1 Kings 3:27
New International Version
Then the king gave his ruling: “Give the living baby to the first woman. Do not kill him; she is his mother.”

New Living Translation
Then the king said, “Do not kill the child, but give him to the woman who wants him to live, for she is his mother!”

English Standard Version
Then the king answered and said, “Give the living child to the first woman, and by no means put him to death; she is his mother.”

Berean Standard Bible
Then the king gave his ruling: “Give the living baby to the first woman. By no means should you kill him; she is his mother.”

King James Bible
Then the king answered and said, Give her the living child, and in no wise slay it: she is the mother thereof.

New King James Version
So the king answered and said, “Give the first woman the living child, and by no means kill him; she is his mother.”

New American Standard Bible
Then the king replied, “Give the first woman the living child, and by no means kill him. She is his mother.”

NASB 1995
Then the king said, “Give the first woman the living child, and by no means kill him. She is his mother.”

NASB 1977
Then the king answered and said, “Give the first woman the living child, and by no means kill him. She is his mother.”

Legacy Standard Bible
Then the king said, “Give the first woman the living child, and by no means put him to death. She is his mother.”

Amplified Bible
Then the king said, “Give the first woman [who is pleading for his life] the living child, and by no means kill him. She is his mother.”

Christian Standard Bible
The king responded, “Give the living baby to the first woman, and don’t kill him. She is his mother.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The king responded, “Give the living baby to the first woman, and don’t kill him. She is his mother.”

American Standard Version
Then the king answered and said, Give her the living child, and in no wise slay it: she is the mother thereof.

Contemporary English Version
Solomon said, "Don't kill the baby." Then he pointed to the first woman, "She is his real mother. Give the baby to her."

English Revised Version
Then the king answered and said, Give her the living child, and in no wise slay it: she is the mother thereof.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The king replied, "Give the living child to the first woman. Don't kill him. She is his mother."

Good News Translation
Then Solomon said, "Don't kill the child! Give it to the first woman--she is its real mother."

International Standard Version
The king announced his decision: "Give the living child to the first woman. Don't kill him. She is his mother."

Majority Standard Bible
Then the king gave his ruling: ?Give the living baby to the first woman. By no means should you kill him; she is his mother.?

NET Bible
The king responded, "Give the first woman the living child; don't kill him. She is the mother."

New Heart English Bible
Then the king answered, "Give her the living child, and in no way kill it. She is its mother."

Webster's Bible Translation
Then the king answered and said, Give her the living child, and in no wise slay it: she is the mother of it.

World English Bible
Then the king answered, “Give the first woman the living child, and definitely do not kill him. She is his mother.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And the king answers and says, “Give the living child to her [who wants him], and do not put him to death at all; she [is] his mother.”

Young's Literal Translation
And the king answereth and saith, 'Give ye to her the living child, and put it not at all to death; she is its mother.'

Smith's Literal Translation
And the king will answer and say, Ye shall give to her the living child, and slaying, ye shall not slay it: she is his mother.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
The king answered, and said: Give the living child to this woman, and let it not be killed, for she is the mother thereof.

Catholic Public Domain Version
The king responded and said: “Give the living infant to this woman, and do not kill it. For she is his mother.”

New American Bible
The king then answered, “Give her the living baby! Do not kill it! She is the mother.”

New Revised Standard Version
Then the king responded: “Give the first woman the living boy; do not kill him. She is his mother.”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Then the king answered and said, Give the child alive to the first woman and in no wise slay it; she is the mother thereof.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
The King answered and said: “Give her the living boy, and you shall not kill him! She is his mother.”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Then the king answered and said: 'Give her the living child, and in no wise slay it: she is the mother thereof.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Then the king answered and said, Give the child to her that said, ?Give it to her, and by no means slay it:' she is its mother.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Solomon Judges Wisely
26Then the woman whose son was alive spoke to the king because she yearned with compassion for her son. “Please, my lord,” she said, “give her the living baby. Do not kill him!” But the other woman said, “He will be neither mine nor yours. Cut him in two!” 27Then the king gave his ruling: “Give the living baby to the first woman. By no means should you kill him; she is his mother.” 28When all Israel heard of the judgment the king had given, they stood in awe of him, for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him to administer justice.…

Cross References
1 Kings 3:9
Therefore give Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people and to discern between good and evil. For who is able to govern this great people of Yours?”

Proverbs 2:6-9
For the LORD gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding. / He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk with integrity, / to guard the paths of justice and protect the way of His saints. ...

James 1:5
Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.

Hebrews 4:12
For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it pierces even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It judges the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; / in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.

Isaiah 11:2-4
The Spirit of the LORD will rest on Him—the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and strength, the Spirit of knowledge and fear of the LORD. / And He will delight in the fear of the LORD. He will not judge by what His eyes see, and He will not decide by what His ears hear, / but with righteousness He will judge the poor, and with equity He will decide for the lowly of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of His mouth and slay the wicked with the breath of His lips.

Matthew 12:42
The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and now One greater than Solomon is here.

Luke 2:52
And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.

1 Corinthians 1:24
but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.

Colossians 2:3
in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

Psalm 72:1-2
Of Solomon. Endow the king with Your justice, O God, and the son of the king with Your righteousness. / May he judge Your people with righteousness and Your afflicted with justice.

Proverbs 8:14-16
Counsel and sound judgment are mine; I have insight and strength. / By me kings reign, and rulers enact just laws; / By me princes rule, and all nobles who govern justly.

Ecclesiastes 10:2
A wise man’s heart inclines to the right, but the heart of a fool to the left.

Isaiah 28:29
This also comes from the LORD of Hosts, who is wonderful in counsel and excellent in wisdom.

John 7:24
Stop judging by outward appearances, and start judging justly.”


Treasury of Scripture

Then the king answered and said, Give her the living child, and in no wise slay it: she is the mother thereof.

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1 Kings 3
1. Solomon marries Pharaoh's daughter
2. High places being in use, Solomon sacrifices at Gibeon
5. Solomon at Gibeon, in the choice which God gave him,
10. preferring wisdom, obtains wisdom, riches, and honor
16. Solomon's judgment makes him renowned














Then the king gave his ruling
This phrase introduces the decisive moment of King Solomon's judgment. The Hebrew word for "ruling" is "מִשְׁפָּט" (mishpat), which signifies a legal decision or judgment. Solomon's wisdom, granted by God, is on full display here, as he discerns the true mother through a test of compassion. Historically, this account underscores the role of the king as a judge in Israel, a position that required divine wisdom to administer justice.

Give the living baby to the first woman
The phrase "living baby" emphasizes the value of life in the biblical narrative. The Hebrew word for "living" is "חַי" (chai), which not only refers to physical life but also to vibrancy and vitality. Solomon's command to give the child to the first woman reveals his understanding of true motherhood, which is characterized by selfless love and the desire to preserve life. This decision reflects the biblical principle that true love seeks the well-being of others, even at personal cost.

Do not kill him
This command highlights the sanctity of life, a core tenet in the biblical worldview. The Hebrew verb "הָרַג" (harag) means to kill or destroy, and Solomon's explicit instruction to spare the child underscores the value placed on human life. In the broader scriptural context, this aligns with the commandment "You shall not murder" (Exodus 20:13), reinforcing the belief that life is a sacred gift from God.

She is his mother
The identification of the true mother is the climax of Solomon's judgment. The Hebrew word for "mother" is "אֵם" (em), which conveys not only biological motherhood but also the nurturing and protective role a mother plays. Solomon's wisdom in discerning the true mother reflects the biblical theme of truth prevailing over deception. This moment also serves as a testament to the divine wisdom granted to Solomon, fulfilling God's promise to give him a wise and discerning heart (1 Kings 3:12).

Verse 27. - Then the king answered and said [He simply echoes the exact words of the mother. This is clear from the fact that the word יָלוּד - natus, "the one born," here and in ver. 26 rendered "child," is a very unusual one], Give her the living child, and in no wise slay it [The LXX., which reads "Give the child to her who said, Give it to her," etc., obscures the evidently designed repetition] she is the mother thereof [Heb. she, his mother].

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Then the king
הַמֶּ֜לֶךְ (ham·me·leḵ)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4428: A king

gave his ruling:
וַיֹּ֗אמֶר (way·yō·mer)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

“Give
תְּנוּ־ (tə·nū-)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural
Strong's 5414: To give, put, set

the living
הַחַ֔י (ha·ḥay)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2416: Alive, raw, fresh, strong, life

baby
הַיָּל֣וּד (hay·yā·lūḏ)
Article | Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - masculine singular
Strong's 3205: To bear young, to beget, medically, to act as midwife, to show lineage

to the first woman.
לָהּ֙ (lāh)
Preposition | third person feminine singular
Strong's Hebrew

By no means
לֹ֣א (lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

should you kill him;
תְמִיתֻ֑הוּ (ṯə·mî·ṯu·hū)
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - second person masculine plural | third person masculine singular
Strong's 4191: To die, to kill

she
הִ֖יא (hî)
Pronoun - third person feminine singular
Strong's 1931: He, self, the same, this, that, as, are

is his mother.”
אִמּֽוֹ׃ (’im·mōw)
Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 517: A mother, )


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OT History: 1 Kings 3:27 Then the king answered Give her (1Ki iKi i Ki 1 Kg 1kg)
1 Kings 3:26
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