1 Kings 3:27 kjv
Then the king answered and said, Give her the living child, and in no wise slay it: she is the mother thereof.
1 Kings 3:27 nkjv
So the king answered and said, "Give the first woman the living child, and by no means kill him; she is his mother."
1 Kings 3:27 niv
Then the king gave his ruling: "Give the living baby to the first woman. Do not kill him; she is his mother."
1 Kings 3:27 esv
Then the king answered and said, "Give the living child to the first woman, and by no means put him to death; she is his mother."
1 Kings 3:27 nlt
Then the king said, "Do not kill the child, but give him to the woman who wants him to live, for she is his mother!"
1 Kings 3 27 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Ki 3:9 | "Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people..." | Solomon's prayer for discernment. |
| 1 Ki 3:12 | "Behold, I give you a wise and discerning mind..." | God grants Solomon wisdom. |
| 1 Ki 3:28 | "And all Israel heard the judgment that the king had rendered...for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him..." | Affirmation of Solomon's divine wisdom. |
| Prov 2:6 | "For the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding..." | God is the source of true wisdom. |
| James 1:5 | "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God..." | Asking God for wisdom. |
| Prov 8:12 | "I, wisdom, dwell with prudence, and I find knowledge and discretion." | Wisdom's guiding nature. |
| Is 11:3-4 | "...he shall not judge by what his eyes see, or decide disputes by what his ears hear, but with righteousness he shall judge..." | Righteous judgment beyond surface. |
| Zec 8:16 | "These are the things you shall do: Speak the truth to one another; render in your gates judgments that are true and make for peace." | Call for truth and justice in judgment. |
| Ps 82:3-4 | "Give justice to the weak and the orphan; maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute. Rescue the weak and needy..." | Upholding justice for the vulnerable. |
| Dt 1:16-17 | "And I charged your judges...hear the cases between your brothers and judge righteously...you shall not be partial..." | Principles of impartial judgment. |
| Is 49:15 | "Can a woman forget her nursing child, that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you." | Mother's unparalleled compassion. |
| Ps 27:10 | "For my father and my mother have forsaken me, but the LORD will take me in." | Example of abandonment vs. true care. |
| Phil 2:3-4 | "Do nothing from selfish ambition...but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others." | Selfless love and prioritizing others. |
| Col 3:12 | "Put on then, as God's chosen ones...compassionate hearts, kindness..." | Admonition for compassion. |
| Jn 8:44 | "...He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him..." | Contrast of truth vs. murderous intent (false mother's desire to split). |
| 1 Sam 16:7 | "...man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart." | Divine judgment sees the heart. |
| Gen 43:30 | "Then Joseph hurried out, for his compassion grew warm for his brother..." | Example of deep, overflowing compassion. |
| Matt 7:16 | "You will recognize them by their fruits..." | True character revealed by actions. |
| Dt 30:19 | "...choose life, that you and your offspring may live..." | Exhortation to choose and preserve life. |
| 1 Thes 5:15 | "See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good..." | Compassion over vengeance. |
| Prov 4:7 | "The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom, and whatever else you get, get insight." | Value of seeking and obtaining wisdom. |
| Eph 5:29 | "For no one ever hated his own body, but nourishes and cherishes it..." | Care for one's own, extended to mother and child. |
| Gen 22:12 | "...for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me." | Sacrifice revealing true heart. |
1 Kings 3 verses
1 Kings 3 27 Meaning
The verse marks the resolution of Solomon's wise judgment in the case of the two harlots, revealing the true mother by her compassionate surrender of her claim to save the child's life. It signifies that genuine maternal love prioritizes the child's survival above possession, exposing the true nature of each woman and affirming Solomon's divinely granted discernment.
1 Kings 3 27 Context
This verse is the climax of one of the Bible's most famous wisdom narratives, found in 1 Kings chapter 3. Preceding this event, Solomon has gone to Gibeon and sacrificed to the LORD, where God appears to him and offers him anything he desires (1 Ki 3:4-5). Solomon asks for an "understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil" (1 Ki 3:9). God grants his request, adding wealth and honor, precisely because Solomon did not ask for long life or riches for himself (1 Ki 3:11-13). This judgment serves as the first major public demonstration of the extraordinary wisdom God bestowed upon him, establishing his reign's authority and credibility immediately.Historically and culturally, the case presents a unique legal challenge. With no witnesses or verifiable proof, a conventional court would struggle to ascertain the truth. Such disputes might normally rely on oaths or divine revelation. Solomon's approach bypasses these by employing psychological insight, forcing the true nature of each woman to reveal itself. This contrasts sharply with simple application of law, subtly highlighting a polemic against systems lacking true divine insight or relying solely on outward appearances or crude justice methods that might prioritize splitting assets (or children) rather than discerning truth.
1 Kings 3 27 Word analysis
- Then the king answered and said,: Solomon, as the supreme judicial authority, delivers his final, decisive verdict, indicating the end of deliberation and the announcement of truth.
- "Give the living child (הַיֶּלֶד הַחַי֙ - hayyeled haḥai): This phrase emphasizes the core of the true mother's desire – the preservation of her child's life. The first woman had cried out for "my living son" (1 Ki 3:26). Solomon recognizes this plea.
- to the first woman,: Refers to the woman who displayed profound maternal compassion and offered to relinquish her claim to ensure the child's survival (1 Ki 3:26). She demonstrated genuine, self-sacrificing love rather than possessive greed or destructive envy.
- and by no means kill him; (וְהָמֵת לֹֽא־תְמִיתֻ֖הוּ - vehamet lo'-tәmītūhū): The Hebrew uses an emphatic double negative construction (infinitive absolute + imperfect negative), "killing, you shall not kill him," expressing a powerful, absolute prohibition against harming the child. This highlights the sanctity of life and confirms the success of Solomon's test in extracting the truth by threatening the child's existence.
- she is his mother.": (כִּֽי־הִ֖יא אִמּֽוֹ - ki hi' immo): This definitive declaration confirms the identity of the true mother. The ki (כִּֽי) often translated "for" or "because," here serves to introduce the reason for the decision, solidifying the conclusion that her actions (her willingness to sacrifice her claim to save his life) proved her true motherhood. This motherhood is not merely biological but characterized by unconditional love and a bond stronger than death.
- "Then the king answered and said, 'Give the living child to the first woman,'": Solomon's pronouncement here is swift and absolute. His divine wisdom allows him to cut through deception and expose the heart of the matter, demonstrating the practical application of his divinely granted discernment. This segment encapsulates Solomon's direct exercise of judicial power, rooted in understanding human nature.
- "'and by no means kill him; she is his mother.'": This concluding statement links the mother's choice to save the child with the affirmation of her identity. The powerful negation of killing underscores the moral victory of life over death, compassion over cruelty. The emphasis on "mother" moves beyond biology to encapsulate the profound bond of care and selflessness, which aligns with God's character.
1 Kings 3 27 Bonus section
The incident not only revealed the identity of the true mother but also served a theological purpose by demonstrating God's immediate fulfillment of His promise to Solomon. The extraordinary nature of this judicial discernment left an indelible mark on the Israelite imagination, contributing to Solomon's legendary status as the wisest king. The "sword" previously called for was not to execute punishment but to draw out truth, symbolizing a judicial discernment rather than mere enforcement. The false mother's readiness for the child to die if she could not have him highlights the essence of envy and wickedness that wishes to destroy rather than share or yield, even if it means destruction of the innocent. This serves as a cautionary tale against such desires, echoing the spiritual truth that love seeks to build up, not tear down (1 Cor 13:4-7).
1 Kings 3 27 Commentary
This verse is the decisive culmination of Solomon's renowned judgment. It showcases the divine wisdom bestowed upon him, allowing him to discern truth where conventional evidence was absent. The core principle revealed is that genuine love, especially maternal love, prioritizes the well-being and life of the beloved over personal possession or triumph. The true mother, driven by an unselfish, gut-wrenching compassion, was willing to relinquish her son rather than see him harmed, while the false mother, consumed by envy and destructive malice, desired the child's death if she could not have him. Solomon's genius lay in creating a test that forced the heart's true allegiance to be revealed. This judgment served as a foundational moment for Solomon's reign, solidifying his reputation and demonstrating to all Israel that the "wisdom of God was in him to do justice" (1 Ki 3:28). This judgment stands as a timeless example of true wisdom discerning not merely legal facts, but the deep motivations and affections of the human heart, paralleling God's own ability to discern hearts (1 Sam 16:7).