1 Kings 8 34

1 Kings 8:34 kjv

Then hear thou in heaven, and forgive the sin of thy people Israel, and bring them again unto the land which thou gavest unto their fathers.

1 Kings 8:34 nkjv

then hear in heaven, and forgive the sin of Your people Israel, and bring them back to the land which You gave to their fathers.

1 Kings 8:34 niv

then hear from heaven and forgive the sin of your people Israel and bring them back to the land you gave to their ancestors.

1 Kings 8:34 esv

then hear in heaven and forgive the sin of your people Israel and bring them again to the land that you gave to their fathers.

1 Kings 8:34 nlt

then hear from heaven and forgive the sin of your people Israel and return them to this land you gave their ancestors.

1 Kings 8 verses

1 Kings 8 34 Meaning

1 Kings 8:34 presents a petition from King Solomon, spoken during the dedication of the Temple. It is a prayer for divine intervention following a specific scenario of national sin and consequence. The verse asks God, in response to Israel's repentance after being defeated by an enemy due to their sin, to forgive them. It further petitions God to restore His people to the land He had given to their ancestors, thus re-establishing their blessed position within the covenant. This highlights God's attributes of forgiveness and restoration in response to human repentance.

1 Kings 8 34 Context

1 Kings chapter 8 recounts the grand dedication of the First Temple in Jerusalem by King Solomon. This monumental event is the culmination of years of preparation and building. Following the bringing of the Ark of the Covenant into the Most Holy Place and the visible manifestation of God's glory (the cloud filling the Temple), Solomon offers a lengthy prayer of dedication (1 Kings 8:22-53). His prayer anticipates various future scenarios in which the people of Israel might face challenges, and he petitions God to hear them when they turn towards the Temple and pray. Verses 33 and 34 form a specific part of this prayer, dealing with the instance where Israel is defeated by an enemy "because they have sinned against You." Verse 33 states the condition: they turn back, confess God's name, and pray in the Temple. Verse 34 presents the requested divine response: forgiveness and restoration to the land. This passage reflects the Deuteronomic theology where obedience leads to blessing in the land, and disobedience leads to curses, including exile, but also promises of restoration upon repentance.

1 Kings 8 34 Word analysis

• "then hear You" (וְשָׁמַעְתָּ֣) - Hebrew: vəshamaʿtā. Shamaʿ (שָׁמַע) means to hear, listen, or obey. In this context, it emphasizes God's active attention and positive response to the people's plea. It is not merely hearing a sound but an attentive and responsive listening that leads to action. This implies God's compassionate engagement.
• "in heaven" (הַשָּׁמַ֙יִם֙) - Hebrew: hashāmayim. Refers to the dwelling place of God, contrasting with the earthly Temple which is His chosen place for His name to dwell among His people. Solomon acknowledges God's transcendent nature, emphasizing that even the Temple cannot contain Him (1 Ki 8:27), yet God is entreated to hear from His exalted abode.
• "and forgive" (וְסָלַחְתָּ֗) - Hebrew: vəsālaḥtā. From salaḥ (סָלַח), specifically meaning "to pardon," "to forgive" (divine forgiveness). This is a uniquely divine act, highlighting God's grace and sovereignty over sin. It means to utterly put away or blot out sin, not just overlook it.
• "the sin" (לְחַטַּ֣את) - Hebrew: ləḥaṭṭāṯ. From chaṭṭaʾṯ (חַטָּאת), meaning "sin," "offense," "transgression." It points to a missing of the mark or a rebellion against God's will. The term often implies an offense that requires atonement or purification.
• "of Your people Israel" (עַמְּךָ֥ יִשְׂרָאֵֽל) - Hebrew: ʿamməḵā Yisraʾel. Highlights the special covenantal relationship between God and His chosen nation. They are "His people," emphasizing divine ownership and care, despite their potential for sin. This connection is fundamental to the plea for forgiveness and restoration.
• "and bring them again" (וַהֲשֵׁבֹתָם֙) - Hebrew: vahăšēḇōṯām. From shuv (שׁוּב), meaning "to turn," "return," "restore." This is a crucial concept in Israel's relationship with God, often associated with repentance (returning to God) and restoration (God returning them to their land/favor). Here it refers to physically bringing them back after exile or displacement.
• "unto the land" (אֶל־הָאָ֗רֶץ) - Hebrew: ʾel hāʾāreṣ. Refers specifically to the Promised Land of Canaan, the geographical space granted by covenant to Abraham and his descendants. The land is integral to Israel's identity and their covenant blessings.
• "which You gave unto their fathers" (אֲשֶׁ֤ר נָתַ֙תָּה֙ לַאֲבֹ֣תֵיהֶֽם) - Hebrew: ʾăšer nāṯattā laʾăḇōṯēhem. Connects the present reality and future hope back to the foundational Abrahamic covenant (Gen 12, 15). The land is not earned but a divine gift, promised and given based on God's faithfulness to His covenant with the patriarchs. This underscores God's unfailing promises despite Israel's failures.

1 Kings 8 34 Bonus section

The parallel account in 2 Chronicles 6:25 echoes this verse almost verbatim, emphasizing the shared theological significance. Crucially, the Lord's response to Solomon's prayer in 2 Chronicles 7:14 directly addresses the conditions for forgiveness and healing of the land: "if My people who are called by My name humble themselves, and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land." This demonstrates the enduring pattern of divine response to human repentance. Solomon's prayer anticipates the future Babylonian Exile and the subsequent return, fulfilling the Deuteronomic covenant curses and blessings. The request for restoration to the land points not only to physical return but also to restoration of national identity, security, and favor with God, symbolizing a renewed relationship grounded in repentance. The repeated mention of "the land which You gave unto their fathers" powerfully reinforces the unchangeable nature of God's covenant promises, which underpin the possibility of Israel's return even after severe disobedience.

1 Kings 8 34 Commentary

1 Kings 8:34 encapsulates a core principle of God's interaction with Israel: His covenant faithfulness tempered by their conditional obedience. Solomon, with profound insight, prays for the future, recognizing that Israel, despite having the Temple, would inevitably sin. This specific plea anticipates national defeat and potential exile due to sin. The Temple, though earthly, is presented as a crucial locus for prayer, acting as a focal point for Israel's turning back to God. The condition for divine forgiveness and restoration is clear: Israel must "turn again to You, and confess Your name, and pray" (v. 33). This emphasis on repentance—a heart turning away from sin and towards God—is foundational. When genuine repentance occurs, God, hearing from His heavenly abode, is faithful to pardon (forgive the sin) and to physically restore His people to the land He so graciously provided. This passage implicitly presents a strong theological polemic against surrounding pagan religions where forgiveness and restoration were often tied to appeasing local deities through rituals, not through genuine repentance to a sovereign, covenant-keeping God who dwells in heaven yet hears prayers from His chosen house. The divine forgiveness and restoration of the land are linked not to Israel's inherent righteousness but to God's mercy and covenant promises.