1 Kings 11:8 (KJV)

What does 1 Kings 11:8 mean?

1 Kings 11:8 says that Solomon built places of worship for all his foreign wives, who offered incense and sacrifices to their own gods. This verse shows that Solomon supported the religious practices of his wives, even when those practices involved worshipping other gods.

The verse is part of a larger section describing King Solomon’s later years as king of Israel. The writer is explaining how Solomon’s many marriages to women from other nations led him to allow, and even help, the worship of foreign gods in Israel. This is presented as a turning point, showing Solomon’s disobedience to the God of Israel and setting up the troubles that would follow in his kingdom.

The Hebrew behind 1 Kings 11:8

• "did" (עָשָׂה, ʿasah): This word means "to do" or "to make." Here, it shows Solomon’s active role in providing for his wives’ religious practices, not just allowing them but making arrangements for them.
• "strange" (נָכְרִי, nokhri): This word means "foreign" or "non-Israelite." It emphasizes that these wives came from other nations and brought their own religious customs with them.
• "incense" (קָטַר, qatar): This verb means "to burn incense." Burning incense was a common part of worship in many ancient religions, including those of Solomon’s wives.
• "sacrificed" (זָבַח, zavach): This word means "to offer a sacrifice." It refers to the ritual killing of animals as offerings to a deity, a central act of worship in many ancient religions.
• "gods" (אֱלֹהִים, elohim): This word can mean "gods" in the plural, referring here to the various deities worshipped by Solomon’s wives, not the God of Israel.

Why 1 Kings 11:8 matters

• 1 Kings 11:8 clarifies that Solomon’s support for idol worship was not limited to just a few wives or a few foreign gods, but extended to all his foreign wives, showing the widespread influence of foreign religions in Israel at that time.
• The verse highlights how Solomon’s actions directly contradicted earlier commands in the Hebrew Scriptures, which warned Israel’s kings not to marry foreign wives or adopt their religious practices.
• This verse helps explain the later division and troubles in Solomon’s kingdom, showing that his choices had serious consequences for both his reign and the nation of Israel.