1 Kings 11:3He had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines; and his wives turned away his heart.
The setting
Jerusalem, Israel, ~930 BC. The royal palace complex housed Solomon's vast harem in separate quarters...
The emotion here: heartbroken at recording the downfall of Israel's greatest king
The original word
nasah (נָשָׂה) — to turn away, seduce, lead astray by persistent influence
Why it matters
700 wives was unprecedented even for ancient kings - most had 20-50
Read with care
What most readers miss in 1 Kings 11:3
These weren't love marriages - they were political alliances that required religious compromise
Common misconceptionPeople think this is about sexual excess, but it was about political alliances that required worshipping foreign gods. Each wife brought her gods into Israel.
The thread continues
Verses that echo 1 Kings 11:3
Bible Genome reading
1 Kings 11:3 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
1 Kings 11:3 comes from the book of 1 Kings, written during the United Kingdom period. These words are attributed to Narrator. The dominant emotion in this verse is grieving, with a comfort power of 20% and a tone that is lamenting. It belongs to the narrative genre of biblical literature. Key themes include excess, spiritual decline. Notable phrases: seven hundred wives; three hundred concubines; wives turned away his heart.
Emotionally similar
Verses that meet the same grieving
“By the sweat of your face will you eat bread until you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken. For you are dust, and to dust you…”
— Genesis 3:19
“Jesus wept.”
— John 11:35
“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from helping me, and from the words of my groaning?”
— Psalms 22:1
“They divide my garments among them. They cast lots for my clothing.”
— Psalms 22:18
“for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God;”
— Romans 3:23
Your reflection
What does 1 Kings 11:3 mean to you, today?
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