1 Kings 8:9 kjv
There was nothing in the ark save the two tables of stone, which Moses put there at Horeb, when the LORD made a covenant with the children of Israel, when they came out of the land of Egypt.
1 Kings 8:9 nkjv
Nothing was in the ark except the two tablets of stone which Moses put there at Horeb, when the LORD made a covenant with the children of Israel, when they came out of the land of Egypt.
1 Kings 8:9 niv
There was nothing in the ark except the two stone tablets that Moses had placed in it at Horeb, where the LORD made a covenant with the Israelites after they came out of Egypt.
1 Kings 8:9 esv
There was nothing in the ark except the two tablets of stone that Moses put there at Horeb, where the LORD made a covenant with the people of Israel, when they came out of the land of Egypt.
1 Kings 8:9 nlt
Nothing was in the Ark except the two stone tablets that Moses had placed in it at Mount Sinai, where the LORD made a covenant with the people of Israel when they left the land of Egypt.
1 Kings 8 9 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Exo 25:16 | "You shall put into the ark the testimony which I will give you." | Command to place the tablets. |
| Exo 31:18 | "...two tablets of the testimony, tablets of stone, written with the finger of God." | God's direct authorship of the Law. |
| Exo 40:20 | "He took the testimony and put it into the ark..." | Moses obeying the command. |
| Deut 4:13 | "He declared to you His covenant... the Ten Commandments, and He wrote them on two tablets of stone." | Covenant as Ten Commandments on stone. |
| Deut 5:22 | "These words the LORD spoke to all your assembly at the mountain..." | Direct divine speech at Sinai/Horeb. |
| Deut 9:10 | "The LORD gave me the two tablets of stone, written with the finger of God..." | Moses receiving the first tablets. |
| Deut 9:11 | "At the end of forty days and forty nights the LORD gave me the two tablets..." | First set of tablets handed to Moses. |
| Deut 10:1-5 | Moses preparing new tablets and placing them in the ark. | Recounts the replacement of broken tablets. |
| Deut 4:10 | "...how you stood before the LORD your God at Horeb..." | Reminds of the gathering at Horeb. |
| Deut 6:10 | "...when the LORD your God brings you into the land that He swore to your fathers..." | Deliverance into the promised land. |
| Neh 9:13-14 | "You came down on Mount Sinai... and you gave them right judgments and true laws..." | God giving righteous laws at Sinai. |
| Ps 78:5 | "He established a testimony in Jacob and appointed a law in Israel..." | God establishing His law for Israel. |
| Rom 9:4 | "...to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law..." | Israel's privilege including the Law. |
| Rom 2:14-15 | Gentiles showing the work of the law written on their hearts. | Contrast to external law; hints at future. |
| 2 Cor 3:3 | "...not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts." | New Covenant internalizing the law. |
| Jer 31:33 | "...I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts..." | Prophecy of the New Covenant's internalized law. |
| Matt 5:17 | "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets..." | Christ fulfilling the Law. |
| Luke 16:16 | "The Law and the Prophets were until John..." | Transition to a new dispensation. |
| John 1:1 | "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God..." | Christ as the living Word, transcending written law. |
| John 1:14 | "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us..." | God's presence in Christ. |
| Heb 9:4 | "It contained the golden urn holding the manna, Aaron's staff... and the tablets of the covenant." | Contextual point: indicates other items once also present in ark. (The emphasis in 1 Kings is what remained at the time of the Temple dedication). |
| Rev 11:19 | "Then God's temple in heaven was opened, and the ark of His covenant was seen within His temple..." | The eternal significance of God's covenant. |
1 Kings 8 verses
1 Kings 8 9 Meaning
1 Kings 8:9 clarifies the sole content of the Ark of the Covenant when it was placed in the Most Holy Place of Solomon's Temple. It contained "nothing except the two tablets of stone which Moses put there at Horeb." This verse profoundly emphasizes that the Ark, symbolizing God's presence, primarily contained the foundational core of the covenant: the divine Law, representing God's unchanging word and will for His people. It links the Temple's sanctity directly to the Exodus event and the Sinaitic covenant, anchoring Israel's faith in God's historical deliverance and His authoritative commands.
1 Kings 8 9 Context
1 Kings Chapter 8 details the culmination of Solomon's monumental work: the dedication of the newly constructed Temple in Jerusalem. This event marked a pivotal moment in Israelite history, signifying God's settled dwelling place among His people after centuries of wandering with the portable Tabernacle. Prior to this verse, the priests have brought the Ark of the Covenant from the City of David into the Temple (1 Ki 8:1-6). As the Ark enters the Most Holy Place and is set under the cherubim's wings, the glory of the Lord (the Shekinah) fills the Temple (1 Ki 8:10-11). This verse (1 Ki 8:9) serves to authenticate the contents of this most sacred object at this critical juncture. It implicitly asserts the Ark's unique nature as a container not for an idol or relics of superstition, but solely for the divine commandments, solidifying the centrality of the Law to Israel's worship and covenant relationship with Yahweh. Historically, the Ark symbolized God's presence, guiding Israel and providing victory in battle. Now, within the permanent Temple, its content is explicitly defined, reinforcing that the heart of God's dwelling is His word and covenant with His chosen people.
1 Kings 8 9 Word analysis
- There was nothing: This phrase, "לֹא הָיָה אָרוֹן רַק" (lo haya 'aron rak), emphatically stresses the absence of any other items. This is crucial for its original audience, distinguishing the Israelite Ark from the common practices of surrounding pagan cultures where divine "arks" or reliquaries often housed multiple artifacts, images, or even parts of their gods' bodies. It suggests purity and a direct focus on God's communicated word, free from human additions or idolatrous associations.
- in the ark: The Hebrew word for ark is "אֲרוֹן" ('aron). This sacred chest served as the physical dwelling place for God's covenant instruments and a symbol of His presence. It was the central sacred object in the Tabernacle and later in the Temple. Its contents define the nature of God's relationship with Israel.
- except the two tablets of stone: "לוּחוֹת הָאֲבָנִים" (luchot ha'avanim) refers to the Decalogue, or Ten Commandments, given directly by God to Moses. The material (stone) symbolizes permanence and divine origin, as they were "written with the finger of God." These tablets represent the covenant stipulations, the very foundation of Israel's relationship with Yahweh, emphasizing that the core of their faith lay in divine precepts rather than ritual objects or idols.
- which Moses put there: "אֲשֶׁר שָׁם מֹשֶׁה" (asher sam Moshe). Moses, acting as the divinely appointed mediator, faithfully placed these tablets into the ark. This highlights the chain of divine command, from God's speaking, writing, and entrusting to Moses, and then Moses's obedience. It confirms the divine authority and provenance of the ark's contents.
- at Horeb: "בְּחֹרֵב" (b'chorev) is another name for Mount Sinai. This geographical reference grounds the covenant in a specific, historical event, recalling God's direct interaction with the entire nation of Israel. Horeb signifies the location where Israel was formally constituted as God's people through the giving of the Law and the establishment of the covenant.
- when the Lord made a covenant: "כַּרֹת יְהוָה עִם־בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל" (karot YHVH 'im-b'ney Yisrael). The word "covenant" (בְּרִית, berit) signifies a binding agreement or pact initiated by God, establishing a unique relationship with Israel. This highlights divine initiative and grace. The presence of the Law within the Ark served as a constant witness to this covenant relationship.
- with the people of Israel: "עִם־בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל" ('im-b'ney Yisrael), directly identifying the recipients of this covenant. This underlines Israel's election as God's chosen people, set apart to receive and obey His commandments.
- when they came out of the land of Egypt: "בְּצֵאתָם מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרָיִם" (b'tzeitam me'eretz Mitzrayim). This phrase directly connects the covenant with the Exodus, Israel's foundational redemptive act. The giving of the Law was not a condition for their deliverance, but a consequence of it—God delivering His people then establishing His covenant. This links their national identity directly to God's mighty acts of salvation and subsequent commands.
1 Kings 8 9 Bonus section
The historical nuance in this verse, stating "nothing in the ark except the two tablets," is significant when compared to Heb 9:4, which lists "the golden urn holding the manna, and Aaron's staff that budded" in the ark along with the tablets. Scholarly consensus generally holds that 1 Kings 8:9 accurately describes the contents at the time of the Temple dedication. The other items (manna, rod) might have been kept beside the Ark initially, or perhaps were removed over the centuries due to wear, loss, or intentional purifications. The persistent presence of only the tablets emphasizes the enduring centrality and importance of the Law/Covenant above all else by the time the Ark found its permanent home in Solomon's Temple. This focus reinforces that Israel's covenant was built not on past miraculous provision or priesthood, but on direct, unchanging divine commands. The "Horeb" reference not only pinpoints location but also signifies the unique and profound personal encounter between God and His people, cementing the Law as the core of their identity and relationship with their deliverer, YHWH.
1 Kings 8 9 Commentary
1 Kings 8:9 stands as a pivotal declaration about the essence of the Ark of the Covenant and, by extension, the heart of Israel's faith. The emphatic statement "nothing except the two tablets of stone" distinguishes Yahweh's worship from the practices of surrounding nations. While pagan "arks" or containers often held cultic relics, idols, or even fetish objects, the Ark of the Covenant's sole contents were the tablets of the Law—God's direct communication to His people. This powerfully asserts that God's presence, symbolized by the Ark, is inextricably linked to His divine Word and the covenant relationship based on His revealed commands. It underscores that the glory filling the Temple (mentioned just after this verse) descends upon a dwelling whose very core is the unadulterated divine Law, not human fabrications or idolatrous symbols. This detail anchors the entire Temple cult and Israelite identity to the foundational historical events of the Exodus and the giving of the Law at Horeb (Sinai). The verse reminds Israel, and all future readers, that their primary responsibility and privilege stemmed from possessing and obeying God's divine stipulations, a heritage passed down through Moses and enshrined at the very heart of their sacred space.