1 Kings 11:6 kjv
And Solomon did evil in the sight of the LORD, and went not fully after the LORD, as did David his father.
1 Kings 11:6 nkjv
Solomon did evil in the sight of the LORD, and did not fully follow the LORD, as did his father David.
1 Kings 11:6 niv
So Solomon did evil in the eyes of the LORD; he did not follow the LORD completely, as David his father had done.
1 Kings 11:6 esv
So Solomon did what was evil in the sight of the LORD and did not wholly follow the LORD, as David his father had done.
1 Kings 11:6 nlt
In this way, Solomon did what was evil in the LORD's sight; he refused to follow the LORD completely, as his father, David, had done.
1 Kings 11 6 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Ki 11:1-5 | But King Solomon loved many foreign women... his wives turned his heart. | Solomon's foreign wives led him to idolatry. |
| 1 Ki 11:7-8 | Then Solomon built a high place for Chemosh... for all his foreign wives. | Solomon built altars for idols. |
| Neh 13:26 | "Did not Solomon king of Israel sin by these things?... foreign women made him sin." | Solomon's sin against the law. |
| Deut 17:17 | "Nor shall he acquire many wives for himself, lest his heart turn away." | Direct prohibition for kings to multiply wives. |
| Deut 7:3-4 | "You shall not intermarry with them... they would turn away your heart." | Warning against intermarriage leading to idolatry. |
| Exod 34:15-16 | "Lest you make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land... and they make you eat." | Warning against covenant with foreign nations. |
| 1 Ki 3:14 | "And if you will walk in my ways... as your father David walked, I will lengthen." | God's earlier condition to Solomon for blessing. |
| 1 Ki 9:4 | "If you will walk before me, as David your father walked, with integrity." | God's expectation for Solomon based on David. |
| Acts 13:22 | "I have found in David the son of Jesse a man after my own heart." | David's heart for God despite failings. |
| 1 Sam 13:14 | "...the LORD has sought out a man after his own heart..." | David chosen for his heart. |
| Deut 6:5 | "You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart..." | Command for wholehearted devotion. |
| Josh 22:5 | "Be very careful to observe the commandment... to love him and serve him with all your heart." | Importance of wholehearted service. |
| 1 Chr 28:9 | "Know the God of your father and serve him with a whole heart." | David's instruction to Solomon to serve wholeheartedly. |
| Jer 29:13 | "You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart." | Promise for those who seek God wholly. |
| Matt 22:37 | "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul." | New Testament re-emphasis on wholeheartedness. |
| Rom 12:1-2 | "Present your bodies as a living sacrifice... be transformed by the renewal of your mind." | Call for complete spiritual dedication. |
| 1 Ki 11:9-13 | "Therefore the LORD was angry with Solomon... I will tear the kingdom from you." | Direct consequence of Solomon's disobedience. |
| Deut 28:15 | "But if you will not obey the voice of the LORD... all these curses." | General curses for disobedience. |
| Prov 14:12 | "There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death." | Warning about seemingly good, but wrong paths. |
| Heb 3:12 | "See to it, brothers, that there be not in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart." | Warning against hearts turning away from God. |
| Ps 78:37 | "Their heart was not steadfast toward him; they were not faithful to his covenant." | A lament for Israel's wavering heart. |
| Hos 10:2 | "Their heart is false; now they must bear their guilt." | Rebuke against divided hearts. |
| Matt 7:24-27 | "Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man." | Wisdom linked to obedience, not just knowledge. |
1 Kings 11 verses
1 Kings 11 6 Meaning
1 Kings 11:6 describes the grave spiritual decline of King Solomon. It states that his actions were evil in the sight of the Lord, marking a direct rebellion against God's will. The verse further emphasizes that he did not follow the Lord with a wholehearted devotion, in stark contrast to the standard of faithfulness set by his father, David. This pivotal verse highlights Solomon's failure to maintain singular allegiance to Yahweh, leading to severe consequences for his kingdom.
1 Kings 11 6 Context
1 Kings chapter 11 records the tragic downfall of Solomon, a king renowned for his God-given wisdom and immense wealth. Up to this point, his reign had been characterized by peace, prosperity, and the grand construction of the Temple in Jerusalem. However, the chapter immediately preceding this verse (11:1-5) reveals the catalyst for his decline: his decision to marry numerous foreign women from nations specifically prohibited by God's Law. These wives, though perhaps intended for political alliances, led his heart astray to serve their gods, including Ashtoreth, Chemosh, and Molech.
Thus, 1 Kings 11:6 is a direct summary statement of Solomon's apostasy, setting the stage for the severe divine judgment that follows, primarily the rending of his united kingdom (11:9-13). It reflects a historical-cultural context where intermarriage was common for statecraft, yet biblically prohibited for Israel to preserve its unique covenant identity. This narrative also functions as a polemic against syncretism and idolatry prevalent in the Ancient Near East, emphasizing that Yahweh demands exclusive worship, regardless of perceived political or economic benefits.
1 Kings 11 6 Word analysis
- So: Connects the preceding verses (Solomon's many foreign wives and their turning his heart) to the direct consequence: his actions being evil. It indicates a causal relationship.
- Solomon: The king himself. Irony underscores his fall from unparalleled wisdom (1 Ki 3) to utter foolishness and rebellion against God's direct commands.
- did evil (וַיַּעַשׂ הָרַע, vayya'as hara):
- vayya'as: "he did" or "he made." Implies an active, conscious choice and engagement in wrongdoing.
- hara: "the evil," "wrong," or "wickedness." It denotes actions that are morally corrupt and fundamentally opposed to God's character and commandments. This is not merely a mistake but an act of rebellion.
- in the sight of the Lord (בְּעֵינֵי יְהוָה, be'eyney YHWH):
- be'eyney: "in the eyes of," "in the view of." Emphasizes that God observes all actions.
- YHWH (יְהוָה): The sacred covenant name of God. This specifies that the evil was directed against the very One with whom Israel (and Solomon as its king) had a covenant relationship. It means the offense was not merely societal but a betrayal of a divine relationship.
- and did not wholly follow (וְלֹא מִלֵּא אַחֲרֵי, velō millē acharei):
- velō: "and not."
- millē: From the verb malē' meaning "to be full, complete, wholly devoted." Often used for fulfilling a duty or commission completely.
- acharei: "after," implying "after Him" or "following Him."
- Together, this phrase signifies a lack of complete, single-minded allegiance and devotion. Solomon's heart was divided, not fully surrendered to God alone. It speaks to a compromise of devotion, where he attempted to serve God and other gods simultaneously.
- the Lord: Again, referring to Yahweh, emphasizing the object of Solomon's unfaithfulness.
- as David his father had done (כְּדָוִיד אָבִיו, ke'david 'abiv):
- ke'david: "as David," making a direct comparison.
- abiv: "his father."
- This is a crucial contrast. David, despite his personal failures (like the Bathsheba affair, 2 Sam 11-12), consistently demonstrated a heart wholly devoted to God, always returning to Him in repentance (Ps 51) and seeking His will. His core allegiance remained with Yahweh. Solomon, however, allowed his heart to truly turn away from full commitment. David's obedience, therefore, served as the ideal standard for Israelite kings, a standard Solomon tragically failed to meet in this regard.
1 Kings 11 6 Bonus section
- The concept of "wholehearted" or "perfect" (Heb. shalem) is central to covenant obedience in the Old Testament. It signifies undivided loyalty, completeness in devotion, and integrity, and is often commanded (Deut 18:13). Solomon, who built a "perfect" temple, failed to maintain a "perfect" heart towards its builder, God.
- Solomon's story acts as a profound theological caution: possessing the greatest gifts (wisdom), resources (wealth), and opportunities (building the Temple) does not inherently guarantee faithfulness. It highlights the ever-present danger of compromise and the insidious nature of idolatry when the heart is not solely focused on God.
- This verse represents a fulfillment of the warnings found in Deuteronomy (especially Deut 7, 17) concerning the pitfalls kings might face regarding foreign alliances, wealth, and particularly, foreign wives who lead to idolatry. It illustrates God's unyielding standard for His covenant people.
- The phrase "in the sight of the Lord" reinforces God's omniscient perspective. No act, no matter how politically motivated or seemingly discreet, escapes His perfect sight and judgment.
1 Kings 11 6 Commentary
1 Kings 11:6 serves as a stark summary judgment on King Solomon's reign, marking its spiritual decline. Despite possessing unparalleled wisdom from God, Solomon’s failure to maintain a single-minded devotion to the Lord proved to be his undoing. The text attributes his evil directly to his unreserved indulgence in foreign marriages, which inevitably led to the worship of foreign gods. The crucial phrase, "did not wholly follow the Lord," underscores the fundamental biblical demand for total allegiance to God, a theme echoed throughout the Torah and the Prophets. This was not a minor transgression but a comprehensive departure from covenant faithfulness. The comparison with "David his father" is highly significant; David, though flawed, retained a heart after God and a desire for His glory, providing a lasting standard of wholehearted devotion for Israelite kings. Solomon’s fragmented heart and divided loyalties foreshadowed the impending division of his kingdom, demonstrating that worldly wisdom and power are no substitute for true devotion to God. The narrative teaches that true obedience requires not just external adherence, but an undivided heart fully committed to the Lord.