1 Kings 8:30 Meaning and Explanation
“And hearken thou to the supplication of thy servant, and of thy people Israel, when they shall pray toward this place: and hear thou in heaven thy dwelling place: and when thou hearest, forgive.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Solomon asks God to hear prayers offered toward the house and, when He hears, to forgive.
What Does 1 Kings 8:30 Mean?
Solomon asks God to hear the prayers of king and people offered toward this place, hearing from heaven, His true dwelling, and then to forgive. The prayer rises toward the temple, but God answers from heaven itself.
The plea ends with the deepest need of all: forgiveness. To hear, for God, is to pardon. The temple gave a place to seek mercy, and Solomon knows the human heart most needs to be forgiven. This longing finds its full and final answer in the One whose offering secures forgiveness for all who come.
1 Kings 8:30 in the Original Language
salach (סָלַח), 'forgive' -- to pardon, a verb used in Scripture only of God's forgiving.
Frequently Asked Questions About 1 Kings 8:30
What does 1 Kings 8:30 mean?
Solomon asks God to hear prayers offered toward the house and, when He hears, to forgive.