1 Kings 3:20 Meaning and Explanation
“And she arose at midnight, and took my son from beside me, while thine handmaid slept, and laid it in her bosom, and laid her dead child in my bosom.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The first woman charges that the other rose at midnight and secretly exchanged the dead child for her living son.
What Does 1 Kings 3:20 Mean?
The accusation reaches its heart. At midnight, the first woman says, the other rose while she slept and switched the children — taking the living son and leaving the dead child in her arms. It is a charge of theft committed under cover of darkness and sleep, a deception aimed at the most tender of bonds. The whole dispute now stands fully revealed.
Grief untethered from God can drive the heart to desperate wrong. The story does not excuse the deed, but it shows how loss can twist into deception. Yet no theft done in the dark escapes the light of God. The Lord brings to light the hidden things of darkness (1 Corinthians 4:5), and the king's coming wisdom will expose what midnight concealed. Truth, hidden for a night, will not stay hidden.
Frequently Asked Questions About 1 Kings 3:20
What does 1 Kings 3:20 mean?
The first woman charges that the other rose at midnight and secretly exchanged the dead child for her living son.