For I was my father's son, tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother.

For I was a son unto my father, Tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother.

For I also was my father's son, tender and as an only son in the sight of my mother:

For I was a son to my father, a gentle and an only one to my mother.

For I was a son unto my father, Tender and an only one in front of my mother.

For I, too, was the son of my father, tender and an only son in the sight of my mother.

Probably the words of Solomon himself, who looks back from his glorious throne and his matured wisdom to the training which was the starting point. The part taken by Bathsheba in 1 Kings 1, no less than the friendship between her and Nathan, indicates that a mother's training might well have laid the foundation of the king's future wisdom. Among the Israelites and Egyptians alone, of the nations of the old world, was the son's reverence for the mother placed side by side with that which he owed to his father.
Only beloved, - literally "only," but the word is used apparently (as in Genesis 22:2, Genesis 22:12) in its derived sense, "beloved like an only son." The Vulgate gives "unigenitus." Compare the words applied to our Lord, as the "only begotten" John 1:14, the "beloved" Ephesians 1:6.

For I was my father's son,.... Or, "a son to my father" (p); so Solomon was to God, his heavenly Father, 2-Samuel 7:14; which Jarchi observes, and gives as the sense of this place: but his father David is meant, whose son he was; though he was not his only one, he had others besides him. But the sense is, that he was his darling, his beloved son, whom he loved above the rest; as he was beloved of the Lord, and therefore his name was called Jedidiah, so he was beloved of his father; and, because he had a peculiar love for him, he took a particular care of his education;
tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother; his mother Bathsheba, who had a most affectionate regard to him; and therefore in his tender age, as soon as he was susceptible of instructions, gave them to him, which being received, made deep and lasting impressions on him; see Proverbs 31:1. The marginal reading is, "to the sons of my mother"; for Bathsheba had more sons, 1-Chronicles 3:5; both readings may be retained, "beloved in the sight of my mother's sons". Gersom interprets this of the people of Israel, who were sons to God their Father; and were the only nation that received the law, and which they received at the time of their coming out of Egypt, in the days of their youth.
(p) "filius fui patri meo", Pagninus, Montanus, Mercerus, Gejerus, Michaelis; so Cocceius, Schultens.

father's son--emphatic, a son specially regarded, and so called tender, as an object of special care (compare 1-Chronicles 22:7; 1-Chronicles 29:1); an idea further expressed by
only beloved--or, "as an only son" (Genesis 22:2), though he had brothers (see on 1-Chronicles 3:5).

Tender - Young and tender in years, and tenderly educated. Only beloved - Beloved above all the rest.