1 Kings 8 · Verse 22

1 Kings 8:22

And Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord in the presence of all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth his hands toward heaven:
1 Kings 8:22, King James Version

1 Kings 8:22 in other translations

BSBThen Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in front of the whole assembly of Israel, spread out his hands toward heaven,
WEBSolomon stood before the LORD’s altar in the presence of all the assembly of Israel, and spread out his hands toward heaven;
ASVAnd Solomon stood before the altar of Jehovah in the presence of all the assembly of Israel, and spread forth his hands toward heaven;
YLTAnd Solomon standeth before the altar of Jehovah, over-against all the assembly of Israel, and spreadeth his hands towards the heavens,
DARBYAnd Solomon stood before the altar of Jehovah in the presence of the whole congregation of Israel, and spread forth his hands toward the heavens.
BBEThen Solomon took his place before the altar of the Lord, all the men of Israel being present, and stretching out his hands to heaven,
WebsterAnd Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence of all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth his hands towards Heaven:

What does 1 Kings 8:22 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
22. Solomon stood before the altar--This position was in the court of the people, on a brazen scaffold erected for the occasion (2Ch 6:13), fronting the altar of burnt offering, and surrounded by a mighty concourse of people. Assuming the attitude of a suppliant, kneeling (1Ki 8:54; compare 2Ch 6:24) and with uplifted hands, he performed the solemn act of consecration--an act remarkable, among other circumstances, for this, that it was done, not by the high priest or any member of the Aaronic family, but by the king in person, who might minister about, though not in, holy things. This sublime prayer [1Ki 8:22-35], which breathes sentiments of the loftiest piety blended with the deepest humility, naturally bore a reference to the national blessing and curse contained in the law--and the burden of it--after an ascription of praise to the Lord for the bestowment of the former, was an earnest supplication for deliverance from the latter. He specifies seven cases in which the merciful interposition of God would be required; and he earnestly bespeaks it on the condition of people praying towards that holy place. The blessing addressed to the people at the close is substantially a brief recapitulation of the preceding prayer [1Ki 8:56-61]. 1Ki 8:62-64. His Sacrifice of Peace Offering.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 22 Stood - He ascended the brazen scaffold, five cubits long, and five cubits broad, and three cubits high, and then kneeled down upon his knees, with his hands spread up to heaven, and offered up the following prayer: see 1Kgs 8:54, and 2Chr 5:12, 2Chr 5:13. And spread forth his hands toward heaven - This was a usual custom in all nations: in prayer the hands were stretched out to heaven, as if to invite and receive assistance from thence; while, humbly kneeling on their knees, they seemed acknowledge at once their dependence and unworthiness. On this subject I have spoken elsewhere. In the Scriptures we meet with several examples of the kind: Hear my voice - when I Lift Up My Hands toward thy holy oracle; Psa 28:2. Lift Up Your Hands in the sanctuary, and bless the Lord; Psa 134:2. Let my prayer be set forth - and the Lifting Up of My Hands as the evening sacrifice; Psa 141:2. And see 1Tim 2:8, etc. In heathen writers examples are not less frequent: Sustulit exutas vinclis ad sidera Palmas. Vos aeterni ignes, et non violabile vestrum Testor numen, ait. Virg. Aen. lib. ii., ver. 153. Ye lamps of heaven, he said, and Lifted High His Hands, now free; thou venerable sky, Inviolable powers! And that they kneeled down when supplicating I have also proved. Of this too the Scriptures afford abundant evidence, as do also the heathen writers. I need add but one word: - Et Genbius Pronis supplex, similisque roganti, Circumfert tacitos, tanquam sun brachia, vultus. Ovid, Met. lib. iii., f. 3, ver. 240. Indeed, so universal were these forms in praying, that one of the heathens has said, "All men, in praying, lift up their hands to heaven.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 1 Kings 8:22-53
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 our desires, and the ground of our hopes and expectations in prayer. The sacrifices, the incense, and the whole service of the temple, were all typical of the Redeemer's offices, oblation, and intercession. The temple, therefore, was continually to be remembered. Under one word, "forgive," Solomon expressed all that he could ask in behalf of his people. For, as all misery springs from sin, forgiveness of sin prepares the way for the removal of every evil, and the receiving of every good. Without it, no deliverance can prove a blessing. In addition to the teaching of the word of God, Solomon entreated the Lord himself to teach the people to profit by all, even by their chastisements. They shall know every man the plague of his own heart, what it is that pains him; and shall spread their hands in prayer toward this house; whether the trouble be of body or mind, they shall represent it before God. Inward burdens seem especially meant. Sin is the plague of our own hearts; our in-dwelling corruptions are our spiritual diseases: every true Israelite endeavours to know these, that he may mortify them, and watch against the risings of them. These drive him to his knees; lamenting these, he spreads forth his hands in prayer. After many particulars, Solomon concludes with the general request, that God would hearken to his praying people. No place, now, under the gospel, can add to the prayers made in or towards it. The substance is Christ; whatever we ask in his name, it shall be given us. In this manner the Israel of God is established and sanctified, the backslider is recovered and healed. In this manner the stranger is brought nigh, the mourner is comforted, the name of God is glorified. Sin is the cause of all our troubles; repentance and forgiveness lead to all human happiness.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

1 Kings 8:22 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וַיַּעֲמֹ֣דvai.ya.'a.Modand he stoodH5975
שְׁלֹמֹ֗הshe.lo.MohSolomonH8010
לִפְנֵי֙lif.Nei<to> beforeH6440
מִזְבַּ֣חmiz.Bach[the] altar ofH4196
יְהוָ֔הYah.wehYahwehH3068
נֶ֖גֶדNe.gedbeforeH5048
כָּל\־kol-allH3605
קְהַ֣לke.Hal[the] assembly ofH6951
יִשְׂרָאֵ֑לYis.ra.'ElIsraelH3478
וַיִּפְרֹ֥שׂvai.yif.Rosand he spread outH6566
כַּפָּ֖יוka.Pavpalms hisH3709
הַשָּׁמָֽיִם\׃ha.sha.Ma.yimthe heavensH8064

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for 1 Kings 8:22

  • Ezra 9:5

    And at the evening sacrifice I arose up from my heaviness; and having rent my garment and my mantle, I fell upon my knees, and spread out my hands unto the Lord my God,

  • 1 Kings 8:54

    And it was so, that when Solomon had made an end of praying all this prayer and supplication unto the Lord, he arose from before the altar of the Lord, from kneeling on his knees with his hands spread up to heaven.

  • Exodus 9:33

    And Moses went out of the city from Pharaoh, and spread abroad his hands unto the Lord: and the thunders and hail ceased, and the rain was not poured upon the earth.

  • Isaiah 1:15

    And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood.

  • Exodus 9:29

    And Moses said unto him, As soon as I am gone out of the city, I will spread abroad my hands unto the Lord; and the thunder shall cease, neither shall there be any more hail; that thou mayest know how that the earth is the Lord’s.

  • 1 Timothy 2:8

    I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.

  • Job 11:13

    If thou prepare thine heart, and stretch out thine hands toward him;

  • Psalms 63:4

    Thus will I bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name.

  • 2 Kings 23:3

    And the king stood by a pillar, and made a covenant before the Lord, to walk after the Lord, and to keep his commandments and his testimonies and his statutes with all their heart and all their soul, to perform the words of this covenant that were written in this book. And all the people stood to the covenant.

  • 2 Kings 11:14

    And when she looked, behold, the king stood by a pillar, as the manner was, and the princes and the trumpeters by the king, and all the people of the land rejoiced, and blew with trumpets: and Athaliah rent her clothes, and cried, Treason, Treason.

  • Psalms 28:2

    Hear the voice of my supplications, when I cry unto thee, when I lift up my hands toward thy holy oracle.

  • 2 Chronicles 6:12-42

    And he stood before the altar of the Lord in the presence of all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth his hands: For Solomon had made a brasen scaffold, of five cubits long, and five cubits broad, and three cubits high, and had set it in the midst of the court: and upon it he stood, and kneeled down upon his knees before all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth his hands toward heaven, And said, O Lord God of Israel, there is no God like thee in the heaven, nor in the earth; which keepest covenant, and shewest mercy unto thy servants, that walk before thee with all their hearts: Thou which hast kept with thy servant David my father that which thou hast promised him; and spakest with thy mouth, and hast fulfilled it with thine hand, as it is this day. …

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
stood before the altar.
54; 2Ki 11:14; 23:3; 2Ch 6:12,13-42
spread forth.
Ex 9:29,33
See on
2Ch 6:12; Ezr 9:5; Job 11:13; Ps 28:2; 63:4; Isa 1:15; 1Ti 2:8

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • 1 Kings 8:21

    And I have set there a place for the ark, wherein is the covenant of the Lord, which he made with our fathers, when he brought them out of the land of Egypt.

  • 1 Kings 8:22

    And Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord in the presence of all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth his hands toward heaven:

  • 1 Kings 8:23

    And he said, Lord God of Israel, there is no God like thee, in heaven above, or on earth beneath, who keepest covenant and mercy with thy servants that walk before thee with all their heart:

Read all of 1 Kings 8

1 Kings 8:22 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Púsose luego Salomón delante del altar de Jehová, en presencia de toda la congregación de Israel, y extendiendo sus manos al cielo,
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et Salomon se tint devant l’autel de l’ Éternel, en face de toute la congrégation d’Israël, et étendit ses mains vers les cieux,
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und Salomo trat vor den Altar Jehovas angesichts der ganzen Versammlung Israels; und er breitete seine Hände aus gen Himmel und sprach:
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Stetit autem Salomon ante altare Domini in conspectu ecclesiæ Israël, et expandit manus suas in cælum,