1 Kings 11:4
ESV
For when Solomon was old his wives turned away his heart after other gods, and his heart was not wholly true to the Lord his God, as was the heart of David his father.
NIV
As Solomon grew old, his wives turned his heart after other gods, and his heart was not fully devoted to the Lord his God, as the heart of David his father had been.
NASB
For when Solomon was old, his wives turned his heart away to follow other gods; and his heart was not wholly devoted to the Lord his God, as the heart of his father David had been.
CSB
When Solomon was old, his wives turned his heart away to follow other gods. He was not wholeheartedly devoted to the Lord his God, as his father David had been.
NLT
In Solomon’s old age, they turned his heart to worship other gods instead of being completely faithful to the Lord his God, as his father, David, had been.
KJV
For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the Lord his God, as was the heart of David his father.
NKJV
For it was so, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned his heart after other gods; and his heart was not loyal to the Lord his God, as was the heart of his father David.
What does 1 Kings 11:4 mean?
Modern people often carry the assumption that people get better, more spiritual, more faithful to the Lord, and wiser as they get older. That happens sometimes, but it's not necessarily the norm. Seasoned believers can grow complacent and careless. They follow pride and their sense of entitlement into sin.God had warned the future kings of Israel not to marry too many women (Deuteronomy 17:17). He also told all Israelites not to intermarry with idol worshipers (Exodus 34:16). Such constant influences would cause their hearts to "turn away." That's the case with Solomon. He's married seven hundred princesses and accumulated three hundred concubines (1 Kings 11:3). They have turned his "heart"—his desires, affections, thoughts, will, and actions—away from Yahweh (Exodus 3:15) and toward lesser idols.
In this culture, royals routinely trade gifts, give their daughters as wives, and adopt—and adapt—each other's gods. Israel is supposed to be different. They don't worship a hand-me-down minor deity in charge of rain. When Jonah admits he worships "The Lord, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land" (Jonah 1:9), the sailors become "exceedingly afraid" (Jonah 1:10). They understand his God's primacy over theirs. After years in luxury, surrounded by adoring visitors and willing women, his every desire met, Solomon intentionally adds to his worship, as if he is too much for just the God of the universe.
The Bible never claims that David was perfect. His flaws as a husband, father, king, and military commander are described in detail. Even so, he is praised as "a man after God's own heart." The text never shows him worshiping anything other than Yahweh. When he sinned, he passionately and sincerely repented. God loves David because of his faithful worship and his repentance. There's no clear indication that Solomon ever repents, although the book of Ecclesiastes may be his letter of apology (Ecclesiastes 1:1).
