1 Kings 11:2 Meaning and Explanation
“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.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →These were nations God had told Israel not to intermarry with, lest their hearts be drawn to other gods; yet Solomon clung to them in love.
What Does 1 Kings 11:2 Mean?
The narrator recalls the Lord's earlier warning to Israel: do not bind yourselves to these peoples, for they will turn your heart after their gods. The danger was never merely social but spiritual. Against this plain command Solomon does not merely tolerate these wives; he cleaves to them in love, the same strong word used for a man holding fast to his wife.
Affection is one of the strongest currents in the human heart, and it can carry a soul toward God or away from Him. The warning was given precisely because love shapes worship; what we hold to with our whole heart begins to hold us. Solomon knew the command yet chose his desire over it. The verse quietly teaches that obedience must sometimes stand against even our dearest attachments when they would pull us from the Lord.
1 Kings 11:2 in the Original Language
dabaq (דָּבַק), 'clave' -- to cling or hold fast, the same word for a husband joined to his wife in Genesis 2:24.
Frequently Asked Questions About 1 Kings 11:2
What does 1 Kings 11:2 mean?
These were nations God had told Israel not to intermarry with, lest their hearts be drawn to other gods; yet Solomon clung to them in love.