1 Kings 11 · Verse 3

1 Kings 11:3

And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines: and his wives turned away his heart.
1 Kings 11:3, King James Version

1 Kings 11:3 in other translations

BSBHe had seven hundred wives of royal birth and three hundred concubines—and his wives turned his heart away.
WEBHe had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines. His wives turned his heart away.
ASVAnd he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines; and his wives turned away his heart.
YLTAnd he hath women, princesses, seven hundred, and concubines three hundred; and his wives turn aside his heart.
DARBYAnd he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines; and his wives turned away his heart.
BBEHe had seven hundred wives, daughters of kings, and three hundred other wives; and through his wives his heart was turned away.
WebsterAnd he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines: and his wives turned away his heart.

What does 1 Kings 11:3 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
3. he had seven hundred wives, princesses--They were, probably, according to an existing custom, the daughters of tributary chiefs, given as hostages for good conduct of their fathers. concubines--were legitimate, but lower or secondary wives. These the chief or first wife regards without the smallest jealousy or regret, as they look up to her with feelings of respectful submission. Solomon's wives became numerous, not all at once, but gradually. Even at an early period his taste for Oriental show seems to have led to the establishment of a considerable harem (So 6:8).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 3 He had seven hundred wives, princesses - How he could get so many of the blood royal from the different surrounding nations, is astonishing; but probably the daughters of noblemen, generals, etc., may be included. And three hundred concubines - These were wives of the second rank, who were taken according to the usages of those times; but their offspring could not inherit. Sarah was to Abraham what these seven hundred princesses were to Solomon; and the three hundred concubines stood in the same relation to the Israelitish king as Hagar and Keturah did to the patriarch. Here then are one thousand wives to form this great bad man's harem! Was it possible that such a person could have any piety to God, who was absorbed by such a number of women? We scarcely allow a man to have the fear of God who has a second wife or mistress; in what state then must the man be who has one thousand of them? We may endeavor to excuse all this by saying, "It was a custom in the East to have a multitude of women, and that there were many of those whom Solomon probably never saw," etc., etc. But was there any of them whom he might not have seen? Was it for reasons of state, or merely court splendor, that he had so many? How then is it said that he loved many strange women? - that he clave to them in love? And did he not give them the utmost proofs of his attachment when he not only tolerated their iniquitous worship in the land, but built temples to their idols, and more, burnt incense to them himself? As we should not condemn what God justifies, so we should not justify what God condemns. He went after Ashtaroth, the impure Venus of the Sidonians; after Milcom, the abomination of the Ammonites; after Chemosh, the abomination of the Moabites; and after the murderous Molech, the abomination of the children of Ammon. He seems to have gone as far in iniquity as it was possible.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 1 Kings 11:1-8

There is not a more melancholy and astonishing instance of human depravity in the sacred Scriptures, than that here recorded. Solomon became a public worshipper of abominable idols! Probably he by degrees gave way to pride and luxury, and thus lost his relish for true wisdom. Nothing forms in itself a security against the deceitfulness and depravity of the human heart. Nor will old age cure the heart of any evil…

Read the full comment on 1 Kings 11:1-8 →

1 Kings 11:3 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וַיְהִי\־vay.hi-and it belongedH1961
ל֣וֹloto him
נָשִׁ֗יםna.ShimwivesH802
שָׂרוֹת֙sa.rOtnoble ladiesH8282
שְׁבַ֣עshe.Va'sevenH7651
מֵא֔וֹתme.'othundred<s>H3967
וּפִֽלַגְשִׁ֖יםu.fi.lag.Shimand concubinesH6370
שְׁלֹ֣שׁshe.LoshthreeH7969
מֵא֑וֹתme.'othundred<s>H3967
וַיַּטּ֥וּvai.ya.Tuand they turned asideH5186
נָשָׁ֖יוna.Shavwives hisH802
אֶת\־'et-<obj.>H853
לִבּֽוֹ\׃li.Boheart hisH3820

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for 1 Kings 11:3

  • 2 Samuel 5:13-16

    And David took him more concubines and wives out of Jerusalem, after he was come from Hebron: and there were yet sons and daughters born to David. And these be the names of those that were born unto him in Jerusalem; Shammua, and Shobab, and Nathan, and Solomon, Ibhar also, and Elishua, and Nepheg, and Japhia, And Elishama, and Eliada, and Eliphalet.

  • Ecclesiastes 7:28

    Which yet my soul seeketh, but I find not: one man among a thousand have I found; but a woman among all those have I not found.

  • Judges 9:5

    And he went unto his father’s house at Ophrah, and slew his brethren the sons of Jerubbaal, being threescore and ten persons, upon one stone: notwithstanding yet Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left; for he hid himself.

  • 2 Chronicles 11:21

    And Rehoboam loved Maachah the daughter of Absalom above all his wives and his concubines: (for he took eighteen wives, and threescore concubines; and begat twenty and eight sons, and threescore daughters.)

  • 2 Samuel 3:2-5

    And unto David were sons born in Hebron: and his firstborn was Amnon, of Ahinoam the Jezreelitess; And his second, Chileab, of Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite; and the third, Absalom the son of Maacah the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur; And the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith; and the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital; And the sixth, Ithream, by Eglah David’s wife. These were born to David in Hebron.

  • Judges 8:30-31

    And Gideon had threescore and ten sons of his body begotten: for he had many wives. And his concubine that was in Shechem, she also bare him a son, whose name he called Abimelech.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
seven hundred.
Jud 8:30,31; 9:5; 2Sa 3:2-5; 5:13-16; 2Ch 11:21; Ec 7:28

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • 1 Kings 11:2

    Of the nations concerning which the Lord said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall not go in to them, neither shall they come in unto you: for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods: Solomon clave unto these in love.

  • 1 Kings 11:3

    And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines: and his wives turned away his heart.

  • 1 Kings 11:4

    For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the Lord his God, as was the heart of David his father.

Read all of 1 Kings 11

1 Kings 11:3 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y tuvo setecientas mujeres reinas, y trescientas concubinas; y sus mujeres torcieron su corazón.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et il avait 700 femmes princesses, et 300 concubines; et ses femmes détournèrent son cœur.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und er hatte an Weibern siebenhundert Fürstinnen und dreihundert Kebsweiber; und seine Weiber neigten sein Herz.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Fueruntque ei uxores quasi reginæ septingentæ, et concubinæ trecentæ: et averterunt mulieres cor ejus.