1 Kings 8:21 kjv
And I have set there a place for the ark, wherein is the covenant of the LORD, which he made with our fathers, when he brought them out of the land of Egypt.
1 Kings 8:21 nkjv
And there I have made a place for the ark, in which is the covenant of the LORD which He made with our fathers, when He brought them out of the land of Egypt."
1 Kings 8:21 niv
I have provided a place there for the ark, in which is the covenant of the LORD that he made with our ancestors when he brought them out of Egypt."
1 Kings 8:21 esv
And there I have provided a place for the ark, in which is the covenant of the LORD that he made with our fathers, when he brought them out of the land of Egypt."
1 Kings 8:21 nlt
And I have prepared a place there for the Ark, which contains the covenant that the LORD made with our ancestors when he brought them out of Egypt."
1 Kings 8 21 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ex 25:10-22 | "They shall construct an ark of acacia wood... Put into the ark the testimony..." | Details of Ark construction and contents. |
| Ex 34:28 | "...And He wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant, the Ten Commandments." | God wrote the covenant words on tablets. |
| Deut 10:1-5 | "At that time the Lord said to me, ‘Cut out for yourself two tablets... put them in the ark which you shall make." | Moses receives and places tablets in the Ark. |
| Josh 3:6 | "Joshua spoke to the priests, saying, 'Take up the ark of the covenant and cross over ahead of the people.'" | Ark as leader and guide for the people. |
| 2 Sam 6:17 | "So they brought in the ark of the Lord and set it in its place inside the tent which David had pitched for it." | David's efforts to bring the Ark to Jerusalem. |
| 1 Ki 8:9 | "There was nothing in the ark except the two tablets of stone which Moses put there at Horeb..." | Reconfirms Ark's content at Temple dedication. |
| 2 Chr 5:10 | "There was nothing in the ark except the two tablets which Moses put there..." | Parallel account reinforcing Ark's contents. |
| Ps 78:5-7 | "...He established a testimony in Jacob... that they should put their confidence in God..." | Purpose of the law for future generations. |
| Ps 105:8-11 | "He has remembered His covenant forever, the word which He commanded to a thousand generations... Abraham..." | God's everlasting covenant with patriarchs. |
| Deut 4:13 | "So He declared to you His covenant which He commanded you to perform, the Ten Commandments..." | Covenant revealed as the Ten Commandments. |
| Heb 9:3-4 | "Behind the second veil there was a tabernacle which is called the Holy of Holies, having a gold altar... and the ark of the covenant..." | Ark's location and significance in the Tabernacle. |
| Ex 20:2 | "I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery." | Foundation of the covenant, the Exodus. |
| Ex 25:8 | "Let them construct a sanctuary for Me, that I may dwell among them." | Original purpose of the Tabernacle and Temple. |
| Deut 6:21 | "...The Lord brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand." | Reiterates the power of God's deliverance. |
| Isa 63:11 | "Then His people remembered the ancient days, of Moses. 'Where is He who brought them up from the sea...'" | Remembering the Exodus and God's leading. |
| Jer 3:16 | "And it shall be in those days... 'They will no longer say, 'The ark of the covenant of the Lord.''" | Prophecy of New Covenant surpassing the Ark. |
| Eze 37:26-27 | "I will make a covenant of peace with them; it will be an everlasting covenant... My sanctuary also will be among them." | Future dwelling of God among His people. |
| 2 Cor 3:3 | "Being manifested that you are a letter of Christ... written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts." | New Covenant where law is in the heart. |
| Rom 2:15 | "...They show the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness..." | Internalized law for New Covenant believers. |
| Rev 11:19 | "And the temple of God which is in heaven was opened... and the ark of His covenant was seen in His temple..." | Vision of heavenly Ark, symbolizing eternal covenant. |
1 Kings 8 verses
1 Kings 8 21 Meaning
In 1 Kings 8:21, King Solomon concludes his prayer dedicating the newly built Temple by reaffirming its central purpose: to house the Ark of the Covenant. This Ark, as he states, contains the stone tablets embodying the covenant the Lord established with the Israelite ancestors at Mount Sinai, shortly after their miraculous liberation from slavery in Egypt. This verse underscores the Ark's profound theological significance as the physical representation of God's enduring relationship and His foundational law given to His chosen people, marking the culmination of God's dwelling place among them after their journey.
1 Kings 8 21 Context
1 Kings 8 details the momentous dedication of the first Temple in Jerusalem, built by King Solomon. This chapter marks the culmination of generations of anticipation for a permanent dwelling place for the Lord, initiated by David's vision and finally achieved by Solomon. The verses leading up to verse 21 describe the elaborate procession of the priests bringing the Ark of the Covenant into the Most Holy Place of the Temple. This event is immediately followed by the divine cloud of glory (Shekinah) filling the Temple, signifying God's approval and presence. Solomon's subsequent prayer acknowledges God's faithfulness to His promises made to David, and then articulates the purpose and hope placed upon this sacred structure. Verse 21, specifically, serves as a summary declaration by Solomon regarding the Ark's central placement and its theological significance, linking the new Temple directly back to the foundational acts of God's covenant with Israel at Sinai and the Exodus deliverance. Historically, this act solidifies Jerusalem's religious and political status as the center of Israelite worship, firmly rooted in their covenant relationship with Yahweh. It also implicitly stands against contemporary polytheistic beliefs by emphasizing the exclusive dwelling of the one true God among His people through His established covenant, not through pagan idols.
1 Kings 8 21 Word analysis
- And there: Hebrew: וָֽאָ֣שִׂם (wā’āśim) - "And I placed/put." The conjunction 'and' links this statement to Solomon's previous actions of bringing the Ark into the Temple (1 Ki 8:6). 'There' points to the Most Holy Place (Debir) within the Temple, the specific and sacred location ordained by God, establishing a divine appointment.
- I have set a place: Hebrew: אָשִׂם (āśim) - Qal perfect of the verb שׂוּם (śûm), meaning "to put," "to place," "to appoint." This emphasizes Solomon's direct, purposeful act in obedience to divine command and fulfillment of David's vision, making a permanent residence for the Ark. It is an act of finality and establishment.
- for the ark: Hebrew: לָֽאָר֥וֹן (lā’ārōn) - "for the Ark." This is the Ark of the Covenant, the most sacred artifact of Israel, symbolizing God's throne and presence. It contained the testimony (the law), manna, and Aaron's rod, though at this point only the tablets remained. It was distinct from pagan idol chests; its sacredness was not intrinsic but derived from God's holy presence connected to it.
- in which is: Hebrew: אֲשֶׁר־שָׁ֣ם (ʾăšer-šām) - "which there," or "wherein." This phrase clearly indicates the contents of the Ark, specifically what makes it so pivotal.
- the covenant of the Lord: Hebrew: בְּרִ֣ית יְהוָ֔ה (bərîṯ YHVH) - "covenant of Yahweh." This refers primarily to the two stone tablets containing the Ten Commandments, given at Mount Sinai (Deut 9:9-10). It signifies not merely a legal document but the fundamental relationship and sworn agreement between God and Israel, where God commits to Israel and Israel commits to obey God's laws. Yahweh (YHWH) is the personal, covenantal name of God, emphasizing His relationship with His people.
- which He made: Hebrew: כָּרַת֙ (kāraṯ) - Qal perfect of כָּרַת (kārat), "to cut." This verb is idiomatically used for "making" or "ratifying" a covenant. It references the ancient practice of cutting animals in half when formalizing a covenant (Gen 15:9-18), signifying the dire consequences of breaking the agreement.
- with our fathers: Hebrew: עִם־אֲבֹתֵ֔ינוּ (ʿim-ʾăḇōṯênū) - "with our fathers/ancestors." This broadly refers to the patriarchs (Abraham, Isaac, Jacob) and more specifically, to the generation of Israelites who were brought out of Egypt and received the Law at Sinai, the direct recipients of the Mosaic Covenant. This phrase ties the current generation to God's ancient faithfulness.
- when He brought them: Hebrew: בְּהוֹצִיאֹתָ֞ם (bəhôṣîʾōṯām) - "in His bringing them out," or "when He caused them to go out." This verb (Hiphil participle of יָצָא - yātsa') highlights God as the active agent, the one who powerfully delivered Israel.
- from the land of Egypt: Hebrew: מֵאֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרָֽיִם (mēʾereṣ Miṣrāyim) - "from the land of Egypt." This is the foundational historical event for Israel's identity and their covenant relationship with God. The Exodus proved God's power, His election of Israel, and formed the context for the giving of the Law. It stands as the ultimate act of salvation that obligated Israel to their God.
1 Kings 8 21 Bonus section
The Hebrew word for "ark" (אָר֥וֹן, 'ārōn) is distinct from the ark of Noah (תֵּבָה, tēḇāh). The Ark of the Covenant's design and contents were not human inventions but meticulously specified by God in Exodus 25, emphasizing His divine sovereignty over His own dwelling place and revelation. The phrase "covenant of the Lord" serves as a polemic against pagan beliefs of the time. Unlike the idols of neighboring nations which were manufactured and contained their limited power, Israel's God, Yahweh, was the active agent of salvation (delivering from Egypt) who made a living covenant with His people, revealing His will through words rather than a silent, unmoving idol. The emptiness of the Ark save for the tablets, as confirmed in 1 Kings 8:9, also serves to emphasize that God's presence was tied to His covenant word, not to other relics like manna or Aaron's rod that were temporary signs.
1 Kings 8 21 Commentary
1 Kings 8:21 concisely articulates the theological heart of the Temple and Israel's relationship with God. Solomon's act of setting the Ark in its place within the Temple's Holy of Holies was the culmination of God's dwelling plan, initiated with the Tabernacle. The Ark, housing the covenant tablets, represented God's tangible presence and the foundation of His covenant with Israel. This covenant, established after their miraculous deliverance from Egypt, wasn't just a set of laws, but a bond formed by God's gracious intervention. The Exodus, God's mighty act of salvation, served as the ultimate proof of His power and faithfulness, preceding and forming the basis for the covenant requirements. Thus, the Temple served as a constant reminder that God's presence among His people was conditioned upon His established covenant, which He Himself had initiated and defined through His word, etched in stone. This deep connection between salvation and obedience, between God's gracious initiative and Israel's required response, remains central. While the physical Ark and Temple are no more, the New Covenant, prophesied and fulfilled in Christ, shifts God's dwelling to the believer's heart through the Holy Spirit (John 14:23, 1 Cor 6:19), embodying an even deeper and more personal fulfillment of God's desire to dwell among His people, grounded in the ultimate deliverance through Christ's sacrifice.