himself, lest his heart go astray. He must not accumulate for himself large amounts of silver and gold.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/nehemiah/13-26.htm">Nehemiah 13:26</a></span><br />Did not King Solomon of Israel sin in matters like this? There was not a king like him among many nations, and he was loved by his God, who made him king over all Israel—yet foreign women drew him into sin.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_samuel/5-13.htm">2 Samuel 5:13</a></span><br />After he had arrived from Hebron, David took more concubines and wives from Jerusalem, and more sons and daughters were born to him.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_kings/3-1.htm">1 Kings 3:1</a></span><br />Later, Solomon formed an alliance with Pharaoh king of Egypt by marrying his daughter. Solomon brought her to the City of David until he had finished building his palace and the house of the LORD, as well as the wall around Jerusalem.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_kings/9-24.htm">1 Kings 9:24</a></span><br />As soon as Pharaoh’s daughter had come up from the City of David to the palace that Solomon had built for her, he built the supporting terraces.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_kings/10-14.htm">1 Kings 10:14-29</a></span><br />The weight of gold that came to Solomon each year was 666 talents, / not including the revenue from the merchants, traders, and all the Arabian kings and governors of the land. / King Solomon made two hundred large shields of hammered gold; six hundred shekels of gold went into each shield. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_chronicles/9-25.htm">2 Chronicles 9:25</a></span><br />Solomon had 4,000 stalls for horses and chariots, and 12,000 horses, which he stationed in the chariot cities and also with him in Jerusalem.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ecclesiastes/7-26.htm">Ecclesiastes 7:26</a></span><br />And I find more bitter than death the woman who is a snare, whose heart is a net, and whose hands are chains. The man who pleases God escapes her, but the sinner is ensnared.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/proverbs/5-3.htm">Proverbs 5:3-4</a></span><br />Though the lips of the forbidden woman drip honey and her speech is smoother than oil, / in the end she is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a double-edged sword.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/proverbs/6-24.htm">Proverbs 6:24-26</a></span><br />to keep you from the evil woman, from the smooth tongue of the adulteress. / Do not lust in your heart for her beauty or let her captivate you with her eyes. / For the levy of the prostitute is poverty, and the adulteress preys upon your very life.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/proverbs/7-25.htm">Proverbs 7:25-27</a></span><br />Do not let your heart turn aside to her ways; do not stray into her paths. / For she has brought many down to death; her slain are many in number. / Her house is the road to Sheol, descending to the chambers of death.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/6-24.htm">Matthew 6:24</a></span><br />No one can serve two masters: Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/19-4.htm">Matthew 19:4-6</a></span><br />Jesus answered, “Have you not read that from the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ / and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’? / So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/mark/10-6.htm">Mark 10:6-9</a></span><br />However, from the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female.’ / ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, / and the two will become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two, but one flesh. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/16-13.htm">Luke 16:13</a></span><br />No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines: and his wives turned away his heart.</p><p class="hdg">seven hundred</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/judges/8-30.htm">Judges 8:30,31</a></b></br> And Gideon had threescore and ten sons of his body begotten: for he had many wives… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/judges/9-5.htm">Judges 9:5</a></b></br> And he went unto his father's house at Ophrah, and slew his brethren the sons of Jerubbaal, <i>being</i> threescore and ten persons, upon one stone: notwithstanding yet Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left; for he hid himself.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/2_samuel/3-2.htm">2 Samuel 3:2-5</a></b></br> And unto David were sons born in Hebron: and his firstborn was Amnon, of Ahinoam the Jezreelitess; … </p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/judges/8-33.htm">Astray</a> <a href="/1_kings/3-18.htm">Birth</a> <a href="/2_samuel/20-3.htm">Concubines</a> <a href="/2_samuel/19-5.htm">Daughters</a> <a href="/1_kings/11-2.htm">Heart</a> <a href="/1_kings/10-29.htm">Hundred</a> <a href="/1_kings/10-29.htm">Kings</a> <a href="/1_kings/8-48.htm">Led</a> <a href="/judges/5-29.htm">Princesses</a> <a href="/1_kings/10-28.htm">Royal</a> <a href="/1_kings/8-65.htm">Seven</a> <a href="/1_kings/10-22.htm">Three</a> <a href="/1_kings/11-2.htm">Turn</a> <a href="/1_kings/10-13.htm">Turned</a> <a href="/1_kings/10-8.htm">Wives</a> <a href="/1_kings/11-1.htm">Women</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/2_kings/21-9.htm">Astray</a> <a href="/2_kings/2-19.htm">Birth</a> <a href="/1_chronicles/3-9.htm">Concubines</a> <a href="/2_kings/17-17.htm">Daughters</a> <a href="/1_kings/11-4.htm">Heart</a> <a href="/1_kings/12-21.htm">Hundred</a> <a href="/1_kings/14-19.htm">Kings</a> <a href="/1_kings/13-34.htm">Led</a> <a href="/esther/1-18.htm">Princesses</a> <a href="/1_kings/11-14.htm">Royal</a> <a href="/1_kings/16-15.htm">Seven</a> <a href="/1_kings/12-5.htm">Three</a> <a href="/1_kings/12-15.htm">Turn</a> <a href="/1_kings/11-4.htm">Turned</a> <a href="/1_kings/11-4.htm">Wives</a> <a href="/1_kings/11-8.htm">Women</a><div class="vheading2">1 Kings 11</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/1_kings/11-1.htm">Solomon's wives and concubines</a></span><br><span class="reftext">4. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/1_kings/11-4.htm">In his old age they draw him to idolatry</a></span><br><span class="reftext">9. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/1_kings/11-9.htm">God threatens him,</a></span><br><span class="reftext">14. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/1_kings/11-14.htm">Solomon's adversaries were Hadad, who was entertained in Egypt</a></span><br><span class="reftext">23. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/1_kings/11-23.htm">Rezon, who reigned in Damascus</a></span><br><span class="reftext">26. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/1_kings/11-26.htm">And Jeroboam, to whom Ahijah prophesied</a></span><br><span class="reftext">41. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/1_kings/11-41.htm">Solomon's acts, reign, and death. Rehoboam succeeds him</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/1_kings/11.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/1_kings/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/1_kings/11.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>He had seven hundred wives of royal birth</b><br>Solomon's marriages to women of royal birth were often political alliances, common in the ancient Near East to secure peace and strengthen political ties. These marriages were likely intended to establish alliances with surrounding nations, such as Egypt and Moab. This practice, while politically advantageous, was contrary to <a href="/deuteronomy/17-17.htm">Deuteronomy 17:17</a>, which warned Israelite kings against taking many wives, as it could lead their hearts astray. Solomon's actions reflect a departure from the covenantal ideals set for Israel's leaders.<p><b>and three hundred concubines</b><br>Concubines in ancient Israel were women who had a recognized relationship with a man but without the full status of a wife. They often bore children and were part of the household. The large number of concubines indicates Solomon's immense wealth and power, as maintaining such a household required significant resources. This practice, however, also reflects a deviation from the monogamous ideal seen in <a href="/genesis/2-24.htm">Genesis 2:24</a> and highlights the potential for moral and spiritual compromise.<p><b>and his wives turned his heart away</b><br>This phrase underscores the spiritual danger of Solomon's marriages. Despite his wisdom, Solomon's heart was led astray by his foreign wives, who worshipped other gods. This turning away is a fulfillment of the warning in <a href="/deuteronomy/7-3.htm">Deuteronomy 7:3-4</a>, which cautioned against intermarriage with foreign nations to prevent the Israelites from being led into idolatry. Solomon's apostasy had significant consequences, leading to the division of the kingdom after his death, as prophesied in <a href="/1_kings/11-11.htm">1 Kings 11:11-13</a>. This serves as a cautionary tale about the importance of faithfulness to God and the dangers of compromising one's beliefs.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/s/solomon.htm">Solomon</a></b><br>The third king of Israel, known for his wisdom, wealth, and building projects, including the Temple in Jerusalem. Despite his wisdom, Solomon's heart was led astray by his many wives.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/w/wives_and_concubines.htm">Wives and Concubines</a></b><br>Solomon had 700 wives of royal birth and 300 concubines. These relationships were often political alliances, but they ultimately led him away from God.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/i/israel.htm">Israel</a></b><br>The united kingdom under Solomon's rule, which experienced peace and prosperity but also spiritual decline due to Solomon's disobedience.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/j/jerusalem.htm">Jerusalem</a></b><br>The capital city of Israel, where Solomon built the Temple, a central place of worship for the Israelites.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/f/foreign_nations.htm">Foreign Nations</a></b><br>Many of Solomon's wives were from surrounding nations, which God had warned Israel not to intermarry with, as they would lead them to worship other gods.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/g/guard_your_heart.htm">Guard Your Heart</a></b><br>Solomon's heart was turned away from God by his wives. We must guard our hearts against influences that lead us away from God.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/o/obedience_to_god's_commands.htm">Obedience to God's Commands</a></b><br>Solomon's downfall began with disobedience to God's clear commands. Obedience is crucial for maintaining a right relationship with God.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_danger_of_compromise.htm">The Danger of Compromise</a></b><br>Solomon's political marriages were compromises that led to spiritual decline. Compromise in our spiritual lives can have devastating consequences.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_influence_of_relationships.htm">The Influence of Relationships</a></b><br>The people we surround ourselves with can influence our spiritual walk. Choose relationships that encourage and strengthen your faith.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_consequences_of_sin.htm">The Consequences of Sin</a></b><br>Solomon's sin had lasting consequences for him and the nation of Israel. Our sins can have far-reaching effects beyond our own lives.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_1_kings_11.htm">Top 10 Lessons from 1 Kings 11</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_could_solomon_have_700_wives.htm">1 Kings 11:3 – How is it physically and historically plausible for Solomon to have 700 wives and 300 concubines? </a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_do_60_queens_fit_solomon's_700_wives.htm">(Song of Solomon 6:8) How can sixty queens and eighty concubines align with Solomon’s reputed 700 wives and 300 concubines (1 Kings 11:3)? </a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_allow_concubines_in_the_bible.htm">Why did God permit concubines in the Bible?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_did_solomon_have_many_wives.htm">Why did Solomon marry many wives and concubines?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/1_kings/11.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(3) <span class= "bld">Seven hundred wives and three hundred concubines.</span>--The harem of an Eastern king is simply an adjunct of his magnificence, and the relation of the wives to him little more than nominal. (Comp. <a href="/esther/2-14.htm" title="In the evening she went, and on the morrow she returned into the second house of the women, to the custody of Shaashgaz, the king's chamberlain, which kept the concubines: she came in to the king no more, except the king delighted in her, and that she were called by name.">Esther 2:14</a>.) Nor does the statement here made necessarily imply that at any one time the whole number existed. Still, the numbers here given, though found also in the LXX. and in Josephus, are not only extraordinarily large, but excessive in comparison with the "three- score queens and fourscore concubines" of <a href="/songs/6-8.htm" title="There are three score queens, and fourscore concubines, and virgins without number.">Song of Solomon 6:8</a>, and disproportionate in the relative number of the superior and inferior wives. It is possible that, in relation to the former, at any rate, the text may be corrupt, though the corruption must be of ancient date.<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/1_kings/11.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 3.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">And he had seven hundred wives, princesses</span> [These may have been members of royal or princely houses of neighbouring nations. Evidently they enjoyed a distinguished rank], <span class="cmt_word">and three hundred concubines</span> [Though not committed to a defence of the accuracy of the figures 700 and 300 (which are clearly <span class="accented">round</span> numbers), it must be said that the reasons alleged for reducing them (as from 700 to 70) are not of much weight. It is hardly correct, <span class="accented">e</span>.<span class="accented">g.</span>, to say (as Rawlinson) that the numbers are given in <a href="/songs/6-8.htm">Song of Solomon 6:8</a> as "threescore queens and fourscore concubines," for it is obvious that too much importance must not be attached to an <span class="accented">obiter</span> statement ("there are threescore," etc.) in a poetical book, too, and one descriptive of Solomon's youth. The view of Ewald and Keil, again, that these numbers represent the sum total of the inmates of the harem at different periods of Solomon's long reign, rather than the number present at any one time - they would see in the numbers of Song of Solomon <span class="accented">l.c</span>. a statement of the <span class="accented">average strength</span> of the seraglio - though not to be described as evasive, is certainly not the natural interpretation of the words. And these numbers, when we compare them with the establishments of other Eastern potentates, are not found to be at all incredible. The commentators all remind us that Dareius Codomannus, <span class="accented">e</span>.<span class="accented">g.</span>, took with him on his expedition against Alexander 360 <span class="accented">pellices</span>. Or if ancient history, as Rawlinson affirms, furnishes no strict parallel to these figures, the harems of modern Persia and Turkey at any rate have quite equalled that of Solomon. (See Bahr <span class="accented">in loc</span>.) It is true that Rehoboam had only 18 wives and 60 concubines (<a href="/2_chronicles/11-21.htm">2 Chronicles 11:21</a>), but then Rehoboam was not Solomon. If his harem was but a tithe of his father's, so also were his wealth and his power]: <span class="cmt_word">and his wives turned away his heart.</span> ["Satan hath found this bait to take so well that he never changed since he crept into Paradise" (Bp. Hall).] <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/1_kings/11-3.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">He had</span><br /><span class="heb">וַיְהִי־</span> <span class="translit">(way·hî-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1961.htm">Strong's 1961: </a> </span><span class="str2">To fall out, come to pass, become, be</span><br /><br /><span class="word">seven</span><br /><span class="heb">שְׁבַ֣ע</span> <span class="translit">(šə·ḇa‘)</span><br /><span class="parse">Number - feminine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7651.htm">Strong's 7651: </a> </span><span class="str2">Seven, seven times, a week, an indefinite number</span><br /><br /><span class="word">hundred</span><br /><span class="heb">מֵא֔וֹת</span> <span class="translit">(mê·’ō·wṯ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Number - feminine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3967.htm">Strong's 3967: </a> </span><span class="str2">A hundred</span><br /><br /><span class="word">wives</span><br /><span class="heb">נָשִׁ֗ים</span> <span class="translit">(nā·šîm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - feminine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_802.htm">Strong's 802: </a> </span><span class="str2">Woman, wife, female</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of royal birth</span><br /><span class="heb">שָׂרוֹת֙</span> <span class="translit">(śā·rō·wṯ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - feminine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_8282.htm">Strong's 8282: </a> </span><span class="str2">A mistress, female noble</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and three</span><br /><span class="heb">שְׁלֹ֣שׁ</span> <span class="translit">(šə·lōš)</span><br /><span class="parse">Number - feminine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7969.htm">Strong's 7969: </a> </span><span class="str2">Three, third, thrice</span><br /><br /><span class="word">hundred</span><br /><span class="heb">מֵא֑וֹת</span> <span class="translit">(mê·’ō·wṯ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Number - feminine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3967.htm">Strong's 3967: </a> </span><span class="str2">A hundred</span><br /><br /><span class="word">concubines—</span><br /><span class="heb">וּפִֽלַגְשִׁ֖ים</span> <span class="translit">(ū·p̄i·laḡ·šîm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6370.htm">Strong's 6370: </a> </span><span class="str2">A concubine, a paramour</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and his wives</span><br /><span class="heb">נָשָׁ֖יו</span> <span class="translit">(nā·šāw)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - feminine plural construct | third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_802.htm">Strong's 802: </a> </span><span class="str2">Woman, wife, female</span><br /><br /><span class="word">turned his heart</span><br /><span class="heb">לִבּֽוֹ׃</span> <span class="translit">(lib·bōw)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3820.htm">Strong's 3820: </a> </span><span class="str2">The heart, the feelings, the will, the intellect, centre</span><br /><br /><span class="word">away.</span><br /><span class="heb">וַיַּטּ֥וּ</span> <span class="translit">(way·yaṭ·ṭū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5186.htm">Strong's 5186: </a> </span><span class="str2">To stretch out, spread out, extend, incline, bend</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/1_kings/11-3.htm">1 Kings 11:3 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/1_kings/11-3.htm">1 Kings 11:3 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/1_kings/11-3.htm">1 Kings 11:3 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/1_kings/11-3.htm">1 Kings 11:3 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/1_kings/11-3.htm">1 Kings 11:3 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/1_kings/11-3.htm">1 Kings 11:3 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/1_kings/11-3.htm">1 Kings 11:3 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/1_kings/11-3.htm">1 Kings 11:3 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/1_kings/11-3.htm">1 Kings 11:3 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/1_kings/11-3.htm">1 Kings 11:3 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/1_kings/11-3.htm">OT History: 1 Kings 11:3 He had seven hundred wives princesses (1Ki iKi i Ki 1 Kg 1kg) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/1_kings/11-2.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="1 Kings 11:2"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="1 Kings 11:2" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/1_kings/11-4.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="1 Kings 11:4"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="1 Kings 11:4" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>