Pharaoh פַּרְעֹה
Egyptian Pharaoh during Solomon's reign
Who is Pharaoh in the Bible?
Pharaoh in the Bible refers to the Egyptian ruler who reigned during King Solomon's time and formed a strategic alliance with him (1 Kings 3:1; 9:16). Solomon married Pharaoh's daughter, who brought the city of Gezer as her dowry, and he built her a separate palace befitting her royal status (1 Kings 7:8; 9:24; 2 Chronicles 8:11). The Bible also records that Hadad, an Edomite prince fleeing from David's reign, found refuge with this same Pharaoh, who provided him land, provisions, and arranged his marriage to the sister of Queen Tahpenes (1 Kings 11:18-20). Although the Bible does not identify this Pharaoh by name, his significance lies in demonstrating Solomon's political power and international influence through marriage alliances with neighboring kingdoms. This union was part of Solomon's broader pattern of foreign marriages that would later lead him away from faithful worship (1 Kings 11:1-3).
Biography
This Pharaoh was the Egyptian ruler during the reign of King Solomon (1Ki.3.1; 9.16). Solomon made an alliance with Pharaoh and married his daughter, who brought the city of Gezer as a dowry. Solomon built a separate palace for Pharaoh's daughter (1Ki.7.8; 9.24; 2Ch.8.11) and included her among his many foreign wives (1Ki.11.1).
The Bible also mentions that Hadad, an Edomite prince, fled to Egypt during David's reign and found favor with Pharaoh, who gave him land and provisions and arranged for him to marry the sister of Queen Tahpenes (1Ki.11.18-20). Hadad's son Genubath was raised in Pharaoh's court (1Ki.11.20).
The specific identity of this Pharaoh is not provided in the Bible. However, based on the historical and archaeological evidence, some scholars suggest that he may have been Siamun or Psusennes II, rulers of the 21st Dynasty of Egypt, which was contemporary with Solomon's reign.
Family
In Scripture
3 biblical books1 Kings 5 verses
- 1 Kings 3:1
"Later, Solomon formed an alliance with Pharaoh king of Egypt by marrying his daughter. Solomon brought her to the City of David until he had finished building his palace and the house of the LORD, as well as the wall around Jerusalem."
- 1 Kings 7:8
"And the palace where Solomon would live, set further back, was of similar construction. He also made a palace like this hall for Pharaoh’s daughter, whom he had married."
- 1 Kings 9:16
"Pharaoh king of Egypt had attacked and captured Gezer. He had set it on fire, killed the Canaanites who lived in the city, and given it as a dowry to his daughter, Solomon’s wife."
- 1 Kings 9:24
"As soon as Pharaoh’s daughter had come up from the City of David to the palace that Solomon had built for her, he built the supporting terraces."
- 1 Kings 11:1
"King Solomon, however, loved many foreign women along with the daughter of Pharaoh—women of Moab, Ammon, Edom, and Sidon, as well as Hittite women."
2 Chronicles 1 verse
- 2 Chronicles 8:11
"Solomon brought the daughter of Pharaoh up from the City of David to the palace he had built for her. For he said, “My wife must not live in the house of David king of Israel, because the places the ark of the LORD has entered are holy.”"
Song of Solomon 1 verse
- Song of Solomon 1:9
"I compare you, my darling, to a mare among Pharaoh’s chariots."
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | פַּרְעֹה | parĕʿōh | Paroh , a general title of Egyptian kings |