1 Kings 5:5 kjv
And, behold, I purpose to build an house unto the name of the LORD my God, as the LORD spake unto David my father, saying, Thy son, whom I will set upon thy throne in thy room, he shall build an house unto my name.
1 Kings 5:5 nkjv
And behold, I propose to build a house for the name of the LORD my God, as the LORD spoke to my father David, saying, "Your son, whom I will set on your throne in your place, he shall build the house for My name."
1 Kings 5:5 niv
I intend, therefore, to build a temple for the Name of the LORD my God, as the LORD told my father David, when he said, 'Your son whom I will put on the throne in your place will build the temple for my Name.'
1 Kings 5:5 esv
And so I intend to build a house for the name of the LORD my God, as the LORD said to David my father, 'Your son, whom I will set on your throne in your place, shall build the house for my name.'
1 Kings 5:5 nlt
So I am planning to build a Temple to honor the name of the LORD my God, just as he had instructed my father, David. For the LORD told him, 'Your son, whom I will place on your throne, will build the Temple to honor my name.'
1 Kings 5 5 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ex 20:24 | "An altar of earth you shall make for me... in every place where I cause my name to be remembered I will come to you and bless you." | God's name being associated with a designated place for worship. |
| Dt 12:5 | "But you shall seek the place that the LORD your God will choose... to put his name there." | God's chosen place for His name and worship. |
| 2 Sam 7:5 | "Go and tell my servant David, 'Thus says the LORD: Would you build me a house to dwell in?'" | God's initial refusal for David to build His physical dwelling. |
| 2 Sam 7:13 | "He [Solomon] shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever." | God's specific promise to David about Solomon building the Temple. |
| 1 Chr 17:12 | "He [Solomon] shall build a house for me, and I will establish his throne forever." | Parallel account of God's promise for Solomon to build. |
| 1 Chr 22:7 | "David said to Solomon his son, 'My son, I had it in my heart to build a house to the name of the LORD my God.'" | David's desire and the transfer of the task to Solomon. |
| 1 Chr 22:8 | "But the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 'You have shed much blood and have waged great wars; you shall not build a house to my name...'" | God's reason for prohibiting David from building. |
| 1 Chr 22:9-10 | "Behold, a son shall be born to you who shall be a man of rest... He shall build a house for my name..." | The prophecy that a man of peace (Solomon) would build. |
| 1 Chr 28:2 | "David... stood and said, 'Hear me, my brothers and my people: I had it in my heart to build a house of rest for the ark of the covenant...'" | David's intention and his instruction to Solomon. |
| 1 Chr 28:3 | "...because you are a man of war and have shed blood." | Echoes God's reason for David not building the temple. |
| 1 Chr 28:6 | "He [God] said to me, 'Solomon your son shall build my house and my courts, for I have chosen him to be my son...'" | Divine choice of Solomon as the builder. |
| 1 Ki 6:1 | "In the four hundred and eightieth year after the people of Israel came out of the land of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon's reign... he began to build the house of the LORD." | The start of the Temple building as foretold. |
| 1 Ki 8:16 | "...I chose no city out of all the tribes of Israel in which to build a house, that my name might be there, but I chose David to be over my people Israel." | God's prior choice of David leading to the temple promise. |
| 1 Ki 8:17 | "Now it was in the heart of David my father to build a house for the name of the LORD, the God of Israel." | Solomon acknowledging David's intent during the Temple dedication. |
| 1 Ki 8:18 | "But the LORD said to David my father, 'Whereas it was in your heart to build a house for my name, you did well that it was in your heart.'" | God affirmed David's desire, though he couldn't execute it. |
| 1 Ki 8:19 | "Nevertheless, you shall not build the house, but your son who shall be born to you shall build the house for my name." | Direct confirmation of the promise to David fulfilled by Solomon. |
| 1 Ki 8:20 | "Now the LORD has fulfilled his promise that he made... I have built the house for the name of the LORD..." | Solomon's declaration of promise fulfillment at the Temple dedication. |
| Is 66:1-2 | "Thus says the LORD: 'Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool; what is the house that you would build for me...'" | Emphasizes God's transcendence, no human structure can contain Him. |
| Acts 7:47 | "But it was Solomon who built a house for him [God]." | Stephen's sermon recognizing Solomon's historical role. |
| Acts 7:48 | "Yet the Most High does not dwell in houses made by hands, as the prophet says," | Reiterates the theological truth that God is not confined to a building. |
| Jn 4:21 | "Jesus said to her, 'Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father.'" | Foreshadows the shift from physical temples to spiritual worship. |
| Eph 2:20-22 | "...built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord..." | The Church as the spiritual temple where God's Spirit dwells. |
1 Kings 5 verses
1 Kings 5 5 Meaning
1 Kings 5:5 communicates King Solomon's solemn declaration to King Hiram of Tyre that he intends to build the Temple for the Lord God, as previously commanded by the Lord to his father, David. It highlights Solomon's role as the divinely appointed builder of a central place for God's presence and worship, specifically "for the name of the Lord." This declaration is rooted in the fulfillment of a divine promise and covenant.
1 Kings 5 5 Context
1 Kings Chapter 5 describes King Solomon's preparations for building the Temple in Jerusalem. Having inherited a kingdom at peace and abundant resources, Solomon's primary concern shifted to fulfilling his father David's thwarted desire to build a permanent house for the Lord. This verse specifically comes from Solomon's communication with Hiram, the King of Tyre, seeking skilled craftsmen and timber (cedar and cypress) for the massive undertaking. Hiram had always been a friend to David, and this alliance with Tyre was crucial for obtaining the necessary materials from Lebanon. The verse demonstrates Solomon's awareness of God's prior directive to David regarding who would build the Temple and establishes the theological foundation for his grand architectural project. This period marks a high point of Israel's national strength and the focus on centralizing worship in Jerusalem.
1 Kings 5 5 Word analysis
- I intend (וַאֲנִי אֹמֵר,
va'aní omer, or implicitly,aní bonéh"I am building" or "I am resolving to build"): The Hebrew phrase indicates a strong resolve and determined purpose on Solomon's part. It's not a mere thought but a clear plan of action. This decision is not arbitrary but divinely directed. - build (לִבְנ֥וֹת,
livnōt): To construct, establish. Refers to a physical structure. The act of building here signifies a public, concrete act of obedience and worship. - a house (בַּ֤יִת,
bayit): Literally "house" but contextually refers to the Temple, the sacred edifice. In Hebrew thought,bayitcan also signify a dynasty or a family line. Here it refers to the literal building, though implicitly connects to the establishment of Solomon's kingdom. - for the name of the LORD (לְשֵׁם יְהוָה,
l'shem YHWH): This is profoundly significant. It clarifies that God, as the Creator, does not dwell in a literal "house" (Isa 66:1-2; Acts 7:48). Rather, the Temple would be a place where God's name—representing His presence, character, authority, and covenant relationship—would be invoked and made manifest among His people. It's where He would meet them, not where He would be contained.YHWHis the covenantal, personal name of God, revealed to Israel. - my God (אֱלֹהָי,
Elohay): Solomon's personal affirmation of YHWH as his God, acknowledging the covenant relationship passed down from his father, David. - as the LORD said (כַּאֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר יְהוָה,
ka'asher dibber YHWH): Emphasizes divine authority and command. Solomon's action is directly rooted in God's spoken word, reinforcing the idea of a faithful response to a divine mandate. - to David my father (אֶל־דָּוִד אָבִ֔י,
el-David avi): Explicitly links Solomon's present task to the promise made to David in 2 Samuel 7:13 and 1 Chronicles 22:9-10. This highlights continuity, covenant fulfillment, and the generational transfer of divine responsibility. - Your son, whom I will set on your throne in your place, shall build the house for My name: This specific phrase from God's promise to David (2 Sam 7:13) is quoted or referenced directly by Solomon. It emphasizes the divinely chosen successor (Solomon), his kingly authority (
on your throne), and his specific role (build the house for My name). It also subtly alludes to the "rest from enemies" (1 Ki 5:4) which facilitated this building.
1 Kings 5 5 Bonus section
The choice of Solomon ("man of peace") over David ("man of war") to build the Temple, a house of peace for God's name, carries significant theological weight. It signifies that the physical construction of a place for worship happens in a season of divine favor and tranquility. The Temple, though built by human hands, derived its holiness and significance from the indwelling of God's Name, representing His authority and the place where His covenant would be renewed and sustained with His people. This distinction foreshadows the future spiritual temple of believers, built upon Christ Jesus, the Prince of Peace (Eph 2:20-22).
1 Kings 5 5 Commentary
1 Kings 5:5 is a pivotal verse establishing Solomon's divine mandate for the Temple. It underscores that this massive architectural endeavor was not merely a royal caprice but a direct fulfillment of God's word to David. The phrase "for the name of the LORD my God" is crucial; it clarifies that the Temple's purpose was not to house God, but to designate a sacred space where His presence, character, and covenantal promises would be specifically honored and revealed. This countered contemporary pagan practices where deities were believed to literally inhabit their temples. Solomon, blessed with peace and prosperity (as described in the preceding verse), was the chosen instrument for this sacred task because, unlike David, he was "a man of rest." His adherence to God's precise instruction demonstrates his obedience and confirms the faithfulness of God's promises, showcasing a harmonious collaboration between divine decree and human execution in the history of Israel.