1 Kings 9 8

1 Kings 9:8 kjv

And at this house, which is high, every one that passeth by it shall be astonished, and shall hiss; and they shall say, Why hath the LORD done thus unto this land, and to this house?

1 Kings 9:8 nkjv

And as for this house, which is exalted, everyone who passes by it will be astonished and will hiss, and say, 'Why has the LORD done thus to this land and to this house?'

1 Kings 9:8 niv

This temple will become a heap of rubble. All who pass by will be appalled and will scoff and say, 'Why has the LORD done such a thing to this land and to this temple?'

1 Kings 9:8 esv

And this house will become a heap of ruins. Everyone passing by it will be astonished and will hiss, and they will say, 'Why has the LORD done thus to this land and to this house?'

1 Kings 9:8 nlt

And though this Temple is impressive now, all who pass by will be appalled and will gasp in horror. They will ask, 'Why did the LORD do such terrible things to this land and to this Temple?'

1 Kings 9 verses

1 Kings 9 8 Meaning

This verse is a solemn prophetic warning delivered by God to Solomon after the dedication of the magnificent Temple. It declares that despite the Temple's grandeur and its current status as a symbol of divine presence, if Israel disobeys the covenant, this exalted house and the land itself will face utter devastation. So complete will be the ruin that everyone who passes by, including foreigners, will be utterly shocked, expressing their dismay and mockery through a hiss of contempt, and questioning why the LORD, Israel's God, has brought such destruction upon what was once so glorious. It emphasizes the conditional nature of God's blessings and the dire consequences of national apostasy.

1 Kings 9 8 Context

This verse is part of God's response to King Solomon's magnificent dedication of the Temple (1 Kings 8). God has just appeared to Solomon a second time, reiterating His commitment to establish Solomon's throne forever, but unequivocally stressing that this promise, along with the sanctity of the Temple and the nation's continued dwelling in the land, is contingent upon Israel's faithful obedience to God's commandments. Specifically, 1 Kings 9:6-9 outlines the severe consequences if Israel should turn away to idolatry. The historical setting is the golden age of Israel's monarchy under Solomon, where prosperity and divine favor were at their zenith. Yet, at this very peak, God issues a stark prophetic warning about potential future judgment, looking forward to the eventual division of the kingdom, widespread idolatry, and ultimately the devastating Babylonian exile, when the Temple would indeed be destroyed and the land laid waste.

1 Kings 9 8 Word analysis

• And though this house: Hebrew hab-bayiṯ haz-zeh. Refers to the Temple Solomon just built, which was renowned for its lavish design and construction.
• is exalted, Hebrew `elyōwn. Signifies its high standing, supreme importance, and physical eminence. Despite its unparalleled glory and sacred status, its fate is tied to Israel's obedience.
• everyone who passes by it: Hebrew kāl ōbêr `ālāyw. Implies not just Israelites but also foreign travelers and nations. This emphasizes the widespread recognition and public nature of the future desolation, making Israel's shame visible to the world.
• will be astonished: Hebrew yiššōm (from shâmam). Conveys profound shock, horror, and desolation. It's a reaction to something unfathomable and deeply disturbing, far beyond simple surprise, signifying the absolute and unexpected destruction of such a revered place.
• and will hiss: Hebrew wəšāraq (from shâraq). Refers to a whistling or hissing sound often associated with derision, scorn, contempt, or dismay. It denotes a public act of mockery or an expression of horror over calamity, akin to a lamentation that such a thing could happen.
• and say, 'Why has the LORD done thus: Hebrew lāmâ `āśâ YHWH ka-zzō't. The questioning indicates profound puzzlement and disbelief. The question directly attributes the act to "the LORD" (YHWH), Israel's covenant God, acknowledging His supreme power and implying the need for a divine explanation for such a devastating action concerning His own chosen people and dwelling place.
• to this land and to this house?'": Hebrew lā·’ā·reṣ haz·zōh wə·la·bayiṯ haz·zeh. Links the fate of the nation (the land) directly to the fate of the sanctuary (the house). This highlights that the Temple was not just a building, but spiritually intertwined with the well-being and covenant relationship of the entire nation of Israel. Its destruction signifies the breach of the covenant by the people, leading to judgment upon both the sacred structure and the inhabitants of the land.

1 Kings 9 8 Bonus section

• This prophetic warning underlines a critical principle throughout the Old Testament: the blessings and curses of the Mosaic Covenant, laid out in books like Deuteronomy 28, were a lived reality for Israel. The splendor and the subsequent desolation of the Temple were not arbitrary events but direct outworkings of God's covenant faithfulness – His commitment to both bless obedience and punish disobedience.
• The "hissing" not only signifies scorn but also aligns with ancient Near Eastern lamentation practices, where a sound of lament or scorn would accompany observations of great destruction or fallen majesty. It indicates the utter reversal of fortunes for a once-blessed nation.
• The destruction prophesied in this verse was fulfilled primarily by the Babylonian exile in 586 BC, when Nebuchadnezzar's forces burned Solomon's Temple to the ground, and the land lay desolate for many decades. This prophecy, however, has also had resonance in subsequent destructions, including the Roman destruction of Herod's Temple in AD 70.
• The "why" question from the passersby isn't simply intellectual curiosity but serves as a narrative device that leads to the crucial theological explanation provided by God Himself in 1 Kings 9:9, revealing that Israel's forsaking of the Lord and embracing of other gods was the explicit reason for the devastating judgment.

1 Kings 9 8 Commentary

1 Kings 9:8 serves as a potent warning within the divine discourse to Solomon, framing God's relationship with Israel as profoundly conditional, despite His unconditional promise to the Davidic line. The "house" – the magnificent Temple, central to Israel's identity and worship – would, contrary to its current splendor, become a desolate spectacle. The shock and derision expressed by passersby underscore that God's judgment would be undeniably public and utterly astounding given the Temple's previous glory. Their rhetorical question, "Why has the LORD done thus?", is the very inquiry that will reveal Israel's covenant unfaithfulness as the cause, highlighted immediately in the subsequent verse (1 Ki 9:9). This verse emphatically demonstrates that God values the faithfulness of His people to the covenant over any physical edifice, however grand or sacred. It's a sober reminder that spiritual health dictates the physical blessings and security, underscoring God's righteous character and commitment to His standards, even when it involves judging His own people.