1 Kings 8 26

1 Kings 8:26 kjv

And now, O God of Israel, let thy word, I pray thee, be verified, which thou spakest unto thy servant David my father.

1 Kings 8:26 nkjv

And now I pray, O God of Israel, let Your word come true, which You have spoken to Your servant David my father.

1 Kings 8:26 niv

And now, God of Israel, let your word that you promised your servant David my father come true.

1 Kings 8:26 esv

Now therefore, O God of Israel, let your word be confirmed, which you have spoken to your servant David my father.

1 Kings 8:26 nlt

Now, O God of Israel, fulfill this promise to your servant David, my father.

1 Kings 8 verses

1 Kings 8 26 Meaning

This verse captures King Solomon's earnest plea to God during the dedication of the newly built Temple in Jerusalem. He implores the God of Israel to demonstrate His unchanging faithfulness by fulfilling the specific promise made to his father, David, concerning the enduring legacy of his royal line. It is a moment of deep reliance on God's covenant fidelity.

1 Kings 8 26 Context

1 Kings 8:26 is part of King Solomon's extensive prayer of dedication at the consecration of the Jerusalem Temple. This prayer, delivered after the Ark of the Covenant has been brought into the Most Holy Place, acknowledges God's omnipresence and faithfulness. Specifically, this verse comes after Solomon has praised God for fulfilling His promise to David regarding the Temple's construction through Solomon himself. Now, Solomon appeals for the continuation of that faithfulness, asking God to uphold the part of the covenant related to David's dynastic lineage. The historical context is a golden age for Israel, with a completed Temple serving as a visible symbol of God's dwelling among His people and the fulfillment of past promises.

1 Kings 8 26 Word analysis

• Now therefore (והעתה - ve'attah): This conjunction serves as a transitional marker. It bridges the preceding acknowledgment of God's faithfulness (in allowing the Temple's completion) to the present, immediate request for future fulfillment of the Davidic covenant. It implies a logical progression: "Since you have been faithful in this, now please be faithful in that."
• O God of Israel (יהוה אלהי ישראל - Yahweh Elohei Yisrael): This is a profound and specific title for the Almighty. "Yahweh" (the LORD) signifies the personal, covenant-keeping, unchangeable God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. "Elohei" (God of) signifies supreme authority and possession, underscoring His unique, covenantal relationship with the nation of Israel. Solomon's appeal is rooted in this exclusive divine identity.
• let thy word (דברך - devar'echa): Refers directly to God's divine pronouncements, specifically the Davidic Covenant as recorded in 2 Samuel 7 and 1 Chronicles 17. It's not a general thought or aspiration, but a powerful, binding utterance from the Almighty. In the Hebrew Bible, God's "word" is inherently effective, carrying inherent power to accomplish what it declares (Isa 55:11).
• be verified (תאמן - te'amen): Derived from the Hebrew root אמן (amen), meaning to be firm, stable, trustworthy, faithful, or confirmed. Solomon is asking God to make His word proven or established in reality. It's a plea for God to act in such a way that the truth and reliability of His promise become undeniably evident. It's akin to asking God to say "Amen" to His own promise, establishing its veracity.
• which thou spakest (אשר דברת - asher dibbarta): Emphasizes that the promise originated directly and verbally from God. This direct divine utterance guarantees its truthfulness and authority, forming the foundation of Solomon's bold petition. It is not a human supposition, but a divine declaration.
• unto thy servant David my father (אל עבדך דוד אבי - el avdekha David avi):
  • thy servant (עבדך - avdekha): Designates David as one chosen and dedicated to God's service, implying both humility and a unique privileged status. This status made David the proper recipient of such a momentous covenant.
  • David my father (דוד אבי - David avi): Solomon grounds his prayer in his direct lineage to David. He presents himself not merely as a king, but as David's son, appealing to God's prior engagement and promise to his family. This link is vital for the Davidic covenant's fulfillment through the royal line.

1 Kings 8 26 Bonus section

This prayer implicitly confronts the prevalent pagan beliefs of the time. Unlike the capricious and unreliable deities of surrounding nations, the God of Israel is presented as absolutely faithful and true to His promises. The concept of His "word" being "verified" stands in stark contrast to the shifting or empty pronouncements associated with idols, demonstrating Yahweh's unique control over history and succession. Furthermore, while the Davidic covenant had unconditional aspects concerning the ultimate establishment of the Messiah's kingdom (Isa 9:6-7), it also contained conditional elements tied to the obedience of David's descendants (1 Kgs 9:4-7). Solomon's prayer here, made during a moment of high obedience, seeks God's continuing favor for the conditional aspects, understanding that human responsibility is intertwined with divine promise.

1 Kings 8 26 Commentary

Solomon's prayer in 1 Kings 8:26 is a powerful act of faith, appealing directly to God's unassailable character. Having just witnessed the fulfillment of God's promise regarding the Temple, he now extends his faith to the further aspect of the Davidic covenant: the perpetuation of David's dynasty. This highlights a foundational biblical principle: God's faithfulness to His word is the bedrock of His people's hope and security. Solomon's specific request for God's "word to be verified" reveals that faith is not passive waiting, but active engagement, holding God to His own promises. It is a model for prayer, demonstrating reliance on divine fidelity as the basis for all petitions, with ultimate fulfillment found in Christ, the greater Son of David.