1 Kings 8 33

1 Kings 8:33 kjv

When thy people Israel be smitten down before the enemy, because they have sinned against thee, and shall turn again to thee, and confess thy name, and pray, and make supplication unto thee in this house:

1 Kings 8:33 nkjv

"When Your people Israel are defeated before an enemy because they have sinned against You, and when they turn back to You and confess Your name, and pray and make supplication to You in this temple,

1 Kings 8:33 niv

"When your people Israel have been defeated by an enemy because they have sinned against you, and when they turn back to you and give praise to your name, praying and making supplication to you in this temple,

1 Kings 8:33 esv

"When your people Israel are defeated before the enemy because they have sinned against you, and if they turn again to you and acknowledge your name and pray and plead with you in this house,

1 Kings 8:33 nlt

"If your people Israel are defeated by their enemies because they have sinned against you, and if they turn to you and acknowledge your name and pray to you here in this Temple,

1 Kings 8 verses

1 Kings 8 33 Meaning

When the people of Israel suffer defeat at the hands of their enemies due to their disobedience and sin against God, this verse declares that if they truly humble themselves and return to God, acknowledging His sovereignty, confessing their sin, and earnestly pray for mercy within the consecrated Temple, then God will hear their plea and forgive their transgressions, consequently restoring them to their land. It establishes a pathway for divine restoration through repentance and prayer.

1 Kings 8 33 Context

1 Kings chapter 8 recounts the grand dedication of Solomon's Temple in Jerusalem, a pivotal event in Israelite history. After the Ark of the Covenant is brought into the Most Holy Place and the glory of the Lord fills the Temple, Solomon offers a monumental prayer. This prayer, spanning verses 23-53, serves as a dedicatory petition and outlines the future function of the Temple. It acknowledges God's faithfulness to His covenant promises while also anticipating Israel's future sins and distresses. The specific context of verse 33 is the first of several hypothetical "if... then..." scenarios Solomon presents, laying out the conditions under which God's people might experience judgment (defeat by enemies) but could also seek divine intervention and forgiveness through prayer directed toward the Temple. This framework establishes the Temple not merely as a dwelling place for God, but as the designated center for reconciliation and an appeal for mercy from a righteous God. Historically and culturally, military defeat was seen as a direct consequence of divine displeasure, often due to covenant breaking (as outlined in Deut 28 and Lev 26), underscoring the vital need for repentance and restoration to the land, which was intrinsically tied to their covenant identity and blessings. The prayer inherently emphasizes Yahweh's unique power over all nations and His steadfast love for His covenant people, implicitly standing against any polytheistic notions that other gods could provide deliverance.

1 Kings 8 33 Word analysis

• When your people Israel (בְּהִנָּגֵ֤ף עַמְּךָ֙ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל, bəhinaggef ‘amməḵā yiśrā’ēl):
  • When: Signifies a conditional future event, not necessarily immediate. Solomon is interceding for hypothetical future situations.
  • your people Israel: Emphasizes the covenant relationship. God identifies them as His people, implying a special bond and responsibility on both sides. Despite their sin, the covenant tie remains.
• are defeated before the enemy (בְּהִנָּגֵ֤ף עַמְּךָ֙ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל לִפְנֵי־אֹוְיֵהֶם֙, bəhinaggef ‘amməḵā yiśrā’ēl lippnê-ʾôyēhem):
  • defeated: Hebrew word is נָגַף (nagaf), which means "to strike, smite, afflict, plague." It suggests being struck down or smitten by God's hand, often in the context of divine judgment. This is not mere bad luck but a consequence for breaking covenant.
  • before the enemy: Indicates the direct, visible outcome of the divine striking – being overpowered by foes. This connects to the curses outlined in Deuteronomy for disobedience (Deut 28:25).
• because they have sinned against you, (אֲשֶׁ֣ר יֶֽחֶטְאוּ־לָ֔ךְ ʾăšer yeḥeṭ'ū-lāḵ):
  • because they have sinned: This explicitly states the reason for their defeat. There's no ambiguity; sin against Yahweh is the root cause.
  • sinned: The Hebrew verb is חָטָא (ḥaṭaʾ), meaning "to miss the mark," "to go astray," or "to violate a command." It implies an intentional or unintentional transgression against God's law or covenant.
  • against you: Directly refers to Yahweh. All sin, ultimately, is against God Himself.
• and turn back to you (וְשָׁ֤בוּ אֵלֶ֙יךָ֙, wəšāḇū ’ēleyḵā):
  • turn back: The key word is שׁוּב (šuv), meaning "to turn, return, convert." It signifies repentance—a fundamental change of direction, a spiritual turning away from sin and toward God. This implies not just remorse, but a decisive act of re-allegiance.
• and confess your name (וְהוֹד֤וּ אֶת־שְׁמֶךָ֙, wəhôḏû ’eṯ-šəmēḵā):
  • confess: The Hebrew word is יָדָה (yadah), which can mean "to give thanks," "to praise," or "to confess." In this context, it implies an acknowledgement of God's righteous judgment, an admission of guilt, and a renewed affirmation of allegiance to His sovereign name. It's an open declaration of His truth and justice even in suffering.
  • your name: Refers to God's character, reputation, authority, and presence. To confess His name means to affirm His identity as the one true God, over and above any pagan deities that might have tempted Israel. It's a statement of faith and renewed devotion.
• and pray and plead with you (וְהִתְפַּֽלְלוּ֙ וְהִתְחַנְּנ֣וּ אֵלֶ֔יךָ, wəhiṯpalělū wəhiṯḥannənū ’ēleyḵā):
  • pray: הִתְפַּלֵּל (hitpallēl), derived from פָּלַל (palal), meaning "to intervene, intercede." It denotes earnest communication and seeking God.
  • and plead: הִתְחַנֵּן (hiṯḥannēn), meaning "to show favor," or "to seek favor, plead for mercy." This verb highlights a fervent request for grace and compassion, acknowledging their undeservedness yet trusting in God's mercy. The repetition of verbs emphasizes the depth and sincerity of the supplication.
• in this house (בַּבַּיִ֣ת הַזֶּ֔ה, babbayiṯ hazzeh):
  • in this house: Explicitly refers to the newly dedicated Temple. Solomon consecrated this space as the designated locus for appealing to God, signifying that the Temple was not merely a place of sacrifice but a focal point for the covenant community's prayer and repentance, where God's "name" would dwell and where He would hear from heaven. It reinforces the theological significance of the Temple as the place of mediation.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• When your people Israel are defeated before the enemy because they have sinned against you: This establishes a direct cause-and-effect relationship in the covenant. Military defeat is presented not as a random event, but as a specific consequence of spiritual failure and disloyalty to God. This understanding is foundational to Old Testament theology, notably in the Deuteronomic curses, which warned of such outcomes if Israel deviated from God's commands. It’s a polemic against the idea that defeat is just bad luck or due to a stronger pagan god.
• and turn back to you and confess your name and pray and plead with you in this house: This entire phrase outlines the comprehensive response required for restoration. It details the process of national repentance:
  1. Turning/Returning (shuv): A change of heart and direction away from sin and toward God.
  2. Confession (yadah): A public or private acknowledgement of God's truth, their sin, and His righteousness, reaffirming their allegiance to Him alone.
  3. Earnest Prayer (hitpallēl, hiṯḥannēn): Seeking God’s mercy with humility and persistence.
  4. Direction/Location ("in this house"): Implies the unique mediatorial role of the Temple as the focal point for their petitions, signifying God's designated place for interaction with His people and His special attention to prayers offered there. This entire sequence signifies true and full repentance—from inner conviction to outward action and verbal plea, centered on God's chosen sanctuary.

1 Kings 8 33 Bonus section

The concept of praying towards the Temple (or Jerusalem) in times of distress and exile became a vital spiritual practice for Israelites, particularly evidenced by Daniel in Babylon (Dan 6:10). This practice underscored the belief that God's presence, though omnipresent, had a unique "name-bearing" presence at the Temple, making it the legitimate focal point for appeals, especially for covenant-based reconciliation and restoration. Solomon's foresight in including this scenario in his prayer reveals an understanding of Israel's future struggles with idolatry and covenant infidelity. The "confessing your name" here carries strong polemical implications: it contrasts sharply with the practices of surrounding nations who would invoke their false gods in times of defeat. Israel was called to confess the superiority and mercy of Yahweh, not some local or foreign deity. This specific type of "prayer-answer" conditional promise reflects the prophetic warnings that emphasized repentance and returning to the Lord for deliverance from exile and distress.

1 Kings 8 33 Commentary

1 Kings 8:33 profoundly outlines the divine economy of sin, judgment, and restoration within the covenant between Yahweh and Israel. It asserts that Israel's defeats are directly attributable to their sin, reinforcing the covenantal principle of blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience (Lev 26, Deut 28). The Temple, therefore, is consecrated not just for worship during prosperity, but critically as the divine court where a repentant people can appeal for mercy during adversity. The path to restoration is clearly defined: genuine "turning back" (repentance, shuv) from their sin, openly "confessing God's name" (acknowledging His sovereignty and their guilt, yadah), and "praying and pleading" with earnestness in His designated "house." This structured process ensures that restoration is predicated on a spiritual reorientation and dependence on God, rather than merely ritualistic actions. The verse underscores God's compassion and willingness to forgive and restore His repentant people to their land, even after judgment, demonstrating His faithful commitment to His covenant. It reminds future generations that their ultimate hope, even in the direst circumstances, lay not in military prowess or political alliances, but in their sincere relationship with Yahweh, centered at the Temple.