1 Kings 11:3 net — He had 700 royal wives and 300 concubines; his wives had a powerful influence over him.

NET Bible

"He had 700 royal wives and 300 concubines; his wives had a powerful influence over him."

— 1 Kings 11:3, NET Bible

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1 Kings 11:3 in Other Translations

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1 Kings 11 — Context

1

The Lord Punishes Solomon for Idolatry King Solomon fell in love with many foreign women(besides Pharaoh’s daughter), including Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians, and Hittites.

2

They came from nations about which the LORD had warned the Israelites,“You must not establish friendly relations with them! If you do, they will surely shift your allegiance to their gods.” But Solomon was irresistibly attracted to them.

3

He had 700 royal wives and 300 concubines; his wives had a powerful influence over him.

4

When Solomon became old, his wives shifted his allegiance to other gods; he was not wholeheartedly devoted to the LORD his God, as his father David had been.

5

Solomon worshiped the Sidonian goddess Astarte and the detestable Ammonite god Milcom.

6

Solomon did evil in the LORD’s sight; he did not remain loyal to the LORD, like his father David had.

1 Kings 11:3 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does 1 Kings 11:3 say?
1 Kings 11:3 in the NET Bible reads: “He had 700 royal wives and 300 concubines; his wives had a powerful influence over him.”
Where is 1 Kings 11:3 in the Bible?
1 Kings 11:3 is found in the Old Testament, in the book of 1 Kings, chapter 11, verse 3.
Who wrote 1 Kings?
1 Kings is traditionally attributed to Anonymous (traditionally Jeremiah). It was written c. 561–538 BC.
What is the book of 1 Kings about?
1 Kings tells of Solomon's wisdom and the building of the temple, then the painful division of the kingdom after his death. The northern kingdom plunges into idolatry under a series of wicked kings until the prophet Elijah is raised up to call Israel back to the LORD.
What are the major themes of 1 Kings?
1 Kings explores themes including Wisdom, Temple, Divided Kingdom, Idolatry, Prophecy. These themes shape the meaning and context of 1 Kings 11:3.
What translation should I read 1 Kings 11:3 in?
1 Kings 11:3 is available on GodsGoodBook in the King James Version (KJV), American Standard Version (ASV), World English Bible (WEB), NET Bible, Young's Literal Translation, Darby Bible, Douay-Rheims Bible, and the Bible in Basic English. Each translation reflects different translation philosophies — use the translation picker on this page to compare them, or browse our full translations directory.
How can I memorize 1 Kings 11:3?
1 Kings 11:3 reads (NET): “He had 700 royal wives and 300 concubines; his wives had a powerful influence over him.” Read it aloud, break it into short phrases, repeat each phrase three times before adding the next, then put the phrases together. Reading it in multiple translations (above) often helps the meaning settle.
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