1 Kings 8:20 kjv
And the LORD hath performed his word that he spake, and I am risen up in the room of David my father, and sit on the throne of Israel, as the LORD promised, and have built an house for the name of the LORD God of Israel.
1 Kings 8:20 nkjv
So the LORD has fulfilled His word which He spoke; and I have filled the position of my father David, and sit on the throne of Israel, as the LORD promised; and I have built a temple for the name of the LORD God of Israel.
1 Kings 8:20 niv
"The LORD has kept the promise he made: I have succeeded David my father and now I sit on the throne of Israel, just as the LORD promised, and I have built the temple for the Name of the LORD, the God of Israel.
1 Kings 8:20 esv
Now the LORD has fulfilled his promise that he made. For I have risen in the place of David my father, and sit on the throne of Israel, as the LORD promised, and I have built the house for the name of the LORD, the God of Israel.
1 Kings 8:20 nlt
"And now the LORD has fulfilled the promise he made, for I have become king in my father's place, and now I sit on the throne of Israel, just as the LORD promised. I have built this Temple to honor the name of the LORD, the God of Israel.
1 Kings 8 20 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Sam 7:12-13 | When your days are fulfilled...I will set up your seed...He shall build a house for My name. | Nathan's prophecy to David about Solomon. |
| 1 Chr 17:11-12 | I will raise up your offspring after you...He shall build a house for My name. | Parallel prophecy in Chronicles. |
| Psa 89:3-4 | I have made a covenant with My chosen, I have sworn to David My servant: 'Your seed I will establish forever.' | God's eternal covenant with David's lineage. |
| Psa 132:11-12 | The Lord has sworn to David...Of the fruit of your body I will set upon your throne. | God's oath concerning David's offspring on the throne. |
| 1 Ki 2:4 | that the Lord may fulfill His word which He spoke... 'A man of yours shall not fail to sit on the throne of Israel.' | David's instruction to Solomon on the conditional nature of the promise. |
| 1 Chr 22:9-10 | A son shall be born to you...He shall be a man of rest...he shall build a house for My name. | God revealing to David that Solomon would build the Temple. |
| 1 Chr 28:6-7 | He said to me, 'Solomon your son is the one who shall build My house...I will establish his kingdom forever.' | David recounting God's promise about Solomon. |
| 2 Chr 6:10 | So the Lord has performed His word...I have risen in place of My father David, and sit on the throne...and have built the temple. | Solomon's parallel statement in Chronicles. |
| Deut 7:9 | Know therefore that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy. | God's attribute of faithfulness emphasized. |
| Josh 23:14 | Not one word of all the good words which the Lord your God spoke concerning you has failed. | God's historical faithfulness to promises to Israel. |
| Neh 9:8 | You found his heart faithful before You, and made a covenant with him...You have performed Your words, for You are righteous. | God's faithfulness exemplified with Abraham. |
| Isa 55:11 | So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void...but shall accomplish what I please. | The power and certainty of God's spoken word. |
| Rom 4:21 | being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform. | Abraham's faith in God's ability to fulfill promises. |
| Heb 10:23 | Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. | God's faithfulness as grounds for believer's hope. |
| Matt 1:1 | The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David. | Jesus as the ultimate Son of David, fulfilling the dynastic promise. |
| Matt 12:6 | But I say to you that in this place there is One greater than the temple. | Jesus's superiority over the physical Temple. |
| John 2:19-21 | Jesus answered and said to them, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up." ...He was speaking of the temple of His body. | Jesus as the living Temple, fulfilling its spiritual reality. |
| Eph 2:20-22 | built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. | The church as the spiritual temple, built on Christ. |
| 1 Pet 2:5 | you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices. | Believers as living stones forming a spiritual house. |
| Rev 21:22 | But I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. | The ultimate fulfillment where God's presence is the Temple. |
1 Kings 8 verses
1 Kings 8 20 Meaning
The Lord God fulfilled His solemn promise to David, Solomon's father, that Solomon would succeed him as king and build the house for the name of the Lord God of Israel. Solomon, recognizing this divine faithfulness, declares that he has indeed risen to the throne and completed the Temple according to God's ancient word. This verse highlights God's unwavering reliability and the covenantal continuity between generations.
1 Kings 8 20 Context
This verse is uttered by King Solomon during the momentous dedication ceremony of the First Temple in Jerusalem. Chapter 8 of 1 Kings details this pinnacle event of Solomon's reign: the bringing of the Ark of the Covenant into the newly constructed Temple, the descent of the cloud of the Lord's glory filling the house, and Solomon's profound dedication prayer. In the preceding verses (1 Ki 8:15-19), Solomon addressed the assembled congregation, acknowledging God's faithfulness to David and recalling the initial plan for a temple. Verse 20 serves as Solomon's declaration that God's specific promise regarding his succession and the building of the Temple has now been definitively accomplished. Historically, the building of the Temple centralized Israelite worship, solidifying Jerusalem as the religious capital and showcasing the power and glory of Yahweh, in stark contrast to the scattered cultic sites and changing gods of surrounding pagan nations. This dedication also represents the zenith of the united monarchy, highlighting divine favor on the Davidic dynasty.
1 Kings 8 20 Word analysis
And the Lord: Hebrew: וַיהוָה (vaYahweh). This emphasizes God's sovereign initiative. "The Lord" refers to Yahweh, the covenant God of Israel, highlighting His personal and active involvement in fulfilling promises to His people, not a passive or distant deity like the gods of the surrounding nations.
has performed His word: Hebrew: קִיֵּם אֶת־דְּבָרוֹ (qiyêm et-děbārô). "Performed" (qiyêm, from קוּם qum, to rise, establish, confirm, fulfill) indicates bringing to completion, making sure, confirming as true. God's word (דָבָר dāḇār) is not merely a statement but a decree, a potent force that accomplishes what it declares (Isa 55:11). This demonstrates God's integrity and omnipotence; His words are unfailingly carried out.
which He spoke: Hebrew: אֲשֶׁר דִּבֵּר (asher dibber). Reiteration that the fulfillment directly corresponds to what was verbally communicated. It's a specific, verifiable promise, not a general concept.
to My father David: Locates the specific promise within the Davidic Covenant (2 Sam 7). This links the current event to a foundational covenantal promise given personally to David. Solomon clearly acknowledges his father's foundational role.
for I have risen in place of My father David: Hebrew: כִּי קַמְתִּי תַּחַת דָּוִד אָבִי (kî qamtî taḥat Dāwîḏ 'āvî). "Risen" (קַמְתִּי qamtî, from קוּם qûm) denotes not just physical rising but succession to power, establishing oneself in authority. Solomon affirms his legitimate accession to the throne, not through usurpation or human ambition, but as a divinely appointed successor in the Davidic line. This confirms the dynastic element of God's promise.
and sit on the throne of Israel: Hebrew: וָאֵשֵׁב עַל כִּסֵּא יִשְׂרָאֵל (vā'ēšēḇ ʿal kissē' Yiśrā'ēl). To "sit on the throne" is a clear metaphor for exercising royal authority and dominion. "Of Israel" specifies the realm of his divinely sanctioned kingship. This signifies the establishment of David's dynasty over God's chosen nation.
as the Lord promised: Hebrew: כַּאֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר יְהוָה (ka'asher dibber Yĕhwāh). Another emphatic repetition of divine promise and fulfillment. This is Solomon's constant refrain, underscoring that every aspect of his reign, particularly the Temple building, is a result of God's prior word.
and I have built the house for the name of the Lord God of Israel: Hebrew: וָאֶבְנֶה אֶת־הַבַּיִת לְשֵׁם יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל (vā'eḇneh et-habbayiṯ lĕšēm Yahweh 'Ělōhê Yiśrā'ēl).
- "I have built the house": While human hands were involved, Solomon understands this was through divine enablement. This building project was a specific fulfillment mentioned in 2 Sam 7:13.
- "for the name of the Lord": Not to contain the infinite God within a physical structure, but to provide a place where His presence is uniquely manifested, where He would receive worship, and where His name (representing His character, power, and authority) would be hallowed and invoked by His people. It is a focal point for the covenant relationship. This concept served as a polemic against pagan temple cults that believed their gods resided within the idols or structures; Israel's God transcended any building.
- "God of Israel": Reinforces His unique covenantal relationship with Israel, distinguishing Him from the numerous regional deities. He is their God, acting specifically on their behalf and fulfilling His word among them.
Words-group Analysis:
- "The Lord has performed His word...as the Lord promised": This repetition frames the verse, strongly asserting God's faithfulness and agency. It emphasizes that divine promise precedes and guarantees human achievement, shifting credit from human effort to divine will. It reinforces the consistent theme throughout Scripture of God's unwavering character and the reliability of His covenant.
- "I have risen in place of My father David, and sit on the throne of Israel, and I have built the house": These phrases highlight Solomon's three primary roles—successor, king, and builder. Solomon explicitly links these achievements directly to the divine promises made to David. This is an act of humble acknowledgement, rather than self-congratulation, testifying to God's hand in his reign.
1 Kings 8 20 Bonus section
- Divine Initiative and Human Response: The verse showcases a consistent pattern in God's interaction with humanity: God speaks His word, and then works through chosen individuals (like Solomon) to bring that word to fruition. Solomon’s actions are a direct, intended consequence of God’s initial promise.
- Theological Contrast: The unwavering nature of Yahweh's word stands in stark contrast to the capricious and often unfulfilled "promises" of the gods worshipped by surrounding nations, which were often seen as dependent on human appeasement or subject to shifting fate. The Temple itself, built "for the name of the Lord," reinforces this distinction; it is not a dwelling place to contain God (as pagans might believe), but a hallowed space for Him to manifest His presence and receive worship.
- Foundation for Future Hope: This demonstration of past faithfulness, as celebrated by Solomon, would become a crucial historical anchor for future generations of Israel. Even in times of exile or distress, the remembrance of God fulfilling His word regarding David and the Temple would serve as a powerful ground for hope in God's future promises, particularly the ultimate fulfillment of the Davidic covenant in the Messiah.
1 Kings 8 20 Commentary
In 1 Kings 8:20, Solomon encapsulates the profound theological truth of God's active faithfulness. His declaration at the Temple dedication is not a boast but a humble testimony that Yahweh has, by His very nature, executed His ancient promises. The construction of the Temple and Solomon's own enthronement are not random occurrences or merely human achievements, but tangible proof of God's reliable word spoken years earlier to David. This verse firmly establishes the continuity of the Davidic covenant and the Lord's absolute trustworthiness, which is a cornerstone of biblical theology. It reveals that the fulfillment of divine promises often unfolds across generations and through human instruments, but the ultimate credit belongs to the Promise-Keeper Himself.