Keraia
1 Kings 8

1 Kings 8:25

Solomon’s Prayer of Dedication · 1 Kings 8:22–53
Read 1 Kings 8

Translations

Modern
Therefore now, O LORD, God of Israel, keep for Your servant, my father David, what You promised when You said: ‘You will never fail to have a man to sit before Me on the throne of Israel, if only your descendants guard their way to walk before Me as you have done.’
Traditional
Therefore now, Lord God of Israel, keep with thy servant David my father that thou promisedst him, saying, There shall not fail thee a man in my sight to sit on the throne of Israel; so that thy children take heed to their way, that they walk before me as thou hast walked before me.
Literal
And now, O YHWH, God of Israel, keep for Your servant David my father what You promised to him, saying, ‘You shall not fail to have a man before My face sitting on the throne of Israel—only if your sons take heed to their way, that they walk before Me as you have walked before Me.’
Latin
Nunc igitur Domine Deus Israël, conserva famulo tuo David patri meo quæ locutus es ei, dicens: Non auferetur de te vir coram me, qui sedeat super thronum Israël: ita tamen si custodierint filii tui viam suam, ut ambulent coram me sicut tu ambulasti in conspectu meo.

Original

Hebrew
English
Therefore now, O LORD, God of Israel, keep for Your servant, my father David, what You promised when You said: ‘You will never fail to have a man to sit before Me on the throne of Israel, if only your descendants guard their way to walk before Me as you have done.’

Notes

1 Kings 8:23–26

Solomon's prayer highlighted God's unique nature and how he kept his promises to David. Solomon also asked God to ensure that David's descendants would always rule on the throne.

1 Kings 8:22–61

Solomon's prayer of dedication for the temple praised God and blessed the people. He highlighted God's faithfulness to His promises and his own part in building the temple. Solomon prayed for God to keep answering their prayers (1 Kings 8:22–30). He then made seven specific requests to God (1 Kings 8:31–53) and ended with a blessing (1 Kings 8:54–61).

1 Kings 8:1–66

Solomon's building efforts peaked when he moved the ark to the new temple. The king prayed (1 Kings 8:22–53) and offered praise and blessings (8:56–61) to dedicate the temple to the Lord. After the dedication, the people celebrated the Feast of Tabernacles. The story highlights Solomon praising God and blessing the people (1 Kings 8:12–61).

1 Kings 6:1–8:66

The construction of the Temple and palace complex, along with the temple's dedication celebration, are key events in the 1 Kings account of Solomon's time. The temple, built to honor God, was Israel's most important building. Therefore, the writer of 1 Kings documented its construction details thoroughly.

Events

Parallels

2 Chronicles 6:12–42

People

David: Anointed king of Israel, ancestor of Jesus Christ Israel: Patriarch, son of Isaac, father of twelve tribes

Glossary

Book of Jashar Kings, Books of First and Second Solomon (Person) Temple

Topics

Dedication: Subjects of Temple of Solomon Prayer: Importunity In Prayer: Pleas offered In Sin: Forgiveness of the First Temple: Solemnly Dedicated to God by Solomon Watchfulness: General Scriptures Concerning