God’s Word Translation
1 Kings 8:27
27“Does God really live on earth? If heaven itself, the highest heaven, cannot hold you, then how can this temple that I have built?
1 Kings 8:27 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)But will God indeed dwell on the earth? behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house that I have builded?
- New International Version (NIV)“But will God really dwell on earth? The heavens, even the highest heaven, cannot contain you. How much less this temple I have built!
- English Standard Version (ESV)"But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain you; how much less this house that I have built!
- New King James Version (NKJV)“But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain You. How much less this temple which I have built!
Context of 1 Kings 8:27
25“Now, Lord God of Israel, keep your promise to my father David, your servant. You said, ‘You will never fail to have an heir sitting in front of me on the throne of Israel if your descendants are faithful to me as you have been faithful to me.’ 26“So now, God of Israel, may the promise you made to my father David, your servant, come true. “Does God really live on earth? If heaven itself, the highest heaven, cannot hold you, then how can this temple that I have built? 28Nevertheless, my Lord God, please pay attention to my prayer for mercy. Listen to my cry for help as I pray to you today. 29Night and day may your eyes be on this temple, the place about which you said, ‘My name will be there.’ Listen to me as I pray toward this place.
Read all of 1 Kings 81 Kings 8:27 word by word
כִּ֚י הַֽאֻמְנָ֔ם יֵשֵׁ֥ב אֱלֹהִ֖ים עַל־הָאָ֑רֶץ הִ֠נֵּה הַשָּׁמַ֜יִם וּשְׁמֵ֤י הַשָּׁמַ֙יִם֙ לֹ֣א יְכַלְכְּל֔וּךָ אַ֕ף כִּֽי־הַבַּ֥יִת הַזֶּ֖ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר בָּנִֽיתִי׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- But will Godאֱלֹהִים'ĕlôhîym · GodH430
- indeedאֻמְנָם'ûmnâm · trulyH552
- dwellיָשַׁבyâshab · to dwellH3427
- on the earthאֶ֫רֶץ'erets · land: country/planetH776
- behold, the heavenשָׁמַיִםshâmayim shâmeh · heavenH8064
- cannot containכּוּלkûl · to sustainH3557
- thee; how much lessאַף'aph · alsoH637
- this houseבַּ֫יִתbayith · house: homeH1004
- that I have buildedבָּנָהbânâh · to buildH1129
Cross-references for 1 Kings 8:27
- 2 Chronicles 6:18“Does God really live on earth with people? If heaven itself, the highest heaven, cannot hold you, then how can this temple that I have built?
- Isaiah 66:1This is what the Lord says: Heaven is my throne. The earth is my footstool. Where can you build a house or resting place for me?
- John 1:14The Word became human and lived among us. We saw his glory. It was the glory that the Father shares with his only Son, a glory full of kindness and truth.
- Acts 7:48“However, the Most High doesn’t live in a house built by humans, as the prophet says:
- Acts 17:24The God who made the universe and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth. He doesn’t live in shrines made by humans,
- 2 Corinthians 6:16Can God’s temple contain false gods? Clearly, we are the temple of the living God. As God said, “I will live and walk among them. I will be their God, and they will be my people.”
- 1 John 3:1Consider this: The Father has given us his love. He loves us so much that we are actually called God’s dear children. And that’s what we are. For this reason the world doesn’t recognize us, and it didn’t recognize him either.
- Deuteronomy 10:14Remember that the sky, the highest heaven, the earth and everything it contains belong to the Lord your God.
- 2 Chronicles 2:6But who is able to build him a temple when heaven itself, the highest heaven, cannot hold him? Who am I to build him a temple except as a place to sacrifice in his presence?
- Psalms 113:4The Lord is high above all the nations. His glory is above the heavens.
- Psalms 139:7Where can I go ⌞to get away⌟ from your Spirit? Where can I run ⌞to get away⌟ from you?
- Jeremiah 23:24“No one can hide so that I can’t see him,” declares the Lord. “I fill heaven and earth!” declares the Lord.
- 2 Corinthians 12:2I know a follower of Christ who was snatched away to the third heaven fourteen years ago. I don’t know whether this happened to him physically or spiritually. Only God knows.
Commentaries on 1 Kings 8:27
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 27But will God indeed dwell on the earth? - This expression is full of astonishment, veneration, and delight. He is struck with the immensity, dignity, and grandeur of the Divine Being, but especially at his condescension to dwell with men: and though he sees, by his filling the place, that he has come now to make his abode with them, yet he cannot help asking the question, How can such a God dwell in such a place, and with such creatures? Behold, the…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 27heaven of heavens - Compare Deuteronomy 10:14; Psalm 148:4. It seems to mean the heaven in its most extended compass. Solomon combines with his belief in Yahweh‘s special presence in the temple, the strongest conviction that He is no local or finite deity, but is ever present everywhere. Compare Psalm 139:7-10.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 22-53Verses 22-53 In this excellent prayer, Solomon does as we should do in every prayer; he gives glory to God. Fresh experiences of the truth of God's promises call for larger praises. He sues for grace and favour from God. The experiences we have of God's performing his promises, should encourage us to depend upon them, and to plead them with him; and those who expect further mercies, must be thankful for former mercies. God's promises must be the guide of…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 22-61Solomon'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).Read the comment
Topics related to 1 Kings 8:27
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on 1 Kings 8
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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