1 Kings 8 24

1 Kings 8:24 kjv

Who hast kept with thy servant David my father that thou promisedst him: thou spakest also with thy mouth, and hast fulfilled it with thine hand, as it is this day.

1 Kings 8:24 nkjv

You have kept what You promised Your servant David my father; You have both spoken with Your mouth and fulfilled it with Your hand, as it is this day.

1 Kings 8:24 niv

You have kept your promise to your servant David my father; with your mouth you have promised and with your hand you have fulfilled it?as it is today.

1 Kings 8:24 esv

you have kept with your servant David my father what you declared to him. You spoke with your mouth, and with your hand have fulfilled it this day.

1 Kings 8:24 nlt

You have kept your promise to your servant David, my father. You made that promise with your own mouth, and with your own hands you have fulfilled it today.

1 Kings 8 verses

1 Kings 8 24 Meaning

Solomon declares before the newly dedicated Temple that the God of Israel has flawlessly kept the specific promise made to his father, King David. The construction and completion of the Temple, by Solomon himself, serves as the tangible evidence of this divine faithfulness, openly manifested on that very day through God's powerful hand. It signifies the absolute reliability of God's spoken word.

1 Kings 8 24 Context

This verse is part of Solomon’s dedicatory prayer for the Temple in Jerusalem (1 Kgs 8:22-53). Following the solemn processional bringing the Ark of the Covenant into the Temple (1 Kgs 8:1-13) and his blessing of the assembly (1 Kgs 8:14-21), Solomon acknowledges the mighty work God has accomplished. Specifically, verses 15 and 20 highlight God's fulfillment of His word concerning David and the building of the Temple. Verse 24 is a further and distinct declaration of this precise fulfillment within the grand scope of God’s covenant with David, as he now looks toward God and expresses the truth of this historical moment. Historically, the Temple was the culmination of Israel’s desire for a central place of worship, promised centuries earlier, and for David, a desire to build a "house" for God's Name. Culturally, in the ancient Near East, the stability and integrity of a god were often reflected in the deeds of their worshippers and the physical manifestations of their power. Solomon's declaration stands in polemic contrast to the caprice or impotence of pagan deities, highlighting Yahweh's dependable character and His active intervention in history to fulfill His openly declared intentions.

1 Kings 8 24 Word analysis

• You have kept: Hebrew: shamar (שָׁמַר). Meaning: to guard, preserve, observe, perform, attend to. Signifies not merely acknowledging but diligently maintaining and performing. God carefully observed and executed His promise.
• what You promised: Hebrew: asher dibbarta (אֲשֶׁר דִּבַּרְתָּ). Meaning: "that which You spoke." Emphasizes the origin of the promise in God's explicit verbal declaration. God’s spoken word is the foundation.
• Your servant David my father: Hebrew: l’avdekha David avi (לְעַבְדְּךָ דָּוִד אָבִי). Identifies the recipient of the specific covenant and the direct familial link to Solomon, legitimizing his position as builder. David's relationship as God's "servant" implies faithful devotion and thus divine favor.
• You have fulfilled it: Hebrew: vatta'as (וַתַּעַשׂ) from the root ‘asah (עָשָׂה). Meaning: to make, do, perform, accomplish. This highlights God’s active role in bringing the promise into reality. It’s not just a word, but a deed.
• this day: Hebrew: kayyom hazzeh (כַּיּוֹם הַזֶּה). Meaning: "as this day." Emphasizes the immediate, visible, and concrete nature of the fulfillment. It’s a historical event, verifiable in the present moment, witnessed by all.
• with Your hand: Hebrew: b'yadeka (בְּיָדְךָ). Meaning: "by Your hand." A common anthropomorphism representing God's active power, direct involvement, and effective agency. It underscores that this fulfillment is not coincidental or by human strength, but sovereignly brought about by God Himself.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "You have kept what You promised": This phrase directly speaks to God’s fidelity and trustworthiness. It affirms that God is not like humans, who might make promises they cannot or will not keep. His divine integrity is absolute. This sets Him apart from the fickle deities of surrounding cultures.
• "Your servant David my father": Establishes the specific covenant in view—the Davidic Covenant (2 Sam 7). It grounds God’s actions in His pre-existing commitment to David and his royal line. Solomon honors both God and his father in this statement.
• "You have fulfilled it this day with Your hand": This is the core declaration of performance. The fulfillment is not conceptual but concrete and contemporary ("this day"). The "hand of God" powerfully signifies that this magnificent achievement is His doing, not human strength or ingenuity, despite human labor. It’s divine intervention making the promise tangible.
• "as it is today": Reinforces the "this day" and visually affirms the tangible reality. It is a demonstrable, present fact for all to witness, emphasizing the reliability of God's Word through evident action.

1 Kings 8 24 Bonus section

• Divine Polemic: Solomon’s clear declaration of God's perfect promise-keeping contrasts sharply with the unpredictable and often deceptive nature attributed to pagan gods of the ancient world. Yahweh demonstrates unwavering faithfulness and purposeful action in history, which pagan deities could not claim.
• Foreshadowing Christ: The Temple built by Solomon, the "son of David," foreshadows Jesus Christ. Jesus is the ultimate "Son of David" (Lk 1:32) who builds the spiritual temple, the Church (Eph 2:20-22), and reigns eternally on God's throne (Rev 22:3-5). Thus, God's promise to David is ultimately fulfilled and expanded through Christ's redemptive work, not just in Solomon.
• Covenant Affirmation: This verse serves as a crucial affirmation of the Davidic Covenant. The physical Temple acts as a visual seal of the reliability of God's covenant with David, giving assurance that the promises regarding his perpetual dynasty (even though conditional elements remained) would ultimately hold true.

1 Kings 8 24 Commentary

1 Kings 8:24 is a profound declaration by King Solomon at the zenith of his reign, a theological statement underscoring the absolute faithfulness of the God of Israel. Standing before the newly dedicated Temple, Solomon affirms that God has precisely and punctually fulfilled the promise made to his father, David (2 Sam 7). This verse is more than mere acknowledgement; it is an ecstatic recognition of divine truthfulness embodied in physical structure. The completion of the Temple—a house for God’s name—is presented as irrefutable evidence that God's word is efficacious and immutable. The emphasis on "this day" highlights the historical reality and present visibility of this fulfillment. Moreover, "with Your hand" signifies that God is not a passive spectator but an active agent who powerfully brings His promises to pass. This profound display of divine fidelity served not only as validation for David’s covenant but also as a powerful encouragement for future generations of Israel, solidifying trust in a God who speaks and then sovereignly acts to accomplish His Word.