Bible Strands
1 Kings 11:2
These 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
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Study note
Setting — The narrator describes Solomon’s marriage alliances during his reign, contrasting his actions with a prior divine prohibition given to Israel. The passage occurs immediately after listing his foreign wives and just before recording how they turned his heart away.
The words — The Hebrew אָֽמַר (’āmar, “he said”) and הַ/גּוֹיִ֗ם (ha/gōyim, “the nations”) anchor the verse’s reference to a past divine command directed at the people of Israel. These terms emphasize that the restriction originated with Yahweh and specifically targeted surrounding ethnic groups.
The thread — The intermarriage prohibition appears in Deuteronomy 7:3 and Exodus 34:16, while Joshua 23:12 warns that clinging to these remaining nations will lead to compromise. The same warning framework resurfaces in 1 Kings 11:2 as Solomon’s actions directly violate the established boundary.
Why it lands — The text records Solomon’s choice to ignore a clear divine restriction and notes the resulting spiritual diversion. It requires the reader to recognize that covenant faithfulness demands deliberate separation from influences that explicitly contradict established commands.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
Of the nations concerning which the Lord said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall not go in to them, neither shall they come in unto you: for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods: Solomon clave unto these in love.
Cross-references
- 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 Do not intermarry with them. Do not give your daughters to their sons or take their daughters for your sons,
- Joshua 23:12 For if you turn away and cling to the rest of these nations that remain among you, and if you intermarry and associate with them,
- Exodus 23:32 You shall make no covenant with them or with their gods.
- Numbers 25:1 While Israel was staying in Shittim, the men began to indulge in sexual immorality with the daughters of Moab,
- 1 Corinthians 15:33 Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good character.”
- 2 Corinthians 6:14 Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership can righteousness have with wickedness? Or what fellowship does light have with darkness?
- Romans 12:9 Love must be sincere. Detest what is evil; cling to what is good.
- 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.
- Romans 1:32 Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things are worthy of death, they not only continue to do these things, but also approve of those who practice them.