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KING JAMES BIBLE · PCE

1 Kings 3:16–25

TEXT EDITION
Pure Cambridge Edition selected
¶ Then came there two women, that were harlots, unto the king, and stood before him.
And the one woman said, O my lord, I and this woman dwell in one house; and I was delivered of a child with her in the house.
And it came to pass the third day after that I was delivered, that this woman was delivered also: and we were together; there was no stranger with us in the house, save we two in the house.
And this woman’s child died in the night; because she overlaid it.
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.
And when I rose in the morning to give my child suck, behold, it was dead: but when I had considered it in the morning, behold, it was not my son, which I did bear.
And the other woman said, Nay; but the living is my son, and the dead is thy son. And this said, No; but the dead is thy son, and the living is my son. Thus they spake before the king.
Then said the king, The one saith, This is my son that liveth, and thy son is the dead: and the other saith, Nay; but thy son is the dead, and my son is the living.
And the king said, Bring me a sword. And they brought a sword before the king.
And the king said, Divide the living child in two, and give half to the one, and half to the other.
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PASSAGE SELECTION

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Choose up to 10 verses in this chapter. The study tools update with the selected passage.

SCRIPTURE WITH SCRIPTURE

Cross References

16 Essential passages are open for comparison.

Reference depth

From verse 16

  1. Exodus 18:16Rank 1 from verse 16
    Open

    16When they have a matter, they come unto me; and I judge between one and another, and I do make them know the statutes of God, and his laws.

  2. Judges 11:1Rank 2 from verse 16
    Open

    1NOW Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty man of valour, and he was the son of an harlot: and Gilead begat Jephthah.

  3. Deuteronomy 23:17Rank 3 from verse 16
    Open

    17¶ There shall be no whore of the daughters of Israel, nor a sodomite of the sons of Israel.

  4. Joshua 2:1Rank 4 from verse 16
    Open

    1AND Joshua the son of Nun sent out of Shittim two men to spy secretly, saying, Go view the land, even Jericho. And they went, and came into an harlot’s house, named Rahab, and lodged there.

  5. Leviticus 19:29Rank 5 from verse 16
    Open

    29¶ Do not prostitute thy daughter, to cause her to be a whore; lest the land fall to whoredom, and the land become full of wickedness.

From verse 17

  1. Genesis 43:20Rank 1 from verse 17
    Open

    20And said, O sir, we came indeed down at the first time to buy food:

  2. Romans 13:7Rank 2 from verse 17
    Open

    7Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.

From verse 20

  1. John 3:20Rank 1 from verse 20
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    20For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.

  2. Matthew 13:25Rank 2 from verse 20
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    25But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.

  3. Job 24:13–17Rank 3 from verse 20
    Open

    13They are of those that rebel against the light; they know not the ways thereof, nor abide in the paths thereof.

    14The murderer rising with the light killeth the poor and needy, and in the night is as a thief.

    15The eye also of the adulterer waiteth for the twilight, saying, No eye shall see me: and disguiseth his face.

    16In the dark they dig through houses, which they had marked for themselves in the daytime: they know not the light.

    17For the morning is to them even as the shadow of death: if one know them, they are in the terrors of the shadow of death.

  4. Psalms 139:11Rank 4 from verse 20
    Open

    11If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me.

From verse 21

  1. 1 Samuel 1:23Rank 1 from verse 21
    Open

    23And Elkanah her husband said unto her, Do what seemeth thee good; tarry until thou have weaned him; only the Lord establish his word. So the woman abode, and gave her son suck until she weaned him.

  2. Genesis 21:7Rank 2 from verse 21
    Open

    7And she said, Who would have said unto Abraham, that Sarah should have given children suck? for I have born him a son in his old age.

  3. Lamentations 4:3–4Rank 3 from verse 21
    Open

    3Even the sea monsters draw out the breast, they give suck to their young ones: the daughter of my people is become cruel, like the ostriches in the wilderness.

    4The tongue of the sucking child cleaveth to the roof of his mouth for thirst: the young children ask bread, and no man breaketh it unto them.

From verse 22

  1. 1 Kings 3:23–24Rank 1 from verse 22
    Open

    23Then said the king, The one saith, This is my son that liveth, and thy son is the dead: and the other saith, Nay; but thy son is the dead, and my son is the living.

    24And the king said, Bring me a sword. And they brought a sword before the king.

From verse 25

  1. Proverbs 25:8Rank 1 from verse 25
    Open

    8Go not forth hastily to strive, lest thou know not what to do in the end thereof, when thy neighbour hath put thee to shame.

WORDS IN THIS PASSAGE

Definitions

Open a word for its full definition and concordance.

DEFINED WORDS

1 Kings 3:16

COMBINED MEANING

king

↗

A sovereign ruler; one exercising royal authority over a kingdom.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

before

↗

Earlier than in time; in front of; in the presence of; or prior in order or rank.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

DEFINED WORDS

1 Kings 3:17

COMBINED MEANING

in

↗

1. A preposition marking position, presence, state, circumstance, manner, means, sphere, reference, relation, association, or participation. 2. As an adverb, inward, inside, or into the place or position referred to.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

house

↗

Sense 1: A building or dwelling. Sense 2: The people of a household or family. Sense 3: A lineage or family line. Sense 4: As a verb, to shelter, lodge, or provide a dwelling for.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

delivered

↗

Past-tense, participial, or adjectival form of deliver. Sense 1: To rescue, save, free, or bring safely out of danger or bondage. Sense 2: To hand over, give up, or place into another's power or possession. Sense 3: To bring forth, convey, declare, or commit something to another. Sense 4: To give birth or be delivered of a child.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

child

↗

1. A son or daughter; an offspring or descendant. 2. A young person or infant, considered by age or development. 3. In 'with child,' pregnant or carrying an unborn child. 4. One described as belonging to, derived from, characterized by, or dependent upon another person, group, or condition.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

DEFINED WORDS

1 Kings 3:18

COMBINED MEANING

pass

↗

To go by, through, over, or beyond; to happen, cease, or be transferred.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

day

↗

Sense 1: Light or the period of light between morning and evening, as distinguished from night. Sense 2: A complete daily cycle. Sense 3: A specified time, occasion, period, age, or season.

Meaning drawn from: Direct Scripture definition · KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

after

↗

1. Later than or following in time or order. 2. Behind. 3. In pursuit of.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

delivered

↗

Past-tense, participial, or adjectival form of deliver. Sense 1: To rescue, save, free, or bring safely out of danger or bondage. Sense 2: To hand over, give up, or place into another's power or possession. Sense 3: To bring forth, convey, declare, or commit something to another. Sense 4: To give birth or be delivered of a child.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

us

↗

The first-person plural object pronoun, referring to the speaker together with one or more others as recipients or objects of an action or relation.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

in

↗

1. A preposition marking position, presence, state, circumstance, manner, means, sphere, reference, relation, association, or participation. 2. As an adverb, inward, inside, or into the place or position referred to.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

house

↗

Sense 1: A building or dwelling. Sense 2: The people of a household or family. Sense 3: A lineage or family line. Sense 4: As a verb, to shelter, lodge, or provide a dwelling for.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

save

↗

Sense 1: To rescue, deliver, preserve, keep alive, heal, recover, or bring safely through. Sense 2: Except or apart from.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

DEFINED WORDS

1 Kings 3:19

COMBINED MEANING

child

↗

1. A son or daughter; an offspring or descendant. 2. A young person or infant, considered by age or development. 3. In 'with child,' pregnant or carrying an unborn child. 4. One described as belonging to, derived from, characterized by, or dependent upon another person, group, or condition.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

in

↗

1. A preposition marking position, presence, state, circumstance, manner, means, sphere, reference, relation, association, or participation. 2. As an adverb, inward, inside, or into the place or position referred to.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

night

↗

1. The dark part of the daily cycle distinguished from day, from evening until morning, or any portion of it. 2. A time or condition compared with night or darkness.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

overlaid

↗

Sense 1: Past tense or past participle of overlay: covered over or coated. Sense 2: Past tense of overlay: smothered by lying upon.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

DEFINED WORDS

1 Kings 3:20

COMBINED MEANING

arose

↗

1. Rose, stood up, got up, or moved upward from a lower, lying, seated, fallen, or inactive position. 2. Began, emerged, appeared, came into being, or came forward. 3. Took action, intervened, or undertook the stated work. 4. Rose from death; returned to life.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

midnight

↗

The middle of the night, conventionally about twelve o'clock at night.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

son

↗

1. A male child or descendant. 2. One belonging to, related to, or characterized by the person, people, place, condition, or quality named.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

handmaid

↗

Sense 1: A female servant or maid. Sense 2: A humble or respectful way for a woman to refer to herself before a superior or before the Lord.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

slept

↗

Past-tense or past-participial form of sleep. Sense 1: Rested in natural sleep. Sense 2: By figure, lay in death.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

laid

↗

Sense 1: Placed, set, put down, deposited, arranged, established, founded, imposed, applied, stored, buried, or overlaid. Sense 2: Reclined or brought to rest.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

in

↗

1. A preposition marking position, presence, state, circumstance, manner, means, sphere, reference, relation, association, or participation. 2. As an adverb, inward, inside, or into the place or position referred to.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

dead

↗

Sense 1: Without life; deprived of life. Sense 2: Lifeless, inactive, insensible, or separated from a former state by figure.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

child

↗

1. A son or daughter; an offspring or descendant. 2. A young person or infant, considered by age or development. 3. In 'with child,' pregnant or carrying an unborn child. 4. One described as belonging to, derived from, characterized by, or dependent upon another person, group, or condition.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

DEFINED WORDS

1 Kings 3:21

COMBINED MEANING

rose

↗

1. A flowering plant or its flower. 2. Arose or stood up.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

in

↗

1. A preposition marking position, presence, state, circumstance, manner, means, sphere, reference, relation, association, or participation. 2. As an adverb, inward, inside, or into the place or position referred to.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

morning

↗

Sense 1: The beginning or early part of the day, including hours before daylight. Sense 2: The dawn or a beginning compared with dawn.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

child

↗

1. A son or daughter; an offspring or descendant. 2. A young person or infant, considered by age or development. 3. In 'with child,' pregnant or carrying an unborn child. 4. One described as belonging to, derived from, characterized by, or dependent upon another person, group, or condition.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

behold

↗

1. Used as an attention word or command directing someone to look at or take notice of the person, thing, statement, or event presented: look; see; take notice. 2. As a verb, to look upon, see, observe, or witness.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

dead

↗

Sense 1: Without life; deprived of life. Sense 2: Lifeless, inactive, insensible, or separated from a former state by figure.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

but

↗

Sense 1: However; marking contrast or qualification. Sense 2: Except or unless; excluding all others or alternatives. Sense 3: Only; no more than what follows.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Skeat 1893 · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

considered

↗

Looked at, attended to, examined, or thought carefully about; took into account.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

son

↗

1. A male child or descendant. 2. One belonging to, related to, or characterized by the person, people, place, condition, or quality named.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

which

↗

1. An interrogative or relative pronoun identifying one or more persons or things from a stated or implied set. 2. That which; what.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

bear

↗

Sense 1: To carry, support, convey, endure, sustain, or be answerable for. Sense 2: To produce or bring forth offspring, fruit, or another result. Sense 3: In ‘bear witness’ or ‘bear record,’ to testify or give witness. Sense 4: A large wild animal.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

DEFINED WORDS

1 Kings 3:22

COMBINED MEANING

nay

↗

1. No; a denial or refusal. 2. Rather; on the contrary.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

but

↗

Sense 1: However; marking contrast or qualification. Sense 2: Except or unless; excluding all others or alternatives. Sense 3: Only; no more than what follows.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Skeat 1893 · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

living

↗

Sense 1: Alive or having life. Sense 2: As a noun, one's means of support or possessions.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

son

↗

1. A male child or descendant. 2. One belonging to, related to, or characterized by the person, people, place, condition, or quality named.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

dead

↗

Sense 1: Without life; deprived of life. Sense 2: Lifeless, inactive, insensible, or separated from a former state by figure.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

spake

↗

The past tense of speak: uttered or expressed words, addressed someone, or communicated a matter in words.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

before

↗

Earlier than in time; in front of; in the presence of; or prior in order or rank.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

king

↗

A sovereign ruler; one exercising royal authority over a kingdom.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

DEFINED WORDS

1 Kings 3:23

COMBINED MEANING

king

↗

A sovereign ruler; one exercising royal authority over a kingdom.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

son

↗

1. A male child or descendant. 2. One belonging to, related to, or characterized by the person, people, place, condition, or quality named.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

dead

↗

Sense 1: Without life; deprived of life. Sense 2: Lifeless, inactive, insensible, or separated from a former state by figure.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

nay

↗

1. No; a denial or refusal. 2. Rather; on the contrary.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

but

↗

Sense 1: However; marking contrast or qualification. Sense 2: Except or unless; excluding all others or alternatives. Sense 3: Only; no more than what follows.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Skeat 1893 · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

living

↗

Sense 1: Alive or having life. Sense 2: As a noun, one's means of support or possessions.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

DEFINED WORDS

1 Kings 3:24

COMBINED MEANING

king

↗

A sovereign ruler; one exercising royal authority over a kingdom.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

before

↗

Earlier than in time; in front of; in the presence of; or prior in order or rank.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

DEFINED WORDS

1 Kings 3:25

COMBINED MEANING

king

↗

A sovereign ruler; one exercising royal authority over a kingdom.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

divide

↗

1. To apportion, distribute, share, or allot. 2. To separate or distinguish into parts, sides, groups, or portions.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

living

↗

Sense 1: Alive or having life. Sense 2: As a noun, one's means of support or possessions.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

child

↗

1. A son or daughter; an offspring or descendant. 2. A young person or infant, considered by age or development. 3. In 'with child,' pregnant or carrying an unborn child. 4. One described as belonging to, derived from, characterized by, or dependent upon another person, group, or condition.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

in

↗

1. A preposition marking position, presence, state, circumstance, manner, means, sphere, reference, relation, association, or participation. 2. As an adverb, inward, inside, or into the place or position referred to.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

FOLLOW THE THEME

Related Concepts

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READ BEFORE AND AFTER

Surrounding Verses

Nearby Scripture remains separate from the selected passage until you add it.

15And Solomon awoke; and, behold, it was a dream. And he came to Jerusalem, and stood before the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and offered up burnt offerings, and offered peace offerings, and made a feast to all his servants.

16¶ Then came there two women, that were harlots, unto the king, and stood before him.

Selected passage

17And the one woman said, O my lord, I and this woman dwell in one house; and I was delivered of a child with her in the house.

Selected passage

18And it came to pass the third day after that I was delivered, that this woman was delivered also: and we were together; there was no stranger with us in the house, save we two in the house.

Selected passage

19And this woman’s child died in the night; because she overlaid it.

Selected passage

20And 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.

Selected passage

21And when I rose in the morning to give my child suck, behold, it was dead: but when I had considered it in the morning, behold, it was not my son, which I did bear.

Selected passage

22And the other woman said, Nay; but the living is my son, and the dead is thy son. And this said, No; but the dead is thy son, and the living is my son. Thus they spake before the king.

Selected passage

23Then said the king, The one saith, This is my son that liveth, and thy son is the dead: and the other saith, Nay; but thy son is the dead, and my son is the living.

Selected passage

24And the king said, Bring me a sword. And they brought a sword before the king.

Selected passage

25And the king said, Divide the living child in two, and give half to the one, and half to the other.

Selected passage

26Then spake the woman whose the living child was unto the king, for her bowels yearned upon her son, and she said, O my lord, give her the living child, and in no wise slay it. But the other said, Let it be neither mine nor thine, but divide it.

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