1 Kings 3:26

Then spake the woman whose the living child [was] unto the king, for her bowels yearned upon her son, and she said, O my lord, give her the living child, and in no wise slay it. But the other said, Let it be neither mine nor thine, [but] divide [it].

Then spake {H559} the woman {H802} whose the living {H2416} child {H1121} was unto the king {H4428}, for her bowels {H7356} yearned {H3648} upon her son {H1121}, and she said {H559}, O {H994} my lord {H113}, give {H5414} her the living {H2416} child {H3205}, and in no wise {H4191} slay {H4191} it. But the other said {H559}, Let it be neither mine nor thine, but divide {H1504} it.

At this, the woman to whom the living child belonged addressed the king, because she felt so strongly toward her son: "Oh, my lord, give her the living child; you mustn't kill it!" But the other one said, "It will be neither yours nor mine. Divide it up!"

Then the woman whose son was alive spoke to the king because she yearned with compassion for her son. “Please, my lord,” she said, “give her the living baby. Do not kill him!” But the other woman said, “He will be neither mine nor yours. Cut him in two!”

Then spake the woman whose the living child was unto the king, for her heart yearned over her son, and she said, Oh, my lord, give her the living child, and in no wise slay it. But the other said, It shall be neither mine nor thine; divide it.

Commentary

1 Kings 3:26 presents the pivotal moment in King Solomon's famous judgment, revealing the true mother through a profound display of compassion and wisdom. This verse captures the stark contrast between genuine maternal love and selfish indifference, leading to the resolution of a complex dispute.

Context

This verse is at the heart of the "Judgment of Solomon," a narrative that immediately follows Solomon's prayer for an understanding heart to govern God's people. Two women, living in the same house, each had a child. One child died during the night, and the surviving woman claimed the living child as her own. With no witnesses, the case was brought before King Solomon, who had recently ascended to the throne of Israel. His unique approach to resolving this seemingly impossible dispute would demonstrate the divine wisdom granted to him by God, fulfilling the promise made in 1 Kings 3:12.

Key Themes

  • Maternal Love and Compassion: The verse vividly portrays the agonizing love of the true mother. Her "bowels yearned upon her son," indicating a deep, visceral, and overwhelming compassion. She was willing to give up her child to the other woman rather than see him harmed, prioritizing his life above her own claim.
  • Divine Wisdom and Discernment: Solomon's strategy was designed to expose the truth by appealing to the deepest instincts of motherhood. His proposed action of dividing the child served as a test, revealing the heart of each woman. This wisdom, not based on conventional evidence, allowed him to discern the genuine parent.
  • Justice and Truth Revealed: The outcome ensures that justice is served. The true mother's selfless plea contrasted sharply with the other woman's callous agreement to "divide it," making the truth undeniable. This moment solidified Solomon's reputation as a wise and just ruler, as noted in 1 Kings 3:28.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "her bowels yearned upon her son" is a powerful expression in KJV. The Hebrew word translated "yearned" (racham) is closely related to the word for "womb" (rechem), signifying a deep, innate, and compassionate love or pity, often associated with a mother's affection for her child. It conveys a profound, gut-wrenching emotional response, highlighting the true mother's intense bond and self-sacrificing nature.

Practical Application

This narrative offers timeless lessons for contemporary life:

  • Truth Revealed by Action: True character and motives are often revealed not by words, but by actions and reactions when under pressure.
  • Compassion Over Self-Interest: The story underscores the power of selfless love. Genuine love seeks the well-being of the other, even at personal cost, contrasting sharply with selfish desires.
  • Seeking Divine Wisdom: Like Solomon, we are called to seek wisdom from God, especially when facing complex decisions or disputes. True wisdom enables us to discern beyond surface appearances and arrive at just solutions, reflecting God's own character of justice and truth, as described in Proverbs 2:6.

The judgment of Solomon remains a powerful testament to the value of discernment, the depth of maternal love, and the divine origin of true wisdom.

Note: Commentary was generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please remember that only the commentary section is AI-generated. The main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are sourced from trusted and verified materials.

Cross-References

  • Isaiah 49:15

    Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee.

  • Jeremiah 31:20

    [Is] Ephraim my dear son? [is he] a pleasant child? for since I spake against him, I do earnestly remember him still: therefore my bowels are troubled for him; I will surely have mercy upon him, saith the LORD.

  • 1 John 3:17

    But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels [of compassion] from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?

  • Genesis 43:30

    And Joseph made haste; for his bowels did yearn upon his brother: and he sought [where] to weep; and he entered into [his] chamber, and wept there.

  • Hosea 11:8

    ¶ How shall I give thee up, Ephraim? [how] shall I deliver thee, Israel? how shall I make thee as Admah? [how] shall I set thee as Zeboim? mine heart is turned within me, my repentings are kindled together.

  • Philippians 2:1

    ¶ If [there be] therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,

  • Philippians 1:8

    For God is my record, how greatly I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ.
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