1 Kings 11:3

And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines: and his wives turned away his heart.

1 Kings 11:3 (KJV)

Context

This verse appears in the account of King Solomon, who followed his father David as ruler of Israel. Solomon was famous for wisdom and wealth, yet his later choices brought ruin. The verse names seven hundred wives, called princesses, and three hundred concubines, one thousand women in all. Such a vast household directly broke God’s command for Israel’s king in Deuteronomy 17:17, which said he must not multiply wives for himself. That command also warned that many wives would turn the king’s heart away from the Lord.

Meaning

The Hebrew wording shows that Solomon’s wives “turned away” or “inclined” his heart. This was not a small drift but a deliberate, powerful influence. The next verse, 1 Kings 11:4, explains that his heart was no longer fully loyal to the Lord, unlike the heart of his father David. His many foreign wives, who worshipped other gods, pulled him from wholehearted devotion to Yahweh. The text immediately identifies the devastating consequence: his wives turned aside his heart.

Biblical connections

Solomon’s disobedience matched the warning in Deuteronomy 17:17, which also said that many wives would turn the king’s heart away. His marriages to women from nations that did not worship God led him to build high places for foreign gods and to join their worship. This broke the covenant God had made with Israel. Because of his actions, God became angry and raised adversaries against him, and eventually the kingdom was torn from his descendants and divided. The narrative shows that Solomon’s heart, once wholly devoted to God, was led astray by his many foreign wives, ultimately leading to his spiritual downfall.

Application

This verse warns against compromising faith through worldly influences. Even the wisest person can be led into serious error when he disobeys clear commands. Believers today should guard their hearts and avoid relationships or practices that pull them from God. Obedience to God’s Word protects spiritual devotion, while ignoring it opens the door to gradual decline. This is a sobering reminder that compromise and disobedience can lead even the most gifted person into profound error.

Reflection

Solomon’s downfall shows that wisdom and wealth do not guarantee faithfulness. His heart, once devoted, was turned aside by the very people he chose to marry. This reminds readers to examine their own hearts and to seek God’s wisdom and guidance in every decision. Staying steadfast in devotion to God is the only safe path, for even small compromises can lead to great loss.