1 Kings 3:19
New International Version
“During the night this woman’s son died because she lay on him.

New Living Translation
“But her baby died during the night when she rolled over on it.

English Standard Version
And this woman’s son died in the night, because she lay on him.

Berean Standard Bible
During the night this woman’s son died because she rolled over on him.

Berean Literal Bible
And the son of this woman died in the night, because she lay on him.

King James Bible
And this woman's child died in the night; because she overlaid it.

New King James Version
And this woman’s son died in the night, because she lay on him.

New American Standard Bible
Then this woman’s son died in the night, because she lay on him.

NASB 1995
“This woman’s son died in the night, because she lay on it.

NASB 1977
“And this woman’s son died in the night, because she lay on it.

Legacy Standard Bible
And this woman’s son died in the night because she lay on him.

Amplified Bible
Now this woman’s son died during the night, because she lay on him [and smothered him].

Berean Annotated Bible
During the night this woman’s son died because she rolled over on him.

Christian Standard Bible
During the night this woman’s son died because she lay on him.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
During the night this woman’s son died because she lay on him.

American Standard Version
And this woman's child died in the night, because she lay upon it.

Contemporary English Version
One night while we were all asleep, she rolled over on her baby, and he died.

English Revised Version
And this woman's child died in the night; because she overlaid it.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
That night this woman's son died because she rolled over on top of him.

Good News Translation
Then one night she accidentally rolled over on her baby and smothered it.

International Standard Version
This woman's son died overnight because she laid on top of him.

NET Bible
This woman's child suffocated during the night when she rolled on top of him.

New Heart English Bible
This woman's child died in the night, because she lay on it.

Webster's Bible Translation
And this woman's child died in the night; because she overlaid it.
Majority Text Translations
Majority Standard Bible
During the night this woman’s son died because she rolled over on him.

World English Bible
This woman’s child died in the night, because she lay on it.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And the son of this woman dies at night, because she has lain on him,

Berean Literal Bible
And the son of this woman died in the night, because she lay on him.

Young's Literal Translation
And the son of this woman dieth at night, because she hath lain upon it,

Smith's Literal Translation
And the son of this woman will die in the night when she lay upon him.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And this woman's child died in the night: for in her sleep she overlaid him.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Then this woman’s son died in the night. For while sleeping, she smothered him.

New American Bible
This woman’s son died during the night when she lay on top of him.

New Revised Standard Version
Then this woman’s son died in the night, because she lay on him.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And this woman's child died in the night because she lay on it.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And the son of this one woman died in the night, because she lay upon him.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And this woman's child died in the night; because she overlay it.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And this woman's child died in the night; because she overlaid it.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Solomon Judges Wisely
18On the third day after I gave birth, this woman also had a baby. We were alone, with no one in the house but the two of us. 19During the night this woman’s son died because she rolled over on him. 20So she got up in the middle of the night and took my son from my side while I was asleep. She laid him in her bosom and put her dead son at my bosom.…

Cross References
During the night

2 Kings 19:35
And that very night the angel of the LORD went out and struck down 185,000 men in the camp of the Assyrians. When the people got up the next morning, there were all the dead bodies!

Exodus 12:29
Now at midnight the LORD struck down every firstborn male in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh, who sat on his throne, to the firstborn of the prisoner in the dungeon, as well as all the firstborn among the livestock.

Ruth 3:8
At midnight, Boaz was startled, turned over, and there lying at his feet was a woman!
this woman’s son died

2 Samuel 12:18
On the seventh day the child died. But David’s servants were afraid to tell him that the child was dead, for they said, “Look, while the child was alive, we spoke to him, and he would not listen to us. So how can we tell him the child is dead? He may even harm himself.”

1 Kings 14:17
Then Jeroboam’s wife got up and departed for Tirzah, and as soon as she stepped over the threshold of the house, the boy died.

1 Kings 17:17
Later, the son of the woman who owned the house became ill, and his sickness grew worse and worse, until no breath remained in him.
because she rolled over on him.

2 Kings 4:20
After the servant had picked him up and carried him to his mother, the boy sat on her lap until noon, and then he died.

1 Kings 17:19-22
But Elijah said to her, “Give me your son.” So he took him from her arms, carried him to the upper room where he was staying, and laid him on his own bed. / Then he cried out to the LORD, “O LORD my God, have You also brought tragedy on this widow who has opened her home to me, by causing her son to die?” / Then he stretched himself out over the child three times and cried out to the LORD, “O LORD my God, please let this boy’s life return to him!” …

2 Kings 4:32-35
When Elisha reached the house, there was the boy lying dead on his bed. / So he went in, closed the door behind the two of them, and prayed to the LORD. / Then Elisha got on the bed and lay on the boy, mouth to mouth, eye to eye, and hand to hand. As he stretched himself out over him, the boy’s body became warm. …
2 Samuel 12:15-18
After Nathan had gone home, the LORD struck the child that Uriah’s wife had borne to David, and he became ill. / David pleaded with God for the boy. He fasted and went into his house and spent the night lying in sackcloth on the ground. / The elders of his household stood beside him to help him up from the ground, but he was unwilling and would not eat anything with them. …

Genesis 21:1-2
Now the LORD attended to Sarah as He had said, and the LORD did for Sarah what He had promised. / So Sarah conceived and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the very time God had promised.

Genesis 30:1
When Rachel saw that she was not bearing any children for Jacob, she envied her sister. “Give me children, or I will die!” she said to Jacob.

Genesis 35:16-19
Later, they set out from Bethel, and while they were still some distance from Ephrath, Rachel began to give birth, and her labor was difficult. / During her severe labor, the midwife said to her, “Do not be afraid, for you are having another son.” / And with her last breath—for she was dying—she named him Ben-oni. But his father called him Benjamin. …

2 Kings 4:18-20
And the child grew, and one day he went out to his father, who was with the harvesters. / “My head! My head!” he complained to his father. So his father told a servant, “Carry him to his mother.” / After the servant had picked him up and carried him to his mother, the boy sat on her lap until noon, and then he died.

Job 1:18-19
While he was still speaking, another messenger came and reported: “Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house, / when suddenly a mighty wind swept in from the desert and struck the four corners of the house. It collapsed on the young people and they are dead, and I alone have escaped to tell you!”

Jeremiah 31:15
This is what the LORD says: “A voice is heard in Ramah, mourning and great weeping, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.”


Treasury of Scripture

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

Jump to Previous
Cause Child Death Died Dieth Lay Night Overlaid Overlay Sleeping Woman's
Jump to Next
Cause Child Death Died Dieth Lay Night Overlaid Overlay Sleeping Woman's
1 Kings 3
1. Solomon marries Pharaoh's daughter
2. High places being in use, Solomon sacrifices at Gibeon
5. Solomon at Gibeon, in the choice which God gave him,
10. preferring wisdom, obtains wisdom, riches, and honor
16. Solomon's judgment makes him renowned












During the night
In ancient times, nighttime was often associated with vulnerability and danger, as it was a period when people were most defenseless. The setting of night in this narrative highlights the unexpected and tragic nature of the event. Biblically, night can symbolize a time of trial or testing, as seen in other scriptures like Psalm 91:5, which speaks of the terror of night.

this woman’s son died
The death of a child is a profound tragedy, and in the context of 1 Kings 3, it sets the stage for Solomon's wise judgment. The death of the son is central to the narrative, illustrating the fragility of life and the deep sorrow that accompanies such loss. This event also serves as a catalyst for the demonstration of Solomon's God-given wisdom, as he discerns the truth between the two women claiming to be the mother of the living child.

because she rolled over on him
This phrase indicates an accidental death, a common concern in ancient times when families often shared sleeping spaces. The cultural practice of co-sleeping with infants was widespread, and the risk of such accidents was well-known. This detail adds authenticity to the narrative, as it reflects a realistic scenario of the time. Theologically, it underscores human fallibility and the unforeseen consequences of everyday actions, reminding readers of the need for divine wisdom and guidance in all aspects of life.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Solomon
The king of Israel known for his wisdom, who is approached by two women with a dispute over a living child.

2. Two Women
Both are described as harlots living in the same house, each claiming to be the mother of the living child.

3. The Child
The living child is the subject of the dispute between the two women.

4. The Dead Child
The child who died during the night, leading to the conflict.

5. The Royal Court
The setting where King Solomon hears the case and makes his wise judgment.
Teaching Points
The Value of Life
The tragic death of the child reminds us of the preciousness of life and the importance of protecting it.

The Consequences of Carelessness
The incident serves as a cautionary tale about the potential consequences of negligence and carelessness.

Seeking Divine Wisdom
Solomon's role in this account underscores the importance of seeking God's wisdom in difficult situations.

The Complexity of Human Relationships
The account highlights the complexities and challenges in human relationships, especially when trust is broken.

God's Justice and Mercy
The account points to the need for justice tempered with mercy, as demonstrated by Solomon's wise judgment.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1. What is the meaning of 1 Kings 3:19?

2. How does 1 Kings 3:19 illustrate the consequences of sin and deception?

3. What can we learn about God's justice from 1 Kings 3:19?

4. How does 1 Kings 3:19 connect to Proverbs on wisdom and discernment?

5. How should we respond to situations involving deceit, as seen in 1 Kings 3:19?

6. What role does truth play in resolving conflicts, according to 1 Kings 3:19?

7. Why did God allow the woman's son to die in 1 Kings 3:19?

8. How does 1 Kings 3:19 reflect on God's justice and mercy?

9. What cultural practices influenced the events in 1 Kings 3:19?

10. What are the top 10 Lessons from 1 Kings 3?

11. How did Solomon resolve the dispute between two mothers?

12. What is the Manifest Presence of God?

13. In 1 Chronicles 3:1-9, how do we reconcile David's unusually large number of sons and wives with historical records of royal families in ancient Israel?

14. Who were the sons of David?
What Does 1 Kings 3:19 Mean
During the night

“During the night” (1 Kings 3:19) situates the tragedy in the hours when people are most vulnerable.

• Night often highlights human frailty and the need for divine protection (Psalm 4:8; Psalm 91:5–6; Acts 12:6–7).

• Darkness also provides the backdrop for God to reveal wisdom and light, setting the stage for Solomon’s discernment (1 Kings 3:28; James 1:5).

• The timing reminds us that calamity can strike suddenly, echoing Jesus’ caution to be watchful because “the thief comes in the night” (1 Thessalonians 5:2–6).


this woman’s son died

The statement presents a literal, heartbreaking loss.

• Scripture consistently portrays the death of a child as profoundly sorrowful (2 Samuel 12:18; Jeremiah 31:15; Mark 5:35–36).

• The finality of death underscores humanity’s mortality after the Fall (Genesis 3:19; Romans 5:12).

• In the narrative, the infant’s death becomes the catalyst for Solomon’s famous ruling, illustrating how God can redeem even tragedy to display His wisdom (Romans 8:28).


because she rolled over on him

The cause is plainly stated: the mother’s accidental suffocation of her child.

• The Bible never shies away from recording human error, however painful (Genesis 42:22; Luke 22:60–62).

• Accidents carry consequences, yet they also reveal responsibilities—here, a mother’s duty to guard life (Deuteronomy 22:8; Proverbs 24:11).

• The detail exposes the fragility of life and prepares the reader to contrast careless oversight with the discernment Solomon will exercise (1 Kings 3:24–27; Proverbs 3:21–23).


summary

1 Kings 3:19 recounts a literal nocturnal tragedy that sparks Solomon’s renowned judgment. The verse highlights our vulnerability in the dark, the sorrow of death, and the reality that human error can have devastating results. God records this painful detail to display His wisdom through Solomon and to remind us of our continual need for watchfulness, responsibility, and the life-preserving guidance found in His Word.

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

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
During the night
לָ֑יְלָה (lā·yə·lāh)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3915: A twist, night, adversity

this
הַזֹּ֖את (haz·zōṯ)
Article | Pronoun - feminine singular
Strong's 2063: Hereby in it, likewise, the one other, same, she, so much, such deed, that,

woman’s
הָאִשָּׁ֥ה (hā·’iš·šāh)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 802: Woman, wife, female

son
בֶּן־ (ben-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1121: A son

died
וַיָּ֛מָת (way·yā·māṯ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 4191: To die, to kill

because
אֲשֶׁ֥ר (’ă·šer)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

she rolled over
שָׁכְבָ֖ה (šā·ḵə·ḇāh)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 7901: To lie down

on him.
עָלָֽיו׃ (‘ā·lāw)
Preposition | third person masculine singular
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against


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OT History: 1 Kings 3:19 This woman's child died in the night (1Ki iKi i Ki 1 Kg 1kg)
1 Kings 3:18
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