3 He had seven hundred wives of royal birth and three hundred concubines, and his wives led him astray.

Other Translations of 1 Kings 11:3

King James Version

3 And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines: and his wives turned away his heart.

English Standard Version

3 He had 700 wives, princesses, and 300 concubines. And his wives turned away his heart.

The Message

3 He had seven hundred royal wives and three hundred concubines - a thousand women in all! And they did seduce him away from God.

New King James Version

3 And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines; and his wives turned away his heart.

New Living Translation

3 He had 700 wives of royal birth and 300 concubines. And in fact, they did turn his heart away from the Lord .

Matthew Henry's Commentary on 1 Kings 11:3

Commentary on 1 Kings 11:1-8

(Read 1 Kings 11:1-8)

There is not a more melancholy and astonishing instance of human depravity in the sacred Scriptures, than that here recorded. Solomon became a public worshipper of abominable idols! Probably he by degrees gave way to pride and luxury, and thus lost his relish for true wisdom. Nothing forms in itself a security against the deceitfulness and depravity of the human heart. Nor will old age cure the heart of any evil propensity. If our sinful passions are not crucified and mortified by the grace of God, they never will die of themselves, but will last even when opportunities to gratify them are taken away. Let him that thinks he stands, take heed lest he fall. We see how weak we are of ourselves, without the grace of God; let us therefore live in constant dependence on that grace. Let us watch and be sober: ours is a dangerous warfare, and in an enemy's country, while our worst foes are the traitors in our own hearts.