1 Kings 3 23

1 Kings 3:23 kjv

Then said the king, The one saith, This is my son that liveth, and thy son is the dead: and the other saith, Nay; but thy son is the dead, and my son is the living.

1 Kings 3:23 nkjv

And the king said, "The one says, 'This is my son, who lives, and your son is the dead one'; and the other says, 'No! But your son is the dead one, and my son is the living one.' "

1 Kings 3:23 niv

The king said, "This one says, 'My son is alive and your son is dead,' while that one says, 'No! Your son is dead and mine is alive.'?"

1 Kings 3:23 esv

Then the king said, "The one says, 'This is my son that is alive, and your son is dead'; and the other says, 'No; but your son is dead, and my son is the living one.'"

1 Kings 3:23 nlt

Then the king said, "Let's get the facts straight. Both of you claim the living child is yours, and each says that the dead one belongs to the other.

1 Kings 3 verses

1 Kings 3 23 Meaning

1 Kings 3:23 succinctly states the two opposing claims made by the harlots before King Solomon. It sets the scene for a seemingly unresolvable dilemma, where each woman insists that the living child is hers and the dead child belongs to the other, creating a deadlock based on identical, yet contradictory, testimonies. This verse highlights the fundamental conflict that Solomon, endowed with divine wisdom, must resolve.

1 Kings 3 23 Context

1 Kings chapter 3 details King Solomon's petition to God for wisdom and God's affirmative response. After Solomon offered sacrifices at Gibeon, the Lord appeared to him in a dream and offered him whatever he desired. Solomon, recognizing the immense responsibility of governing God's people, humbly asked for an "understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil" (1 Kgs 3:9). God was pleased with this request, promising him not only wisdom unmatched by any king before or after him, but also wealth and honor, and a long life if he walked in God's ways.

The immediate narrative preceding 1 Kings 3:23 is the introduction of a perplexing case involving two harlots living in the same house, each having given birth, but one of their children had died. In their dispute, they brought their case directly to the king, unable to resolve it themselves or have it resolved by local elders. Verse 23 is the culmination of their presenting their contradictory arguments, setting up the ultimate test of the divinely granted wisdom that Solomon had just received. The public resolution of this case was crucial because it would validate God's gift to Solomon and establish his credibility as a just ruler over Israel.

Historically, kings in ancient Near Eastern cultures served as the ultimate arbiters of justice. Complex or unresolved legal disputes were brought before them, embodying the hope that the monarch would possess divine insight or special favor to render an equitable judgment. Solomon's response in this situation was not only a practical legal decision but also a profound theological statement, demonstrating God's active involvement in the governance of His people through His anointed king.

1 Kings 3 23 Word analysis

• Then (וַיֹּאמֶר - vayyō'mer): Connects the king's subsequent words to the immediately preceding exchange where the women laid out their contradictory claims. It signals a shift from listening to synthesizing and restating the core issue.
• the king (הַמֶּלֶךְ - hammeleḵ): Refers to Solomon, now exercising his judicial role. His position demands impartiality and discerning insight to uncover truth from conflicting testimonies. His identity as "the king" underscores his ultimate authority in the legal system.
• said (וַיֹּאמֶר - vayyō'mer): Indicates Solomon's verbal summation. This is his first recorded direct utterance about the case, signifying his engagement beyond passive listening.
• The one says (זֹאת אֹמֶרֶת - zō't 'ōmeret): Refers to the first woman, restating her claim. The phrase highlights the direct quotation of their claims, emphasizing the women's distinct, incompatible narratives.
• “My son (בְּנִי - bēnī): Denotes individual possession and motherhood. The depth of maternal claim over a child is primal and powerful, central to the conflict.
• is the living one (הַחַי - haḥay): Ḥay (חי) means 'living' or 'alive'. This term directly opposes "dead," establishing the stark, absolute distinction central to the dispute. Its use emphasizes the preciousness and undeniable presence of life.
• and your son (וּבְנֵךְ - ūvenēḵ): Refers to the other woman's child. Establishes the contrast between the children belonging to the two claimants.
• is the dead one (הַמֵּת - hammēt): Mêt (מת) means 'dead' or 'deceased'. This term starkly contrasts with 'living,' highlighting the irreversible state of the other child and intensifying the dispute. The definitive "the dead one" implies a shared understanding of loss, though its ownership is contested.
• and the other says (וְזֹאת אֹמֶרֶת - vəzō't 'ōmeret): Refers to the second woman, presenting her opposing claim, indicating the full deadlock.
• “No, (לֹא כִּי - lō' kî): The lo is a strong negation, denying the previous statement emphatically. It signals an immediate and absolute rejection of the other woman's claim. Kî (כי) acts here as a conjunction meaning "but" or "for."
• but your son (כִּי בְנֵךְ - kî vənēḵ): Reinforces the denial and reversal of ownership of the living child, directly confronting the first woman's claim.
• is the living one (הַחַי - haḥay): Again, ḥay emphasizes the state of life, here claimed for the other woman's child.
• and my son (וּבְנִי - ūvenī): Reassertion of personal ownership over the dead child, mirroring the first woman's claim but reversing the outcomes.
• is the dead one (הַמֵּת - hammēt): Reaffirms the dead state of her child, concluding the second, equally firm, but opposite claim.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "Then the king said, 'The one says... and the other says...'": This phrase underscores Solomon's precise reiteration of the conflict. He doesn't side with either immediately but accurately summarizes the core contradictory testimonies. This shows his immediate grasp of the legal conundrum before him, which on its face, cannot be resolved by standard means. It also reveals the impossibility of resolution through mere human reasoning or established legal precedent without deeper discernment.

• "My son is the living one, and your son is the dead one" vs. "No, but your son is the living one, and my son is the dead one": This pair of contrasting statements perfectly encapsulates the direct opposition and absolute impasse of the case. Each woman presents an identical logical structure of claims ("my living, your dead" vs. "your living, my dead"), making external verification impossible. This symmetrical opposition highlights the need for a solution that transcends rational argument and external evidence, requiring a discerning insight into the human heart. This sets the stage for the revelation of true character and motive, demonstrating God's wisdom given to Solomon in uncovering concealed truth.

1 Kings 3 23 Bonus section

The seemingly irresolvable nature of the conflict in 1 Kings 3:23 serves as a perfect demonstration of the unique wisdom bestowed upon Solomon by God. This case was designed not just to render justice for these two women, but to visibly authenticate Solomon’s divine commission and establish his credibility as a king whose judgment surpassed mere human intellect. The very fact that both women vehemently stated the exact opposite claim, making them indistinguishable on the surface, forced Solomon to go beyond typical courtroom procedures like witness testimony or forensic evidence. This narrative highlights a theological point: some truths are so deeply hidden, intertwined with deceit, that only divine wisdom can expose them. It foreshadows the type of ultimate discernment and righteous judgment that only a truly divine ruler can exercise, ultimately pointing towards Christ who perfectly discerns the thoughts and intentions of the heart (Heb 4:12). The raw human emotion, particularly the desperation for a living child, is laid bare in this exchange, setting the emotional groundwork for Solomon's "sword" test which immediately follows.

1 Kings 3 23 Commentary

1 Kings 3:23 is pivotal as it explicitly articulates the judicial stalemate that Solomon faces. The verse highlights the core of the problem: two identical, mutually exclusive claims, with no external witnesses or evidence to verify either account. The very essence of the mothers' conflicting statements—“My son is the living one, and your son is the dead one” versus “No, but your son is the living one, and my son is the dead one”—makes ordinary legal judgment impossible. Solomon, rather than expressing bewilderment, precisely re-states their arguments, demonstrating his keen understanding of the presented dilemma. This sets the stage for his extraordinary, divinely-inspired solution.

This narrative moment implicitly critiques the limitations of human justice without divine aid. In any human court, such contradictory testimonies would likely lead to an acquittal, a plea bargain, or a protracted, unresolved dispute. However, because Solomon had just been granted "a discerning mind" (1 Kgs 3:9, 12) directly from God, he possessed the capacity to cut through the deceit. His restatement of the claims shows he isn't flustered but ready to employ this divine gift. The intensity of the claims, especially the stark contrast between 'living' and 'dead,' also sets the high emotional stakes, demanding not just a legal ruling, but a morally decisive one. This foundational case solidifies Solomon’s reign and wisdom in the eyes of his people, showing them that God was truly with him, providing unique discernment where human wisdom would fail. It illustrates how true leadership, especially in judicial matters, often requires divine wisdom to penetrate beyond superficial appearances to uncover hidden truths.