1 Kings 8 44

1 Kings 8:44 kjv

If thy people go out to battle against their enemy, whithersoever thou shalt send them, and shall pray unto the LORD toward the city which thou hast chosen, and toward the house that I have built for thy name:

1 Kings 8:44 nkjv

"When Your people go out to battle against their enemy, wherever You send them, and when they pray to the LORD toward the city which You have chosen and the temple which I have built for Your name,

1 Kings 8:44 niv

"When your people go to war against their enemies, wherever you send them, and when they pray to the LORD toward the city you have chosen and the temple I have built for your Name,

1 Kings 8:44 esv

"If your people go out to battle against their enemy, by whatever way you shall send them, and they pray to the LORD toward the city that you have chosen and the house that I have built for your name,

1 Kings 8:44 nlt

"If your people go out where you send them to fight their enemies, and if they pray to the LORD by turning toward this city you have chosen and toward this Temple I have built to honor your name,

1 Kings 8 verses

1 Kings 8 44 Meaning

This verse from Solomon's dedication prayer outlines a specific scenario where God's people go to war, not on their own accord, but "by whatever way You send them." It stipulates that when they pray to the Lord, directing their plea toward Jerusalem, the city God chose, and specifically toward the Temple built for His name, God should hear their prayer from heaven and grant them victory. This emphasizes divine authorization for conflict and the Temple's crucial role as the focal point for Israel's petitions for success.

1 Kings 8 44 Context

1 Kings chapter 8 recounts the joyous dedication of Solomon's Temple. After the Ark of the Covenant is brought into the Most Holy Place and the glory of the Lord fills the house, Solomon pronounces a blessing on the assembly and then offers an expansive dedication prayer. This prayer spans various hypothetical future scenarios where Israel might find themselves in distress—defeat by an enemy, drought, famine, plague, or even exile—and petitions God to hear their prayers if they turn toward the newly built Temple. Verse 44 falls within a section where Solomon envisions the people going out to battle against their enemies. Historically, this prayer grounds the people's future hope in the established covenant with God and His dwelling place among them, providing a framework for approaching Him in all circumstances, especially in the context of divinely-sanctioned warfare where victory was dependent on God's intervention.

1 Kings 8 44 Word analysis

• If your people go out to battle (כִּי־יֵצֵא עַמְּךָ לַמִּלְחָמָה - ki yetze ammekha lammilchamah):
  • ki yetze: The phrase implies a contingent "when" or "if," anticipating future conflicts rather than presuming their immediate occurrence. It refers to the people going out (יֵצֵא), often an active, offensive posture, suggesting a direct engagement in war.
  • ammekha: "Your people" underscores the unique covenant relationship between Israel and Yahweh. They are not merely an ethnic group but "God's people," subject to His commands and promises.
  • lammilchamah: "To war." Warfare was a constant reality in the ancient Near East. For Israel, many conflicts were framed as holy wars, sanctioned and often commanded by God.
• against their enemy, (עַל־אֹיְבֹו - al oyeḇōw):
  • oyeḇōw: "Their enemy" is a generic term, but in the context of the covenant, it refers to those who stand against God's purposes for His people. God's enemies were often Israel's enemies.
• by whatever way you send them, (בַּדֶּרֶךְ אֲשֶׁר תִּשְׁלָחֵם - badderekh asher tishlachēm):
  • asher tishlachēm: This is a crucial qualifier, emphasizing God's initiative. It means "that You send them." It is not simply Israel initiating war, but fighting in a manner or direction appointed by God. This concept is vital; it transforms warfare from human endeavor into a divinely mandated mission, where victory relies on God's empowerment, not human might. It is distinct from fighting an unsanctioned war, reinforcing God's sovereignty over national conflicts.
• and they pray to the Lord (וְהִתְפַּלְלוּ אֶל־יְהוָה - vehithpallalu el YHWH):
  • vehithpallalu: "And they pray/intercede." This Hithpael form indicates a reflexive or intensive action of prayer, showing earnest supplication. It implies a conscious, deliberate turning to God for help. This prayer is not a magical rite but an act of dependent faith and recognition of God's power.
  • YHWH: The divine covenant name of God, indicating that the prayer is addressed to the specific, personal God of Israel, not any deity.
• toward the city that you have chosen (דֶּרֶךְ הָעִיר אֲשֶׁר בָּחַרְתָּ בָּהּ - derekh ha'ir asher bakharta bah):
  • derekh ha'ir: "Towards the city." This specifies Jerusalem as the direction of prayer. This practice roots prayer physically to a divinely consecrated geographical location.
  • asher bakharta bah: "That You have chosen in it." This refers to Jerusalem, identified as the unique place where God chose to place His Name and dwell among His people (Psa 132:13-14). This divine election elevates Jerusalem as the legitimate and promised center for approaching God.
• and the house that I have built for your name, (וְהַבַּיִת אֲשֶׁר בָּנִיתִי לִשְׁמֶךָ - vehabbayit asher baniti lishmekha):
  • vehabbayit: "And the house," referring explicitly to the Temple. It is the physical manifestation of God's presence among His people, serving as the central hub for worship, sacrifice, and prayer.
  • lishmekha: "For Your name." This is profoundly significant. The Temple was not built to contain God, who cannot be limited by human structures (1 Kgs 8:27), but rather as a place where God's Name would dwell. "God's Name" signifies His character, authority, active presence, and reputation. Prayer directed towards "His Name" means appealing to who He is, His promises, and His active intervention. It also signifies that God's honor and glory are connected to this place.
• Words-Group Analysis:
  • "If your people go out to battle against their enemy, by whatever way you send them,": This segment highlights divine authorization for warfare. For Israel, military campaigns were not solely political or strategic maneuvers but often responses to divine command or a perceived threat to God's covenant purposes. Victory was contingent on God's initiative and leading. This directly contrasts with reliance on human strength, advocating dependence on God even in the practical realm of warfare.
  • "and they pray to the Lord toward the city that you have chosen and the house that I have built for your name,": This clause specifies the essential act of faith and the focal point of prayer. Praying toward Jerusalem and the Temple was not a superstitious ritual but a symbolic acknowledgment of God's chosen dwelling place among them and the covenant relationship symbolized by His presence there. It affirmed that their access to God was tied to His designated holy space and His covenant promises revealed through His "Name." The physical direction reinforced spiritual orientation towards God's specific revelation.

1 Kings 8 44 Bonus section

• The concept of praying toward a sacred location or toward Jerusalem endured long after the first Temple's destruction and even after the second Temple. This is famously exemplified by Daniel praying three times a day with his windows open toward Jerusalem (Dan 6:10), despite being in exile and the Temple in ruins. This demonstrated that the theological principle of the Temple as the designated place for prayer remained potent, illustrating that the spiritual orientation superseded the immediate physical presence.
• The phrase "for Your Name" recurs throughout Solomon's prayer (1 Kgs 8:16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 29, 33, 35, 42, 43, 44, 48), signifying that the Temple was consecrated not to limit God, but as a dwelling place for His active, saving presence, where He makes Himself known. It's an expression of His commitment to His people and His willingness to interact with them on His own terms.
• The emphasis on God sending them to battle highlights the difference between unprovoked aggression and divinely-mandated actions in ancient Israel. For Israel, the success in battle was never simply about military might but about obedience to God and His active intervention (Deut 20:4, Zech 4:6). This point subtly serves as a polemic against pagan notions where victory was attributed solely to the strength of armies or the capriciousness of local deities; for Israel, victory was solely the Lord's.

1 Kings 8 44 Commentary

1 Kings 8:44 encapsulates a vital aspect of Israel's relationship with God under the Old Covenant: that even in matters of war, their success was entirely dependent on His divine will and active involvement. Solomon's petition confirms that the Temple was meant to be the locus of prayer for all situations, including national defense. The requirement that the battle be "sent by God" means the conflict must align with His purpose, transforming a secular conflict into a divinely sanctioned mission. Praying towards the Temple was an act of faith, acknowledging God's unique presence in Jerusalem through His "Name," signifying His very character and authority residing there. This isn't about the physical building possessing magical power, but rather the Temple serving as a tangible focal point for accessing the spiritual reality of God's covenant promises and His ear in heaven, assuring Israel that when they honored God and sought His will, even in dire circumstances, He would listen and act.