But king Solomon loved many strange women, together with the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittites;

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

What does 1 Kings 11:1 mean?

1 Kings 11:1 introduces a turning point in Solomon’s story. It says that the king loved many women from nations outside Israel, as well as Pharaoh’s daughter. Their national origins prepare the reader for the concerns raised in the verses that follow.

The narrator names six groups, ranging from neighboring Moabites and Ammonites to Zidonians from the coastal city of Sidon. Pharaoh’s daughter appears separately in the sentence; her marriage to Solomon was mentioned earlier in 1 Kings 3:1.

The Hebrew behind 1 Kings 11:1

  • “strange” — נָכְרִי (nokhri): The word means foreign or belonging to another people. In the KJV, “strange” identifies the women as outsiders, not as unusual in their behavior.
  • “loved” — אָהַב (ahav): The word can express love or affection. Its use here presents Solomon’s relationship with these women in personal terms, rather than describing only political alliances.

Why 1 Kings 11:1 matters

  • The word “many” prepares the reader for the scale of Solomon’s household. Verse 3 gives a much larger count of his wives and concubines.
  • The women’s origins matter to the direction of the story. Verse 2 says that the nations named were associated with worship of other gods, and the following verses connect Solomon’s marriages with his own involvement in that worship.
  • The opening “But” marks a contrast with the account of Solomon’s wealth and power just before this verse. The story now turns to a different part of his reign.

Where else these words appear

“Edomites” Hebrew H130 · used in 12 verses

  • Deuteronomy 23:7 Thou shalt not abhor an Edomite; for he is thy brother: thou shalt not abhor an Egyptian; because thou wast a stranger in his land.
  • 1 Samuel 22:18 And the king said to Doeg, Turn thou, and fall upon the priests. And Doeg the Edomite turned, and he fell upon the priests, and slew on that day fourscore and five persons that did wear a linen ephod.
  • 2 Kings 16:6 At that time Rezin king of Syria recovered Elath to Syria, and drave the Jews from Elath: and the Syrians came to Elath, and dwelt there unto this day.

“Zidonians” Hebrew H6722 · used in 15 verses

  • Deuteronomy 3:9 ( Which Hermon the Sidonians call Sirion; and the Amorites call it Shenir;)
  • Judges 10:12 The Zidonians also, and the Amalekites, and the Maonites, did oppress you; and ye cried to me, and I delivered you out of their hand.
  • 1 Kings 16:31 And it came to pass, as if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that he took to wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Zidonians, and went and served Baal, and worshipped him.

“Moabites” Hebrew H4125 · used in 16 verses

  • Deuteronomy 2:11 Which also were accounted giants, as the Anakims; but the Moabites call them Emims.
  • Ruth 2:2 And Ruth the Moabitess said unto Naomi, Let me now go to the field, and glean ears of corn after him in whose sight I shall find grace. And she said unto her, Go, my daughter.
  • 1 Chronicles 11:46 Eliel the Mahavite, and Jeribai, and Joshaviah, the sons of Elnaam, and Ithmah the Moabite,

“Ammonites” Hebrew H5984 · used in 18 verses

  • Deuteronomy 2:20 (That also was accounted a land of giants: giants dwelt therein in old time; and the Ammonites call them Zamzummims;
  • 1 Kings 11:5 For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites.
  • Nehemiah 2:10 When Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, heard of it, it grieved them exceedingly that there was come a man to seek the welfare of the children of Israel.