New English Translation
1 Kings 8:31
31“When someone is accused of sinning against his neighbor and the latter pronounces a curse on the alleged offender before your altar in this temple, be willing to forgive the accused if the accusation is false.
1 Kings 8:31 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)If any man trespass against his neighbour, and an oath be laid upon him to cause him to swear, and the oath come before thine altar in this house:
- New International Version (NIV)“When anyone wrongs their neighbor and is required to take an oath and they come and swear the oath before your altar in this temple,
- English Standard Version (ESV)"If a man sins against his neighbor and is made to take an oath and comes and swears his oath before your altar in this house,
- New King James Version (NKJV)“When anyone sins against his neighbor, and is forced to take an oath, and comes and takes an oath before Your altar in this temple,
Context of 1 Kings 8:31
29Night and day may you watch over this temple, the place where you promised you would live. May you answer your servant’s prayer for this place. 30Respond to the request of your servant and your people Israel for this place. Hear from inside your heavenly dwelling place and respond favorably. “When someone is accused of sinning against his neighbor and the latter pronounces a curse on the alleged offender before your altar in this temple, be willing to forgive the accused if the accusation is false. 32Listen from heaven and make a just decision about your servants’ claims. Condemn the guilty party, declare the other innocent, and give both of them what they deserve. 33“The time will come when your people Israel are defeated by an enemy because they sinned against you. If they come back to you, renew their allegiance to you, and pray for your help in this temple,
Read all of 1 Kings 81 Kings 8:31 word by word
אֵת֩ אֲשֶׁ֨ר יֶחֱטָ֥א אִישׁ֙ לְרֵעֵ֔הוּ וְנָֽשָׁא־ב֥וֹ אָלָ֖ה לְהַֽאֲלֹת֑וֹ וּבָ֗א אָלָ֛ה לִפְנֵ֥י מִֽזְבַּחֲךָ֖ בַּבַּ֥יִת הַזֶּֽה׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- If any manאִישׁ'îysh · man: anyoneH376
- trespassחָטָאchâţâ' · to sinH2398
- against his neighbourרֵעַrêa‛ rêya‛ · neighborH7453
- and an oathאָלָה'âlâh · oathH423
- be laidנָשָׂאnâώâ' nâsâh · to lift: raiseH5375
- upon him to cause him to swearאָלָה'âlâh · to swearH422
- comeבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): comeH935
- beforeפָּנֶהpânîym · face: beforeH6440
- thine altarמִזְבֵּחַmizbêach · altarH4196
- in this houseבַּ֫יִתbayith · house: homeH1004
Cross-references for 1 Kings 8:31
- 2 Chronicles 6:22“When someone is accused of sinning against his neighbor and the latter pronounces a curse on the alleged offender before your altar in this temple,
- Exodus 22:8If the thief is not caught, then the owner of the house will be brought before the judges to see whether he has laid his hand on his neighbor’s goods.
- Leviticus 5:1“‘When a person sins in that he hears a public curse against one who fails to testify and he is a witness (he either saw or knew what had happened) and he does not make it known, then he will bear his punishment for iniquity.
- Proverbs 30:9lest I become satisfied and act deceptively and say, “Who is the Lord?” Or lest I become poor and steal and demean the name of my God.
- Numbers 5:16“‘Then the priest will bring her near and have her stand before the Lord.
Commentaries on 1 Kings 8:31
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 31If any man trespass against his neighbor - Solomon puts here seven cases, in all of which the mercy and intervention of God would be indispensably requisite; and he earnestly bespeaks that mercy and intervention on condition that the people pray towards that holy place, and with a feeling heart make earnest supplication. The First case is one of doubtfulness; where a man has sustained an injury, and charges it on a suspected person, though not able to…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 31The oath come before - “The oath” is equivalent to “the man who swears the oath.” A slight alteration in the present Hebrew text gives the sense “and he (the accused) go and swear before thine altar,” etc. The threats and the promises, the punishments and calamities of 1 Kings 8:31-38 were distinctly named in the Law. See the margin reference.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. 31-32Solomon asked God to make the right decision and ensure justice in court cases when there were no witnesses to prove innocence (see Exodus 22:7–12). Solomon might have understood that future officials would not have the special wisdom God gave him (1 Kings 3:12; for example, 3:16–27).Read the comment
Topics related to 1 Kings 8:31
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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