1 Kings 8 58

1 Kings 8:58 kjv

That he may incline our hearts unto him, to walk in all his ways, and to keep his commandments, and his statutes, and his judgments, which he commanded our fathers.

1 Kings 8:58 nkjv

that He may incline our hearts to Himself, to walk in all His ways, and to keep His commandments and His statutes and His judgments, which He commanded our fathers.

1 Kings 8:58 niv

May he turn our hearts to him, to walk in obedience to him and keep the commands, decrees and laws he gave our ancestors.

1 Kings 8:58 esv

that he may incline our hearts to him, to walk in all his ways and to keep his commandments, his statutes, and his rules, which he commanded our fathers.

1 Kings 8:58 nlt

May he give us the desire to do his will in everything and to obey all the commands, decrees, and regulations that he gave our ancestors.

1 Kings 8 verses

1 Kings 8 58 Meaning

1 Kings 8:58 is a prayer and declaration by King Solomon during the dedication of the First Temple in Jerusalem. It expresses the profound desire for God to supernaturally incline the hearts of His people, Israel, towards Himself. This inclination is essential, enabling them to live in full obedience to all of God's divine instructions—His ways, commandments, statutes, and judgments—which were revealed to their forefathers. It underscores that true fidelity to God's covenant requires divine enablement, recognizing that human obedience is not self-generated but divinely inspired and sustained. The verse highlights a request for a continuous and pervasive alignment of the national will with the will of God, ensuring faithfulness and blessing.

1 Kings 8 58 Context

1 Kings chapter 8 recounts the pivotal moment of the dedication of Solomon's magnificent Temple. This follows its completion in chapter 7. The ark of the covenant is brought into the Most Holy Place, filling the Temple with the glory of the Lord. Solomon then leads the congregation in a fervent public prayer. This prayer (1 Kgs 8:22-53) is a powerful intercession covering various potential future needs and transgressions of the people, appealing for God's forgiveness and restoration based on their turning back to Him and the Temple being a focal point of prayer. Following this extended prayer, Solomon blesses the assembly and gives an exhortation (1 Kgs 8:54-61). Verse 58 is a core part of this exhortation and benediction, expressing the desired outcome and a condition for their ongoing blessing and success as a nation under God's rule. It ties the future of Israel directly to their ability to live according to God's revealed will, acknowledging that such fidelity requires divine assistance. Historically, Israel had often struggled with faithfulness, highlighting the necessity of such a prayer. This grand occasion serves as a theological marker for how Israel was intended to relate to God.

1 Kings 8 58 Word analysis

• that He may incline: Hebrew: לְהַטּוֹת (lehattot). The verb נטה (natah) means "to stretch out," "to bend," "to incline," "to turn aside." Here, it signifies God's active, divine turning or directing of the heart. It's not a forceful imposition but an enabling grace, an invitation to a transformed inner disposition, guiding their wills and affections. This points to a sovereign work of God, essential for human spiritual capacity.
• our hearts: Hebrew: לְבָבֵנוּ (lēḇāḇênû). The heart (לב / לבב - lev/lebab) in Hebrew thought is not merely the seat of emotions, but the entire inner person: the will, intellect, conscience, and moral character. It is the core of one's being where decisions are made, affections are centered, and understanding resides. A heart inclined by God means their entire person is directed toward Him.
• to Himself: Indicates the primary orientation. The goal of divine inclination is an intimate, personal relationship with God. True obedience flows from being rightly related to God, turning towards His nature and character.
• to walk: Hebrew: לָלֶכֶת (lālĕḵeṯ). This is a common biblical metaphor for living one's life, conduct, and journey through life. "Walking" signifies one's daily patterns, actions, and lifestyle.
• in all His ways: "His ways" refers to God's revealed will, His patterns of righteousness, and the manner in which He desires His people to conduct themselves morally and spiritually. It is a comprehensive term for God's blueprint for human life.
• and to keep: Hebrew: וְלִשְׁמֹר (wəlišmōr). "To keep" implies active observance, adherence, guarding, and diligent obedience to. It's more than knowing; it's practicing.
• His commandments: Hebrew: מִצְוֺתָיו (miṣwōṯāw). Specific commands or precepts, divine instructions that directly tell people what to do or not to do. This refers to the concrete statutes given, such as the Ten Commandments.
• His statutes: Hebrew: חֻקֹּתָיו (ḥuqqōṯāw). Refers to ordained laws, often moral or religious ordinances, which are engraved or prescribed, binding laws of divine enactment. These are decrees that define appropriate behavior.
• and His judgments: Hebrew: מִשְׁפָּטָיו (mišpāṭāw). These are the specific legal rulings, verdicts, or judicial decisions. They often refer to the case law, illustrating the application of the broader commandments and statutes to specific situations, demonstrating God's justice.
• which He commanded our fathers: This phrase roots the covenant relationship and the Law in Israel's history, emphasizing continuity. It highlights the divine origin and historical precedent of these laws, passed down from the Mosaic covenant. This appeals to the heritage and covenantal faithfulness required of them as heirs to the promises given to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The phrase reinforces the unchanging nature of God's expectations across generations.

1 Kings 8 58 Bonus section

The concept of "incline our hearts" implicitly serves as a polemic against the self-sufficiency often found in pagan religions where humans might perform rituals or good deeds to earn divine favor. Here, Solomon confesses a dependence on God for the very capacity to obey Him, setting the stage for a relationship based on grace and enablement rather than mere human effort. This echoes the theological reality that true righteousness is always a gift and work of God, not simply an achievement of man. This verse underscores the necessity of prayer for divine assistance in spiritual growth and obedience, affirming that sustained faithfulness is a miraculous ongoing work of God's Spirit in the lives of His people. The inclusion of the "fathers" emphasizes covenant continuity and responsibility through generations.

1 Kings 8 58 Commentary

1 Kings 8:58 articulates a profound theological truth at the heart of the Old Testament: true human obedience to God's law is not achievable through mere human will but requires divine grace and empowerment. Solomon's prayer acknowledges humanity's intrinsic inability to consistently follow God's precepts due to the heart's natural inclination towards sin. The desire that God "incline our hearts" signifies a request for a deep, internal transformation—a reorientation of the will, affections, and intellect towards divine objectives. This divine "inclining" is God's initiative to enable the Israelites to genuinely "walk in all His ways" and diligently "keep His commandments, His statutes, and His judgments." These four terms (ways, commandments, statutes, judgments) comprehensively represent the entirety of God's moral, ceremonial, and civil law given through Moses, emphasizing the breadth of required obedience. Solomon understands that the success and flourishing of the nation, though conditioned upon their adherence to the covenant, fundamentally depend on God first working within them. This highlights a biblical understanding that external conformity without internal inclination is insufficient, foreshadowing later prophecies of the new covenant where God would write His law on their hearts and provide a new spirit (Jer 31:33, Eze 36:26-27), thereby enabling spontaneous obedience born from a transformed nature.