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Book of 1 Kings - Chapter 3 - Verse 25

3:25
And the king said, Divide the living child in two, and give half to the one, and half to the other.

Meaning

In this verse from the Bible, we see King Solomon's famous wisdom being put to the test. Two women were brought before him, each claiming to be the mother of a baby. Unable to determine the truth, Solomon suggested a drastic solution - to divide the child in two and give each woman half. This was a clever ploy by Solomon to reveal the true mother's identity. The real mother, filled with love and compassion for her child, begged the king to spare the baby's life, even if it meant losing him. In contrast, the false mother was willing to go along with the division, showing her true colors. Through this cunning test, Solomon was able to discern the true mother and awarded her full custody of the child. This passage highlights the power of wisdom and discernment in making difficult decisions and seeking justice.

Theological Overview

In this verse from 1 Kings 3:25, King Solomon proposes a solution to the dispute between two women claiming to be the mother of a living child. By suggesting to divide the child in two, King Solomon cleverly reveals the true mother's identity. The theological interpretation of this verse emphasizes Solomon's wisdom and discernment, which was a gift from God. The word study of "living child" in this verse reveals the Hebrew word "חָי", which means alive or living. This word emphasizes the preciousness of the child's life and the gravity of Solomon's proposed solution. Additionally, the word study of "divide" reveals the Hebrew word "חָצָה", which means to divide in two or cut in half. This word choice further highlights the severity of Solomon's proposal and the depth of the mother's love in willing to give up her claim to save her child's life. Overall, this verse showcases Solomon's wisdom, the mother's sacrificial love, and the intricate details found within the Hebrew language.

American Standard Version

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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