1 Kings 3:20
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.
1 Kings 3:20 · King James Version
Meaning
This verse is from the story in the Bible where two women came to King Solomon, each claiming to be the mother of the same baby. The verse describes how one of the women accidentally smothered her own baby in her sleep, then switched the babies in an attempt to claim the living child as her own. The other woman, who was the real mother, immediately recognized the switch when she woke up and saw her dead child in her arms. This story is a famous example of King Solomon's wisdom in administering justice. He proposed to cut the baby in two so that each woman could have half, but the true mother begged him to give the baby to the other woman instead. By her selfless act, she revealed herself to be the real mother to all present. The verse serves as a poignant reminder of the depth of a mother's love and the lengths she will go to protect her child.
Theological Overview
Within this verse from 1 Kings 3:20, we see a poignant depiction of a mother's love and sacrifice. The theological interpretation of this verse reveals the themes of maternal instincts and the bond between a mother and child. The phrase "and she arose at midnight" emphasizes the urgency and desperation of the situation. The act of taking the son from beside the speaker and laying him in her bosom reveals the deep love and protection a mother feels for her child. Additionally, the exchange of the children symbolizes a form of judgment and justice that was believed to be orchestrated by God. In terms of word studies, the use of "bosom" carries the connotation of closeness and intimacy, highlighting the bond between mother and child.
1 Kings 3:20 in other translations
American Standard Version
And she arose at midnight, and took my son from beside me, while thy handmaid slept, and laid it in her bosom, and laid her dead child in my bosom.
World English Bible
She arose at midnight, and took my son from beside me, while your handmaid slept, and laid it in her bosom, and laid her dead child in my bosom.
Douay-Rheims
And rising in the dead time of the night, she took my child from my side, while I, thy handmaid, was asleep, and laid it in her bosom: and laid her dead child in my bosom.
Geneva Bible (1599)
And she rose at midnight, and tooke my sonne from my side, while thine handmaide slept, and layde him in her bosome, and layde her dead sonne in my bosome.