1 Kings 11 4

1 Kings 11:4 kjv

For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father.

1 Kings 11:4 nkjv

For it was so, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned his heart after other gods; and his heart was not loyal to the LORD his God, as was the heart of his father David.

1 Kings 11:4 niv

As Solomon grew old, his wives turned his heart after other gods, and his heart was not fully devoted to the LORD his God, as the heart of David his father had been.

1 Kings 11:4 esv

For when Solomon was old his wives turned away his heart after other gods, and his heart was not wholly true to the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father.

1 Kings 11:4 nlt

In Solomon's old age, they turned his heart to worship other gods instead of being completely faithful to the LORD his God, as his father, David, had been.

1 Kings 11 verses

1 Kings 11 4 Meaning

1 Kings 11:4 reveals the profound spiritual decline of King Solomon. It states that in his old age, his many foreign wives influenced him, causing his heart to turn away from complete devotion to the Lord, his God. This spiritual apostasy led him to follow other gods, directly contrasting with the undivided loyalty of his father, David, to Yahweh. The verse underscores a critical failure of faith and covenant fidelity that had severe consequences for the kingdom.

1 Kings 11 4 Context

1 Kings Chapter 11 marks a tragic turning point in Solomon's reign, illustrating the consequences of his accumulated spiritual compromises. Having initially shown wisdom and devotion, as seen in his prayer for understanding (1 Kgs 3) and the building of the temple (1 Kgs 6-8), his latter years are marred by disobedience. The verse sits within a larger narrative detailing Solomon's acquisition of 700 wives and 300 concubines, many of whom were foreign princesses, a direct violation of God's command not to intermarry with nations whose gods would lead Israel astray (Deut 7:3-4). His allowance of, and participation in, the worship of foreign deities for his wives on Mount Olives and other sites (1 Kgs 11:7-8) ultimately turned his own heart away. This moral and spiritual failure sets the stage for God's judgment, foretold in the verses immediately following, where the kingdom will be divided after Solomon's death, contrasting sharply with the unified kingdom under David. Historically, this period highlights the persistent challenge for Israelite kings to maintain exclusive loyalty to Yahweh amidst geopolitical alliances and cultural pressures of the Ancient Near East.

1 Kings 11 4 Word analysis

• When Solomon was old (ū·ḇə·‘êṯ ziq·naṯ Šəlō·mōh): ziqnat (old age). This phrase indicates a protracted period of spiritual backsliding, not an instantaneous fall. It suggests a decline in vigilance and an established pattern of compromise over time. The wisdom he possessed seemingly did not prevent this slow erosion of faithfulness.
• his wives (nā·šāw from ’iš·šāh): The large number of wives, particularly noḵ·rî·yō·wṯ (foreign wives, as indicated in 1 Kgs 11:1), violated Mosaic law (Deut 17:17). This wasn't merely a personal choice but a geopolitical strategy, bringing alliances at the cost of spiritual purity.
• turned away (hiṭ·ṭū from nāṭâ): This verb signifies a deviation, to incline, twist, or pervert. It suggests an active and deliberate leading astray, not a passive falling. The wives, by introducing their pagan practices, actively led Solomon's heart to incline away from God.
• his heart (’eṯ-lib·bōw from lêḇ): In Hebrew thought, the "heart" (lev or lebab) is not just the seat of emotion, but also the intellect, will, and conscience. It represents the innermost being, the center of moral and spiritual life. His core commitment and allegiance were corrupted.
• after other gods (’a·ḥă·rê ’ĕ·lō·hîm ’ă·ḥê·rîm): elohim acherim means "other gods," clearly signifying idolatry. This was a violation of the First Commandment (Exod 20:3). Solomon didn't abandon Yahweh completely but allowed the worship of other gods alongside Him, a form of syncretism highly detestable to God, as it undermined the exclusive covenant.
• and his heart was not wholly devoted (wə·lō’ hā·yāh lə·ḇā·ḇōw šā·lêm): shalem means complete, perfect, sound, whole. It conveys the idea of undivided allegiance and unblemished integrity. Solomon’s heart was lo shalem – not whole, not undivided in its devotion to Yahweh.
• to the LORD his God (‘im Yah·weh ’ĕ·lō·hāw): Reinforces the specific, covenantal relationship God had established with Israel and its king. The term Elohav ("his God") implies personal covenant.
• as was the heart of David his father (kə·lə·ḇaḇ dā·wiḏ ’ā·ḇîw): This sets up the direct, poignant comparison. While David was flawed and sinned severely (e.g., Bathsheba), his heart consistently returned to Yahweh as his sole God; he never officially introduced or participated in foreign idol worship. This contrasts Solomon's spiritual disloyalty, which became an official policy and a public example.
• his wives turned away his heart: This phrase indicates the powerful influence that personal relationships can exert on spiritual integrity, especially when covenant boundaries are disregarded. The "heart" is central here; it's not just actions but inner allegiance that is compromised.
• after other gods, and his heart was not wholly devoted: This group of words describes the ultimate failure: not only did he follow other gods externally, but his internal core (heart) lacked the singular, unadulterated loyalty expected of Yahweh's king. This shows that the external acts of idolatry were a symptom of an internal spiritual issue.
• wholly devoted to the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father: This passage emphasizes the standard of shalem devotion established by David. David’s devotion, despite his personal failures, remained exclusively for Yahweh. Solomon's syncretistic approach to worship, accommodating multiple deities, fell short of this monotheistic fidelity, making his failures fundamentally different in nature from David’s.

1 Kings 11 4 Bonus section

• Solomon's fall demonstrates that head knowledge (his renowned wisdom) does not equate to heart devotion. His vast intellectual capacity did not insulate him from spiritual decline.
• The severity of God's judgment on Solomon, culminating in the division of the kingdom, underlines the grave nature of idolatry and disobedience for Israel's leadership. This specific sin violated the very foundation of the Mosaic Covenant.
• The narrative serves as a warning not only against direct idol worship but also against alliances and compromises that can subtly lead one away from exclusive devotion to God. The path to apostasy often begins with seemingly minor transgressions or pragmatic choices that violate divine principles.
• Solomon's failures, despite receiving two direct divine appearances (1 Kgs 3:5; 1 Kgs 9:2), highlight the human capacity to neglect even profound divine revelations when personal desires or worldly pressures become paramount.

1 Kings 11 4 Commentary

1 Kings 11:4 reveals the tragic end of Solomon's spiritual journey, emphasizing that even the wisest and most privileged among humans are vulnerable to apostasy without diligent maintenance of their heart before God. Solomon’s accumulation of foreign wives, contrary to Mosaic law, led directly to his downfall. These unions, initially perhaps for political expediency or personal pleasure, became the conduits through which foreign religious practices infiltrated his life and kingdom. The focus on his "old age" suggests a long period of erosion of faith and spiritual vigilance, a slow turning away that likely began subtly. The "turning away of his heart" signifies an inner spiritual corruption—not merely a behavioral slip, but a fundamental shift in allegiance. His "heart" (his inner core, will, and intellect) was no longer singular in its devotion to Yahweh but became "divided," compromising his unique covenant relationship with the living God by entertaining "other gods." This act of syncretism was profoundly offensive to God's nature, who demands exclusive worship and is described as a "jealous God." The stark contrast with "the heart of David his father" highlights the critical distinction: while David certainly committed grave sins, his fundamental loyalty remained with Yahweh, never entertaining or building altars to other gods. Solomon, conversely, did not merely sin but apostatized by publicly embracing foreign deities, ultimately jeopardizing the unity and spiritual health of the very kingdom he was given to shepherd for God. This serves as a potent reminder that status, wisdom, or initial faithfulness are no guarantee against falling if one neglects personal devotion and God's explicit commands.