1 Kings 8 22

1 Kings 8:22 kjv

And Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence of all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth his hands toward heaven:

1 Kings 8:22 nkjv

Then Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence of all the assembly of Israel, and spread out his hands toward heaven;

1 Kings 8:22 niv

Then Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in front of the whole assembly of Israel, spread out his hands toward heaven

1 Kings 8:22 esv

Then Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence of all the assembly of Israel and spread out his hands toward heaven,

1 Kings 8:22 nlt

Then Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in front of the entire community of Israel. He lifted his hands toward heaven,

1 Kings 8 verses

1 Kings 8 22 Meaning

King Solomon stood before the newly dedicated altar of the LORD, in the full view of the assembled nation of Israel, and extended his hands towards the heavens. This act marked the beginning of his profound prayer of dedication for the Temple, publicly affirming God's covenant faithfulness and establishing the Temple as the designated place for Israel's worship, prayer, and encounter with their transcendent God. It was a solemn and public act of a national leader seeking divine favor and blessing.

1 Kings 8 22 Context

This verse is the prelude to Solomon's monumental prayer of dedication for the First Temple, which he had just completed and consecrated to the LORD. Following the miraculous display of God's glory filling the Temple (1 Ki 8:10-11) after the Ark of the Covenant was placed inside, Solomon blesses the assembly of Israel (1 Ki 8:14-21). This act of blessing transitions directly into his posture for the prayer. Historically, this moment marked a high point in Israel's history—the establishment of a central, permanent dwelling for God's Name among His people, fulfilling prophecies and David's desire. The ceremony united the entire nation in worship, with the king serving as the mediator and representative of his people before God.

1 Kings 8 22 Word analysis

• Then (וַיִּתְיַצֵּב, vayyityaṣṣēḇ): A transitional conjunction indicating sequence. It marks a decisive and immediate action following the manifestation of God's glory in the Temple.
• Solomon (שְׁלֹמֹה, Šĕlōmōh): The king of Israel, son of David, divinely chosen to build the Temple (2 Sam 7). His presence underscores the role of leadership in corporate worship and intercession for the nation.
• stood (עָמַד, amad): A posture of respect, reverence, readiness for service, or public address. Unlike sitting or kneeling, standing here emphasizes his formal, public, and active role as a representative of the people addressing God. It signifies an intentional and prepared stance.
• before the altar (לִפְנֵי הַמִּזְבֵּחַ, lifney hammizbēaḥ): Literally "before the altar." This refers to the great bronze altar of burnt offering, situated in the outer court of the Temple (2 Chr 4:1). It was the primary place for making atonement and drawing near to God through sacrifice. His position signifies prayer in the context of atonement and God's covenant. This single altar reinforces monotheism against polytheistic practices involving multiple altars.
• of the LORD (יְהוָה, Yahweh): The sacred, covenantal name of God, revealing His personal relationship with Israel. Solomon's prayer is directed specifically to Israel's covenant God, not generic deities.
• in the presence of (נֶגֶד, neged): "In front of," "opposite," or "in the view of." This highlights the public and communal nature of the prayer. The assembly are not merely spectators but participants, as their leader intercedes for them.
• all the assembly (כָּל קְהַל, kol qahal): "The entire congregation" or "the whole gathered community." This emphasizes the national scope of the event. It was a united act of worship involving all Israel.
• of Israel (יִשְׂרָאֵל, Yisra'el): The chosen people of God, confirming that this event is a national dedication of their most sacred site to their covenant Lord.
• and spread out his hands (וַיִּפְרֹשׂ כַּפָּיו, vayyiphros kappāv): A common biblical gesture of earnest prayer, supplication, or deep dependence upon God. It signifies opening oneself to receive divine grace and expresses fervent yearning, surrender, or a pleading for divine intervention. It's an act of worship inviting God's blessing and presence.
• toward heaven (הַשָּׁמַיִם, haššāmayim): Directing prayer not to an earthly idol or specific geographic point, but to the transcendent God whose dwelling place is heaven. This emphasizes God's omnipresence and sovereignty over all creation, even as He has chosen to place His Name in the Temple (1 Ki 8:27, 30). This is a polemic against the localized or immanent deities of Canaanite religions.

1 Kings 8 22 Bonus section

• King as Mediator: Solomon's role here echoes the priestly functions and foreshadows the ultimate High Priest, Jesus Christ (Heb 4:14-16, 7:25), who perfectly intercedes for His people. While a king, Solomon momentarily steps into a more sacerdotal-like role of mediating a national prayer and blessing, demonstrating that Israel's well-being was inextricably linked to their worship of Yahweh led by their divinely appointed king.
• God's Transcendence vs. Immanence: The direction of prayer "toward heaven" despite the glory filling the Temple highlights a crucial theological tension in Israel's understanding of God: He is both transcendent, dwelling in the highest heavens, and immanent, choosing to dwell (or cause His Name to dwell) among His people in a physical sanctuary. This posture reconciles God's unfathomable glory with His desire for communion with humanity.
• Covenant Fulfillment: This dedication and prayer mark a major step in the fulfillment of God's covenant with David, promising that his son would build a house for God's name (2 Sam 7:13). Solomon's actions are steeped in the understanding that this moment is a culmination of generations of divine promises and human obedience.

1 Kings 8 22 Commentary

1 Kings 8:22 describes a profoundly significant moment in Israel's history and in the biblical narrative of prayer and worship. Solomon's public stance, "standing before the altar of the LORD," symbolizes the intercessory role of the king as the head of the nation. The altar, central to Israel's worship, underscored that any approach to God required atonement and sacrifice, themes fundamental to the covenant. By standing "in the presence of all the assembly of Israel," Solomon's act was not merely personal piety but a national prayer of dedication, uniting the people under a common purpose and reinforcing their collective identity as God's chosen nation. His posture of "spreading out his hands toward heaven" is a timeless, universally understood gesture of earnest appeal, a visual cry for divine attention and blessing. This action directs their communal gaze not inward or earthward to idols, but upward to the one, transcendent God, who, though enthroned in the heavens, would mercifully lend an ear to His people from His chosen house on earth. This verse sets the stage for the substance of Solomon's magnificent prayer, emphasizing that the Temple, while a physical structure, was meant to be a place of earnest, faith-filled encounter with a personal, all-powerful God.