1 Kings 8 47

1 Kings 8:47 kjv

Yet if they shall bethink themselves in the land whither they were carried captives, and repent, and make supplication unto thee in the land of them that carried them captives, saying, We have sinned, and have done perversely, we have committed wickedness;

1 Kings 8:47 nkjv

yet when they come to themselves in the land where they were carried captive, and repent, and make supplication to You in the land of those who took them captive, saying, 'We have sinned and done wrong, we have committed wickedness';

1 Kings 8:47 niv

and if they have a change of heart in the land where they are held captive, and repent and plead with you in the land of their captors and say, 'We have sinned, we have done wrong, we have acted wickedly';

1 Kings 8:47 esv

yet if they turn their heart in the land to which they have been carried captive, and repent and plead with you in the land of their captors, saying, 'We have sinned and have acted perversely and wickedly,'

1 Kings 8:47 nlt

But in that land of exile, they might turn to you in repentance and pray, 'We have sinned, done evil, and acted wickedly.'

1 Kings 8 verses

1 Kings 8 47 Meaning

This verse describes a future hypothetical scenario where the people of Israel, having been exiled due to disobedience, will come to their senses in the land of their captivity. It depicts them turning introspectively, acknowledging their sins against the Lord, and making an earnest confession: "We have sinned, and have dealt perversely, and have committed wickedness." This internal awakening and subsequent contrite confession are presented as the precursor to God's potential restoration, forming a core element of Solomon's dedicatory prayer for the Temple.

1 Kings 8 47 Context

1 Kings 8:47 is part of Solomon's dedicatory prayer for the newly completed Temple in Jerusalem (1 Kings 8:22-53). This extensive prayer covers various hypothetical scenarios where Israel might find themselves needing God's intervention, including instances of sin and warfare. Verse 47 specifically anticipates the worst-case scenario: the nation's severe disobedience leading to their exile from the promised land, a consequence repeatedly warned about in the Mosaic Covenant (Deut. 28). Solomon, under divine inspiration, prays that even in such a dire situation, if the people genuinely repent and turn to God in the land of their captivity, God would hear their prayer and forgive them. This prayer demonstrates a profound understanding of God's character (merciful, covenant-keeping) and humanity's inherent fallibility, establishing a pathway for national restoration through sincere confession. Historically, this foreshadowed the Babylonian exile centuries later, where Daniel and others indeed offered such confessions.

1 Kings 8 47 Word analysis

• And if: Hebrew: `wə·ʾim` (וְאִם). This phrase introduces a conditional clause, anticipating a future, regrettable possibility rather than a certainty. It points to a divine foresight of Israel's potential disobedience and subsequent judgment.
• they turn: Hebrew: `wə·šā·ḇū` (וְשָׁבוּ) from the root `šûḇ` (שׁוּב). This is the first of two occurrences of `šûḇ` in the verse. Here, it refers to a deep internal turning, an act of "coming to their senses" or "bethinking themselves." It signifies an inward spiritual or mental reversal, a recognition of their condition.
• their heart: Hebrew: `ʾel-lə·ḇā·ḇām` (אֶל-לְבָבָם). In Hebrew thought, the "heart" (לֵב, lev/lebab) is the center of intellect, will, and emotion—the entire inner being. Turning "to their heart" means an internal reflection, a profound introspection where they reassess their actions and condition.
• in the land: Hebrew: `bā·ʾā·reṣ` (בָּאָרֶץ). Refers to the foreign land where they would be captive, emphasizing their state of exile and displacement from the promised land.
• whither they have been carried captive: Hebrew: `ʾă·šer niš·bū-šām` (אֲשֶׁר נִשְׁבּוּ-שָׁם). This phrase highlights their status as exiles, a result of God's judgment and the covenant curses, showing they are not in their own land but in the land of their captors.
• and repent: Hebrew: `wə·šā·ḇū` (וְשָׁבוּ) – This is the second `šûḇ` (שׁוּב) and means to "return" or "turn back." While it can mean repentance in a general sense, coupled with "to their heart," it strongly implies a spiritual return to God. Its repetition underscores the necessity of a decisive spiritual turnaround, moving from internal realization to active re-engagement with God.
• and make supplication to You: Hebrew: `wə·hit·ḥan·nə·nū ʾê·le·ḵā` (וְהִתְחַנְּנוּ אֵלֶיךָ). From the root `ḥānan` (חָנַן), meaning to show favor, to be gracious. The Hithpael form (`hitḥannen`) indicates an earnest plea, an act of seeking favor or mercy, emphasizing humble entreaty. This is a public or active seeking of God's grace.
• saying: Hebrew: `lê·mōr` (לֵאמֹר). Introduces the direct speech of confession that follows, emphasizing that their supplication includes an explicit vocalization of their wrongdoing.
• We have sinned: Hebrew: `ḥā·ṭā·nū` (חָטָאנוּ) from the root `ḥāṭā` (חָטָא). The most common biblical word for sin, meaning "to miss the mark," or "to go astray" from God's path. It is a broad term for moral failure.
• and have dealt perversely: Hebrew: `wə·ʿi·wî·nū` (וְעָוִינוּ) from the root `ʿāwāh` (עָוָה). Means "to bend," "twist," "distort," or "act crookedly." This denotes a more deliberate or intentional distortion of what is right, highlighting moral perversion or crookedness.
• and have committed wickedness: Hebrew: `rā·šāʿ·nū` (רָשָׁעְנוּ) from the root `rāšaʿ` (רָשַׁע). Signifies acting in a way that is definitively wicked or criminal against divine law, implying guilt and the consequences of moral depravity. This is the strongest term of the triad, emphasizing blatant guilt and active evil.

Words-Group analysis:

• "And if they turn to their heart... and return": The dual use of shuv (שׁוּב) indicates a two-fold movement: first, an inward, reflective turning ("to their heart," i.e., "coming to their senses"), and second, an outward or spiritual turning back to God ("return [to you]"). This highlights that true repentance involves both intellectual understanding and volitional reorientation. This inner awakening, away from their previous sinful ways, is crucial before appealing to God.
• "in the land whither they have been carried captive... in the land of their captivity": The repetition of "land of their captivity" stresses the severe consequence of their actions—their displacement from the Promised Land—while also emphasizing that God's grace extends even to those in punishment and foreign lands, not limiting His sovereignty or His people's access to Him by physical location.
• "We have sinned, and have dealt perversely, and have committed wickedness": This tripartite confession is a comprehensive acknowledgment of sin on multiple levels. ḥāṭā (missing the mark), ʿāwāh (perversion, moral distortion), and rāšaʿ (wickedness, active evil) together cover sins of omission and commission, unintentional and deliberate wrongs. This triad often appears in scriptural confessions (e.g., Ps 106:6, Dan 9:5), signifying a deep, unreserved admission of total failure against God's law. This specific confession serves as a powerful model for future generations of exiles.

1 Kings 8 47 Bonus section

This verse establishes a crucial theological principle that transcends national Israel to apply universally: God's availability to the repentant, regardless of their location or circumstances, even in punitive situations. It teaches that even when facing the full consequences of sin, God is still accessible, and the avenue for reconciliation is true internal change followed by sincere confession and supplication. The emphasis on "turning to their heart" (introspection) prior to direct appeal highlights the requirement for authentic internal shift, not merely external words. This internal work is key, suggesting a heart changed by affliction, echoing Deut 30:1-3, where affliction leads to a return to God with "all your heart and with all your soul." The repeated stress on the land of "captivity" or "exile" powerfully illustrates that even geographic separation from the physical temple and the promised land does not sever the connection to a God who is sovereign everywhere and whose covenant mercies extend beyond territorial boundaries. This foreshadows a move towards a more internalized and spiritual understanding of worship and relationship with God, no longer confined strictly to the Jerusalem Temple.

1 Kings 8 47 Commentary

1 Kings 8:47 is a profoundly insightful verse within Solomon's prayer of dedication for the Temple. It reveals Solomon's prophetic foresight regarding Israel's future, anticipating the bitter consequence of their likely covenant disobedience: exile. Crucially, the verse outlines the path to national restoration: an internal turning ("to their heart"), signifying introspection and realization of their fallen state, followed by an explicit return to God in supplication. The power of the verse lies in the specific, threefold confession: "We have sinned, and have dealt perversely, and have committed wickedness." This sequence underscores that genuine repentance begins with a contrite heart and culminates in a clear, verbal acknowledgment of the depth and breadth of one's transgression against a holy God. It signifies that even in the lowest point of exile and divine judgment, a way back to God's favor is available through humble and honest self-assessment and confession. It provides a timeless paradigm for personal and national repentance, emphasizing God's enduring mercy when faced with sincere humility.Example: The Jewish people in Babylonian exile, centuries later, notably in the prayer of Daniel (Daniel 9:5-6), offered a confession mirroring these very terms, showing the practical fulfillment and application of Solomon's prophetic prayer.