1 Kings 11:9

¶ And the LORD was angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned from the LORD God of Israel, which had appeared unto him twice,

And the LORD {H3068} was angry {H599} with Solomon {H8010}, because his heart {H3824} was turned {H5186} from the LORD {H3068} God {H430} of Israel {H3478}, which had appeared {H7200} unto him twice {H6471},

So ADONAI grew angry with Shlomo, because his heart had turned away from ADONAI the God of Isra'el, who had appeared to him twice

Now the LORD grew angry with Solomon, because his heart had turned away from the LORD, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice.

And Jehovah was angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned away from Jehovah, the God of Israel, who had appeared unto him twice,

Commentary

1 Kings 11:9 marks a pivotal and tragic turning point in the reign of King Solomon, revealing God's profound displeasure with his deviation from the covenant.

Context

This verse immediately follows a detailed account of Solomon's extensive foreign marriages (1 Kings 11:1-3) and his subsequent compromise by building high places and altars for the foreign gods of his wives (1 Kings 11:7-8). The severity of Solomon's sin is underscored by the fact that the LORD God of Israel had not only given him unparalleled wisdom (see 1 Kings 3:5-14) but had also appeared to him twice, explicitly warning him against worshiping other gods and outlining the consequences of disobedience to the covenant (1 Kings 9:1-9). Solomon's actions were a direct violation of the Mosaic Law, particularly concerning intermarriage and idolatry (Deuteronomy 7:3-4).

Key Themes and Messages

  • The Gravity of Disobedience: God's anger is a righteous response to Solomon's deliberate turning away from Him. Despite all the blessings and direct warnings, King Solomon chose to compromise his devotion.
  • A Divided Heart: The verse highlights that Solomon's "heart was turned from the LORD." This is further elaborated in 1 Kings 11:4, which states his heart was "not perfect with the LORD his God." A divided heart, seeking to serve both God and worldly desires, inevitably leads to spiritual decline and breaks covenant faithfulness.
  • Consequences of Compromise: Solomon's pursuit of foreign alliances and religious syncretism directly violated God's demand for exclusive loyalty, leading to severe divine judgment, as seen in the subsequent verses describing the division of his kingdom.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "his heart was turned" uses the Hebrew word נָטָה (*natah*), which means to incline, turn aside, or deviate. It suggests a deliberate, albeit perhaps gradual, swerving away from the path of righteousness. The "heart" (לֵבָב, *levav*) in Hebrew thought encompasses the entire inner person—intellect, will, emotions, and moral character—underscoring that Solomon's defection was not merely external but a deep-seated spiritual departure from God's ways.

Practical Application

Solomon's tragic decline, despite his initial wisdom and privileged relationship with God, serves as a powerful warning. It reminds believers of the constant need to guard one's heart diligently, as it is the wellspring of life. External influences, such as ungodly relationships or worldly pursuits, can subtly lead to a compromise of faith and devotion. This verse emphasizes that God takes our covenant relationship seriously and calls for undivided loyalty, warning that even great spiritual leaders are not immune to the consequences of disobedience if they allow their hearts to stray from Him.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • 1 Kings 3:5

    ¶ In Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and God said, Ask what I shall give thee.

  • 1 Kings 9:2

    That the LORD appeared to Solomon the second time, as he had appeared unto him at Gibeon.

  • Deuteronomy 9:20

    And the LORD was very angry with Aaron to have destroyed him: and I prayed for Aaron also the same time.

  • Deuteronomy 9:8

    Also in Horeb ye provoked the LORD to wrath, so that the LORD was angry with you to have destroyed you.

  • Numbers 12:9

    And the anger of the LORD was kindled against them; and he departed.

  • Deuteronomy 3:26

    But the LORD was wroth with me for your sakes, and would not hear me: and the LORD said unto me, Let it suffice thee; speak no more unto me of this matter.

  • 2 Samuel 6:7

    And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzzah; and God smote him there for [his] error; and there he died by the ark of God.
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