1 Kings 8:12 kjv
Then spake Solomon, The LORD said that he would dwell in the thick darkness.
1 Kings 8:12 nkjv
Then Solomon spoke: "The LORD said He would dwell in the dark cloud.
1 Kings 8:12 niv
Then Solomon said, "The LORD has said that he would dwell in a dark cloud;
1 Kings 8:12 esv
Then Solomon said, "The LORD has said that he would dwell in thick darkness.
1 Kings 8:12 nlt
Then Solomon prayed, "O LORD, you have said that you would live in a thick cloud of darkness.
1 Kings 8 12 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ex 19:9 | LORD said to Moses, "I will come... in a thick cloud... " | God's presence at Sinai in cloud |
| Ex 20:21 | people stood far off, while Moses drew near to the thick darkness where God was. | God's unapproachable holiness |
| Ex 24:15-18 | Then Moses went up on the mountain, and the cloud covered the mountain... and the glory of the LORD dwelt... | Cloud covering the mountain of God's presence |
| Lev 16:2 | "not to come at all times into the Most Holy Place... for I will appear in the cloud above the mercy seat." | God's presence in unapproachable cloud in tabernacle |
| Deut 4:11 | mountain burned with fire... with darkness, clouds, and thick darkness. | Theophany at Sinai with darkness |
| Deut 5:22 | LORD spoke... out of the midst of the fire, the cloud, and the thick darkness, with a loud voice. | God's voice from the midst of darkness |
| Ps 18:9-11 | He bowed the heavens also... He rode upon a cherub... He made darkness His secret place... | God's majesty, power, and hiddenness |
| Ps 97:2 | Clouds and thick darkness are all around him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of His throne. | God's unapproachable throne and sovereignty |
| Isa 45:15 | Truly, You are God, who hide Yourself, O God of Israel, the Savior. | God's mysterious, hidden nature |
| Joel 2:2 | A day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness... | Description of God's powerful presence/Day of Lord |
| Zeph 1:15 | day of wrath, a day of trouble... a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness. | Divine judgment and overwhelming presence |
| 2 Sam 7:13 | He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. | God's promise to David for Solomon to build Temple |
| 1 Ki 8:13 | I have surely built thee an house to dwell in, a settled place for thee to abide in for ever. | Solomon's continuation of theme of God's dwelling |
| 1 Ki 8:27 | But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house... | Solomon's acknowledgment of God's transcendence |
| Ps 132:13-14 | For the LORD hath chosen Zion; he hath desired it for His habitation. This is My resting place forever... | God's choice of Zion/Temple for His dwelling |
| Ex 40:34-35 | Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle... | Glory fills the Tabernacle, parallel to Temple |
| 1 Ki 8:10-11 | cloud filled the house of the LORD... for the glory of the LORD had filled the house of the LORD. | Immediate context, God's glory fills Temple |
| 2 Chr 5:13-14 | when the sound of the trumpets... as the cloud filled the house... the glory of the LORD filled the house of God. | Parallel account, glory filling Temple |
| Jn 1:18 | No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son... has declared Him. | God's incomprehensibility and revelation through Christ |
| 1 Tim 6:16 | who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see... | God's unapproachability in glorious light (which is like darkness to humans) |
| Heb 1:3 | who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person... | Christ as the ultimate revelation of the unapproachable God |
| Isa 57:15 | I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit... | God's dwelling extends beyond physical structures |
1 Kings 8 verses
1 Kings 8 12 Meaning
Solomon declares that the manifestation of the Lord's presence in the newly dedicated Temple, specifically the overwhelming cloud and darkness, signifies that God has chosen to reside in an unapproachable and mysterious manner. This statement connects the Temple's filling with the glory cloud to previous biblical accounts of God's presence at Mount Sinai, where He revealed Himself in thick darkness, thereby emphasizing His absolute transcendence, majesty, and incomprehensible holiness, even as He condescends to dwell among His people.
1 Kings 8 12 Context
This verse immediately follows the description of the Lord's glory, manifested as a cloud, filling the newly constructed Temple in Jerusalem so completely that the priests could not stand to minister (1 Ki 8:10-11). This dramatic event is the ultimate sign of God's acceptance and presence within the edifice Solomon built. Solomon's declaration in verse 12 is his Spirit-inspired response and interpretation of this profound manifestation. It draws a direct link to the foundational moments of Israel's covenant history, specifically the theophany at Mount Sinai (Ex 19, 20), where God also appeared in fire, cloud, and thick darkness, indicating His awesome power and ineffable holiness. The Temple, though built by human hands, now truly housed the unique, transcendent God of Israel, not a visible idol, reinforcing the exclusive nature of Israel's worship.
1 Kings 8 12 Word analysis
- Then said Solomon: Solomon's response is a declaration inspired by the awe-inspiring divine manifestation. It's an interpretative statement, acknowledging God's unique mode of presence. This isn't just a casual remark but a profound theological articulation.
- The LORD: Hebrew YHWH (יְהוָה), the sacred covenant name of God. This emphasizes that it is the one true, personal, and ever-present God of Israel, not any generic deity, who manifests in this specific way.
- hath said: Hebrew 'amar (אָמַר). This points to a prior divine communication or established pattern. While God didn't verbally utter "I will dwell in thick darkness" at this specific moment, the phenomenon of the cloud and darkness strongly echoed previous revelations (especially at Sinai), implying God's consistent manner of revealing Himself in majesty and mystery. Solomon perceives the cloud as a visible affirmation of a truth God has long "said" through His actions.
- that he would dwell: Hebrew shakan (שָׁכַן), meaning "to settle down," "to reside," "to abide." This is the root for the post-biblical term Shekinah, denoting the divine presence. The word conveys God's decision to establish His presence in a fixed place among His people. In the context of the Temple, it speaks to permanence and intimate, yet holy, proximity.
- in the thick darkness: Hebrew 'araphel (עֲרָפֶל), referring to a dense, heavy cloud, profound darkness, or gloom. This is a critical theological point. It is not an absence of God, but an intensity of His glorious presence that is beyond human capacity to comprehend or gaze upon. It symbolizes:
- Holiness and Transcendence: God's complete otherness and unapproachability.
- Mystery: His ways and nature are beyond full human understanding.
- Power and Majesty: The overwhelming glory of the Creator.
- Distinction from Pagan Deities: Unlike the visible and manipulable idols of surrounding nations, Yahweh's presence is unseen, incomprehensible, and sovereign, commanding reverence.
- Words-group: "The LORD hath said that he would dwell in the thick darkness": This is a direct echo of the Sinai experience where God descended upon the mountain in thick clouds and darkness. By speaking this, Solomon links the new Temple to Israel's foundational covenant moment, establishing it as the place where the same majestic, transcendent, yet indwelling God would now meet with His people. It asserts that despite the tangible nature of the Temple, God's dwelling there does not diminish His infinite greatness or render Him fully knowable.
1 Kings 8 12 Bonus section
The "thick darkness" here is a paradoxical truth in Scripture: God's ultimate light and glory can be perceived as darkness by finite human beings. It emphasizes His immeasurable vastness. The very unapproachability signified by the darkness establishes the need for an intercessor and underscores the privileged access later provided through Christ, who is the light of the world (Jn 8:12) and the express image of the invisible God (Col 1:15), thereby making God known and bridging the gap of this impenetrable darkness. This verse reminds believers that even in God's revelation, there remains an aspect of divine mystery and ineffability, ensuring continued awe and worship.
1 Kings 8 12 Commentary
1 Kings 8:12 serves as Solomon's divinely inspired theological statement interpreting the dramatic filling of the Temple with God's glory-cloud. Far from seeing the darkness as a lack of divine presence, Solomon rightly understands it as the very hallmark of the Almighty's manifest presence. The 'araphel—the thick darkness—is a veil of light too brilliant for human eyes, emphasizing God's infinite holiness and absolute transcendence. It is the unapproachable dwelling place of a God who cannot be contained by any human structure (1 Ki 8:27), yet chooses to condescend and dwell among His chosen people. This profound truth would have served as a constant reminder to Israel of their God's uniqueness, distinct from the visible, anthropomorphic idols of surrounding cultures, ensuring proper reverence and worship. It underscores that true worship requires awe before a God who is both present and mysteriously beyond full comprehension.