1 Kings 3 25

1 Kings 3:25 kjv

And the king said, Divide the living child in two, and give half to the one, and half to the other.

1 Kings 3:25 nkjv

And the king said, "Divide the living child in two, and give half to one, and half to the other."

1 Kings 3:25 niv

He then gave an order: "Cut the living child in two and give half to one and half to the other."

1 Kings 3:25 esv

And the king said, "Divide the living child in two, and give half to the one and half to the other."

1 Kings 3:25 nlt

Then he said, "Cut the living child in two, and give half to one woman and half to the other!"

1 Kings 3 verses

1 Kings 3 25 Meaning

The king's command in 1 Kings 3:25 is the climax of Solomon's wise judgment between the two harlots. It was not a literal instruction for mutilation but a brilliant and divinely inspired test. Solomon's profound wisdom, granted by God to discern between good and evil, was put to use to reveal the true mother. The seemingly cruel order was designed to expose the depth of genuine maternal love and compassion, which prioritizes the child's life above all else, in stark contrast to the deceitful and selfish desire of the false claimant to merely possess or destroy. It forced the truth out by eliciting an emotional response that logic or testimony could not achieve.

1 Kings 3 25 Context

The verse immediately follows the unusual case presented to King Solomon, involving two harlots claiming maternity over a single living child after one of their babies died. This legal dispute serves as the inaugural and defining demonstration of Solomon's exceptional wisdom, which he had recently requested from God at Gibeon (1 Kgs 3:9) and which God granted, promising him a "wise and discerning mind" unlike any before or after (1 Kgs 3:12). The "dividing" command, therefore, is not arbitrary but flows directly from Solomon's divinely empowered ability to discern truth and lies, reflecting the kind of righteous judgment crucial for his reign. The context highlights the importance of justice, the value of life, and the unique role of the king as supreme judge in ancient Israelite society.

1 Kings 3 25 Word Analysis

• And the king said:

  • And: Connects this command directly to the preceding narration of the problem and the lack of human testimony to resolve it.
  • the king (הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ, hammèleḵ): Refers to Solomon. Emphasizes his supreme judicial authority. The king's word is law, holding ultimate power to resolve disputes and pronounce judgment. His decree carries the weight of finality and absolute command.
  • said (וַיֹּ֣אמֶר, wayyōʾmer): Simple verb for speaking, but in this context, it's a declaration of a definitive judgment or a test.

• Divide (גִּזְר֕וּ, gizərū):

  • From the Hebrew root gāzar: meaning "to cut off," "to divide," "to make a decision" or "decree."
  • This word choice implies a decisive, even absolute, action. While seemingly violent, in this context, it signals a decree that will force a revelation, rather than simply a physical act. The urgency conveyed by the imperative underscores the perceived finality of the proposed solution.

• the living child (הַיֶּ֥לֶד הַחַי֙, hayyeled haḥay):

  • the living child: A crucial detail, distinguishing him from the dead child. The emphasis on "living" heightens the shock of the command, making the proposed act utterly horrific and thereby eliciting a strong, truthful reaction. It underscores that the object of the dispute is life itself, which one woman wants to preserve at all costs.

• in two (לִשְׁנַ֔יִם, lišnayim):

  • in two: Precisely specifies the division. The explicit instruction for an equal but horrific division is intended to maximize the dilemma and reveal the true depth of feeling.

• and give half to the one, and half to the other (וּתְנ֣וּ חֶצְי֤וֹ לָאַחַת֙ וְחֶצְי֖וֹ לָאַחַֽת, ûṯnū ḥeṣyô lāʾaḥaṯ wəḥeṣyô lāʾaḥaṯ):

  • give half... half...: This phrase reiterates the concept of "equality" in division. While appearing equitable on the surface for two claimants, the actual meaning for a living child is unthinkable. The repetition emphasizes the shocking fairness of the proposed distribution, heightening the stakes for both women.

Word Groups Analysis:

• "And the king said, Divide the living child in two": This opening phrase asserts the king's authority and delivers the astonishing command. It sets the stage for a resolution based not on testimony, but on a test of raw human emotion concerning life itself. It shows Solomon taking an active, decisive role as judge.
• "and give half to the one, and half to the other": This clause clarifies the 'division,' detailing the horrific, yet seemingly 'fair,' distribution of the child. It reveals the radical nature of the test, designed to push both women to their limits and expose their true intentions—one to possess regardless of consequence, the other to preserve life at any cost.

1 Kings 3 25 Bonus Section

• Judicial Precedent: This event served as a foundational example of Solomon's wisdom and his capability to rule justly, solidifying his reign and reputation across the land (1 Kgs 3:28). It provided the people with confidence in his divine anointing.
• Divine Revelation in Judgment: The incident showcases that divine wisdom, though supernatural in origin, is applied through natural human means of discernment and strategy, rather than requiring direct oracular pronouncements. God's wisdom operates within human actions.
• Contrasting Motivations: The story brilliantly highlights the contrast between authentic, self-sacrificial love and deceptive, envious self-interest, themes prevalent throughout the biblical narrative concerning true righteousness and wicked intent.

1 Kings 3 25 Commentary

King Solomon's command in 1 Kings 3:25 is a quintessential demonstration of God-given wisdom in action. It’s a masterful stroke of judicial discernment, going beyond legal precedents or conflicting testimonies. Recognizing that neither woman would admit guilt or produce irrefutable evidence, Solomon devised a psychological test to expose the deepest truth: the natural affection of a mother for her child. His words, seemingly cruel, were in fact a profound act of compassion, crafted to elicit an unadulterated response. The true mother, driven by her love and maternal instinct, would rather sacrifice her claim to the child than allow its death. The false claimant, driven by spite and jealousy, would readily agree to the child's destruction to prevent her rival from having it. This dramatic revelation solidified Solomon's reputation for divine wisdom throughout Israel, demonstrating that true justice extends beyond superficial evidence to discern the very intentions of the heart.