1 Kings 8:8 kjv
And they drew out the staves, that the ends of the staves were seen out in the holy place before the oracle, and they were not seen without: and there they are unto this day.
1 Kings 8:8 nkjv
The poles extended so that the ends of the poles could be seen from the holy place, in front of the inner sanctuary; but they could not be seen from outside. And they are there to this day.
1 Kings 8:8 niv
These poles were so long that their ends could be seen from the Holy Place in front of the inner sanctuary, but not from outside the Holy Place; and they are still there today.
1 Kings 8:8 esv
And the poles were so long that the ends of the poles were seen from the Holy Place before the inner sanctuary; but they could not be seen from outside. And they are there to this day.
1 Kings 8:8 nlt
These poles were so long that their ends could be seen from the Holy Place, which is in front of the Most Holy Place, but not from the outside. They are still there to this day.
1 Kings 8 8 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ex 25:12-15 | And thou shalt make staves of shittim wood... to bear the ark. | Ark's staves for carrying |
| Num 4:6 | And shall put thereon the covering of badgers' skins, and shall... | Command for Ark's covering and staves |
| Josh 3:3 | When ye see the ark of the covenant... and the priests the Levites | Ark carried in leadership by priests |
| 1 Sam 4:3 | Let us fetch the ark of the covenant of the Lord out of Shiloh... | Ark used in battle, misjudged |
| 2 Sam 6:6-7 | And when they came to Nachon's threshingfloor, Uzzah put forth his | Ark's sanctity, warning against improper handling |
| 1 Chr 15:15 | And the children of the Levites bare the ark of God... | Levites ordained to carry Ark correctly |
| 2 Chr 5:9 | And they drew out the staves... as the Lord commanded Moses. | Parallel account, echoing 1 Ki 8:8 |
| Ex 26:33-34 | And thou shalt hang up the veil under the taches... within the veil. | Veil separating Holy and Most Holy Places |
| Lev 16:2 | For I will appear in the cloud upon the mercy seat. | God's presence on the mercy seat/Ark |
| 1 Ki 6:19-20 | And he prepared the oracle in the house, to set there the ark... | Temple's design for Ark's permanent rest |
| 2 Chr 3:10 | And in the most holy house he made two cherubims of image work... | Cherubim in the Most Holy Place |
| Ex 40:34-35 | Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory... | God's glory filling the tabernacle |
| 1 Ki 8:10-11 | And it came to pass, when the priests were come out of the holy place | Glory cloud fills the Temple at dedication |
| Isa 6:1 | I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up... | God's throne often linked to heavenly Ark |
| Eze 43:7 | The place of my throne, and the place of the soles of my feet... | God's fixed dwelling place |
| Gen 32:32 | Therefore the children of Israel eat not of the sinew which shrank | Example of "unto this day" |
| Deut 3:14 | Unto this day it is called Havothjair. | Example of "unto this day" |
| Matt 27:51 | And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain... | Ultimate access to God through Christ |
| Heb 4:16 | Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace... | Access to God's presence post-veil tearing |
| Heb 9:3-5 | After the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of | Describes Ark's contents and location |
| Heb 9:8 | The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all | Limited access in Old Covenant |
| Heb 10:19-20 | Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the | New and living way to God's presence |
| Rev 11:19 | And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in | Heavenly Ark revealed |
| 1 Cor 6:19-20 | Your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you... | Believers as temples of God's presence |
1 Kings 8 verses
1 Kings 8 8 Meaning
This verse describes the precise and settled placement of the Ark of the Covenant within the Most Holy Place (the Oracle or Debir) of Solomon's Temple. It specifically notes how the staves (carrying poles) used for the Ark were extended, visible from a specific point in the Holy Place, yet remained completely hidden from anyone outside the inner sanctuary, underscoring the Ark's sacred nature and the fixed, permanent presence of God in His consecrated dwelling place.
1 Kings 8 8 Context
This verse is situated within the grand dedication ceremony of Solomon's Temple, marking a momentous point in Israelite history. Following decades of dwelling in the portable tabernacle and periods of disunity regarding a central worship place, Solomon fulfills David's desire to build a permanent house for God. Chapters 6 and 7 detail the temple's construction, culminating in chapter 8 with the solemn bringing of the Ark of the Covenant, God's dwelling symbol, into its designated place. The immediate context of verse 8 is the placement of the Ark into the Most Holy Place by the priests, directly preceding the overwhelming manifestation of God's glory that filled the temple (1 Kings 8:10-11), affirming His approval and presence. Historically, this event signifies the culmination of a period of national consolidation and religious centralization under the monarchy. The Temple was seen as the physical representation of God's covenant faithfulness and His permanent presence among His chosen people.
1 Kings 8 8 Word analysis
And they drew out (וַיַּאֲרִכוּ֙ vayya'arîḵû): This is the Hiphil form of the verb אָרַךְ ('arakh), meaning "to be long" or "to lengthen." In the Hiphil, it means "to make long," "to prolong," or "to draw out." It doesn't imply removing the staves from the rings of the Ark but rather extending them forward in a specific way. This positioning contrasts with their previous mobile function, symbolizing the Ark's new, fixed residence. It highlights that the staves were now for display or for acknowledging their original function, rather than for actual carrying.
the staves (הַבַּדִּ֔ים habbaḏḏîm): These were the poles made of acacia wood overlaid with gold, perpetually in the rings of the Ark, specified in Ex 25:14-15. They were fundamental to carrying the Ark according to divine command. Their mention here emphasizes the continuation of an ancient tradition, now brought to rest. The staves had to remain in their rings, indicating readiness for transport if God commanded, but now positioned for stability.
that the ends of the staves (וַיֵּֽרָאשֶׁ֥י הַבַּדִּ֖ים vayyêrâšey habbaḏḏîm): Refers specifically to the tips or extremities of the carrying poles. This detail underscores precision and specific arrangement within the Most Holy Place.
were seen (וַיֵּרָא֛וּ vayyērā'û): From the Niphal of רָאָה (ra'ah), meaning "to appear" or "to be seen." This indicates a passive seeing, implying they became visible under certain conditions.
from the holy place (מִן־הַקֹּ֑דֶשׁ min-haqqōḏeš): This refers to the main room of the Temple, accessible to priests for daily duties, situated before the inner sanctuary (Most Holy Place). This indicates a limited, priestly visibility; not everyone could see the staves, reinforcing the sacredness and the concept of graduated holiness within the temple structure.
before the oracle (לִפְנֵי הַדְּבִ֑יר lip̄nê haddeḇîr): "Oracle" (דְּבִיר, debir) is the term for the Most Holy Place (Holy of Holies), the innermost sanctuary where the Ark resided and God communed with Moses (Ex 25:22). This precisely locates where the staves extended from – out of the very heart of God's dwelling.
but they were not seen without (וְלֹ֥א יֵרָא֖וּ הַחוּץ wəlō' yērā'û haḥûṣ): "Without" (haḥūṣ) refers to the areas outside the sacred temple structure, perhaps the courts or even beyond the temple gates. This emphasizes the profound secrecy and holiness of the Most Holy Place and its contents. It was shielded from common view, protecting its sacred nature and reinforcing divine separation.
and there they are (וְשָׁ֤ם הֵם֙ wəšām hēm): Indicates continuous presence.
unto this day (עַד֙ הַיּ֣וֹם הַזֶּ֔ה `aḏ hayyôm hazzéh): A common Hebrew idiomatic expression (found frequently from Gen to Kings) signifying that something remained in place or continued as described up to the time the narrative was written or compiled. For the Ark, it confirms its established presence in Solomon's Temple, indicating permanence throughout that historical epoch. It doesn't necessarily imply the Ark's presence until modern times, but until the destruction of the Temple by Babylon in 586 BC, or at the very least, until the recording of this text. It points to a stability achieved after long periods of movement.
1 Kings 8 8 Bonus section
The historical longevity of the phrase "unto this day" here often suggests that the text of 1 Kings 8:8 was composed or formalized while the First Temple was still standing, before its destruction by Babylon in 586 BC. This supports the notion of its pre-exilic authorship or at least its source being rooted in contemporary records of that period. After the destruction of the First Temple, the Ark of the Covenant vanished from historical records and has never been definitively located. This verse, therefore, represents the last definitive scriptural record of its confirmed location within Israelite worship. The architectural feature of having the staves remain in the rings and extended out was potentially unique to Solomon's Temple, differing from tabernacle practice where the veil shielded everything. This emphasized a new level of permanence and possibly a slight relaxation of extreme secrecy within the temple's larger design, allowing for the priests, at least, to see a symbolic connection to the Most Holy Place.
1 Kings 8 8 Commentary
1 Kings 8:8 provides a snapshot of the Ark's ultimate and permanent resting place within Solomon's magnificent Temple. This simple yet profound statement marks the end of centuries of mobility for the Ark, signifying God's decision to "settle down" among His people after the tabernacle's wanderings. The seemingly minor detail of the extended staves, visible from the Holy Place but not beyond, communicates deep theological truths: God's presence is meticulously arranged, profoundly sacred, and veiled from casual viewing. It signifies the sacred boundary and graduated access to the divine, maintained through priestly mediation. This sacred mystery and careful handling underscore the weight of God's presence, while also serving as a tangible link between the priestly ministry in the Holy Place and the unseen, awe-inspiring presence in the Most Holy Place. The phrase "unto this day" speaks to the durability of God's dwelling among them, albeit limited to that era of His historical covenant.
Examples:
- The settled presence: Just as a beloved family heirloom finds its place of honor in a permanent home after years of moving, so the Ark found its lasting resting place, symbolizing God's faithfulness to dwell among His people.
- Veiled sanctity: Like the guarded inner chambers of a king's palace, the Ark was shielded, reminding the people that God's presence demands reverence and can only be approached according to His terms.