1 Kings 8:38
1 Kings 8:38 in Multiple Translations
then may whatever prayer or petition Your people Israel make—each knowing his own afflictions and spreading out his hands toward this temple—
What prayer and supplication soever be made by any man, or by all thy people Israel, which shall know every man the plague of his own heart, and spread forth his hands toward this house:
what prayer and supplication soever be made by any man, or by all thy people Israel, who shall know every man the plague of his own heart, and spread forth his hands toward this house:
Whatever prayer or request for your grace is made by any man, or by all your people Israel, whatever his trouble may be, whose hands are stretched out to this house:
then whatever kind of prayer or whatever kind of appeal is made by anyone or all your people Israel, (in fact anyone who, knowing their problems and pains, prays toward this Temple),
Then what prayer, and supplication so euer shalbe made of any man or of all thy people Israel, when euery one shall knowe the plague in his owne heart, and stretch foorth his handes in this house,
any prayer, any supplication that [is] of any man of all Thy people Israel, who know each the plague of his own heart, and hath spread his hands towards this house,
whatever prayer and supplication is made by any man, or by all your people Israel, who shall each know the plague of his own heart, and spread out his hands toward this house,
Whatever prayer and supplication shall be made by any man, or by all thy people Israel, who shall know every man the plague of his own heart, and spread forth his hands towards this house:
Whatsoever curse or imprecation shall happen to any man of thy people Israel: when a man shall know the wound of his own heart, and shall spread forth his hands in this house,
when your Israeli people earnestly plead with you knowing that they are suffering because they have sinned, and if they stretch out their arms toward this temple and pray,
Berean Amplified Bible — 1 Kings 8:38
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1 Kings 8:38 Interlinear (Deep Study)
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Hebrew Word Reference — 1 Kings 8:38
Study Notes — 1 Kings 8:38
- Context
- Cross References
- 1 Kings 8:38 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on 1 Kings 8:38
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 1 Kings 8:38
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on 1 Kings 8:38
- Trapp's Commentary on 1 Kings 8:38
- Ellicott's Commentary on 1 Kings 8:38
- Cambridge Bible on 1 Kings 8:38
- Barnes' Notes on 1 Kings 8:38
- Whedon's Commentary on 1 Kings 8:38
- Sermons on 1 Kings 8:38
Context — Solomon’s Prayer of Dedication
38then may whatever prayer or petition Your people Israel make—each knowing his own afflictions and spreading out his hands toward this temple—
39be heard by You from heaven, Your dwelling place. And may You forgive and act, and repay each man according to all his ways, since You know his heart—for You alone know the hearts of all men— 40so that they may fear You all the days they live in the land that You gave to our fathers.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psalms 73:21–22 | When my heart was grieved and I was pierced within, I was senseless and ignorant; I was a brute beast before You. |
| 2 | 1 Kings 8:22 | Then Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in front of the whole assembly of Israel, spread out his hands toward heaven, |
| 3 | Philippians 4:6 | Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. |
| 4 | Amos 7:1–6 | This is what the Lord GOD showed me: He was preparing swarms of locusts just after the king’s harvest, as the late spring crop was coming up. And when the locusts had eaten every green plant in the land, I said, “Lord GOD, please forgive! How will Jacob survive, since he is so small?” So the LORD relented from this plan. “It will not happen,” He said. This is what the Lord GOD showed me: The Lord GOD was calling for judgment by fire. It consumed the great deep and devoured the land. Then I said, “Lord GOD, please stop! How will Jacob survive, since he is so small?” So the LORD relented from this plan. “It will not happen either,” said the Lord GOD. |
| 5 | Isaiah 37:15–21 | And Hezekiah prayed to the LORD: “O LORD of Hosts, God of Israel, enthroned above the cherubim, You alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth. You made the heavens and the earth. Incline Your ear, O LORD, and hear; open Your eyes, O LORD, and see. Listen to all the words that Sennacherib has sent to defy the living God. Truly, O LORD, the kings of Assyria have laid waste all these countries and their lands. They have cast their gods into the fire and destroyed them, for they were not gods, but only wood and stone—the work of human hands. And now, O LORD our God, save us from his hand, so that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that You alone, O LORD, are God. ” Then Isaiah son of Amoz sent a message to Hezekiah: “This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: Because you have prayed to Me concerning Sennacherib king of Assyria, |
| 6 | Isaiah 37:4 | Perhaps the LORD your God will hear the words of the Rabshakeh, whom his master the king of Assyria has sent to defy the living God, and He will rebuke him for the words that the LORD your God has heard. Therefore lift up a prayer for the remnant that still survives.” |
| 7 | Psalms 42:9 | I say to God my Rock, “Why have You forgotten me? Why must I walk in sorrow because of the enemy’s oppression?” |
| 8 | Psalms 142:3–5 | Although my spirit grows faint within me, You know my way. Along the path I travel they have hidden a snare for me. Look to my right and see; no one attends to me. There is no refuge for me; no one cares for my soul. I cry to You, O LORD: “You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living.” |
| 9 | 2 Chronicles 20:5–13 | Then Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem in the house of the LORD in front of the new courtyard and said, “O LORD, God of our fathers, are You not the God who is in heaven, and do You not rule over all the kingdoms of the nations? Power and might are in Your hand, and no one can stand against You. Our God, did You not drive out the inhabitants of this land before Your people Israel and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham Your friend? They have lived in the land and have built in it a sanctuary for Your Name, saying, ‘If disaster comes upon us—whether sword or judgment, plague or famine—we will stand before this temple and before You, for Your Name is in this temple. We will cry out to You in our distress, and You will hear us and save us.’ And now, here are the men of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, whom You did not let Israel invade when they came out of the land of Egypt; but Israel turned away from them and did not destroy them. See how they are repaying us by coming to drive us out of the possession that You gave us as an inheritance. Our God, will You not judge them? For we are powerless before this vast army that comes against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon You.” Meanwhile all the men of Judah, with their wives and children and little ones, were standing before the LORD. |
| 10 | Psalms 91:15 | When he calls out to Me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble. I will deliver him and honor him. |
1 Kings 8:38 Summary
This verse is talking about how the people of Israel can come to God in prayer when they are struggling with difficult circumstances. They are to acknowledge their own afflictions and reach out to God, seeking His forgiveness and guidance, just like we are encouraged to do in Psalm 145:18-19. By being honest with God about our struggles and seeking Him in prayer, we can experience His love and care for us, as seen in Jeremiah 29:12-13. As we pray, we can trust that God hears us and will respond, just like He promised to do in 2 Chronicles 7:14.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the significance of the temple in this verse?
The temple represents a place of worship and connection with God, where the people of Israel can come to pray and seek forgiveness, as seen in 1 Kings 8:38 and also in 2 Chronicles 7:14-15.
How does God know the afflictions of His people?
According to 1 Kings 8:38, each person knows their own afflictions, and God is aware of their hearts, as stated in 1 Samuel 16:7, where it says that God sees the heart.
What is the condition for God's forgiveness in this verse?
The condition for God's forgiveness is that the people must acknowledge their sins and turn to Him in prayer, as seen in 1 Kings 8:36-40, and also in Psalm 51:17, which says that a broken and contrite heart is what God desires.
How does this verse relate to our personal prayer lives?
This verse encourages us to be honest with God about our struggles and to seek Him in prayer, just like the Israelites were instructed to do, and as Jesus taught in the Lord's Prayer, found in Matthew 6:9-13.
Reflection Questions
- What are some personal afflictions that I am currently facing, and how can I bring them before God in prayer?
- In what ways can I, like the Israelites, spread out my hands towards God's presence and seek His forgiveness and guidance?
- How can I cultivate a deeper awareness of my own heart and its motivations, just as God knows the hearts of all men, as stated in 1 Kings 8:39?
- What are some ways that I can apply the principle of acknowledging my sins and seeking God's forgiveness, as seen in this verse, to my daily life?
Gill's Exposition on 1 Kings 8:38
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 1 Kings 8:38
Matthew Poole's Commentary on 1 Kings 8:38
Trapp's Commentary on 1 Kings 8:38
Ellicott's Commentary on 1 Kings 8:38
Cambridge Bible on 1 Kings 8:38
Barnes' Notes on 1 Kings 8:38
Whedon's Commentary on 1 Kings 8:38
Sermons on 1 Kings 8:38
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
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The Plague of a Man's Own Heart by John Gill | John Gill preaches on 'The Plague of a Man's Own Heart,' emphasizing the inherent sinfulness and corruption of the human heart, which he describes as a grievous disease that affect |
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Appendix 3 to Vitae Patrum Sayings of the Egyptian Fathers by Heribert Rosweyde | Heribert Rosweyde preaches on the virtues of humility, self-discipline, and prayer as essential elements in the monk's journey towards God. He emphasizes the importance of self-ref |
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A Monument Before God by Jim Cymbala | In this sermon, the preacher talks about a widow who demonstrated unwavering faith and generosity. He emphasizes the importance of acts of kindness and helping those in need, as th |
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(1 Kings) the Wisdom of Solomon by David Guzik | In this sermon, the speaker discusses the importance of organization and order in the Bible. He uses the example of God organizing the Israelites in the book of Numbers to emphasiz |
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Christ Church Ministries by Hattie Hammond | In this sermon, the speaker shares about the importance of hearing from God and experiencing His presence. They recount a story of a young minister who asked if there was any word |
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I Kings 8:22 by Chuck Smith | Chuck Smith emphasizes the incomparable nature of God as Solomon kneels in the temple, recognizing that no other god can compare to Jehovah, the God of Israel. He highlights humani |
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Effectual Fervent Prayer by Corrie Ten Boom | In this sermon, the speaker begins by expressing their reliance on God's strength and their desire to be a channel for His living water. They then pray for various individuals, inc |







