Berean Standard Bible
1 Kings 3:26
26Then the woman whose son was alive spoke to the king because she yearned with compassion for her son. “Please, my lord,” she said, “give her the living baby. Do not kill him!”
But the other woman said, “He will be neither mine nor yours. Cut him in two!”
1 Kings 3:26 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Then spake the woman whose the living child was unto the king, for her bowels yearned upon her son, and she said, O my lord, give her the living child, and in no wise slay it. But the other said, Let it be neither mine nor thine, but divide it.
- New International Version (NIV)The woman whose son was alive was deeply moved out of love for her son and said to the king, “Please, my lord, give her the living baby! Don’t kill him!” But the other said, “Neither I nor you shall have him. Cut him in two!”
- English Standard Version (ESV)Then the woman whose son was alive said to the king, because her heart yearned for her son, "Oh, my lord, give her the living child, and by no means put him to death." But the other said, "He shall be neither mine nor yours; divide him."
- New King James Version (NKJV)Then the woman whose son was living spoke to the king, for she yearned with compassion for her son; and she said, “O my lord, give her the living child, and by no means kill him!” But the other said, “Let him be neither mine nor yours, but divide him.”
Context of 1 Kings 3:26
24The king continued, “Bring me a sword.” So they brought him a sword, 25and the king declared, “Cut the living child in two and give half to one and half to the other.” Then the woman whose son was alive spoke to the king because she yearned with compassion for her son. “Please, my lord,” she said, “give her the living baby. Do not kill him!” But the other woman said, “He will be neither mine nor yours. Cut him in two!” 27Then the king gave his ruling: “Give the living baby to the first woman. By no means should you kill him; she is his mother.” 28When all Israel heard of the judgment the king had given, they stood in awe of him, for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him to administer justice.
Read all of 1 Kings 31 Kings 3:26 word by word
וַתֹּ֣אמֶר הָאִשָּׁה֩ אֲשֶׁר־בְּנָ֨הּ הַחַ֜י אֶל־הַמֶּ֗לֶךְ כִּֽי־נִכְמְר֣וּ רַחֲמֶיהָ֮ עַל־בְּנָהּ֒ וַתֹּ֣אמֶר׀ בִּ֣י אֲדֹנִ֗י תְּנוּ־לָהּ֙ אֶת־הַיָּל֣וּד הַחַ֔י וְהָמֵ֖ת אַל־תְּמִיתֻ֑הוּ וְזֹ֣את אֹמֶ֗רֶת גַּם־לִ֥י גַם־לָ֛ךְ לֹ֥א יִהְיֶ֖ה גְּזֹֽרוּ׃Read the interlinear
- Then the womanאִשָּׁה'ishshâh nâshîym · womanH802
- whoseאֲשֶׁר'ăsher · whichH834
- sonבֵּןbên · son: childH1121
- was aliveחַיchay · aliveH2416
- spokeאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- toאֶל'êl 'el · to(wards)H413
- the kingמֶ֫לֶךְmelek · kingH4428
- becauseכִּיkîy · forH3588
- she yearnedכָּמַרkâmar · to grow warmH3648
- with compassionרַחֲמִיםracham · compassionH7356
- forעַל‛al · uponH5921
- Pleaseבִּיbîy · pleaseH994
- my lordאָדוֹן'âdôn 'âdôn · lordH113
- giveנָתַןnâthan · to give: giveH5414
- ·אֵת'êth · [Obj.]H853
- babyיָלַדyâlad · to begetH3205
- Do notאַל'al · notH408
- kill himמוּתmûth · to dieH4191
- But the otherזֹאתzô'th · thisH2063
- He will beהָיָהhâyâh · to beH1961
- neitherלֹאlô' lô' lôh · notH3808
- ·גַּםgam · alsoH1571
- Cut him in twoגָּזַרgâzar · to cutH1504
Cross-references for 1 Kings 3:26
- Genesis 43:30Joseph hurried out because he was moved to tears for his brother, and he went to a private room to weep.
- Isaiah 49:15“Can a woman forget her nursing child, or lack compassion for the son of her womb? Even if she could forget, I will not forget you!
- Jeremiah 31:20Is not Ephraim a precious son to Me, a delightful child? Though I often speak against him, I still remember him. Therefore My heart yearns for him; I have great compassion for him,” declares the LORD.
- Hosea 11:8How could I give you up, O Ephraim? How could I surrender you, O Israel? How could I make you like Admah? How could I treat you like Zeboiim? My heart is turned within Me; My compassion is stirred!
- Philippians 1:8God is my witness how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.
- Philippians 2:1Therefore if you have any encouragement in Christ, if any comfort from His love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any affection and compassion,
- 1 John 3:17If anyone with earthly possessions sees his brother in need, but withholds his compassion from him, how can the love of God abide in him?
- Psalms 39:3My heart grew hot within me; as I mused, the fire burned. Then I spoke with my tongue:
- Romans 1:31They are senseless, faithless, heartless, merciless.
- 2 Timothy 3:3unloving, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, without love of good,
Commentaries on 1 Kings 3:26
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 16-28Verses 16-28 An instance of Solomon's wisdom is given. Notice the difficulty of the case. To find out the true mother, he could not try which the child loved best, and therefore tried which loved the child best: the mother's sincerity will be tried, when the child is in danger. Let parents show their love to their children, especially by taking care of their souls, and snatching them as brands out of the burning. By this and other instances of the wisdom…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 16-28Solomon's decision about the true mother of the living baby shows his wisdom in legal matters. First Kings 4–10 show his wisdom in all parts of his rule.Read the comment
Topics related to 1 Kings 3:26
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on 1 Kings 3
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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