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

1 KINGS 11:3KJV
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1 Kings 11:3 (KJV)

What does 1 Kings 11:3 mean?

1 Kings 11:3 describes how King Solomon had seven hundred wives, who were princesses, and three hundred concubines, and that these wives led him away from wholehearted devotion to God. The verse highlights the enormous number of Solomon’s marriages and the negative spiritual impact they had on him.

This verse comes in a section where the biblical writer is explaining Solomon’s later years as king of Israel. The focus is on Solomon’s personal choices, especially his relationships with many foreign women, which led him to turn away from the exclusive worship of the God of Israel. The verse sets up the reason for Solomon’s later troubles and the division of his kingdom.

The Hebrew behind 1 Kings 11:3

  • "wives" (אִשָּׁה, ishah): This word refers to women joined to Solomon in marriage. The repetition in the verse emphasizes the official, legal nature of these relationships.
  • "princesses" (שָׂרָה, sarah): This term points out that many of Solomon’s wives were royal women, likely from political alliances with other nations.
  • "concubines" (פִּילֶגֶשׁ, pilegesh): Concubines were women of lower status than wives but still part of Solomon’s household, showing the extent of his household and influence.
  • "turned away" (נָטָה, natah): This word means to bend, incline, or turn, and here it describes how Solomon’s heart was drawn away from God, not just a casual wandering but a significant shift in loyalty.

Why 1 Kings 11:3 matters

  • The verse clarifies that Solomon’s downfall was not just about the number of wives but about the influence these relationships had on his faith and loyalty to God.
  • It connects to the broader narrative where Solomon’s choices lead to consequences for the entire nation, setting up the later division of Israel.
  • The mention of "princesses" highlights the political motivations behind many of Solomon’s marriages, showing how political strategy conflicted with spiritual faithfulness.

Where else these words appear

“princesses” Hebrew H8282 · used in 5 verses

  • Judges 5:29 Her wise ladies answered her, yea, she returned answer to herself,
  • Esther 1:18 Likewise shall the ladies of Persia and Media say this day unto all the king's princes, which have heard of the deed of the queen. Thus shall there arise too much contempt and wrath.
  • Isaiah 49:23 And kings shall be thy nursing fathers, and their queens thy nursing mothers: they shall bow down to thee with their face toward the earth, and lick up the dust of thy feet; and thou shalt know that I am the LORD: for they shall not be ashamed that wait for me.

“concubines” Hebrew H6370 · used in 35 verses

  • Genesis 22:24 And his concubine, whose name was Reumah, she bare also Tebah, and Gaham, and Thahash, and Maachah.
  • Judges 19:27 And her lord rose up in the morning, and opened the doors of the house, and went out to go his way: and, behold, the woman his concubine was fallen down at the door of the house, and her hands were upon the threshold.
  • 2 Samuel 20:3 And David came to his house at Jerusalem; and the king took the ten women his concubines, whom he had left to keep the house, and put them in ward, and fed them, but went not in unto them. So they were shut up unto the day of their death, living in widowhood.