1 Kings 8:27 But will God indeed dwell upon the earth? Even heaven, the highest heaven, cannot contain You, much less this temple I have built.

◄ 1 Kings 8:27 ►

New International Version
“But will God really dwell on earth? The heavens, even the highest heaven, cannot contain you. How much less this temple I have built!

New Living Translation
“But will God really live on earth? Why, even the highest heavens cannot contain you. How much less this Temple I have built!

English Standard Version
“But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain you; how much less this house that I have built!

Berean Standard Bible
But will God indeed dwell upon the earth? Even heaven, the highest heaven, cannot contain You, much less this temple I have built.

King James Bible
But will God indeed dwell on the earth? behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house that I have builded?

New King James Version
“But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain You. How much less this temple which I have built!

New American Standard Bible
“But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain You, how much less this house which I have built!

NASB 1995
“But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain You, how much less this house which I have built!

NASB 1977
“But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain Thee, how much less this house which I have built!

Legacy Standard Bible
“But will God truly dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain You; how much less this house which I have built!

Amplified Bible
But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain You; how much less this house which I have built!

Christian Standard Bible
But will God indeed live on earth? Even heaven, the highest heaven, cannot contain you, much less this temple I have built.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
But will God indeed live on earth? Even heaven, the highest heaven, cannot contain You, much less this temple I have built.

American Standard Version
But will God in very deed dwell on the earth? behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house that I have builded!

Contemporary English Version
There's not enough room in all of heaven for you, LORD God. How could you possibly live on earth in this temple I have built?

English Revised Version
But will God in very deed dwell on the earth? behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house that I have builded!

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"Does God really live on earth? If heaven itself, the highest heaven, cannot hold you, then how can this temple that I have built?

Good News Translation
"But can you, O God, really live on earth? Not even all of heaven is large enough to hold you, so how can this Temple that I have built be large enough?

International Standard Version
and yet, will God truly reside on earth? Look! Neither the sky nor the highest heaven can contain you! How much less this Temple that I have built!

Majority Standard Bible
But will God indeed dwell upon the earth? Even heaven, the highest heaven, cannot contain You, much less this temple I have built.

NET Bible
"God does not really live on the earth! Look, if the sky and the highest heaven cannot contain you, how much less this temple I have built!

New Heart English Bible
But will God in very deed dwell on the earth? Look, heaven and the heaven of heavens can't contain you; how much less this house that I have built.

Webster's Bible Translation
But will God indeed dwell on the earth? behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house that I have built?

World English Bible
But will God in very deed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens can’t contain you; how much less this house that I have built!

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
But is it true [that] God dwells on the earth? Behold, the heavens and the heavens of the heavens cannot contain You, how much less this house which I have built!

Young's Literal Translation
But, is it true? -- God dwelleth on the earth! lo, the heavens, and the heavens of the heavens do not contain Thee, how much less this house which I have builded!

Smith's Literal Translation
For truly shall God dwell upon the earth? Behold the heavens and the heavens of the heavens shall not contain thee; much less this house which I built.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
Is it then to be thought that God should indeed dwell upon earth? for if heaven, and the heavens of heavens cannot contain thee, how much less this house which I have built?

Catholic Public Domain Version
Is it, then, to be understood that truly God would dwell upon the earth? For if heaven, and the heavens of heavens, are not able to contain you, how much less this house, which I have built?

New American Bible
“Is God indeed to dwell on earth? If the heavens and the highest heavens cannot contain you, how much less this house which I have built!

New Revised Standard Version
“But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Even heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain you, much less this house that I have built!

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, the heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house that I have built?

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
For is God truly dwelling on the Earth? Behold, Heaven and the Heaven of Heavens do not contain you, therefore this house that I have built does not.

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
But will God in very truth dwell on the earth? behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain Thee; how much less this house that I have builded!

Brenton Septuagint Translation
But will God indeed dwell with men upon the earth? if the heaven and heaven of heavens will not suffice thee, how much less even this house which I have built to thy name?

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

Solomon's Prayer of Dedication
…26And now, O God of Israel, please confirm what You promised to Your servant, my father David. 27But will God indeed dwell upon the earth? Even heaven, the highest heaven, cannot contain You, much less this temple I have built. 28Yet regard the prayer and plea of Your servant, O LORD my God, so that You may hear the cry and the prayer that Your servant is praying before You today.…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

Isaiah 66:1-2
This is what the LORD says: “Heaven is My throne, and earth is My footstool. What kind of house will you build for Me? Or where will My place of repose be? / Has not My hand made all these things? And so they came into being,” declares the LORD. “This is the one I will esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, who trembles at My word.

Acts 7:48-50
However, the Most High does not dwell in houses made by human hands. As the prophet says: / ‘Heaven is My throne and the earth is My footstool. What kind of house will you build for Me, says the Lord, or where will My place of repose be? / Has not My hand made all these things?’

2 Chronicles 2:6
But who is able to build a house for Him, since the heavens, even the highest heavens, cannot contain Him? Who then am I, that I should build a house for Him, except as a place to burn sacrifices before Him?

Psalm 139:7-10
Where can I go to escape Your Spirit? Where can I flee from Your presence? / If I ascend to the heavens, You are there; if I make my bed in Sheol, You are there. / If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle by the farthest sea, ...

Jeremiah 23:24
“Can a man hide in secret places where I cannot see him?” declares the LORD. “Do I not fill the heavens and the earth?” declares the LORD.

Acts 17:24-25
The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples made by human hands. / Nor is He served by human hands, as if He needed anything, because He Himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else.

Psalm 113:5-6
Who is like the LORD our God, the One enthroned on high? / He humbles Himself to behold the heavens and the earth.

2 Chronicles 6:18
But will God indeed dwell with man upon the earth? The heavens, even the highest heavens, cannot contain You, much less this temple I have built.

Job 11:7-9
Can you fathom the deep things of God or discover the limits of the Almighty? / They are higher than the heavens—what can you do? They are deeper than Sheol—what can you know? / Their measure is longer than the earth and wider than the sea.

Psalm 148:13
Let them praise the name of the LORD, for His name alone is exalted; His splendor is above the earth and the heavens.

Ephesians 3:17-19
so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. Then you, being rooted and grounded in love, / will have power, together with all the saints, to comprehend the length and width and height and depth / of the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

Colossians 1:16-17
For in Him all things were created, things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities. All things were created through Him and for Him. / He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.

John 4:24
God is Spirit, and His worshipers must worship Him in spirit and in truth.”

Isaiah 40:22
He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth; its dwellers are like grasshoppers. He stretches out the heavens like a curtain, and spreads them out like a tent to dwell in.

Matthew 5:34-35
But I tell you not to swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; / or by the earth, for it is His footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King.

Treasury of Scripture

But will God indeed dwell on the earth? behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain you; how much less this house that I have built?

But will

2 Chronicles 6:18
But will God in very deed dwell with men on the earth? behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house which I have built!

Isaiah 66:1
Thus saith the LORD, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest?

John 1:14
And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

the heaven

Deuteronomy 10:14
Behold, the heaven and the heaven of heavens is the LORD'S thy God, the earth also, with all that therein is.

2 Chronicles 2:6
But who is able to build him an house, seeing the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain him? who am I then, that I should build him an house, save only to burn sacrifice before him?

Psalm 113:4
The LORD is high above all nations, and his glory above the heavens.

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1 Kings 8

1. The feast of the temple
12. Solomon's blessing
22. Solomon's prayer
54. Solomon's blessing
62. His sacrifice of peace offerings

Berean Study Bible

But will God indeed dwell on earth?
This phrase raises a profound theological question about the nature of God's presence. The Hebrew word for "dwell" is "שָׁכַן" (shakan), which implies a settled, abiding presence. Historically, this reflects the ancient Near Eastern understanding of temples as the dwelling places of deities. However, Solomon acknowledges the transcendence of the God of Israel, contrasting with pagan beliefs. This rhetorical question emphasizes God's omnipresence and challenges the notion that He could be confined to a physical structure, even one as magnificent as the temple.

Even the highest heavens cannot contain You
The phrase "highest heavens" translates from the Hebrew "שְׁמֵי הַשָּׁמַיִם" (sh'mei ha-shamayim), which refers to the furthest reaches of the cosmos. This expression underscores the infinite nature of God, who surpasses all creation. In the ancient world, the heavens were often seen as the realm of the divine, yet Solomon acknowledges that even these cannot contain the Creator. This reflects a deep understanding of God's majesty and sovereignty, reminding believers of His limitless power and presence.

much less this temple I have built
The word "temple" comes from the Hebrew "בַּיִת" (bayit), meaning house. Solomon's temple was a monumental achievement, symbolizing Israel's religious and national identity. However, Solomon humbly recognizes that no earthly structure, regardless of its grandeur, can encapsulate the divine essence. This humility is a call to believers to remember that while places of worship are significant, they are not the ultimate dwelling of God. Instead, God desires to dwell within His people, a theme that resonates throughout Scripture and finds fulfillment in the New Testament with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(27, 28) Will God indeed dwell.--The thought expressed here exemplifies a constant antithesis which run through the Old Testament. On the one hand, there is the most profound and unvarying conception of the Infinity, eternal, invisible, incomprehensible, of the Lord, as "the High and Holy One who inhabiteth eternity," whom "the heaven of heavens"--the heaven, that is, in all its vastest extent--"cannot contain;" and the spirituality of this conception is guarded by the sternest prohibition of that idolatry which limited and degraded the idea of God, and by rebuke of the superstition which trusted in an intrinsic sacredness of the Ark or the Temple. On the other hand, there is an equally vivid conviction that the Infinite Jehovah is yet pleased to enter into a special covenant with Israel, beyond all other nations, to reveal Himself by the cloud in the midst of His people, to bless, with a peculiar blessing, "the place which He chooses to place His Name there." The two conceptions co-exist, as in the text, in complete harmony, both preparing for the perfect manifestation of a "God with us" in that kingdom of the Messiah, which was at once to perfect the covenant with Israel, and to include all peoples, nations, and languages for ever and ever. The words of Solomon in spirit anticipate the utterance of the prophet (Isaiah 66:1), quoted by St. Stephen against idolatry of the Temple (Acts 7:48), and even the greater declaration of our Lord (John 4:21-24) as to the universal presence of God to all spiritual worship. Yet he feels the reality of the consecration of the House raised by the command of God; and prays that all who recognise it by prayer "toward this house," may enter into the special unity with God which it symbolises, and be heard by Him from heaven. By an instructive contrast, the Temple is described as the place where God's "Name"--that is, His self-revelation--is made to dwell; but heaven, and it alone, as the true dwelling- place of God Himself.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 27. - But [כִּי. Bahr refers for this use of the word to 1 Samuel 29:8; 1 Kings 11:22; 2 Kings 8:13; Jeremiah 23:18] will God indeed [Web. verily; same root as that of preceding verb, "verified." The repetition shows the connexion of thought. "But can these words be verified? Will God verily," etc.] dwell on the earth? behold the heaven and heaven of heavens [Same expression Deuteronomy 10:14. Cf. Psalm 115:16; Psalm 148:4; Isaiah 66:1. The Jewish belief respecting the seven heavens (see Wetstein on 2 Corinthians 12:2; Stanley, "Corinthians," l.c.) is of much later date, and a reference to it, or to the belief of some Rabbins in two heavens (after Deuteronomy 10:14), is altogether out of the question. The "heaven of heavens" = "all the spaces of heaven, however vast and infinite" (Gesen., cf. Psalm 148:4). The analogy of "holy of holies" would, however, suggest that not all the heavens, but the highest heavens are intended] cannot contain thee; how much less [אַפ כִּי: Ewald, 354 c] this house that I have builded? [Two points are to be noticed here.

(1) Solomon never denies for a moment that the temple was a real habitation of Jehovah, or that a real presence was manifested there. He only denies that the Deity is contained in earthly temples

(2) He had no unworthy ideas - such as were prevalent in that age - of God as a local deity, limited to space. The words clearly prove his grasp of the omnipresence and infinity of God. With this passage compare Psalm 139:7-10; Isaiah 66:1 (quoted in Acts 7:49), and Acts 17:24.] Ver 28. - Yet have thou respect unto the prayer of thy servant [ = the prayer I now offer, which is that thou wilt hear all future prayers offered here, mine and my people's] and to his supplication, O Lord my God, to hearken unto the cry and to the prayer [Three words are used here, תְּחִנָּה תְּפִלָה, and רנָּה. The first (from הִתְפָלַל, precatus est; see ver. 29) is apparently a general term for prayer; the second (from חָנַן, propitius fuit) is properly a cry for mercy; hence an earnest prayer or supplication; while the third signifies a joyful cry; hence a mournful cry or prayer] which thy servant prayeth before thee today.

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

But
כִּ֚י (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

will God
אֱלֹהִ֖ים (’ĕ·lō·hîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative

indeed
הַֽאֻמְנָ֔ם (ha·’um·nām)
Conjunction
Strong's 552: Verily, truly, indeed

dwell
יֵשֵׁ֥ב (yê·šêḇ)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3427: To sit down, to dwell, to remain, to settle, to marry

upon
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

the earth?
הָאָ֑רֶץ (hā·’ā·reṣ)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 776: Earth, land

Even
הִ֠נֵּה (hin·nêh)
Interjection
Strong's 2009: Lo! behold!

heaven,
הַשָּׁמַ֜יִם (haš·šā·ma·yim)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 8064: Heaven, sky

the highest heaven,
וּשְׁמֵ֤י (ū·šə·mê)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 8064: Heaven, sky

cannot
לֹ֣א (lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

contain You,
יְכַלְכְּל֔וּךָ (yə·ḵal·kə·lū·ḵā)
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine plural | second person masculine singular
Strong's 3557: To keep in, to measure, to maintain

much less
אַ֕ף (’ap̄)
Conjunction
Strong's 637: Meaning accession, yea, adversatively though

this
הַזֶּ֖ה (haz·zeh)
Article | Pronoun - masculine singular
Strong's 2088: This, that

temple
הַבַּ֥יִת (hab·ba·yiṯ)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1004: A house

I have built.
בָּנִֽיתִי׃ (bā·nî·ṯî)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 1129: To build

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OT History: 1 Kings 8:27 But will God in very deed dwell (1Ki iKi i Ki 1 Kg 1kg)