The Meaning of 1 Kings 11:7 Explained

1 Kings 11:7

KJV: Then did Solomon build an high place for Chemosh, the abomination of Moab, in the hill that is before Jerusalem, and for Molech, the abomination of the children of Ammon.

YLT: Then doth Solomon build a high place for Chemosh the abomination of Moab, in the hill that is on the front of Jerusalem, and for Molech the abomination of the sons of Ammon;

Darby: Then did Solomon build a high place for Chemosh the abomination of the Moabites, on the hill that is before Jerusalem, and for Molech the abomination of the children of Ammon.

ASV: Then did Solomon build a high place for Chemosh the abomination of Moab, in the mount that is before Jerusalem, and for Molech the abomination of the children of Ammon.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Then did Solomon  build  an high place  for Chemosh,  the abomination  of Moab,  in the hill  that [is] before  Jerusalem,  and for Molech,  the abomination  of the children  of Ammon. 

What does 1 Kings 11:7 Mean?

Context Summary

1 Kings 11:1-13 - A Heart Turned Away From God
The practice of mixed marriages was in direct violation of the divine Law, Deuteronomy 7:3-4, and it led to idolatry. All around the Holy City arose heathen temples. It seems almost incredible that Solomon should have lent himself to such unblushing patronage of idolatry. His sin was aggravated by the great privileges he had enjoyed, 1 Kings 11:9, and there was no escape from chastisement, 2 Samuel 7:14. The more privileged we are, the more disastrous our fall, and the more inevitable the penalty. If God loved us less, He might be more sparing of the rod. We are often punished with the rod of men, that is, we suffer at their hands; but God does not cease to love us. The father will listen at the door of the room of the child whom he has been compelled to chastise to detect the first sign of broken-hearted grief.
It is sad to witness the break-up of a noble ship. Listen to the boom of the successive waves: "His heart was not perfect""¦ "Did that which was evil""¦ "The Lord was angry""¦ "Behold, I will rend the kingdom." But out of loving regard to David's memory, one tribe was left. See 1 Kings 11:12; 1 Kings 11:32; 1 Kings 11:34; 1 Kings 11:38-39. Your children's children will benefit as the result of your consecrated life. God will not forget.
1 Kings 11:1-43 - Breaking Three Commandments
From a worldly point of view Naboth might have done a good stroke of business by selling his estate to. Ahab. A royal price and assured favor might have been his-but he had a conscience! Above the persuasive tones of the monarch's offer sounded the voice of God: "The land shall not be sold for ever, for the land is mine." See Leviticus 25:23; Numbers 36:7; Ezekiel 46:18.
Ahab knew perfectly well that Jezebel could not give him the property of another except by foul means, but he took pains not to inquire. Though the direct orders for Naboth's death did not come from him, yet, by his silence, he was an accomplice and an accessory; and divine justice penetrates all such specious excuses. God holds us responsible for wrongs which we do not arrest, though we have the power. The crime was blacker because of the pretext of religion, as suggested by a fast. See also 2 Kings 9:26. The blood of murdered innocence cries to God, and his requital, though delayed, is inevitable. See Revelation 6:9-10. [source]

Chapter Summary: 1 Kings 11

1  Solomon's wives and concubines
4  In his old age they draw him to idolatry
9  God threatens him,
14  Solomon's adversaries were Hadad, who was entertained in Egypt
23  Rezon, who reigned in Damascus
26  And Jeroboam, to whom Ahijah prophesied
41  Solomon's acts, reign, and death Rehoboam succeeds him

What do the individual words in 1 Kings 11:7 mean?

Then built Solomon a high place for Chemosh the abomination of Moab on the hill that [is] east of Jerusalem for Molech of the sons of Ammon
אָז֩ יִבְנֶ֨ה שְׁלֹמֹ֜ה בָּמָ֗ה לִכְמוֹשׁ֙ שִׁקֻּ֣ץ מוֹאָ֔ב בָּהָ֕ר אֲשֶׁ֖ר עַל־ פְּנֵ֣י יְרוּשָׁלִָ֑ם וּלְמֹ֕לֶךְ בְּנֵ֥י עַמּֽוֹן

יִבְנֶ֨ה  built 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: בָּנָה  
Sense: to build, rebuild, establish, cause to continue.
שְׁלֹמֹ֜ה  Solomon 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: שְׁלֹמֹה  
Sense: son of David by Bathsheba and 3rd king of Israel; author of Proverbs and Song of Songs.
בָּמָ֗ה  a  high  place 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: בָּמָה  
Sense: high place, ridge, height, bamah (technical name for cultic platform).
לִכְמוֹשׁ֙  for  Chemosh 
Parse: Preposition-l, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: כְּמֹושׁ 
Sense: the national deity of the Moabites and a god of the Ammonites.
שִׁקֻּ֣ץ  the  abomination 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: שִׁקּוּץ  
Sense: detestable thing or idol, abominable thing, abomination, idol, detested thing.
מוֹאָ֔ב  of  Moab 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: מֹואָב 
Sense: a son of Lot by his eldest daughter.
בָּהָ֕ר  on  the  hill 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: הַר  
Sense: hill, mountain, hill country, mount.
אֲשֶׁ֖ר  that  [is] 
Parse: Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
עַל־  east 
Parse: Preposition
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.
יְרוּשָׁלִָ֑ם  Jerusalem 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: יְרוּשָׁלַםִ  
Sense: the chief city of Palestine and capital of the united kingdom and the nation of Judah after the split.
וּלְמֹ֕לֶךְ  for  Molech 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: מֹלֶךְ  
Sense: the god of the Ammonites and Phoenicians to whom some Israelites sacrificed their infants in the valley of Hinnom.
בְּנֵ֥י  of  the  sons 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
עַמּֽוֹן  of  Ammon 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: עַמֹּון  
Sense: a people dwelling in Transjordan descended from Lot through Ben-ammi.