In which verse of the Bible does Solomon command that a child be cut in half?

Solomon commands that the child be cut in half in 1 Kings 3:25.

The verse appears in the famous Judgment of Solomon, in which two women bring a living baby before the king. Each claims to be the child’s mother, while one woman’s own infant has died. With no witness able to settle the dispute, Solomon calls for a sword and proposes dividing the living child between them.

The command is a test rather than an actual sentence. One woman accepts the proposal, but the true mother begs Solomon to give the baby to the other woman so that he will live. Solomon then identifies the compassionate woman as the mother and orders that she receive the child.

The larger episode runs from 1 Kings 3:16–28, but verse 25 contains the specific command. A common mix-up is to cite the entire passage or verse 28, which describes how Israel reacted to Solomon’s judgment. The story is also the source of the expression “splitting the baby,” though Solomon ultimately awards the whole child to one claimant.