1 Kings 8 40

1 Kings 8:40 kjv

That they may fear thee all the days that they live in the land which thou gavest unto our fathers.

1 Kings 8:40 nkjv

that they may fear You all the days that they live in the land which You gave to our fathers.

1 Kings 8:40 niv

so that they will fear you all the time they live in the land you gave our ancestors.

1 Kings 8:40 esv

that they may fear you all the days that they live in the land that you gave to our fathers.

1 Kings 8:40 nlt

Then they will fear you as long as they live in the land you gave to our ancestors.

1 Kings 8 verses

1 Kings 8 40 Meaning

This verse from Solomon’s dedication prayer for the Temple expresses the ultimate purpose of God’s redemptive and responsive actions: that the people of Israel might maintain a reverential "fear" of the Lord. This fear signifies not terror, but profound respect, awe, obedience, and loyal devotion to God. The goal is for this relationship of devotion to persist "all the days" of their lives, ensuring their continuous dwelling and thriving "in the land" that God, in His faithfulness, "gave to their fathers" through an unconditional covenant, yet whose continued possession by Israel was contingent upon their covenantal fidelity.

1 Kings 8 40 Context

1 Kings 8:40 is part of Solomon's extensive prayer of dedication for the newly built Temple in Jerusalem. This prayer occurs after the Ark of the Covenant has been brought into the Most Holy Place, symbolizing God's dwelling among His people. Solomon dedicates the Temple as a house of prayer, a place where the people can seek God’s face, confess their sins, and appeal for His mercy, particularly when facing adversity or judgment for their unfaithfulness. The preceding verses (31-39) outline specific hypothetical scenarios of sin, divine judgment (defeat, drought, famine, plague, exile), and the people's subsequent repentance and prayer towards the Temple. Verse 40 serves as a summary and ultimate purpose for God's anticipated response to these prayers: to re-establish the covenant relationship where Israel reverently obeys God, thereby continuing to dwell securely in the Promised Land given to their ancestors. Historically, Israel had a pattern of disobedience followed by judgment, repentance, and restoration. Solomon’s prayer thus pre-emptively acknowledges this pattern, seeking God's gracious response to repentance with the aim of fostering lasting devotion and ensuring the nation’s security. The Temple stands as a central point for this covenant renewal.

1 Kings 8 40 Word analysis

• that they may fear You (לְיִרְאָה אֹתְךָ - lĕyir'â 'ôtĕḵā):
  • fear: Hebrew yir'â (יִרְאָה). In this biblical context, yir'â goes beyond mere fright. It denotes profound awe, reverence, submission, and ethical obedience. It is an acknowledgment of God's holiness, omnipotence, and covenant Lordship. It includes a deep respect for His commandments and a desire not to offend Him. This is the foundation of true wisdom and relationship with God (e.g., Ps 111:10, Prov 1:7). Solomon is praying for a moral and spiritual transformation that leads to faithful living.
  • You: Direct address to God. Emphasizes the personal and covenantal relationship between God and His people, which fear cultivates.
• all the days (כָּל הַיָּמִים - kol hayyāmîm):
  • all the days: This phrase signifies permanence and continuity. Solomon desires an enduring, life-long, and generational commitment to God, not just a temporary act of piety in times of distress. It is a prayer for sustained faithfulness over time.
• that they live (אֲשֶׁר הֵם חַיִּים - ’ăšer hēm ḥayyîm):
  • live: Hebrew ḥayyîm (חַיִּים). This refers to existence, survival, and flourishing. The capacity to "live" and thrive in the land is directly linked to their fear of God and obedience. It contrasts with death, exile, or removal from the land, which are consequences of disobedience foreseen in the Mosaic covenant (e.g., Deut 28).
• in the land (עַל הָאֲדָמָה - ‘al hā’ădāmâ):
  • the land: Refers specifically to the land of Canaan, the Promised Land. This land is the heart of God’s covenantal promise to Israel’s ancestors. Their continuous dwelling in it symbolizes divine favor and the fulfillment of the covenant. The land is not merely territory but a sign of God's ongoing relationship with His people.
• which You gave to our fathers (אֲשֶׁר נָתַתָּה לַאֲבֹתֵינוּ - ’ăšer nāttattâ la'ăbōṯênû):
  • gave: Hebrew nāttattâ (נָתַתָּה). Emphasizes the land as a gracious gift from God, not something earned or conquered by human might. This highlights God's initiative and faithfulness in the Abrahamic covenant (e.g., Gen 12:7; 15:18).
  • our fathers: Refers to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the patriarchs with whom God established His covenant concerning the land and numerous descendants. This grounds the present reality and future hope of Israel in God's eternal promises to their forefathers, underscoring the foundational nature of God's covenant loyalty despite Israel’s periodic failings.

Words-Group Analysis

• that they may fear You all the days: This phrase expresses the desired spiritual outcome of God's grace and restoration. It is not merely a request for temporary relief from hardship but a profound prayer for enduring, wholehearted commitment and reverence toward God, impacting their entire existence. This "fear" is both the purpose of divine interaction and the condition for continuous blessing.
• that they live in the land which You gave to our fathers: This combines the present existence in the Promised Land with its covenantal origin. It highlights the divine prerogative in granting the land and emphasizes the direct connection between Israel’s moral and spiritual state (their fear of God) and their physical security and flourishing within this sacred inheritance. The implicit contrast is that a lack of God's fear would lead to exile or removal from the land, as warned in the covenant laws.

1 Kings 8 40 Bonus section

This verse offers a succinct summary of covenant theology as understood in the Old Testament, where God's promises of blessing and land tenure are linked to human fidelity and reverence. The concept of "fear of the Lord" serves as a central unifying theme across much of biblical wisdom literature, establishing it as the proper human response to divine revelation and power. Solomon’s prayer also reveals an awareness of Israel's recurring sinfulness, setting the stage for the cycle of sin, judgment, repentance, and restoration that characterizes much of their later history. The prayer is aspirational, recognizing that genuine and lasting spiritual devotion is key to national well-being, implying that when the nation eventually faced exile, it was due to a failure to maintain this deep, covenantal "fear" of God, forfeiting their secured dwelling in the land given to their fathers. This theological principle of conditional tenure, despite an unconditional land promise, is critical to understanding the prophetic messages of judgment and restoration.

1 Kings 8 40 Commentary

1 Kings 8:40 articulates the profound theological link between Israel's obedient reverence for God and their continued tenure in the Promised Land. Solomon’s prayer moves beyond merely asking for God's forgiveness and intervention; it seeks for a lasting, transformative impact on the people’s heart, manifesting as a constant "fear of the Lord." This is not a request for transactional rescue, but for a spiritual condition—reverential obedience—that would secure their covenant blessings. The phrase "all the days" underscores the desire for persistent faithfulness across generations, understanding that the covenant with Abraham (regarding the land as a gift) was unconditional in its promise but the continued enjoyment of that land by subsequent generations was conditional upon their faithfulness to the Mosaic covenant. The Temple, as the spiritual center, thus became not just a place for seeking pardon after sin, but an instrument for cultivating a nation-wide, enduring fear of God, which was essential for the flourishing of their life in the divinely-given inheritance. This verse beautifully synthesizes God's grace (the gift of the land, His willingness to hear prayers) with human responsibility (the sustained fear of God) as the bedrock of Israel’s existence.