1 Kings 8 28

1 Kings 8:28 kjv

Yet have thou respect unto the prayer of thy servant, and to his supplication, O LORD my God, to hearken unto the cry and to the prayer, which thy servant prayeth before thee to day:

1 Kings 8:28 nkjv

Yet regard the prayer of Your servant and his supplication, O LORD my God, and listen to the cry and the prayer which Your servant is praying before You today:

1 Kings 8:28 niv

Yet give attention to your servant's prayer and his plea for mercy, LORD my God. Hear the cry and the prayer that your servant is praying in your presence this day.

1 Kings 8:28 esv

Yet have regard to the prayer of your servant and to his plea, O LORD my God, listening to the cry and to the prayer that your servant prays before you this day,

1 Kings 8:28 nlt

Nevertheless, listen to my prayer and my plea, O LORD my God. Hear the cry and the prayer that your servant is making to you today.

1 Kings 8 verses

1 Kings 8 28 Meaning

This verse is Solomon's earnest appeal to God, asking Him to pay attentive and responsive regard to his and the nation of Israel's diverse forms of supplication. It emphasizes God's nature as one who listens actively to sincere communication, from structured prayer to an impassioned cry, acknowledging God's sovereignty and personal relationship with His servant.

1 Kings 8 28 Context

1 Kings chapter 8 describes the dedication of the magnificent Temple built by Solomon in Jerusalem. Following the bringing of the Ark of the Covenant into the Holy of Holies and the glory of the Lord filling the Temple, Solomon kneels before the congregation of Israel and offers a lengthy and profound prayer of dedication. Verse 28 serves as the initial and foundational request within this prayer, establishing the core purpose for which Solomon asks God to consider the Temple a focal point: a place from which God would hear the prayers of His people. Historically, the Temple was meant to centralize Israelite worship and provide a designated space for meeting with God, affirming the uniqueness of Yahweh over pagan deities who were often confined to their specific temples or lacked the relational capacity to hear their supplicants. Solomon’s prayer navigates the paradox of God's omnipresence versus His chosen localized presence, laying the theological groundwork for all future petitions from the people.

1 Kings 8 28 Word analysis

• "Yet have regard" (וְשָׁמַעְתָּ - vĕshāmā‘tā): Derived from the root שָׁמַע (shamah), meaning "to hear," but encompassing much more than auditory reception. It signifies listening attentively, understanding, heeding, and most importantly, responding or obeying. Solomon is not asking God simply to detect sound waves but to genuinely incline His ear, consider, and act upon the petitions. It implies divine attentiveness and responsiveness.
• "to the prayer" (אֶל־תְּפִלַּת - 'el-tĕfillat): From the noun תְּפִלָּה (tefillah). This is a general term for prayer, often referring to a formal or structured address to God. It can encompass worship, confession, praise, and petition.
• "of your servant" (עַבְדְּךָ - 'avdekha): "Your servant" here refers specifically to Solomon himself. This phrase humbly positions the king as subordinate to God, recognizing his duty and reliance on divine favor, aligning with the "servant" motif applied to other leaders like David and Moses.
• "and to his plea" (וְאֶל־תְּחִנָּתוֹ - vĕ'el-tĕḥinnātho): From the noun תְּחִנָּה (tĕḥinnāh). This word conveys a more earnest, humble supplication, often implying a petition for favor, mercy, or grace in a time of need. It suggests a more desperate or intense form of appeal compared to a general "prayer."
• "O Lord my God" (יְהוָה אֱלֹהָי - YHWH 'Elohai): This dual address signifies a profound understanding of God's nature. "YHWH" (Lord) refers to the personal, covenantal, and sovereign God of Israel, the revealed Name. "Elohai" (my God) expresses a personal relationship, acknowledging God's unique deity and power applied personally to Solomon and his people.
• "listening" (לִשְׁמֹעַ - lishmōa') This is an infinitive form of shamah, reiterating the main request. The repetition intensifies the plea, emphasizing a continuous, active act of hearing.
• "to the cry" (אֶל־הָרִנָּה - 'el-hārinnāh): From the noun רִנָּה (rinnāh). This term usually signifies a joyful shout or song, but can also denote a loud cry of lament or distress, a fervent outpouring, or an impassioned petition. In this context, it likely refers to a heartfelt, urgent, possibly tearful appeal. It suggests the raw emotion and urgency of human need before God.
• "and to the prayer" (וְאֶל־הַתְּפִלָּה - vĕ'el-hatĕfillāh): A repetition of tefillah. This reiteration, following the more intense "cry," reinforces that all forms of communication, from the structured to the deeply emotional, are brought before God.
• "that your servant prays before you today" (אֲשֶׁר עַבְדְּךָ מִתְפַּלֵּל לְפָנֶיךָ הַיּוֹם - 'ăsher 'avdekha mitpallēl lĕfāneikha hayyōm): This specifies the prayer Solomon is currently uttering during the dedication ceremony. "Before you" emphasizes the direct access to God, acknowledging His immediate presence. "Today" highlights the significance and urgency of this particular moment.

• "Yet have regard... listening to the cry and to the prayer": This phrase group is key. It shows that Solomon’s request is not a simple wish but a plea for God to demonstrate His fundamental character as a God who does not merely hear but actively heeds, understands, and responds to the multifaceted petitions of His people. The range of terms ("prayer," "plea," "cry") showcases the comprehensiveness of divine attention to every expression of human need and worship.
• "the prayer... his plea... the cry... the prayer": This progression indicates the full spectrum of supplication expected from the covenant people. From formal, perhaps communal "prayer" (tefillah) to individual, humble "plea" (tĕḥinnāh) born of specific need, and then to the impassioned, fervent "cry" (rinnāh), followed by a return to general "prayer." This demonstrates that all these sincere expressions are welcome and sought by God.
• "O Lord my God... your servant": This repeated relationship dynamic underscores the nature of prayer: a humble, personal address from the worshiper (king or commoner) to the sovereign, covenant-keeping God. It establishes the proper posture of reverence, trust, and submission.

1 Kings 8 28 Bonus section

• Transcendence and Immanence: Solomon, immediately prior to this verse (1 Ki 8:27), acknowledges God's omnipresence—that heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain Him. Yet, he pleads for God to condescend and reside in the Temple specifically to hear prayer. This isn't a contradiction but a theological masterpiece demonstrating God's infinite nature yet His willingness to choose a particular locus of divine-human interaction for the benefit of His people.
• A Polemic against Paganism: This prayer subtly challenges contemporary pagan beliefs. Pagan gods were often confined to their idols or specific shrines, believed to be appeased by mechanical rituals or material sacrifices. Yahweh, however, is presented as transcendent yet personally engaged, actively listening and responding to heartfelt, varied communication, distinguishing Him sharply from localized or unresponsive deities.
• The Foundation for Future Petitions: This introductory verse is crucial because it validates all the specific scenarios of distress and repentance that Solomon subsequently outlines in his prayer (e.g., drought, defeat, plague). The effectiveness of any prayer offered from or towards the Temple relies entirely on God first committing to "have regard" and be "listening."
• Foreshadowing of Christ as the ultimate 'Temple': While Solomon asks God to incline His ear to the physical Temple, the New Testament reveals Jesus as the true and ultimate Temple (Jn 2:19-21, Rev 21:22), the singular point of encounter where God perfectly meets humanity. Solomon's desire for direct divine listening is ultimately fulfilled in Christ, through whom believers have direct, unhindered access to God's presence and hearing.

1 Kings 8 28 Commentary

1 Kings 8:28 is not merely a request for God to hear; it is a profound declaration of God's character as One who is actively attentive and responsive to His people. Solomon understands that the Temple, as God's chosen dwelling place, would primarily serve as a spiritual focal point for communication. By specifying "prayer," "plea," and "cry," he covers the full spectrum of human communication with the Divine—from structured liturgy to desperate, raw outpourings of the heart. The very foundation of the Temple's purpose is therefore rooted in the belief that God cares intimately for the petitions of His "servant" and, by extension, His people. This verse sets the tone for the remainder of Solomon's prayer, where specific situations are laid out for God's merciful intervention, all resting on the foundational hope that God will genuinely "have regard" and be "listening." It teaches that true worship is not just ritual but heartfelt, direct, and trusting communication with a personal God. This remains foundational for Christian faith today, as believers are called to draw near to God's throne of grace with confidence, knowing He listens and responds through Christ.