1 Kings 8 31

1 Kings 8:31 kjv

If any man trespass against his neighbor, and an oath be laid upon him to cause him to swear, and the oath come before thine altar in this house:

1 Kings 8:31 nkjv

"When anyone sins against his neighbor, and is forced to take an oath, and comes and takes an oath before Your altar in this temple,

1 Kings 8:31 niv

"When anyone wrongs their neighbor and is required to take an oath and they come and swear the oath before your altar in this temple,

1 Kings 8:31 esv

"If a man sins against his neighbor and is made to take an oath and comes and swears his oath before your altar in this house,

1 Kings 8:31 nlt

"If someone wrongs another person and is required to take an oath of innocence in front of your altar in this Temple,

1 Kings 8 verses

1 Kings 8 31 Meaning

This verse initiates a specific plea within Solomon's dedicatory prayer for the Temple. It addresses a scenario where an individual has sinned against a neighbor and the truth of the transgression is disputed. To resolve the matter, an oath is administered, bringing the issue directly before God's presence, symbolized by the altar within the newly dedicated Temple, invoking divine judgment and witness to establish truth.

1 Kings 8 31 Context

1 Kings chapter 8 recounts the magnificent dedication of Solomon's Temple, the spiritual and administrative heart of Israel. Following the ark's placement and the descent of God's glory, Solomon leads a profound prayer. This prayer, spanning verses 23-53, is not merely a request but a theological statement and a series of specific petitions covering various future scenarios Israel might face. Verse 31 specifically addresses a critical situation within the Israelite justice system: a disputed claim between neighbors involving a sin, where human testimony or evidence is insufficient, necessitating a direct appeal to God. The Temple, housing the altar, is presented as the divinely appointed locus for seeking truth and divine judgment in such difficult legal and interpersonal conflicts.

1 Kings 8 31 Word analysis

• If anyone sins (וְכִֽי־יֶחֱטָ֥א - Vechi-yecheta):
  • יֶחֱטָא (y-ḥe-ṭā) from חָטָא (chata), meaning "to miss the mark," "to go astray," "to err," and by extension, "to sin" or "offend." It implies a moral failing or transgression against a standard.
  • Significance: Highlights the subject matter as an offense or wrongdoing, not just a simple disagreement, requiring a moral resolution.
• against his neighbor (עַל־רֵעֵ֖הוּ - ‘al-rē‘ēhū):
  • רֵעֵהוּ (rē‘ēhū) from רֵעַ (re'a), meaning "friend," "companion," "fellow," or "neighbor."
  • Significance: Emphasizes interpersonal relationships and social harmony within the Israelite community, grounding the sin in its relational context. Transgression against a neighbor is a common biblical concern (e.g., Ten Commandments).
• and is put under oath to swear (וְנָֽשָׂא־ב֖וֹ אָלָ֥ה לְהַשְׁבִּיעֽוֹ - venasa-bo alah l'hashbi'o):
  • נָשָׂא (nasa): "to take," "to bear."
  • אָלָה (alah): "an oath," often carrying the connotation of a "curse" or imprecation upon oneself if one swears falsely. It's a solemn vow.
  • לְהַשְׁבִּיעוֹ (l'hashbi'o) from שָׁבַע (shava'), meaning "to swear," "to take an oath," specifically making one's self bound as if by sevenfold completion or commitment. It's the causative form, meaning "to make one swear" or "to administer an oath to him."
  • Significance: Describes the formal legal process where an oath is required, usually because evidence is lacking or disputed. The serious nature of an oath (with a self-imposed curse if false) underscores the gravity of the situation and the reliance on divine justice. It suggests the person is being compelled or agreeing to testify under divine scrutiny.
• and the oath comes before your altar (וּבָ֤א אָלָתוֹ֙ לִפְנֵ֣י מִזְבַּחֲךָ֔ - uvavo alato lifnei mizbaḥaka):
  • בָּא (ba): "to come," "to enter."
  • אָלָה (alah): (as above) "oath."
  • לִפְנֵי (lifnei): "before the face of," "in the presence of."
  • מִזְבַּחֲךָ (mizbaḥaka): "your altar." From מִזְבֵּחַ (mizbeach), the "altar," the place of sacrifice, purification, and divine presence. Here, specifically the large bronze altar in the Temple courtyard.
  • Significance: This is crucial. It designates the Temple altar as the designated place for the oath to be uttered and for God to act as a witness and judge. It emphasizes that this is not just a human legal process but a direct appeal to divine justice and truth-revealing power. The altar, though primarily for sacrifice, here serves as the point of direct interface between man's dispute and God's judgment.
• in this house (בַּבַּ֥יִת הַזֶּֽה - babbayiṯ hazzeh):
  • בַּבַּיִת (babbayiṯ): "in the house," specifically referring to the Temple building.
  • הַזֶּה (hazzeh): "this," indicating the recently dedicated Temple.
  • Significance: Explicitly links the prayer and the judicial process to the newly consecrated Temple. It signifies that God's presence, though omnipresent, is specially manifest here, making the Temple the center for receiving divine judgment and intercession in human affairs.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "If anyone sins against his neighbor": This phrase defines the specific type of conflict requiring divine arbitration: an interpersonal sin where one person has wronged another. This covers a broad range of transgressions, both material and moral, emphasizing communal responsibility.
• "and is put under oath to swear": This describes the procedural necessity. It implies that standard legal methods have reached their limit or that the nature of the sin requires a direct appeal to conscience, attested to by God. It shows the societal mechanism for addressing hidden wrongs. The oath's administration by judicial authorities points to the legal recognition of the Temple's role.
• "and the oath comes before your altar in this house": This highlights the Temple's pivotal role as a sanctuary of justice and truth. It is not just any place but "your altar in this house," signifying God's direct involvement. The oath is brought to God, placing the responsibility for its veracity on the one swearing and the responsibility for uncovering the truth on God himself, appealed to through His designated sanctuary. It underlines the Temple as a place where hidden truths are to be unveiled by divine agency.

1 Kings 8 31 Bonus section

The concept of God's presence at the altar to arbitrate oaths underscores Israel's covenant relationship. In ancient Near Eastern cultures, deities often served as witnesses to treaties and oaths; for Israel, this uniquely centered on Yahweh. This prayer anticipates practical applications of the Temple's sanctity beyond just ceremonial worship. It implies a recognition of the Temple as a point of divine interface, even in the minutiae of human disputes, signaling God's active involvement in maintaining justice and integrity within His covenant community. The call for an oath to "come before your altar" points to the belief that the physical space consecrated to God carries an intrinsic spiritual weight that could induce truth-telling or expose lies through divine judgment.

1 Kings 8 31 Commentary

1 Kings 8:31 lays the foundation for a key function of the Solomonic Temple: to serve as a beacon of divine justice and a court of final appeal in cases where human discernment fails. When an individual has wronged a neighbor and the truth of the transgression is obscured or denied, the ultimate resort is an oath before the Lord. This verse emphasizes the deep societal and spiritual significance of oaths in ancient Israel – they were not mere formalities but solemn invocations of God as witness and judge. By bringing the oath to the altar, the center of Israel's covenant worship, Solomon appeals to God's inherent omniscience and righteousness, trusting Him to expose falsehood or affirm truth where human means are inadequate. It acknowledges human fallibility in judgment and highlights the necessity of divine intervention for perfect justice, reinforcing the principle that all truth and righteousness ultimately derive from the Almighty. The Temple thus functioned not only as a place of sacrifice and prayer but also as the ultimate court of appeal for community integrity and dispute resolution.