1 Kings 8 37

1 Kings 8:37 kjv

If there be in the land famine, if there be pestilence, blasting, mildew, locust, or if there be caterpillar; if their enemy besiege them in the land of their cities; whatsoever plague, whatsoever sickness there be;

1 Kings 8:37 nkjv

"When there is famine in the land, pestilence or blight or mildew, locusts or grasshoppers; when their enemy besieges them in the land of their cities; whatever plague or whatever sickness there is;

1 Kings 8:37 niv

"When famine or plague comes to the land, or blight or mildew, locusts or grasshoppers, or when an enemy besieges them in any of their cities, whatever disaster or disease may come,

1 Kings 8:37 esv

"If there is famine in the land, if there is pestilence or blight or mildew or locust or caterpillar, if their enemy besieges them in the land at their gates, whatever plague, whatever sickness there is,

1 Kings 8:37 nlt

"If there is a famine in the land or a plague or crop disease or attacks of locusts or caterpillars, or if your people's enemies are in the land besieging their towns ? whatever disaster or disease there is ?

1 Kings 8 verses

1 Kings 8 37 Meaning

1 Kings 8:37 describes a series of calamitous events that the people of Israel might experience, for which Solomon prays that God would hear their supplications from the Temple. These include natural disasters like famine, pestilence, blight, mildew, and infestations by locusts or grasshoppers, as well as man-made disasters such as siege by an enemy, and a general category of plagues or sicknesses. It presupposes these calamities are not random but divinely permitted or sent, calling the people to confession and repentance towards God, through prayer directed towards His Temple.

1 Kings 8 37 Context

1 Kings 8 details the culmination of Solomon's construction of the Temple in Jerusalem and its dedication. The chapter opens with the solemn transfer of the Ark of the Covenant into the Most Holy Place. A significant moment is the cloud filling the Temple, signifying God's presence. Solomon then blesses the congregation and delivers a powerful prayer of dedication (vv. 22-53). This prayer is highly significant, acting as a theological charter for Israel's future, outlining various circumstances under which the people might pray to God from or towards the Temple, and His expected response. Verse 37 specifically initiates a series of conditional pleas (introduced by "If... then...") covering a comprehensive list of potential national misfortunes, whether natural disasters, military defeat, or widespread disease. These events were recognized as consequences of Israel's covenant disobedience, echoing the blessings and curses outlined in texts like Leviticus 26 and Deuteronomy 28. Solomon's prayer seeks to establish the Temple not just as a dwelling place for God's name, but as a consecrated space for the nation's repentance and divine intervention in times of severe distress, underscoring the conditional nature of God's blessing on Israel.

1 Kings 8 37 Word analysis

• If: The Hebrew word kî (כִּי) here functions as a conditional particle, introducing a series of hypothetical scenarios. It implies a condition-consequence relationship, aligning with the conditional nature of the Mosaic Covenant. This indicates that these calamities are not random occurrences but are linked to the behavior of the people.
• famine: Hebrew raʿav (רָעָב). Denotes a severe scarcity of food, often leading to widespread hunger and death. In biblical context, famine is frequently depicted as a divine judgment (e.g., Amos 4:6) or a natural disaster that God controls (Gen 12:10).
• pestilence: Hebrew dever (דֶּבֶר). Refers to a widespread contagious disease or plague affecting humans or animals. This, too, is often a direct result of God's judgment upon disobedience in the Old Testament (e.g., Ex 9:15, Num 16:46-50, 2 Sam 24:15).
• blight: Hebrew shiddaphon (שִׁדָּפוֹן). This term describes the scorching or blighting of grain by an east wind, causing crops to wither and fail before maturation. It signifies crop destruction by natural means, seen as God's disciplinary hand (Deut 28:22, Hag 2:17).
• mildew: Hebrew yeraqon (יֵרָקוֹן). Refers to the pale yellow color of plants affected by disease, akin to mildew or rust, leading to diminished yield or crop failure. Another form of agricultural devastation, recognized as divine judgment (Deut 28:22).
• locust: Hebrew arbeh (אַרְבֶּה). Refers to the mature, winged locust that swarms and devours all vegetation. One of the most devastating plagues in agricultural societies, extensively used as a metaphor for destruction and as an instrument of divine judgment (Ex 10, Joel 1).
• grasshopper: Hebrew yeleq (יֶלֶק). This word often refers to a particular type of locust, perhaps the 'creeping' or 'licking' locust, often associated with a later stage or another wave of destruction after the primary locust swarm (Jer 51:14, Nah 3:15). Its inclusion alongside 'locust' suggests an exhaustive list of devastating insect infestations.
• if their enemy besieges them in the land of their cities: This phrase points to military defeat and invasion, culminating in a siege. A city's ability to withstand a siege was critical for survival. A siege implies prolonged suffering, starvation, and the eventual fall of the city (Deut 28:52, Jer 52). This type of disaster is distinct from natural calamities but also a severe covenant curse for disobedience.
• whatever plague: Hebrew negaʿ (נֶגַע). A broader term meaning "stroke" or "affliction," encompassing various physical maladies or skin diseases, sometimes with specific theological connotations (like "leprous plagues" in Lev 13-14) or divine visitations of judgment. It signifies a widespread affliction.
• whatever sickness: Hebrew machalah (מַחְלָה). A general term for any illness or disease. While negaʿ can refer to more direct 'strikes' or physical marks, machalah refers to internal sickness, broadening the scope of human suffering envisioned.
• Word-group Analysis:
  • Famine, pestilence, blight, mildew, locust, grasshopper: These words form a cluster of environmental and agricultural disasters, specifically targeted at the produce of the land and human health. This reflects God's control over the natural world and the direct impact of His judgment on human sustenance and well-being. This group directly aligns with covenant curses in Deuteronomy 28:20-22 and 38-42, emphasizing the direct connection between disobedience and suffering.
  • If their enemy besieges them in the land of their cities: This signifies external, political-military conflict leading to national downfall and extreme suffering. It is a distinct category from natural disasters, demonstrating God's sovereignty over nations and their armies (Deut 28:47-57).
  • Whatever plague, whatever sickness: These are general, comprehensive terms for personal or community-wide affliction not explicitly covered by the preceding specific terms. They indicate a complete and exhaustive coverage of all possible human suffering resulting from divine displeasure. This demonstrates Solomon's desire to encompass all forms of distress, implying God's comprehensive sovereignty over all aspects of life and misfortune.

1 Kings 8 37 Bonus section

The series of conditional prayers in 1 Kings 8:31-53 collectively functions as an articulation of the foundational principles for Israel's relationship with Yahweh. This specific verse (v. 37) highlights God's administrative justice, where natural and man-made disasters serve as divine correctives. The inclusion of specific agricultural woes (blight, mildew, locusts, grasshoppers) is particularly resonant for an agrarian society, showing that God's covenant blessings extended directly to the land's fruitfulness. Historically, these curses were indeed fulfilled throughout Israel's history when they deviated from the covenant, serving as tangible warnings before more drastic judgments like exile. Solomon's prayer therefore demonstrates a proactive wisdom, anticipating future challenges and laying the groundwork for how Israel should respond to divine discipline – with confession and reliance on God's mercy accessible through His chosen sanctuary. It reflects a core biblical truth that while God brings judgment, He simultaneously provides a path to redemption through humility and prayer.

1 Kings 8 37 Commentary

1 Kings 8:37 is a pivotal part of Solomon's dedication prayer, deeply rooted in the theology of the Mosaic Covenant. It recognizes that the well-being of the Israelite nation is contingent upon their faithfulness to God's commandments. The specific calamities listed – famine, pestilence, crop failures, insect infestations, military siege, and general sickness – are direct echoes of the curses promised in Leviticus 26 and Deuteronomy 28 for disobedience. Solomon acknowledges that these would not be random unfortunate events, but potential instruments of God's discipline, aimed at bringing His people to repentance.

The genius of Solomon's prayer lies in establishing the Temple not merely as a place of ritual, but as the symbolic center for national repentance and divine intervention. By specifying that people should pray towards or in the Temple during such calamities, he underlines the accessibility of God's mercy through humble appeal to His dwelling place among them. This verse foreshadows the consistent prophetic message: suffering in Israel is often a result of corporate sin, and the path to restoration lies in turning back to the Lord. It sets a theological precedent for God's readiness to hear and heal His land if His people, humbled by judgment, seek Him in genuine repentance, as further elaborated in 2 Chronicles 7:14. The inclusion of such a comprehensive list signifies a deep understanding of human vulnerability and God's all-encompassing sovereignty over both blessing and judgment.