What does 1 Kings 3:22 mean?

"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." - 1 Kings 3:22

1 Kings 3:22 - "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."

1 Kings 3:22 (KJV) reads, "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."

This verse is part of the well-known story of King Solomon's wisdom, which is found in 1 Kings 3:16-28. In this particular section of the story, two women come before King Solomon, each claiming to be the mother of a baby. One of the babies had died, and now they were disputing over who the living child belonged to.

The overall context of this verse and story is that Solomon's wisdom and judgment are being put to the test. As king, he had to make a decision to resolve a difficult dispute. The story demonstrates Solomon's wisdom and insight, as he is able to discern the truth in a complex situation.

The themes present in this verse are justice, wisdom, and the discernment of truth. The story illustrates the importance of seeking justice and wisdom in resolving disputes and making decisions. It also emphasizes the value of seeking truth and discerning the right course of action, even in challenging or emotionally charged situations.

The symbolism in this verse lies in the contrast between the living and the dead child. The living child symbolizes life, hope, and the future, while the dead child represents loss, sorrow, and the past. This symbolism highlights the emotional stakes involved in the dispute and the weight of Solomon's judgment.

In a broader theological context, this story and verse can be interpreted as a reflection of God's wisdom and justice. Solomon's wisdom was a gift from God, and his ability to discern the truth in this situation reflects the divine wisdom that he was given. This story serves as a reminder of the importance of seeking God's wisdom and justice in our own lives and in our interactions with others.

Furthermore, this story can also be seen as a foreshadowing of the ultimate wisdom and justice that would come through Jesus Christ. In the New Testament, Jesus is described as the ultimate source of wisdom and the embodiment of God's justice. The story of Solomon's wisdom can thus be viewed as pointing towards the redemptive work of Christ and the ultimate resolution of all disputes and injustices through Him.

Overall, 1 Kings 3:22 and the story of Solomon's wisdom provide a powerful example of the importance of seeking justice, wisdom, and truth in our lives. It also serves as a reminder of the ultimate source of wisdom and justice in God, and points towards the redemptive work of Christ. This verse and story continue to offer valuable lessons and insights for believers today.

1 Kings 3:22 Artwork

1 Kings 22:47 - "There was then no king in Edom: a deputy was king."

1 Kings 22:3 - "And the king of Israel said unto his servants, Know ye that Ramoth in Gilead is our's, and we be still, and take it not out of the hand of the king of Syria?"

1 Kings 22:44 - "And Jehoshaphat made peace with the king of Israel."

1 Kings 22:1 - "And they continued three years without war between Syria and Israel."

1 Kings 1:22 - "¶ And, lo, while she yet talked with the king, Nathan the prophet also came in."

1 Kings 22:37 - "¶ So the king died, and was brought to Samaria; and they buried the king in Samaria."

1 Kings 3:10 - "And the speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing."

2 Kings 3:22 - "And they rose up early in the morning, and the sun shone upon the water, and the Moabites saw the water on the other side as red as blood:"

1 Kings 12:22 - "But the word of God came unto Shemaiah the man of God, saying,"

1 Kings 3:19 - "And this woman's child died in the night; because she overlaid it."

1 Kings 22:29 - "So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went up to Ramoth-gilead."

1 Kings 3:24 - "And the king said, Bring me a sword. And they brought a sword before the king."

1 Kings 22:9 - "Then the king of Israel called an officer, and said, Hasten hither Micaiah the son of Imlah."

1 Kings 7:22 - "And upon the top of the pillars was lily work: so was the work of the pillars finished."

1 Kings 3:16 - "¶ Then came there two women, that were harlots, unto the king, and stood before him."

1 Kings 22:45 - "Now the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, and his might that he shewed, and how he warred, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?"

1 Kings 22:2 - "And it came to pass in the third year, that Jehoshaphat the king of Judah came down to the king of Israel."

1 Kings 22:40 - "So Ahab slept with his fathers; and Ahaziah his son reigned in his stead."

1 Kings 22:21 - "And there came forth a spirit, and stood before the LORD, and said, I will persuade him."

1 Kings 22:7 - "And Jehoshaphat said, Is there not here a prophet of the LORD besides, that we might enquire of him?"

2 Kings 22:3 - "¶ And it came to pass in the eighteenth year of king Josiah, that the king sent Shaphan the son of Azaliah, the son of Meshullam, the scribe, to the house of the LORD, saying,"

1 Kings 22:39 - "Now the rest of the acts of Ahab, and all that he did, and the ivory house which he made, and all the cities that he built, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?"

1 Kings 22:41 - "¶ And Jehoshaphat the son of Asa began to reign over Judah in the fourth year of Ahab king of Israel."

1 Kings 22:5 - "And Jehoshaphat said unto the king of Israel, Enquire, I pray thee, at the word of the LORD to day."

1 Kings 4:22 - "¶ And Solomon's provision for one day was thirty measures of fine flour, and threescore measures of meal,"

1 Kings 22:14 - "And Micaiah said, As the LORD liveth, what the LORD saith unto me, that will I speak."

1 Kings 17:22 - "And the LORD heard the voice of Elijah; and the soul of the child came into him again, and he revived."

Jeremiah 25:22 - "And all the kings of Tyrus, and all the kings of Zidon, and the kings of the isles which are beyond the sea,"

1 Kings 22:26 - "And the king of Israel said, Take Micaiah, and carry him back unto Amon the governor of the city, and to Joash the king's son;"