1 Kings 3 18

1 Kings 3:18 kjv

And it came to pass the third day after that I was delivered, that this woman was delivered also: and we were together; there was no stranger with us in the house, save we two in the house.

1 Kings 3:18 nkjv

Then it happened, the third day after I had given birth, that this woman also gave birth. And we were together; no one was with us in the house, except the two of us in the house.

1 Kings 3:18 niv

The third day after my child was born, this woman also had a baby. We were alone; there was no one in the house but the two of us.

1 Kings 3:18 esv

Then on the third day after I gave birth, this woman also gave birth. And we were alone. There was no one else with us in the house; only we two were in the house.

1 Kings 3:18 nlt

Three days later this woman also had a baby. We were alone; there were only two of us in the house.

1 Kings 3 verses

1 Kings 3 18 Meaning

1 Kings 3:18 details the pivotal tragic event that necessitates King Solomon's discerning judgment. It narrates the death of the second woman's child in the night, just three days after the first woman gave birth, explicitly stating the cause as the mother having accidentally (or negligently, as inferred later) lain upon it. This verse is the first public disclosure of the crime and its alleged circumstances, forming the basis for the ensuing dispute presented before the newly crowned king.

1 Kings 3 18 Context

1 Kings Chapter 3 details King Solomon's early reign, characterized by his pivotal prayer for wisdom. After his request for a discerning heart to judge God's people (1 Kgs 3:9), God grants him unparalleled wisdom. Verse 18 is the critical point that immediately follows God's promise to Solomon and precedes his renowned demonstration of this divine gift. It sets the stage for the dramatic court case often cited as the epitome of Solomon's wisdom.

Historically, this narrative takes place early in Solomon's reign, when he is consolidating power and establishing his authority as the supreme judge in Israel. In ancient Israelite society, the king served as the highest court of appeal, embodying divine justice. Disputes, especially those without witnesses or clear evidence like this one, would ultimately fall to the king to decide. The women involved, likely prostitutes, had limited legal standing or familial support, making their appeal to the king their only recourse. The event also highlights the fragility of life and the immense value placed on children and lineage in ancient near-eastern culture, especially for women. The lack of eyewitnesses or definitive proof (such as a modern DNA test) creates a complex scenario, requiring extraordinary discernment rather than mere legal application.

1 Kings 3 18 Word analysis

• And it came to pass (וַיְהִי - wayehi): A very common Hebrew narrative connective, typically translated "and it happened" or "now it came to pass." It introduces a new event in a sequence, signaling a significant transition in the story.

• the third day (בַּיּוֹם הַשְּׁלִישִׁי - bayyom hashshĕliyshiy): This specific temporal marker "on the third day" carries considerable theological and narrative weight in Scripture. It often signifies a crucial turning point, divine intervention, or the culmination of an event (e.g., God's presence at Sinai, resurrection of Christ, Jonah's deliverance). Here, it emphasizes the immediate and rapid sequence of tragic events following the first birth.

• after I was delivered (לְלִדְתִּי - lelidtî): "My giving birth." The first-person possessive suffix emphasizes the speaker's direct experience and proximity to the event. It sets a tight timeline, indicating both children were born very close together, intensifying the women's struggle for a single living child.

• that this woman's child (וַיָּמָת בֶּן הָאִשָּׁה הַזֹּאת - wayyāmāth ben hāʾiššâ hazzōʾth): "and died the son of this woman." The term "this woman" is used deictically, pointing to the other woman, underscoring her direct accusation against her. The word "ben" (son) highlights the preciousness of male offspring in the culture.

• died (וַיָּמָת - wayyāmāth): The simple verb "died" (from muth) presents the stark, undeniable reality of the tragedy. Its immediate statement conveys the gravity of the event without embellishment.

• in the night (בַּלַּיְלָה - ballaylâ): The specific time of death – "at night" – is crucial. Nighttime implies concealment, a lack of witnesses, and hidden deeds. This absence of verifiable evidence during the dark hours is precisely why the dispute cannot be easily resolved and requires Solomon's divine wisdom.

• because she lay upon it (כִּי שָׁכְבָה עָלָיו - kî shakhbâ `âlâw): "for she lay on him/it." This is the direct, explicit accusation and attributed cause of death by the first woman. "Shakhbâ" (lay) refers to a sleeping posture. The statement suggests extreme carelessness, suffocation, or, by implication, a more sinister underlying intent to possess the living child, a claim central to the upcoming conflict. It paints a picture of confined living space where such an accident could easily occur.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "And it came to pass the third day after I was delivered": This phrase meticulously establishes the immediate temporal context. The specific mention of "the third day" after the first woman's delivery sets a tight timeline between the two births and the tragic death, emphasizing the fresh grief and raw nature of the conflict. This immediacy makes the physical distinction between the children difficult without unique marks.
  • "that this woman's child died in the night": This declarative statement bluntly presents the tragic core of the conflict. The phrase "this woman's child" immediately places culpability on the second woman in the mind of the accuser, setting up the opposing claims. The mention of "in the night" emphasizes the lack of witnesses, turning the incident into a 'he said/she said' scenario, challenging any simple legal resolution based on evidence alone.
  • "because she lay upon it": This phrase explicitly states the alleged cause of death according to the first woman. It implies a direct action of negligence or even a deliberate act that resulted in the child's demise. This crucial detail defines the nature of the alleged "crime" and forms the specific charge that Solomon must address, forcing him to discern truth from falsehood where human observation fails.

1 Kings 3 18 Bonus section

The seemingly minor detail of the two women being prostitutes, though not stated in this particular verse, but inferred from the larger context (1 Kgs 3:16), is significant. Their profession likely meant they were outside typical societal support structures (e.g., family elders, extended kinship groups) who might otherwise help resolve a dispute or provide evidence. This social isolation amplified their dependence on the king as the ultimate arbiter, making their appeal to Solomon a matter of last resort and personal survival. It underscores that God's justice, through Solomon, was extended even to the marginalized and disenfranchised in Israelite society. The severity of the accusation, hinting at potential child murder or gross neglect, would have demanded the king's direct involvement.

1 Kings 3 18 Commentary

1 Kings 3:18 is far more than a simple recounting of a child's death; it is the catalyst for Solomon's defining moment as king. The narrative meticulously sets the scene for a test of profound discernment. The verse reveals a private tragedy, happening in the intimacy of "the night," thereby lacking objective witnesses and setting the stage for a verbal dispute rather than an evidential trial. The first woman's precise articulation of the event—timing ("the third day") and cause ("she lay upon it")—lays out her account with certainty, which will be fiercely contested by the other woman.

The circumstances, involving two mothers and two babies (one dead, one living), living in close quarters without apparent familial support, highlight the vulnerability of the marginalized and the profound need for a just, benevolent authority. The lack of independent verification pushes the case beyond conventional legal procedures, underscoring the necessity for a ruler with supernatural wisdom—the very quality Solomon had just been granted by God. This specific death becomes the providential backdrop for God's demonstration that He has indeed equipped Solomon for his kingly office.