1 Kings 8 46

1 Kings 8:46 kjv

If they sin against thee, (for there is no man that sinneth not,) and thou be angry with them, and deliver them to the enemy, so that they carry them away captives unto the land of the enemy, far or near;

1 Kings 8:46 nkjv

"When they sin against You (for there is no one who does not sin), and You become angry with them and deliver them to the enemy, and they take them captive to the land of the enemy, far or near;

1 Kings 8:46 niv

"When they sin against you?for there is no one who does not sin?and you become angry with them and give them over to their enemies, who take them captive to their own lands, far away or near;

1 Kings 8:46 esv

"If they sin against you ? for there is no one who does not sin ? and you are angry with them and give them to an enemy, so that they are carried away captive to the land of the enemy, far off or near,

1 Kings 8:46 nlt

"If they sin against you ? and who has never sinned? ? you might become angry with them and let their enemies conquer them and take them captive to their land far away or near.

1 Kings 8 verses

1 Kings 8 46 Meaning

This verse opens a hypothetical scenario within Solomon's prayer of dedication for the Temple, acknowledging the fundamental truth that all humanity is prone to sin. It outlines the inevitable consequence of such sin: divine anger and the subsequent judgment of being delivered into the hands of enemies, resulting in the people's deportation and captivity to a foreign land, regardless of its proximity. It sets the stage for a plea for divine mercy upon repentance from exile.

1 Kings 8 46 Context

1 Kings chapter 8 describes the magnificent dedication of the Temple in Jerusalem by King Solomon. This monumental event, central to Israelite identity and worship, culminates in Solomon's profound prayer of dedication (verses 22-61). His prayer acknowledges God's faithfulness to His covenant promises (v. 23-26) and addresses various potential scenarios where the people might face challenges or sin in the future. Verse 46 falls within a series of hypothetical, yet highly prophetic, prayers for situations where the people sin and consequently suffer divine judgment. It specifically anticipates a time of widespread national sin leading to exile. Solomon's prayer here, uttered centuries before the Babylonian exile, demonstrates a divinely inspired foresight, acknowledging Israel's consistent tendency toward unfaithfulness despite God's presence among them in the Temple. It is a humble confession of universal human fallibility before a holy God.

1 Kings 8 46 Word analysis

• If they sin against You (וכי יחטאו לך - vĕḵī yeḥĕṭā'ū leḵā):

  • If they sin: Introduces a conditional clause, not a mere possibility, but an acknowledged likelihood based on human nature.
  • Ḥāṭā' (חָטָא): To miss the mark; to fail morally, ethically, or religiously; to stray from God's intended path or command. It covers both deliberate acts of rebellion and unintentional transgressions.
  • Against You: Emphasizes that all sin is ultimately an offense against God's holy character and His revealed will.

• For there is no man who does not sin (כי אין אדם אשר לא יחטא - kī ên ’ādām ’ăšer lō’ yeḥĕṭā’):

  • For there is no man: A parenthetical, theological statement asserting universal sinfulness. It underlines the inherent moral failing of all humanity.
  • ’Ādām (אָדָם): Refers to mankind, humanity in general.
  • Does not sin: The double negative (אין...לא) provides absolute affirmation, stressing the universality and inevitability of sin among all people. This is a profound statement of human fallenness.

• And You are angry with them (ואתה אנפת בם - wə’attāh ’ānaf̣tā bāhem):

  • ’Ānap (אָנַף): To be angry, to be incensed, to snort in anger (as a horse). This describes God's righteous and just displeasure with sin. His anger is not capricious but a holy response to a violation of His perfect standard.

• And deliver them (ונתתם - wənatattām):

  • Nātan (נָתַן): To give, place, set, deliver. God actively orchestrates or permits this judgment. It's not that He simply looks away, but that He allows, in His sovereign will, the consequences of sin to unfold. This highlights divine sovereignty even in judgment.

• To an enemy (לפני אויב - lipēnê ’ōyēv):

  • ’Ôyēv (אוֹיֵב): Enemy, adversary. Enemies are often instruments of divine judgment in the Bible, carrying out God's disciplinary will.

• So that they take them away captive (ושבו אֹתָם שֹׁבִים - wəšābū ’ōtām šōḇīm):

  • Shavah (שָׁבָה): To take captive, to lead into captivity. This refers specifically to deportation and forced relocation, a common ancient Near Eastern form of punishment and control by conquering empires. It evokes images of humiliation and loss of homeland.

• To the land of the enemy (אל ארץ אויב - ’el ’ereṣ ’ōyēv):

  • ’Ereṣ (אֶרֶץ): Land, earth. Being exiled from the Promised Land (which was given by covenant) to an enemy's land signifies a severe breach of covenant and the loss of God's blessing associated with the land.

• Far or near (רחוקה או קרובה - rəḥôqāh ’ōw qərrōbāh):

  • This phrase emphasizes the absolute and pervasive nature of the judgment. No place would be immune from God's hand in exile, and the displacement would be total. It covers the full extent of potential geographical removal, signaling comprehensive punishment.

1 Kings 8 46 Bonus section

• Anticipatory Nature: This verse, spoken by Solomon, deeply foreshadows the eventual destruction of this very Temple and the subsequent exiles of the Northern Kingdom (Assyrian exile) and the Southern Kingdom (Babylonian exile), centuries after his reign. It highlights the divine omniscience in recognizing future events born from human nature.
• Covenant Fulfillment: The curses described here directly align with the stipulations of the Mosaic covenant, particularly in Leviticus 26 and Deuteronomy 28, where warnings of exile and scattering are pronounced for disobedience. Solomon's prayer implicitly acknowledges the justice and truthfulness of God's covenantal pronouncements.
• Theological Universalism of Sin: The statement "there is no man who does not sin" is one of the clearest and earliest expressions in Scripture of the universal sinfulness of humanity, later expanded upon by Old Testament wisdom literature and prominently by Paul in the New Testament. This concept forms the backdrop for the absolute necessity of God's grace and redemption.
• Polemics: It implicitly teaches that Israel's God, YHWH, is not confined to the land of Israel, nor is His judgment limited by geography. His power extends to deliver His people into exile and to hear their prayers even from "the land of the enemy," which contrasted sharply with the localized deities of pagan nations.
• Laying Groundwork for Repentance: While presenting a bleak reality of sin and judgment, this verse acts as a critical preamble to Solomon's subsequent plea for God to hear and restore His people should they genuinely repent from captivity. It is a setup for the eventual covenant hope.

1 Kings 8 46 Commentary

King Solomon's prayer during the dedication of the magnificent Temple stands as a theological anchor for the nation of Israel. Verse 46 presents a stark, prophetic recognition of Israel's (and humanity's) fundamental brokenness due to sin. It grounds God's anticipated anger and subsequent judgment – specifically exile to an enemy land – in the inescapable reality that "there is no man who does not sin." This parenthetical phrase is pivotal, establishing the theological premise for the need of God's grace and forgiveness, which Solomon pleads for in the verses that follow (1 Kgs 8:47-50). It is a foundational truth affirming universal human guilt before a holy God, prefiguring Israel's later historical exiles. The very act of God "delivering" them to the enemy underscores His sovereignty even in carrying out disciplinary judgment, fulfilling the curses of the Mosaic covenant, yet never without hope for a repentant return.