1 Kings 11:1 King Solomon, however, loved many foreign women along with the daughter of Pharaoh--women of Moab, Ammon, Edom, and Sidon, as well as Hittite women.

◄ 1 Kings 11:1 ►

New International Version
King Solomon, however, loved many foreign women besides Pharaoh’s daughter—Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians and Hittites.

New Living Translation
Now King Solomon loved many foreign women. Besides Pharaoh’s daughter, he married women from Moab, Ammon, Edom, Sidon, and from among the Hittites.

English Standard Version
Now King Solomon loved many foreign women, along with the daughter of Pharaoh: Moabite, Ammonite, Edomite, Sidonian, and Hittite women,

Berean Standard Bible
King Solomon, however, loved many foreign women along with the daughter of Pharaoh—women of Moab, Ammon, Edom, and Sidon, as well as Hittite women.

King James Bible
But king Solomon loved many strange women, together with the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittites;

New King James Version
But King Solomon loved many foreign women, as well as the daughter of Pharaoh: women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians, and Hittites—

New American Standard Bible
Now King Solomon loved many foreign women along with the daughter of Pharaoh: Moabite, Ammonite, Edomite, Sidonian, and Hittite women,

NASB 1995
Now King Solomon loved many foreign women along with the daughter of Pharaoh: Moabite, Ammonite, Edomite, Sidonian, and Hittite women,

NASB 1977
Now King Solomon loved many foreign women along with the daughter of Pharaoh: Moabite, Ammonite, Edomite, Sidonian, and Hittite women,

Legacy Standard Bible
Now King Solomon loved many foreign women along with the daughter of Pharaoh: Moabite, Ammonite, Edomite, Sidonian, and Hittite women,

Amplified Bible
Now king Solomon [defiantly] loved many foreign women along with the daughter of Pharaoh: Moabite, Ammonite, Edomite, Sidonian, and Hittite women,

Christian Standard Bible
King Solomon loved many foreign women in addition to Pharaoh’s daughter: Moabite, Ammonite, Edomite, Sidonian, and Hittite women

Holman Christian Standard Bible
King Solomon loved many foreign women in addition to Pharaoh’s daughter: Moabite, Ammonite, Edomite, Sidonian, and Hittite women

American Standard Version
Now king Solomon loved many foreign women, together with the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians, and Hittites;

English Revised Version
Now king Solomon loved many strange women, together with the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittites;

GOD'S WORD® Translation
King Solomon loved many foreign women in addition to Pharaoh's daughter. He loved Hittite women and women from Moab, Ammon, Edom, and Sidon.

Good News Translation
Solomon loved many foreign women. Besides the daughter of the king of Egypt he married Hittite women and women from Moab, Ammon, Edom, and Sidon.

International Standard Version
But King Solomon married many foreign women besides the daughter of Pharaoh: women from Moab, Ammon, Edom, and Sidonia, along with Hittite women, too,

Majority Standard Bible
King Solomon, however, loved many foreign women along with the daughter of Pharaoh—women of Moab, Ammon, Edom, and Sidon, as well as Hittite women.

NET Bible
King Solomon fell in love with many foreign women (besides Pharaoh's daughter), including Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians, and Hittites.

New Heart English Bible
Now king Solomon loved women, and he took many foreign women, together with the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians, and Hittites;

Webster's Bible Translation
But king Solomon loved many foreign women, together with the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittites;

World English Bible
Now King Solomon loved many foreign women, together with the daughter of Pharaoh: women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians, and Hittites,

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
And King Solomon has loved many strange women, and the daughter of Pharaoh, females of Moab, Ammon, Edom, Sidon, [and] of the Hittites,

Young's Literal Translation
And king Solomon hath loved many strange women, and the daughter of Pharaoh, females of Moab, Ammon, Edom, Zidon, and of the Hittites,

Smith's Literal Translation
And king Solomon loved many strange women, and the daughter of Pharaoh, Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, Hittites;

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
And king Solomon loved many strange women besides the daughter of Pharao, and women of Moab, and of Ammon, and of Edom, and of Sidon, and of the Hethites:

Catholic Public Domain Version
But king Solomon loved many foreign women, including the daughter of Pharaoh, and women of Moab, and of Ammon, and of Idumea, and of Sidon, and of the Hittites.

New American Bible
King Solomon loved many foreign women besides the daughter of Pharaoh—Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians, Hittites—

New Revised Standard Version
King Solomon loved many foreign women along with the daughter of Pharaoh: Moabite, Ammonite, Edomite, Sidonian, and Hittite women,

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
BUT King Solomon loved many foreign women, as well as the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Ammonites, Moabites, Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittites;

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And King Solomon loved many women foreigners, and the daughter of Pharaoh, and Ammonite women, and Moabite women, and Edomite women, and Tsidonian women and Khittite women

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
Now king Solomon loved many foreign women, besides the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittites;

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And king Solomon was a lover of women. And he took strange women, as well as the daughter of Pharao, Moabitish, Ammanitish women, Syrians and Idumeans, Chettites, and Amorites;

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

Solomon's Foreign Wives
1King Solomon, however, loved many foreign women along with the daughter of Pharaoh— women of Moab, Ammon, Edom, and Sidon, as well as Hittite women. 2These women were from the nations about which the LORD had told the Israelites, “You must not intermarry with them, for surely they will turn your hearts after their gods.” Yet Solomon clung to these women in love.…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

Deuteronomy 17:17
He must not take many wives for himself, lest his heart go astray. He must not accumulate for himself large amounts of silver and gold.

Nehemiah 13:26
Did not King Solomon of Israel sin in matters like this? There was not a king like him among many nations, and he was loved by his God, who made him king over all Israel—yet foreign women drew him into sin.

Exodus 34:16
And when you take some of their daughters as brides for your sons, their daughters will prostitute themselves to their gods and cause your sons to do the same.

Deuteronomy 7:3-4
Do not intermarry with them. Do not give your daughters to their sons or take their daughters for your sons, / because they will turn your sons away from following Me to serve other gods. Then the anger of the LORD will burn against you, and He will swiftly destroy you.

2 Samuel 5:13
After he had arrived from Hebron, David took more concubines and wives from Jerusalem, and more sons and daughters were born to him.

1 Kings 3:1
Later, Solomon formed an alliance with Pharaoh king of Egypt by marrying his daughter. Solomon brought her to the City of David until he had finished building his palace and the house of the LORD, as well as the wall around Jerusalem.

1 Kings 9:24
As soon as Pharaoh’s daughter had come up from the City of David to the palace that Solomon had built for her, he built the supporting terraces.

2 Chronicles 8:11
Solomon brought the daughter of Pharaoh up from the City of David to the palace he had built for her. For he said, “My wife must not live in the house of David king of Israel, because the places the ark of the LORD has entered are holy.”

Judges 3:5-6
Thus the Israelites continued to live among the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites. / And they took the daughters of these people in marriage, gave their own daughters to their sons, and served their gods.

Malachi 2:11
Judah has broken faith; an abomination has been committed in Israel and in Jerusalem. For Judah has profaned the LORD’s beloved sanctuary by marrying the daughter of a foreign god.

Matthew 6:24
No one can serve two masters: Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.

2 Corinthians 6:14-15
Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership can righteousness have with wickedness? Or what fellowship does light have with darkness? / What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever?

James 4:4
You adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore, whoever chooses to be a friend of the world renders himself an enemy of God.

1 Corinthians 7:39
A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, as long as he belongs to the Lord.

1 Corinthians 10:21
You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too; you cannot partake in the table of the Lord and the table of demons too.

Treasury of Scripture

But king Solomon loved many strange women, together with the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittites:

1 Kings 11:8
And likewise did he for all his strange wives, which burnt incense and sacrificed unto their gods.

Genesis 6:2-5
That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose…

Deuteronomy 17:17
Neither shall he multiply wives to himself, that his heart turn not away: neither shall he greatly multiply to himself silver and gold.

together with.

1 Kings 3:1
And Solomon made affinity with Pharaoh king of Egypt, and took Pharaoh's daughter, and brought her into the city of David, until he had made an end of building his own house, and the house of the LORD, and the wall of Jerusalem round about.

Leviticus 18:18
Neither shalt thou take a wife to her sister, to vex her, to uncover her nakedness, beside the other in her life time.

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Ammon Ammonite Ammonites Besides Daughter Edom Edomite E'domite Edomites Females Foreign Hittite Hittites However Loved Moab Moabite Moabites Pharaoh Pharaoh's Sidonian Sidonians Solomon Strange Together Women Zidon Zidonians

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1 Kings 11

1. Solomon's wives and concubines
4. In his old age they draw him to idolatry
9. God threatens him,
14. Solomon's adversaries were Hadad, who was entertained in Egypt
23. Rezon, who reigned in Damascus
26. And Jeroboam, to whom Ahijah prophesied
41. Solomon's acts, reign, and death. Rehoboam succeeds him

Berean Study Bible

King Solomon
The name Solomon is derived from the Hebrew word "Shlomo," which is related to "shalom," meaning peace. Solomon, the son of King David and Bathsheba, is renowned for his wisdom, wealth, and building projects, including the First Temple in Jerusalem. His reign is often seen as a golden age for Israel, marked by prosperity and peace. However, this verse marks the beginning of a narrative shift, highlighting Solomon's human frailty and the consequences of his actions.

however
This conjunction introduces a contrast to the preceding chapters that describe Solomon's wisdom and achievements. It signals a turning point in the narrative, where Solomon's personal choices begin to diverge from God's commandments. This serves as a reminder of the importance of obedience to God, regardless of one's accomplishments or status.

loved
The Hebrew word used here is "ahav," which can denote a range of affections, from familial love to romantic desire. In this context, it suggests a deep emotional attachment that goes beyond political alliances. Solomon's love for these women indicates a personal choice that ultimately leads him away from exclusive devotion to God.

many foreign women
The term "foreign" highlights the cultural and religious differences between these women and the Israelites. Marrying foreign women was explicitly prohibited in Deuteronomy 7:3-4, as it could lead to idolatry. Solomon's actions reflect a compromise of his spiritual integrity, prioritizing personal desires over divine commandments.

along with the daughter of Pharaoh
This phrase underscores the political alliances Solomon formed through marriage. The daughter of Pharaoh represents a significant political alliance with Egypt, a powerful neighboring nation. While such alliances were common in ancient Near Eastern politics, they often came with spiritual and cultural compromises.

women of Moab, Ammon, Edom, and Sidon
These nations were historical adversaries of Israel, each with its own pantheon of gods and religious practices. The inclusion of women from these nations in Solomon's harem suggests a blending of cultures and religions, which posed a threat to the purity of Israel's worship of Yahweh. This reflects the broader biblical theme of the dangers of syncretism.

as well as Hittite women
The Hittites were an ancient Anatolian people known for their advanced civilization and military prowess. Marrying Hittite women further illustrates Solomon's extensive network of political alliances. However, it also highlights his disregard for God's command to remain separate from the surrounding nations to preserve Israel's covenant identity.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(1-8) The defection of Solomon is distinctly traced to his polygamy, contracting numerous marriages with "strange women." Polygamy is also attributed to David (see 2Samuel 3:2-5; 2Samuel 15:16), marking perhaps the characteristic temperament of voluptuousness, which seduced him into his great sin; but it was carried out by Solomon on a scale corresponding to the magnificence of his kingdom, and probably had in his case the political object of alliance with neighbouring or tributary kings. We find it inherited by Rehoboam (2Chronicles 11:18-21), and it probably became in different degrees the practice of succeeding kings. Hitherto, while polygamy, as everywhere in the East, had to some degree existed in Israel from patriarchal times, yet it must have been checked by the marriage regulations of the Law. Nor had there yet been the royal magnificence and wealth, under which alone it attains to full development. We have some traces of it in the households of some of the Judges: Gideon (Judges 8:30), Jair (Judges 10:4), Ibzan and Abdon (Judges 12:9; Judges 12:14). Now, however, it became, in spite of the prohibition of the Law (Deuteronomy 17:17), a recognised element of royal self-indulgence--such as is described in Ecclesiastes 2:7-8, and is perhaps traceable even through the beauty of the Song of Solomon. In itself, even without any incidental consequences, it must necessarily be a demoralising power, as sinning against the primeval ordinance of God, and robbing natural relations of their true purity and sacredness. But in actual fact it sinned still more by involving forbidden marriages with idolatrous races, with the often-predicted effect of declension into idolatry. . . .

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 1. - But [Heb. And. This chapter is a direct continuation of the preceding. LXX. κὰι ὁ βασιλεὺς κ.τ.λ. The polygamy was but a part of his worldliness, like the chariots, gold, etc.] king Solomon loved [The LXX. η΅ν φιλογόνης. is misleading. It is perfectly clear that it cannot have been mere sensuality led to this enormous harem. This is evident from

(1) his time of life. It was "when he was old" - i.e., when passions are not at their strongest - that his wives turned away his heart.

(2) The number - if the numbers are to be trusted - of his wives. A thousand concubines cannot be kept for mere purposes of passion.

(3) The large number of princesses, which shows that the object of this array of mistresses was to enhance his state and renown. As he exceeded other kings in glory, wisdom, and power, so must he excel them not only in armies, chariots, and horses, but also in the number of his wives. It is clear, therefore, that the "lust of the eye" and "the pride of life" had their part in this huge establishment. "The same consideration of state which leads a Western prince or noble to multiply horses, leads an Eastern prince to multiply wives, with often as little personal consideration in the one ease as in the other" (Kitto) ] many [He is blamed for their number. This was against Deuteronomy 17:17] strange [not merely foreign, though that is the primary meaning of the word, but strange as opposed to a lawful wife. Cf. Proverbs 5:20; Proverbs 6:24; Proverbs 7:5, etc. No doubt the harlots in Israel were principally aliens] women, together with [הפּ מאךלךט רךתךארפ ,׃ך׃ך וְאֵת־בַּתאּכּי. (Maurer). Pharaoh's daughter is regarded as his lawful wife] the daughter of Pharaoh [see note on 1 Kings 3:1], women of the Moabites, Ammonites [Heb. Moabitesses, etc. Perhaps these two nations are mentioned first because such alliances as these, though not forbidden in terms by the law, would nevertheless, from its spirit and bearing towards these races, be looked upon with especial disfavour. If the Ammonite or Moabite was not to be received into the congregation until the tenth generation (Deuteronomy 23:3); if the Israelite was not to seek their peace or prosperity all the days of his life (ver. 6), then the idea of intermarriage with them must have been altogether repugnant to the Hebrew polity, as indeed we may gather from the book of Ruth], Edomites [Favourably distinguished (Deuteronomy 23:7) from the two preceding races. The Edomite was a "brother." His children of the third generation might enter into the congregation], Zidonians [Rawlinson thinks this word lends "some countenance to the tradition recorded by Menander (ap. Clem. Alex. 'Strom.' 1. p. 386), that Solomon married a daughter of Hiram, king of Tyre." But such tradition was sure to arise; the uxorious character of Solomon and his close relations with Hiram are quite sufficient to account for its growth. And a daughter of Hiram would hardly have been passed over without special mention], and Hittites [see on 1 Kings 10:29].

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

King
וְהַמֶּ֣לֶךְ (wə·ham·me·leḵ)
Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4428: A king

Solomon, however,
שְׁלֹמֹ֗ה (šə·lō·mōh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 8010: Solomon -- David's son and successor to his throne

loved
אָהַ֞ב (’ā·haḇ)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 157: To have affection f

many
רַבּ֖וֹת (rab·bō·wṯ)
Adjective - feminine plural
Strong's 7227: Much, many, great

foreign
נָכְרִיּ֛וֹת (nā·ḵə·rî·yō·wṯ)
Adjective - feminine plural
Strong's 5237: Foreign, alien

women
נָשִׁ֧ים (nā·šîm)
Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 802: Woman, wife, female

along with the daughter
בַּת־ (baṯ-)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 1323: A daughter

of Pharaoh—
פַּרְעֹ֑ה (par·‘ōh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 6547: Pharaoh -- a title of Egypt kings

women of Moab,
מוֹאֲבִיּ֤וֹת (mō·w·’ă·ḇî·yō·wṯ)
Noun - proper - feminine plural
Strong's 4125: Moabite -- descendant of Moab

Ammon,
עַמֳּנִיּוֹת֙ (‘am·mo·nî·yō·wṯ)
Noun - proper - feminine plural
Strong's 5984: Ammonite -- descendants of Ammon

Edom,
אֲדֹ֣מִיֹּ֔ת (’ă·ḏō·mî·yōṯ)
Noun - proper - feminine plural
Strong's 130: Edomite -- a descendant of Edom

and Sidon,
צֵדְנִיֹּ֖ת (ṣê·ḏə·nî·yōṯ)
Noun - proper - feminine plural
Strong's 6722: Sidonians -- an inhabitant of Sidon

as well as Hittite women.
חִתִּיֹּֽת׃ (ḥit·tî·yōṯ)
Noun - proper - feminine plural
Strong's 2850: Hittite -- a Chittite

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OT History: 1 Kings 11:1 Now king Solomon loved many foreign women (1Ki iKi i Ki 1 Kg 1kg)