1 Kings 8 51

1 Kings 8:51 kjv

For they be thy people, and thine inheritance, which thou broughtest forth out of Egypt, from the midst of the furnace of iron:

1 Kings 8:51 nkjv

(for they are Your people and Your inheritance, whom You brought out of Egypt, out of the iron furnace),

1 Kings 8:51 niv

for they are your people and your inheritance, whom you brought out of Egypt, out of that iron-smelting furnace.

1 Kings 8:51 esv

(for they are your people, and your heritage, which you brought out of Egypt, from the midst of the iron furnace).

1 Kings 8:51 nlt

for they are your people ? your special possession ? whom you brought out of the iron-smelting furnace of Egypt.

1 Kings 8 verses

1 Kings 8 51 Meaning

1 Kings 8:51 is part of Solomon's dedicatory prayer for the newly built Temple in Jerusalem. In this verse, Solomon appeals to God, reminding Him of Israel's unique status as "Your people" and "Your inheritance." The verse grounds this relationship in God's mighty act of bringing them out of severe bondage in Egypt, vividly described as "the furnace of iron," thereby appealing to God's faithfulness to His covenant promises and His past redemptive actions on behalf of His chosen people.

1 Kings 8 51 Context

1 Kings chapter 8 describes the dedication of the magnificent Temple built by King Solomon in Jerusalem. Following the bringing of the Ark of the Covenant into the Most Holy Place, God's glory fills the Temple. Solomon then blesses the congregation and delivers a powerful, extended prayer (verses 23-53) acknowledging God's faithfulness and covenant promises. This prayer includes petitions for various future scenarios where Israel might find themselves in distress due to sin, warfare, or famine. Throughout the prayer, Solomon emphasizes God's presence and covenant relationship with His people. Verse 51 serves as a foundational plea within this prayer, reminding God of Israel's unique status as "His people" and "His inheritance" by virtue of His sovereign, powerful act of salvation from Egypt. This foundational identity is appealed to as the basis for God's continued compassion and intervention. Historically, the Exodus from Egypt was the defining event of Israel's nationhood, serving as the ultimate demonstration of God's power and His commitment to His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

1 Kings 8 51 Word analysis

• For: Introduces the rationale or reason for the appeal Solomon is making to God in the preceding verses.
• they are thy people: Refers to the nation of Israel.
  • thy people: Hebrew: `am (עַם). This term denotes a special relationship, a chosen and set-apart community that belongs to God, distinguished from other nations. It speaks to a covenantal bond rather than merely a nationalistic identity. It signifies an intimate, possessive relationship established by divine election and grace.
• and thine inheritance: Refers to Israel as God's cherished possession.
  • thine inheritance: Hebrew: nachalah (נַחֲלָה). Literally means a possession, a heritage, or an allotted portion. In the Old Testament, it often refers to the land granted to Israel (Josh 14:1), but here, and elsewhere, it's used for the people themselves, indicating that Israel is God's own unique treasure and portion (Deut 32:9; Ps 33:12). It underscores God's personal vested interest in their welfare.
• which thou broughtest forth: Highlights God's active, powerful, and historical intervention.
  • broughtest forth: This strong verb emphasizes God's initiating and executing action, demonstrating His omnipotence and faithfulness to deliver. It points to the Exodus as an irrefutable historical event where God's hand was unmistakably present.
• out of Egypt: Specifies the land of bondage and idolatry from which God delivered Israel.
  • Egypt: A land of severe slavery, physical oppression, and pervasive idolatry. It represents the utter helplessness of Israel and the comprehensive power of God needed to liberate them from such a formidable global power. It serves as a stark contrast to their current status as a free nation dedicated to God. This historical memory continually reinforced Israel's identity as a redeemed people solely dependent on Yahweh.
• from the midst of the furnace of iron: A vivid, powerful metaphor describing the extreme suffering and severity of Israel's slavery in Egypt.
  • furnace of iron: Hebrew: kur barzel (כּוּר בַּרְזֶל). A smelting furnace or a blast furnace, used for intense heating to refine metals, often under extreme pressure or heat. This imagery underscores the extreme harshness and crucible-like conditions of Israelite slavery under Egyptian rule, where they were forced laborers in brick-making, potentially working with metals (Exod 1:14). The term signifies a place of immense trial, suffering, and potential destruction, but also paradoxically, a place where a people were forged or purified by divine providence (Isa 48:10; Jer 11:4). It implies that God's deliverance was not from minor discomfort but from a life-threatening, refining, or destroying process. It implicitly polemicizes against the futility of relying on human strength or false gods, as it was God alone who could rescue them from such a devastating state.

1 Kings 8 51 Bonus section

The metaphor of the "furnace of iron" appears in a few other places in Scripture, consistently referring to a place of intense trial or purification. It speaks not only to the suffering endured but also implicitly to God's sovereign control even within the suffering, shaping His people for His purposes. The act of God extracting Israel from this furnace served as the primary basis for the Mosaic Law and the covenant itself; because God had saved them, they were obligated to obey Him. This foundational event defined Israel's past, secured their present identity, and provided the hope for their future interactions with their faithful God, especially in times of dire need. It's a reminder that true deliverance comes only from God from situations where no human power could succeed.

1 Kings 8 51 Commentary

Solomon's appeal in 1 Kings 8:51 is a cornerstone of his prayer, deeply rooted in Israel's foundational theology. By reminding God that Israel is "Thy people" and "Thine inheritance," Solomon appeals to the very essence of their covenant relationship. This status was not earned but divinely bestowed, secured by God's unilateral act of salvation from Egypt. The phrase "furnace of iron" powerfully conveys the unspeakable severity of their servitude, amplifying the miraculous nature of their deliverance. It posits Egypt not merely as a land of bondage, but as a crucible that either forges a people through affliction or annihilates them. God’s act of bringing them out of this furnace solidified their identity and His claim over them.

This verse therefore appeals to God's hesed (covenant faithfulness) and gʻulah (redemption). Solomon is asserting that Israel's very existence and identity are a direct result of God's prior investment and powerful intervention. Therefore, how could God abandon that which He so powerfully rescued and uniquely claimed? It serves as a profound theological argument for God to continue His providential care, hear their prayers, and forgive their sins, appealing to His own character and past actions as the basis for His continued mercy.

This foundational narrative (Exodus and Israel's chosenness) is key to understanding biblical appeals to God. It highlights that our hope for God's action is rooted in His revealed character and His established relationship with His people, demonstrated through historical acts of redemption, rather than solely on our own merit or deservingness. For believers today, this reminds us that our identity in Christ, our "inheritance" (Eph 1:11-14; Col 1:12), is a gift, and our hope for continued grace and mercy is founded on God's prior, decisive act of salvation through Christ, our "Exodus" from the "furnace of sin" and spiritual death.