1 Kings 3:17

KJV

And the one woman said, O my lord, I and this woman dwell in one house; and I was delivered of a child with her in the house.

KJV (with Strong's)

And the one {H259} woman {H802} said {H559}, O {H994} my lord {H113}, I and this woman {H802} dwell {H3427} in one {H259} house {H1004}; and I was delivered of a child {H3205} with her in the house {H1004}.

Complete Jewish Bible

one of the women said, "My lord, I and this woman live in the same house; and when she was in the house, I gave birth to a baby.

Berean Standard Bible

One woman said, “Please, my lord, this woman and I live in the same house, and I gave birth while she was in the house.

American Standard Version

And the one woman said, Oh, my lord, I and this woman dwell in one house; and I was delivered of a child with her in the house.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
This verse marks the crucial opening statement of the first woman in the renowned judicial case presented to King Solomon, a moment designed to spectacularly demonstrate his divinely endowed wisdom. With a direct address to the king, she establishes the intimate shared living arrangement between herself and the other woman, asserting that both gave birth to children while residing together in the same house. This initial, factual declaration sets the immediate stage for the profound conflict and the subsequent display of Solomon's unparalleled discernment.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This passage is strategically positioned in the early chapters of King Solomon's reign, immediately following his profound encounter with God at Gibeon. There, Solomon humbly requested an [understanding heart to govern God's people](/1_kings/3-9 "1 Kings 3:9 - Solomon's Prayer for Wisdom"), a plea that God graciously granted, promising wisdom unparalleled among kings. The case of the two women serves as the very first public and dramatic test of this divine gift, directly fulfilling God's promise. The narrative then proceeds to detail Solomon's extraordinary judgment, culminating in the people's awe and recognition of God's wisdom within him, as seen in [1 Kings 3:28](/1_kings/3-28 "1 Kings 3:28 - The People's Awe at Solomon's Wisdom"). This specific dispute is not merely an anecdote but the narrative's primary vehicle for showcasing Solomon's unique qualification to rule.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** During Solomon's reign, the king served as the ultimate judicial authority, accessible even to the most vulnerable members of society. In ancient Israel, there was no formalized legal system with courts and lawyers as we know them; instead, disputes were often brought before elders at the city gate or, for significant cases, directly to the monarch. The women are described as "harlots" (KJV), a term that in this context likely signifies women of independent means or low social standing, perhaps without male protectors, rather than solely a moral judgment. Their vulnerability underscores their absolute reliance on the king for justice. The concept of lineage and the preservation of a living heir were paramount in Israelite society, making the dispute over a child a matter of profound importance and desperation. The shared living arrangement "in one house" points to a close, perhaps impoverished, domestic setting where privacy was limited and the events unfolded without external witnesses, necessitating extraordinary discernment.

* **Key Themes:** This verse introduces several pivotal themes that resonate throughout the narrative and beyond. Firstly, it highlights the theme of **Divine Wisdom in Leadership**, as Solomon's God-given discernment is immediately put to the test. The very nature of the dispute—a conflict without witnesses—demands supernatural insight, not just legal acumen. Secondly, it underscores the theme of **Justice for the Vulnerable**, demonstrating that even those on the margins of society could appeal directly to the highest authority for a fair hearing. The king's role was to protect the weak and ensure equity, reflecting a core tenet of biblical justice found in passages like [Deuteronomy 1:16-17](/deuteronomy/1-16 "Deuteronomy 1:16-17 - Judges to Hear Cases Impartially"). Finally, the verse sets the stage for the overarching theme of **Truth and Deception**, as the core of the problem lies in discerning which woman is speaking truthfully when both claim the same child. This conflict necessitates a judge who can see beyond mere words into the heart of the matter.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **delivered (Hebrew, _yalad'_):** This verb, יָלַד (yalad'), literally means "to bear," "to bring forth," or "to beget." In this context, "was delivered of a child" is an archaic English expression for "gave birth to a child." The use of this word emphasizes the biological reality of childbirth, which is the undeniable starting point of the dispute. The fact that both women "delivered" or gave birth within the same shared space is the central premise that makes the subsequent conflict so complex and difficult to resolve through conventional means.
* **house (Hebrew, _bayit'_):** The Hebrew word בַּיִת (bayit') refers to a dwelling, a house, or a home. Its significance here lies in establishing the confined and intimate setting of the events. The phrase "dwell in one house" and "with her in the house" underscores the lack of external witnesses and the close proximity of the two women. This domestic confinement means that the truth of what transpired regarding the children is known only to the women themselves, thereby necessitating a judge with extraordinary insight to discern the true mother.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And the one woman said, O my lord,"**: This opening phrase immediately establishes the setting as a royal court and the speaker as one of the petitioners. The address "O my lord" (אֲדֹנִי, _adoniy_) is a respectful and formal acknowledgment of Solomon's supreme authority as king and judge. It signifies a plea for justice from a position of vulnerability and dependence on the king's power and wisdom.
* **"I and this woman dwell in one house;"**: This clause provides the crucial contextual information about the living arrangement of the two women. Their shared dwelling is fundamental to the narrative, as it explains how the subsequent events—the births and the death of one child—could occur in such close proximity without external witnesses, thereby creating the intractable dispute that only Solomon's wisdom could resolve.
* **"and I was delivered of a child with her in the house."**: This final clause states the core premise of the dispute: both women gave birth while living together in the same house. The phrase "with her in the house" reinforces the shared, intimate, and unwitnessed environment of the births. This simultaneous or near-simultaneous birthing event is the direct cause of the conflict, as it leads to the tragic death of one child and the subsequent claim over the surviving infant.

#### Literary Devices
The simplicity of this verse belies its profound literary function. It primarily employs **Exposition**, serving to lay out the fundamental facts and setting the scene for the dramatic conflict that is about to unfold. The woman's direct address, "O my lord," is a form of **Direct Address**, immediately drawing the listener (and reader) into the judicial setting and highlighting the personal appeal to authority. Furthermore, the verse utilizes **Foreshadowing** by establishing the shared living conditions and simultaneous births, subtly hinting at the complex and emotionally charged dispute that will require extraordinary wisdom to resolve. The very ordinariness of the initial statement makes Solomon's subsequent, divinely inspired solution all the more striking by **Juxtaposition** against the apparent lack of evidence.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This foundational verse, though seemingly simple, immediately plunges the reader into profound theological themes concerning justice, truth, and the nature of righteous leadership. It underscores the biblical principle that true justice is not merely about applying laws but about discerning truth, especially when facts are obscured or contested. The vulnerability of the two women, dependent solely on the king's judgment, highlights God's concern for the marginalized and the expectation that those in authority reflect divine impartiality. Solomon's immediate engagement with this complex human dilemma demonstrates the practical outworking of God's wisdom, which is given not for personal gain but for the benefit of the community and the establishment of righteousness. This narrative serves as a powerful illustration that God's wisdom, when sought and applied, can cut through deception and bring light to hidden truths, ensuring that justice prevails even in the most challenging circumstances.

* [Deuteronomy 1:16-17](/deuteronomy/1-16 "Deuteronomy 1:16-17 - Impartial Justice Commanded")
* [Proverbs 29:4](/proverbs/29-4 "Proverbs 29:4 - A King Who Judges Rightly")
* [Isaiah 11:3-4](/isaiah/11-3 "Isaiah 11:3-4 - The Righteous Judgment of the Messiah")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The opening statement of the first woman in 1 Kings 3:17, while a simple declaration of facts, offers profound insights for our own lives and communities. It reminds us that clarity and directness are often the first steps toward resolving conflict, even when the full truth is not immediately apparent. The woman's immediate appeal to Solomon's authority underscores the human need for impartial judgment and the importance of having trusted arbiters in disputes. In our own lives, whether in personal relationships, professional settings, or communal disagreements, this passage encourages us to seek wisdom—divine wisdom—to navigate complex situations. It challenges us to be truth-seekers, to listen carefully, and to pray for discernment, recognizing that true justice often requires looking beyond superficial claims to the deeper realities of a situation. Ultimately, it points us to the profound responsibility of those in leadership to exercise their authority with integrity, compassion, and a divinely inspired capacity to discern truth from falsehood.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the woman's clear, factual opening statement inform our approach to communication when we are seeking resolution in a conflict?**
* **In what ways do we, like Solomon, need to seek or demonstrate wisdom when faced with complex decisions or interpersonal disputes that lack clear evidence?**
* **How does the necessity of an impartial judge in this story speak to our own desire for justice and fairness in a world often marked by bias and deception?**

### FAQ
**Why is the term "harlots" used to describe these women in some translations, and what does it imply about their social standing?**

Answer: The King James Version (KJV) uses the term "harlots" (Hebrew: זוֹנָה, _zonah_), which literally means "prostitute." However, in ancient Near Eastern contexts, this term could sometimes refer more broadly to women who were independent, perhaps without a male guardian or family support, and thus lived on the fringes of conventional society. It might not always carry the full moral condemnation implied by the modern English word "prostitute," but rather highlights their vulnerable social status. Their lack of family or community support meant they had no one to advocate for them, making their direct appeal to King Solomon a desperate and necessary act. This vulnerability is key to the narrative, emphasizing their complete reliance on the king's impartial and divinely-inspired judgment to secure justice for themselves.

**What is the significance of the phrase "in one house" within the context of this dispute?**

Answer: The repeated emphasis on the women dwelling "in one house" is highly significant because it establishes the intimate, confined, and unwitnessed setting of the births and the subsequent tragedy. This shared living space meant there were no external witnesses to the events, making it impossible to verify either woman's claim through conventional testimony. The lack of independent evidence is precisely what makes the case so intractable and necessitates Solomon's extraordinary, divinely-given wisdom to discern the truth. It underscores that the truth was hidden within the confines of their shared domestic life, requiring a judge who could see beyond the surface facts and into the heart of the matter.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The wisdom displayed by Solomon in this account, while extraordinary, serves as a profound foreshadowing of the ultimate wisdom embodied in Jesus Christ. Solomon's ability to discern truth and administer justice, a gift from God for the benefit of his people, points forward to Christ, in whom "are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge" ([Colossians 2:3](/colossians/2-3 "Colossians 2:3 - Christ, in Whom are Hidden All Treasures of Wisdom")). Jesus is the perfect Judge, not merely by external decree but by intrinsic nature, possessing an unparalleled capacity to know the hearts of all people. Where Solomon needed a test to reveal the true mother, Jesus inherently knows the truth of every human condition and every dispute, as demonstrated in His encounters, such as with the [woman caught in adultery](/john/8-1 "John 8:1-11 - Jesus and the Woman Caught in Adultery"), where He cut through human accusation to reveal divine truth and grace. He is the one who brings true justice and reconciliation, not through a clever ruse, but through the perfect revelation of God's character, offering grace and truth ([John 1:17](/john/1-17 "John 1:17 - Grace and Truth Through Jesus Christ")) to a world entangled in sin and deception. Ultimately, the wisdom of Solomon, though great, was limited and temporal; the wisdom of Christ is eternal, redemptive, and brings about the ultimate restoration of all things.

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

Genesis 43:20

And said, O sir, we came indeed down at the first time to buy food:

Romans 13:7

¶ Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute [is due]; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.