1 Kings 11:3

KJV

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

KJV (with Strong's)

And he had seven {H7651} hundred {H3967} wives {H802}, princesses {H8282}, and three {H7969} hundred {H3967} concubines {H6370}: and his wives {H802} turned away {H5186} his heart {H3820}.

Complete Jewish Bible

He had 700 wives, all princesses, and 300 concubines; and his wives turned his heart away.

Berean Standard Bible

He had seven hundred wives of royal birth and three hundred concubines—and his wives turned his heart away.

American Standard Version

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

Commentary

### SUMMARY
First Kings 11:3 stands as a poignant turning point in the narrative of King Solomon's reign, revealing the staggering extent of his polygamy with seven hundred wives, who were princesses, and three hundred concubines. This verse immediately follows accounts of his unparalleled wisdom and prosperity, yet critically precedes the explicit description of his spiritual decline. It starkly presents the primary catalyst for his eventual apostasy and the subsequent divine judgment that would lead to the tragic division of the united kingdom of Israel, marking the beginning of the end for his glorious reign.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is strategically positioned within the book of [1 Kings](/1-kings/1 "1 Kings - The Reign of Kings in Israel"), marking a dramatic and tragic pivot from the glorious zenith of Solomon's reign to its precipitous decline. Chapters 1-10 meticulously detail Solomon's unparalleled wisdom, his immense wealth, the construction and dedication of the magnificent Temple in Jerusalem, and his widespread fame among nations. The preceding chapter, [1 Kings 10](/1-kings/10 "1 Kings 10 - The Queen of Sheba and Solomon's Wealth"), culminates in a lavish description of his extraordinary riches and the tribute he received from all the earth. However, the narrative takes a dark turn in [1 Kings 11:1](/1-kings/11-1 "1 Kings 11:1 - Solomon's Foreign Wives"), which introduces the fatal flaw: "But King Solomon loved many foreign women." Verse 11:3, therefore, immediately elaborates on the scale of this love and its direct, devastating consequence, setting the stage for God's righteous anger and the prophetic announcement of the kingdom's division in [1 Kings 11:9-13](/1-kings/11-9-13 "1 Kings 11:9-13 - God's Judgment on Solomon"). It serves as the critical hinge explaining *how* his heart was turned away from exclusive devotion to Yahweh.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In the ancient Near East, polygamy was a common practice among rulers, often serving as a display of power, wealth, and a means to forge political alliances. The explicit mention of "princesses" indicates that many of Solomon's marriages were indeed strategic unions with foreign nations, intended to secure peace and strengthen his empire. However, the sheer scale of Solomon's harem—one thousand women—was unprecedented and far exceeded typical royal practice, even for a king of his stature. More critically, it constituted a direct and egregious violation of specific Mosaic Law given to future kings of Israel. [Deuteronomy 17:17](/deuteronomy/17-17 "Deuteronomy 17:17 - Prohibition of Many Wives for Kings") explicitly warned kings: "Neither shall he multiply wives to himself, that his heart turn not away." This divine prohibition was not merely about sexual morality but about preserving the king's exclusive devotion to Yahweh and preventing the infiltration of foreign religious practices, which is precisely what tragically ensued in Solomon's reign.
* **Key Themes:** The primary theme powerfully highlighted by this verse is the **danger of compromise** and the **insidious power of foreign influences** leading to spiritual apostasy. Despite being endowed with unparalleled wisdom directly from God, Solomon allowed his personal desires and political ambitions to override divine commands. His vast harem, particularly the foreign princesses, became conduits for the introduction of idolatry into Israel, as graphically detailed in subsequent verses (e.g., [1 Kings 11:4-8](/1-kings/11-4-8 "1 Kings 11:4-8 - Solomon's Idolatry")). This underscores the profound truth that **worldly connections and ungodly relationships**, even those seemingly beneficial for political stability, can subtly and powerfully **pull even the most devout heart away from exclusive loyalty to God**. It vividly illustrates the principle that proximity to sin, even through seemingly benign means, can corrupt the very core of one's being. The verse also touches on the **inevitable consequences of disobedience** and the **vulnerability of even the wisest to temptation**, emphasizing the continuous need to guard one's heart and maintain unwavering fidelity to the covenant with Yahweh.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **wives (Hebrew, _ʼishshâh'_):** From H802, this term refers to legally married women. In the context of Solomon, the sheer number (700) signifies an unprecedented accumulation that directly violated the Deuteronomic law for kings. The inclusion of "princesses" (H8282, _sârâh_) further emphasizes the political nature of these unions, as they were often daughters of foreign rulers, bringing with them their native customs and deities.
* **turned away (Hebrew, _nâṭâh'_):** From H5186, this verb means "to stretch or spread out; by implication, to bend away (including moral deflection)." It describes a deliberate, though perhaps gradual, act of deviation. For Solomon, it signifies a profound moral and spiritual deflection from his initial devotion to Yahweh. It implies a reorientation of his will and affections, moving from exclusive loyalty to God towards other gods and practices.
* **heart (Hebrew, _lêb'_):** From H3820, this word is far more comprehensive than its modern English equivalent. It signifies not merely emotions or affections but the entire inner person—the seat of intellect, will, conscience, moral character, and even the center of anything. When the text states Solomon's wives "turned away his heart," it implies a fundamental, comprehensive shift in his core being, his devotion, his loyalties, and his moral compass. It indicates a reorientation of his deepest affections and allegiances away from Yahweh and towards other gods and practices, leading to a divided and ultimately apostate will.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines":** This opening clause establishes the astonishing and unprecedented size of Solomon's harem, immediately highlighting his egregious violation of the Mosaic Law given to kings. The specific mention of "princesses" underscores the political motivations behind many of these marriages, as they were likely formed to secure alliances with neighboring kingdoms. However, these foreign alliances inevitably brought with them foreign religious practices and deities, which directly contradicted Israel's covenant obligation to worship Yahweh exclusively. The sheer number also suggests an indulgence in luxury and power that went far beyond practical necessity, demonstrating a heart increasingly focused on worldly prestige and self-gratification rather than divine obedience.
* **"and his wives turned away his heart":** This second clause reveals the direct and devastating consequence of the first. It presents a clear cause-and-effect relationship: the multiplication of foreign wives led to the turning away of Solomon's heart. This "turning away" was not a sudden, dramatic conversion to idolatry but a gradual, insidious erosion of his exclusive devotion to God. As subsequent verses (e.g., [1 Kings 11:4-8](/1-kings/11-4-8 "1 Kings 11:4-8 - Solomon's Idolatry and Building High Places")) detail, these wives influenced him to build altars for their gods (e.g., Ashtoreth, Milcom, Chemosh, Molech) and to participate in their worship. This phrase powerfully illustrates the spiritual danger of ungodly influences and relationships, even for one as wise and blessed as Solomon. His heart, once wholly devoted to God in the early days of his reign, became divided, ultimately leading to apostasy and divine judgment.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several powerful literary devices to convey its tragic message. **Juxtaposition** is profoundly evident as the immense wisdom, wealth, and prosperity of Solomon, so celebrated in the preceding chapters, are starkly contrasted with his profound folly and spiritual decline introduced here. This creates a deep sense of tragic irony, highlighting the fall from grace. The phrase "turned away his heart" functions as potent **foreshadowing**, hinting at the severe consequences that will inevitably unfold, including God's judgment and the division of the kingdom, as detailed in the remainder of [1 Kings 11](/1-kings/11 "1 Kings 11 - Solomon's Idolatry and God's Judgment"). Furthermore, the "heart" serves as a powerful **metonymy** or **synecdoche**, representing not just a physical organ but the entirety of Solomon's inner being, his will, his loyalties, his intellect, and his spiritual core. This emphasizes that the corruption was not superficial but deeply rooted, affecting his fundamental relationship with God and his very identity as Israel's king.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Solomon's tragic failure, encapsulated in [1 Kings 11:3](/1-kings/11-3 "1 Kings 11:3 - Solomon's Wives Turn His Heart"), serves as a profound theological warning about the insidious nature of compromise and the critical importance of exclusive devotion to God. His story underscores that even unparalleled wisdom and divine favor do not inoculate one from the temptations of the world, particularly when it comes to relationships that pull the heart away from God. The Mosaic Law's prohibition against multiplying foreign wives was not arbitrary; it was a divine safeguard to preserve Israel's covenant fidelity and prevent the very idolatry that Solomon tragically embraced. His divided heart, swayed by the allure of foreign gods and political expediency, stands as a stark reminder that God demands wholehearted allegiance, not a fragmented devotion. This narrative powerfully illustrates the principle that our closest relationships significantly shape our spiritual trajectory, either drawing us closer to God or leading us astray into apostasy.

* [Deuteronomy 17:17](/deuteronomy/17-17 "Deuteronomy 17:17 - Prohibition for Kings Regarding Wives")
* [Nehemiah 13:26](/nehemiah/13-26 "Nehemiah 13:26 - Nehemiah's Warning Against Foreign Wives")
* [Proverbs 4:23](/proverbs/4-23 "Proverbs 4:23 - Guard Your Heart Above All Else")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Solomon's story in [1 Kings 11:3](/1-kings/11-3 "1 Kings 11:3 - Solomon's Wives Turn His Heart") offers a timeless and sobering lesson for believers across generations. It reveals that spiritual decline often begins subtly, not with a dramatic rejection of faith, but with seemingly small compromises or the gradual embrace of influences that are not fully aligned with God's will. For Solomon, it was the multiplication of wives, especially foreign princesses, which led to the insidious infiltration of idolatry. For us, it might be the relentless pursuit of wealth, power, comfort, or relationships that, while not overtly sinful, slowly erode our primary devotion to God. This verse challenges us to critically examine our own "foreign influences"—be they cultural trends, media consumption, friendships, career ambitions, or even seemingly benign habits—and ask if they are subtly or overtly turning our hearts away from the Lord. It emphasizes the absolute necessity of guarding our hearts with vigilance, for out of it flow the springs of life and the very essence of our spiritual vitality. True wisdom, as Solomon's life ultimately demonstrates, is not merely intellectual knowledge or strategic acumen but the unwavering, wholehearted application of God's truth to every area of our lives, especially in our most intimate relationships and deepest desires.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "foreign influences" or relationships in my life might be subtly or overtly competing for my heart's ultimate allegiance, potentially turning it away from God?**
* **How does Solomon's unparalleled wisdom, yet ultimate failure, challenge my assumptions about spiritual strength and vulnerability, and what does it teach me about the ongoing need for vigilance?**
* **What specific, practical steps can I take today to guard my heart more diligently against compromise and maintain exclusive, wholehearted devotion to God?**

### FAQ

**Why did Solomon have so many wives if it was against God's law?**

Answer: Solomon's motivation for accumulating such a vast harem was multifaceted, reflecting both cultural norms and personal ambition. In the ancient Near East, kings often had multiple wives to display their wealth, power, and prestige, symbolizing their ability to support a large household and secure their lineage. More significantly, many of these marriages, particularly with "princesses," were strategic political alliances designed to secure peace and strengthen his kingdom's international standing. By marrying daughters of foreign rulers, Solomon aimed to cement treaties and avoid conflict, expanding his influence without military conquest. However, this practice directly violated God's explicit command to future kings of Israel in [Deuteronomy 17:17](/deuteronomy/17-17 "Deuteronomy 17:17 - Prohibition of Many Wives for Kings"), which warned against multiplying wives "that his heart turn not away." Despite his legendary wisdom, Solomon prioritized political expediency and personal indulgence over divine obedience, leading directly to his spiritual downfall.

**How exactly did his wives "turn away his heart"?**

Answer: The turning away of Solomon's heart was not merely an emotional distraction but a profound spiritual reorientation, leading to apostasy. His foreign wives brought their native religious practices and deities with them, and out of a desire to please them or maintain domestic harmony, Solomon tolerated and eventually participated in their idolatry. As [1 Kings 11:4-8](/1-kings/11-4-8 "1 Kings 11:4-8 - Solomon's Idolatry and Building High Places") details, as Solomon grew old, his wives "turned his heart after other gods." He allowed them to worship their idols and, shockingly, even built high places and altars for these pagan deities (e.g., Ashtoreth, Milcom, Chemosh, Molech) in Jerusalem, right on the hills surrounding the very temple he had built for Yahweh. This demonstrates that his heart was not exclusively devoted to the Lord; it became divided, accommodating false gods out of a desire to please his wives and maintain political harmony. This gradual compromise with idolatry fundamentally shifted his allegiance from the one true God, leading to divine judgment and the eventual division of his kingdom.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Solomon's tragic story in [1 Kings 11:3](/1-kings/11-3 "1 Kings 11:3 - Solomon's Wives Turn His Heart"), where his heart is turned away by foreign wives and their gods, profoundly highlights the desperate need for a perfect King whose heart would remain undivided and wholly devoted to God. Solomon, the wisest of men, ultimately failed to keep the covenant, demonstrating the inherent weakness and susceptibility of even the most gifted human leaders to sin. He multiplied wives, accumulated excessive wealth, and acquired numerous horses, all in direct violation of the commands for kings outlined in [Deuteronomy 17](/deuteronomy/17 "Deuteronomy 17 - Laws for Kings"). This profound failure underscores the brokenness of the human heart and its innate susceptibility to idolatry and compromise. In stark contrast, Jesus Christ is the true and ultimate King, the "Son of David" who perfectly fulfills all righteousness. His heart was never turned away; He lived a life of singular devotion to the Father, always doing what pleased Him ([John 8:29](/john/8-29 "John 8:29 - Jesus Always Does What Pleases the Father")). Unlike Solomon, who built altars for false gods, Jesus is the very wisdom of God ([1 Corinthians 1:30](/1-corinthians/1-30 "1 Corinthians 1:30 - Christ as Wisdom")) who perfectly upholds God's law and leads His people in truth and faithfulness. Through His atoning sacrifice, Christ provides the means for our own divided, wayward hearts to be transformed, enabling us to truly love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength ([Matthew 22:37](/matthew/22-37 "Matthew 22:37 - The Greatest Commandment")), fulfilling the very covenant fidelity that Solomon so tragically abandoned.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

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.

2 Samuel 5:13

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.

2 Samuel 5:16

And Elishama, and Eliada, and Eliphalet.

2 Samuel 3:2

And unto David were sons born in Hebron: and his firstborn was Amnon, of Ahinoam the Jezreelitess;

2 Samuel 3:5

And the sixth, Ithream, by Eglah David's wife. These were born to David in Hebron.

Judges 8:30

And Gideon had threescore and ten sons of his body begotten: for he had many wives.

Judges 8:31

And his concubine that [was] in Shechem, she also bare him a son, whose name he called Abimelech.