1 Kings 3:18 (KJV)

What does 1 Kings 3:18 mean?

1 Kings 3:18 describes how, three days after one woman gave birth, the other woman in the house also gave birth, and they were alone together—no one else was present except the two of them. This sets up the context for their dispute before King Solomon, as there were no witnesses to what happened.

In this verse, one of the women is speaking to King Solomon, explaining the circumstances around the birth of their children. Both women lived together in the same house, and no outsider was present to see what took place. This detail is important because it means there is no third-party testimony, making the king’s judgment more challenging.

The Hebrew behind 1 Kings 3:18

• "third" (שְׁלִישִׁי, shelishi): This word marks the specific timing—three days after the first birth—which emphasizes how close together the two births were.
• "together" (יַחַד, yachad): This word highlights that the two women were alone in the house, reinforcing the idea that only their accounts are available.
• "stranger" (זָר, zar): This term means someone who is not part of the household, stressing that no outsider could verify the events.
• "save" (בִּלְתִּי, bilti): This word is used to mean "except," making it clear that only the two women were present.

Why 1 Kings 3:18 matters

• This verse clarifies why Solomon could not rely on outside witnesses, making his wisdom in judgment all the more significant.
• The detail that both women gave birth within days of each other, and were alone, sets up the difficulty of determining the true mother of the surviving child.
• The verse connects directly to the larger story, showing the careful setup for Solomon’s famous test of wisdom in resolving the women’s dispute.