1 Kings 8 64

1 Kings 8:64 kjv

The same day did the king hallow the middle of the court that was before the house of the LORD: for there he offered burnt offerings, and meat offerings, and the fat of the peace offerings: because the brazen altar that was before the LORD was too little to receive the burnt offerings, and meat offerings, and the fat of the peace offerings.

1 Kings 8:64 nkjv

On the same day the king consecrated the middle of the court that was in front of the house of the LORD; for there he offered burnt offerings, grain offerings, and the fat of the peace offerings, because the bronze altar that was before the LORD was too small to receive the burnt offerings, the grain offerings, and the fat of the peace offerings.

1 Kings 8:64 niv

On that same day the king consecrated the middle part of the courtyard in front of the temple of the LORD, and there he offered burnt offerings, grain offerings and the fat of the fellowship offerings, because the bronze altar that stood before the LORD was too small to hold the burnt offerings, the grain offerings and the fat of the fellowship offerings.

1 Kings 8:64 esv

The same day the king consecrated the middle of the court that was before the house of the LORD, for there he offered the burnt offering and the grain offering and the fat pieces of the peace offerings, because the bronze altar that was before the LORD was too small to receive the burnt offering and the grain offering and the fat pieces of the peace offerings.

1 Kings 8:64 nlt

That same day the king consecrated the central area of the courtyard in front of the LORD's Temple. He offered burnt offerings, grain offerings, and the fat of peace offerings there, because the bronze altar in the LORD's presence was too small to hold all the burnt offerings, grain offerings, and the fat of the peace offerings.

1 Kings 8 verses

1 Kings 8 64 Meaning

King Solomon, during the unprecedentedly vast dedication of the Temple, found the main brazen altar insufficient to accommodate the sheer volume of offerings. Therefore, he consecrated the central part of the court outside the Temple itself, setting it apart as a holy space to perform the extensive burnt offerings, grain offerings, and the burning of the fat of the peace offerings for the duration of the dedication festival. This demonstrated an overwhelming abundance of sacrifices offered to the LORD, signifying both great piety and God's immense blessing.

1 Kings 8 64 Context

1 Kings chapter 8 describes the culmination of Solomon's grand project: the dedication of the magnificent Temple to the LORD in Jerusalem. The events immediately preceding verse 64 include the ark being brought into the Most Holy Place (vv. 1-9), the glory of the LORD filling the Temple (vv. 10-11), and Solomon's lengthy dedicatory prayer and blessing (vv. 12-61). Following this, a massive sacrifice and feast take place, beginning with peace offerings of 22,000 oxen and 120,000 sheep (v. 63). The entire dedication festival and associated offerings last fourteen days, with the people dismissed on the eighth day after a seven-day feast of dedication and a seven-day Feast of Booths (v. 65). Verse 64 fits within this context of immense national celebration, extravagant worship, and the practical challenges of accommodating such a vast outpouring of devotion. Historically and culturally, such dedications were huge public affairs, showcasing the king's piety and the nation's prosperity.

1 Kings 8 64 Word analysis

• The same day: Emphasizes the immediacy and continuous flow of the Temple dedication activities, which were unfolding over a period of many days. It points to a pivotal moment within this larger celebration.

• King: Solomon, acting as the spiritual and political head of the nation, demonstrates his unique authority in consecrating a space beyond the established altar.

• Hallow: The Hebrew word is qadash (קָדַשׁ). It means "to be set apart," "to be consecrated," "to be made holy." This was not a permanent, formal consecration like the altar itself, but an ad hoc, temporary sanctification for an extraordinary occasion, allowing the "common" court ground to be treated as sacred for the specific act of sacrifice. This underscores the extraordinary nature of the event and Solomon's expedient piety.

• Middle of the court: The Hebrew ḥāṣer (חָצֵר) refers to the outer area of the Temple precincts, accessible to the people. This act transformed an open, common space into a ritual area for the vast volume of sacrifices, demonstrating the practicality required for immense worship.

• House of the LORD: Refers to the newly completed Temple in Jerusalem, the designated central place of worship for Israel, emphasizing that these offerings were directed specifically to God at His chosen dwelling place.

• Burnt offerings (עלות oloth): These were entirely consumed by fire, symbolizing total devotion and atonement before God. They represent complete surrender.

• Meat offerings (מנחות minḥot): These were grain offerings, often given with other sacrifices as gifts or acts of thanksgiving, symbolizing dedication of sustenance and gratitude.

• Fat of the peace offerings (חֵלֶב הַשְּׁלָמִים chelev ha-sh’lamim): The fat was considered the best part and was exclusively burned for the LORD, signifying His portion of the offering. Peace offerings were for communion, fellowship, and thanksgiving.

• Brasen altar (מִזְבַּח הַנְּחֹשֶׁת mizbaḥ ha-neḥōsheth): This was the official, central altar for sacrifice (Ex 27:1-8). Its bronze composition suggests durability and purity for fire. Its description in Exodus implies a finite size and capacity, meant for regular operations, not an overwhelming national event.

• Too little: The Hebrew qāṭōn (קָטֹן) means small, insignificant, insufficient. It does not imply a defect in the altar's construction or design, but rather that the sheer volume of offerings during this unique dedication event vastly exceeded its practical capacity, reflecting the overwhelming abundance of the sacrifices and thus God's blessings.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "hallow the middle of the court": This phrase signifies a temporary, practical sanctification driven by necessity and the magnitude of devotion. It demonstrates that worship could, under special circumstances, extend beyond prescribed spaces when honoring God abundantly. It underscores Solomon's dedication to facilitate worship regardless of the logistics, ensuring no hindrance to the outpouring of devotion.
  • "burnt offerings, and meat offerings, and the fat of the peace offerings": This listing represents the major categories of voluntary offerings mentioned in the Pentateuch, especially those that were burnt upon the altar. Their immense quantity illustrates the unparalleled scale of the dedication and the comprehensive nature of the people's worship and thanksgiving to God. It highlights the full range of sacrifice and gratitude offered.
  • "too little to receive the burnt offerings...": This clause provides the rationale for Solomon's action. It is a striking detail, portraying an overflowing of blessing and piety so vast that even the divinely-designed altar could not contain it. It highlights the unprecedented nature of the dedication and signifies a period of great divine favor upon Israel, prompting such an outpouring of worship.

1 Kings 8 64 Bonus section

• The "hallowing" of the court was temporary and specific to the fourteen-day feast (2 Chr 7:9-10). It underscores that sacred space can be expanded as needed for extraordinary events while maintaining the sanctity of the primary altar for daily use.
• This verse illustrates King Solomon's direct priestly action in facilitating worship, an authority typically limited, but here acting out of exceptional necessity and likely divine sanction for this unique dedicatory event. This highlights the fluidity of religious leadership in exceptional moments of service.
• The overwhelming scale of the sacrifices hints at the wealth and prosperity Israel experienced under Solomon's reign, seen as a direct blessing from God following his father David's kingdom and Solomon's wise prayer for wisdom (1 Kgs 3:9-14).
• The narrative serves as a subtle polemic against any notion that God or His worship could be constrained by human-made structures. The very inadequacy of the magnificent Temple's altar demonstrates that God's presence and the people's devotion could transcend physical boundaries.

1 Kings 8 64 Commentary

Verse 64 of 1 Kings 8 concisely describes Solomon's practical and faithful response to an overwhelming demonstration of piety during the Temple dedication. The bronze altar, though central to Mosaic worship, was not physically large enough to handle the astronomical number of offerings presented by Solomon and the people. Rather than scale back the sacrifices, Solomon expediently "hallowed" – temporarily set apart – the central part of the court. This was an act of both pragmatism and deep devotion, ensuring that the full measure of Israel's thanksgiving and atonement could be offered. It speaks to a king utterly committed to facilitating the nation's worship of God without limitations, allowing God's blessing and the people's response to be fully expressed. It implicitly celebrates the sheer abundance God was bestowing upon Israel, which provoked such an outpouring. This act also sets a precedent that the Spirit of God and the heart of worship can at times overflow established boundaries and require adaptable approaches to continue glorifying God.Example: A ministry, experiencing unexpected and vast spiritual growth beyond its current facilities, may consecrate temporary outdoor spaces or additional rented halls to continue fellowship, teaching, and worship, demonstrating commitment to accommodate God's outpouring.