Christ in 1 Kings 3

Finding Christ in 1 Kings 3: The Wisdom of the True Son of David

After His resurrection, Jesus declared to His disciples on the road to Emmaus that “everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled” (Luke 24:44, ESV). This means that every portion of Scripture, including the historical narratives of Israel’s kings, ultimately bears witness to Him. First Kings 3, recounting Solomon’s request for wisdom and his famous judgment between two women, is no exception. Beneath its royal splendor and moral instruction lies a revelation of Christ the true and greater Solomon, who embodies divine wisdom, rules with perfect justice, and builds God’s everlasting kingdom.

This chapter divides naturally into two sections:

1. Solomon’s Worship and Request for Wisdom (vv. 1–15)
2. Solomon’s Wise Judgment (vv. 16–28)

Each of these reveals an aspect of Christ’s glory—His devotion to the Father, His possession of divine wisdom, and His merciful yet righteous rule.

Solomon’s Worship and Request for Wisdom (1 Kings 3:1–15)

A Flawed Beginning and a Foreshadow of Grace (1 Kings 3:1–3)

The chapter opens with a note of ambiguity: “Solomon made a marriage alliance with Pharaoh king of Egypt; he took Pharaoh’s daughter and brought her into the city of David…” (v. 1). While this political alliance demonstrates worldly prudence, it also foreshadows Solomon’s eventual spiritual compromise. Yet verse 3 tempers this with grace: “Solomon loved the LORD, walking in the statutes of David his father.”

This tension—the presence of both sin and sincere devotion—sets the stage for a typological comparison to Christ. Solomon, though the anointed son of David, is a flawed king. Jesus, however, is the perfect Son of David, whose heart is wholly devoted to the Father. Whereas Solomon’s worship was mingled with imperfection, Christ’s obedience was complete (Phil 2:8; Heb 5:8–9). Thus, Solomon’s mixed beginning reminds us that human kingship cannot bring ultimate peace; only in Christ do we find a flawless and everlasting reign.

The Theophany at Gibeon: A Royal Encounter (1 Kings 3:4–5)

At Gibeon, the central high place where the tabernacle stood, Solomon offers “a thousand burnt offerings” (v. 4). That night, “the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream” and invited him: “Ask what I shall give you” (v. 5). This divine initiative reveals God’s grace in choosing to bless His servant—a theme that anticipates the greater revelation of grace in Christ.

Just as God appeared to Solomon in a dream to bestow wisdom, so the Father gives His beloved Son the Spirit “without measure” (John 3:34). Solomon’s encounter points ahead to the incarnate manifestation of divine wisdom in Christ (Prov 8; Col 2:3). The God who spoke to Solomon in dreams would one day speak to the world through His Son (Heb 1:1–2).

The Prayer for Wisdom: The Heart of the Son (1 Kings 3:6–9)

Solomon’s prayer is remarkable for its humility and theological depth. He recalls God’s steadfast love to David and acknowledges his own insufficiency: “I am but a little child. I do not know how to go out or come in” (v. 7). He then asks for “an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil” (v. 9).

This petition echoes Edenic language—the ability to discern good and evil—implying a longing to rule with wisdom in a fallen world. It points forward to Christ, who perfectly discerns good and evil and restores what Adam lost. Jesus is the true King who governs not merely by intellect but by the Spirit of wisdom (Isa 11:2–4).

Moreover, Solomon’s request reveals the heart of a son who desires to please his father—a theme fulfilled supremely in Christ, who said, “I always do the things that are pleasing to him” (John 8:29). Solomon asked for wisdom to rule God’s people; Christ embodies wisdom to redeem them.

God’s Pleasure and Promise (1 Kings 3:10–14)

The text emphasizes that Solomon’s request “pleased the LORD” (v. 10). God delights in a heart that seeks righteousness over riches. In response, the Lord grants him not only wisdom but also riches and honor, promising long life if he walks in obedience.

This divine approval mirrors the Father’s pleasure in His true Son at His baptism: “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased” (Matt 3:17). The covenantal promise of kingship and blessing finds its ultimate fulfillment not in Solomon, whose reign eventually declined, but in Christ, who perfectly obeyed and now reigns forever.

The gifts given to Solomon—wisdom, wealth, honor—are but shadows of the fullness bestowed on Christ, “in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Col 2:3) and who has received “the name that is above every name” (Phil 2:9).

Awakening and Worship (1 Kings 3:15)

When Solomon awakens, he returns to Jerusalem, stands before the ark of the covenant, and offers burnt offerings and peace offerings. This movement—from the high place at Gibeon to the ark in Jerusalem—symbolizes a shift from imperfect worship toward the true center of divine presence.

Typologically, it anticipates the movement of redemptive history toward Christ, the true temple (John 2:19–21). Just as Solomon left the high place to worship before the ark, so humanity must leave false altars and come to God through the true and living temple—Jesus Himself.

Solomon’s offerings of peace also foreshadow the cross, where Christ offered Himself as the final peace offering, reconciling sinners to God.

Solomon’s Wise Judgment (1 Kings 3:16–28)

If the first half of the chapter reveals the source of divine wisdom, the second displays its exercise in justice and mercy. This famous account of the two women and the disputed child illustrates the nature of the king’s wisdom—and, in typological fulfillment, the wisdom of Christ our Judge.

The Dispute Between the Two Women (1 Kings 3:16–22)

Two prostitutes come before Solomon, both claiming to be the mother of a living child. The scene is marked by brokenness and moral tragedy. These are not noblewomen but marginalized figures, and yet the king receives them personally.

This anticipates Christ’s heart for sinners and outcasts. Like Solomon, Jesus welcomes those the world despises—publicans, adulterers, and the unclean—and exercises wisdom in mercy toward them (Luke 7:36–50; John 8:1–11). The king’s courtroom thus becomes a miniature of the gospel: sinners stand before the royal judge seeking life for their child, and mercy flows from wisdom.

The King’s Dilemma and Divine Insight (1 Kings 3:23–27)

Solomon proposes to divide the living child in two, revealing the true mother by her compassionate response. This astonishing act of discernment demonstrates that true wisdom is not mere intellect but the ability to reveal the heart.

Christ, likewise, exposes what is hidden in human hearts (John 2:25; Heb 4:12–13). His judgments penetrate to motives, revealing who truly belongs to Him. The true mother’s willingness to sacrifice her claim for the child’s life mirrors Christ’s own self-giving love: she would rather lose her child than see him die, just as Christ “did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped” but humbled Himself for our life (Phil 2:6–8).

In this moment, Solomon acts as a Christ figure, revealing the divine wisdom that saves life through apparent loss. The false mother’s cruelty exposes the heart of the evil one—who seeks to destroy life and counterfeit love. The true mother’s compassion reflects the heart of Christ, who gives life even at cost to Himself.

The People’s Response (1 Kings 3:28)

The chapter concludes, “All Israel heard of the judgment that the king had rendered, and they stood in awe of the king, because they perceived that the wisdom of God was in him to do justice.”

This awe anticipates the response of the crowds to Jesus’ teaching: “They were astonished, for he was teaching them as one who had authority” (Matt 7:28–29). In Solomon’s courtroom, the people glimpsed divine wisdom mediated through a man. In Christ, divine wisdom has come in person. The King of Israel who does justice in 1 Kings 3 prefigures the universal King whose throne is established in righteousness forever (Isa 9:7).

Scriptural Cross-References: Illuminating 1 Kings 3 in the Light of the Whole Bible

Scripture interprets Scripture. The narrative of Solomon’s wisdom in 1 Kings 3 gains greater depth when read alongside related passages throughout the canon. The following cross-references reveal how God progressively unfolds the themes of wisdom, kingship, and divine justice that converge in this chapter.

Solomon’s Humility and Prayer for Wisdom (1 Kings 3:6–9)

• Deuteronomy 17:18–20 – The law of kings anticipates a ruler who will humble himself under God’s Word. Solomon’s prayer fulfills this pattern.
• James 1:5 – “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God…” echoes Solomon’s example and shows that divine wisdom is still granted to those who ask in faith.
• Proverbs 2:6 – “For the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.” This proverb—penned in Solomon’s era—affirms the source of the king’s discernment.
• Isaiah 11:2–3 – The Spirit of wisdom resting upon the Messiah fulfills Solomon’s partial anointing. Christ possesses in perfection what Solomon received in part.

God’s Pleasure and Promise (1 Kings 3:10–14)

• Psalm 37:4 – “Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” Solomon’s unselfish request exemplifies this principle.
• Matthew 6:33 – Jesus teaches the same wisdom: “Seek first the kingdom of God… and all these things will be added to you.”
• 1 Kings 9:4–5 – God later reiterates the conditional promise of blessing for obedience, showing the continuity of covenant faithfulness.
• Luke 3:22 – The Father’s delight in Christ (“with you I am well pleased”) mirrors the divine pleasure expressed toward Solomon, but fulfilled perfectly in the true Son.

Solomon’s Awakening and Worship before the Ark (1 Kings 3:15)

• Deuteronomy 12:5–7 – God commands His people to bring offerings to the place He will choose. Solomon’s move from Gibeon to Jerusalem aligns with this instruction, centering worship where God dwells.
• Psalm 132:13–14 – “The LORD has chosen Zion… this is my resting place forever.” Solomon’s worship before the ark anticipates the establishment of Zion as God’s dwelling.
• Hebrews 9:11–12 – The ark and offerings point forward to Christ, the greater high priest who enters the heavenly holy place with His own blood.

The Judgment Between the Two Women (1 Kings 3:16–28)

• Deuteronomy 1:16–17 – Moses instructs judges to “hear the cases between your brothers… you shall not be partial.” Solomon’s verdict reflects this divine standard.
• Psalm 72:1–4 – A messianic psalm (attributed to Solomon) prays, “Give the king your justice, O God.” The king’s discernment fulfills the psalm’s petition for righteous judgment.
• John 7:24 – Jesus commands, “Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment,” exhibiting the same Spirit of wisdom that Solomon displayed.
• Hebrews 4:12–13 – God’s Word discerns the thoughts and intentions of the heart; Solomon’s test of the two mothers prefigures that penetrating divine discernment.
• Matthew 12:42 – Jesus explicitly identifies Himself as “greater than Solomon,” asserting that His wisdom surpasses even this most famous royal judgment.

The People’s Awe at Divine Wisdom (1 Kings 3:28)

• Exodus 18:23 – Jethro tells Moses that wise judgment will bring peace to God’s people; Solomon’s wisdom achieves that harmony temporarily.
• Isaiah 33:5–6 – “He will be the stability of your times, abundance of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge.” This verse ties true stability to God’s own wisdom.
• Luke 2:40, 52 – Jesus “grew and became strong, filled with wisdom,” showing the maturing of divine wisdom in the incarnate Son.
• 1 Corinthians 1:30 – “Christ Jesus… became to us wisdom from God.” The awe Israel felt toward Solomon points to the worship believers now offer to Christ, the embodiment of divine wisdom.

The Broader Canonical Echo: The Perfect King of Wisdom

• Psalm 89:3–4; Isaiah 9:6–7 – The covenant with David finds its eternal fulfillment in a ruler whose reign will never end.
• Colossians 2:2–3 – “In [Christ] are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” The treasures glimpsed in Solomon’s reign are fully revealed in Him.
• Revelation 5:12; 7:12 – The heavenly doxology praises the Lamb for His “wisdom and might,” the consummation of the theme begun in 1 Kings 3.

Conclusion: Christ the True and Greater Solomon

1 Kings 3 is not merely a story about ancient royalty; it is a revelation of the Wisdom of God in Christ.

• Where Solomon prayed for wisdom, Christ is the wisdom of God (1 Cor 1:24).
• Where Solomon judged rightly in one case, Christ will judge the world in righteousness (Acts 17:31).
• Where Solomon ruled temporarily, Christ reigns eternally as the perfect Son of David.

The chapter thus invites us to worship not Solomon, but the One whom Solomon dimly reflected—the Lord Jesus Christ, the embodiment of divine wisdom, mercy, and justice.