New English Translation
1 Kings 8:12
12Then Solomon said, “The Lord has said that he lives in thick darkness.
1 Kings 8:12 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Then spake Solomon, The Lord said that he would dwell in the thick darkness.
- New International Version (NIV)Then Solomon said, “The Lord has said that he would dwell in a dark cloud;
- English Standard Version (ESV)Then Solomon said, "The Lord has said that he would dwell in thick darkness.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Then Solomon spoke: “The Lord said He would dwell in the dark cloud.
Context of 1 Kings 8:12
10Once the priests left the holy place, a cloud filled the Lord’s temple. 11The priests could not carry out their duties because of the cloud; the Lord’s glory filled his temple. Then Solomon said, “The Lord has said that he lives in thick darkness. 13O Lord, truly I have built a lofty temple for you, a place where you can live permanently.” 14Then the king turned around and pronounced a blessing over the whole Israelite assembly as they stood there.
Read all of 1 Kings 81 Kings 8:12 word by word
אָ֖ז אָמַ֣ר שְׁלֹמֹ֑ה יְהוָ֣ה אָמַ֔ר לִשְׁכֹּ֖ן בָּעֲרָפֶֽל׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for 1 Kings 8:12
- Deuteronomy 4:11You approached and stood at the foot of the mountain, a mountain ablaze to the sky above it and yet dark with a thick cloud.
- 2 Chronicles 6:1Then Solomon said, “The Lord has said that he lives in thick darkness.
- Psalms 18:8Smoke ascended from his nose; fire devoured as it came from his mouth; he hurled down fiery coals.
- Psalms 97:2Dark clouds surround him; equity and justice are the foundation of his throne.
- Exodus 20:21The people kept their distance, but Moses drew near the thick darkness where God was.
- Leviticus 16:2and the Lord said to Moses: “Tell Aaron your brother that he must not enter at any time into the holy place inside the veil-canopy in front of the atonement plate that is on the ark so that he may not die, for I will appear in the cloud over the atonement plate.
- Deuteronomy 5:22The Lord said these things to your entire assembly at the mountain from the middle of the fire, the cloud, and the darkness with a loud voice, and that was all he said. Then he inscribed the words on two stone tablets and gave them to me.
- Isaiah 45:15Yes, you are a God who keeps hidden, O God of Israel, deliverer!
- Hebrews 12:18For you have not come to something that can be touched, to a burning fire and darkness and gloom and a whirlwind
Commentaries on 1 Kings 8:12
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 12The Lord said - he would dwell - It was under the appearance of a cloud that God showed himself present with Israel in the wilderness; see Exodus 14:19, Exodus 14:20. And at the dedication of the tabernacle in the wilderness, God manifested himself in the same way that he did here at the dedication of the temple; see Exodus 40:34, Exodus 40:35.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 12Rather, “The Lord spake of dwelling in the thick darkness” (margin reference). Solomon sees in the cloud the visible symbol of God‘s presence, and accepts the token as a proof that He has taken possession of the house built for Him, and will thenceforth dwell there 1 Kings 8:13.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 12-21Verses 12-21 Solomon encouraged the priests, who were much astonished at the dark cloud. The dark dispensations of Providence should quicken us in fleeing for refuge to the hope of the gospel. Nothing can more reconcile us to them, than to consider what God has said, and to compare his word and works together. Whatever good we do, we must look on it as the performance of God's promise to us, not of our promises to him.Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 12-13thick cloud: Solomon saw the cloud filling the inner sanctuary as a sign of God's presence. However, he knew that God could not be confined to a human-made temple (see 1 Kings 8:27). Solomon completed his task to build the temple (1 Kings 8:19; 1 Chronicles 28:10), trusting the promises that God would live in the sanctuary (see Exodus 15:17).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1212. Then spake Solomon--For the reassurance of the priests and people, the king reminded them that the cloud, instead of being a sign ominous of evil, was a token of approval. The Lord said--not in express terms, but by a continuous course of action (Ex 13:21; 24:16; Nu 9:15).Read the comment
Topics related to 1 Kings 8:12
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
New English Translation — © 1996-2016 Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C.
Commentaries