1 Kings 9:8 And when this temple has become a heap of rubble, all who pass by it will be appalled and will hiss and say, 'Why has the LORD done such a thing to this land and to this temple?'

◄ 1 Kings 9:8 ►

New International Version
This temple will become a heap of rubble. All who pass by will be appalled and will scoff and say, ‘Why has the LORD done such a thing to this land and to this temple?’

New Living Translation
And though this Temple is impressive now, all who pass by will be appalled and will gasp in horror. They will ask, ‘Why did the LORD do such terrible things to this land and to this Temple?’

English Standard Version
And this house will become a heap of ruins. Everyone passing by it will be astonished and will hiss, and they will say, ‘Why has the LORD done thus to this land and to this house?’

Berean Standard Bible
And when this temple has become a heap of rubble, all who pass by it will be appalled and will hiss and say, ‘Why has the LORD done such a thing to this land and to this temple?’

King James Bible
And at this house, which is high, every one that passeth by it shall be astonished, and shall hiss; and they shall say, Why hath the LORD done thus unto this land, and to this house?

New King James Version
And as for this house, which is exalted, everyone who passes by it will be astonished and will hiss, and say, ‘Why has the LORD done thus to this land and to this house?’

New American Standard Bible
And this house will become a heap of ruins; everyone who passes by it will be appalled and hiss and say, ‘Why has the LORD done such a thing to this land and this house?’

NASB 1995
“And this house will become a heap of ruins; everyone who passes by will be astonished and hiss and say, ‘Why has the LORD done thus to this land and to this house?’

NASB 1977
“And this house will become a heap of ruins; everyone who passes by will be astonished and hiss and say, ‘Why has the LORD done thus to this land and to this house?’

Legacy Standard Bible
And this house will become a heap of ruins; everyone who passes by will feel desolate and hiss and say, ‘Why has Yahweh done thus to this land and to this house?’

Amplified Bible
This house (temple) will become a heap of ruins; everyone who passes by will be appalled and sneer and say, ‘Why has the LORD done such a thing to this land and to this house?’

Christian Standard Bible
Though this temple is now exalted, everyone who passes by will be appalled and will scoff. They will say, “Why did the LORD do this to this land and this temple?”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Though this temple is now exalted, everyone who passes by will be appalled and will mock. They will say: Why did the LORD do this to this land and this temple?

American Standard Version
And though this house is so high, yet shall every one that passeth by it be astonished, and shall hiss; and they shall say, Why hath Jehovah done thus unto this land, and to this house?

Contemporary English Version
This temple will become a pile of rocks! Everyone who walks by will be shocked, and they will ask, "Why did the LORD do such a terrible thing to his people and to this temple?"

English Revised Version
And though this house be so high, yet shall every one that passeth by be astonished, and shall hiss; and they shall say, Why hath the LORD done thus unto this land, and to this house?

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Everyone passing by this temple, as impressive as it is, will be appalled. They will gasp and ask, 'Why did the LORD do these things to this land and this temple?'

Good News Translation
This Temple will become a pile of ruins, and everyone who passes by will be shocked and amazed. 'Why did the LORD do this to this land and this Temple?' they will ask.

International Standard Version
"This Temple will become a pile of ruins. Everyone who passes by it will be so astounded that they will ask, 'Why did the LORD do this to this land and to this Temple?'

Majority Standard Bible
And when this temple has become a heap of rubble, all who pass by it will be appalled and will hiss and say, ‘Why has the LORD done such a thing to this land and to this temple?’

NET Bible
This temple will become a heap of ruins; everyone who passes by it will be shocked and will hiss out their scorn, saying, 'Why did the LORD do this to this land and this temple?'

New Heart English Bible
And this house, which is exalted, will become a heap of ruins. Everyone who passes by it will be astonished, and will whistle, and they will say, ‘Why has the LORD done this to this land, and to this house?'

Webster's Bible Translation
And at this house which is high, every one that passeth by it shall be astonished, and shall hiss; and they shall say, Why hath the LORD done thus to this land, and to this house?

World English Bible
Though this house is so high, yet everyone who passes by it will be astonished and hiss; and they will say, ‘Why has Yahweh done this to this land and to this house?’

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
as for this house [that] is high, everyone passing by it is astonished, and has hissed, and they have said, Why has YHWH done this to this land and to this house?

Young's Literal Translation
as to this house, that is high, every one passing by it is astonished, and hath hissed, and they have said, Wherefore hath Jehovah done thus to this land and to this house?

Smith's Literal Translation
And this house shall be high, every one passing by it shall be astonished, and shall hiss: and they said, For what did Jehovah thus to this land and to this house?

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
And this house shall be made an example of: every one that shall pass by it, shall be astonished, and shall hiss, and say: Why hath the Lord done thus to this land, and to this house:

Catholic Public Domain Version
And this house will become an example: anyone who passes by it will be stupefied, and he will hiss and say, ‘Why has the Lord acted in this way to this land and to this house?’

New American Bible
and this house shall become a heap of ruins. Every passerby shall gasp in horror and ask, “Why has the LORD done such things to this land and to this house?”

New Revised Standard Version
This house will become a heap of ruins; everyone passing by it will be astonished, and will hiss; and they will say, ‘Why has the LORD done such a thing to this land and to this house?’

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
And this house shall be in ruins; every one that passes by it shall be astonished and shall hiss; and they shall say, Why has the LORD done thus to this land and to this house?

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And this house shall be desolate, and everyone who passes by near it shall be stupified and shall hiss, and they will say: “Why did LORD JEHOVAH so to this land and to this house?”

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
and this house which is so high [shall become desolate], and every one that passeth by it shall be astonished, and shall hiss; and when they shall say: Why hath the LORD done thus unto this land, and to this house?

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And this house, which is high, shall be so that every one that passes by it shall be amazed, and shall hiss; and they shall say, Wherefore has the Lord done thus to this land, and to this house?

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

The LORD's Response to Solomon
…7then I will cut off Israel from the land that I have given them, and I will banish from My presence this temple I have sanctified for My Name. Then Israel will become an object of scorn and ridicule among all peoples. 8And when this temple has become a heap of rubble, all who pass by it will be appalled and will hiss and say, ‘Why has the LORD done such a thing to this land and to this temple?’ 9And others will answer, ‘Because they have forsaken the LORD their God who brought their fathers out of the land of Egypt, and have embraced other gods, worshiping and serving them—because of this, the LORD has brought all this disaster upon them.’ ”…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

2 Chronicles 7:21-22
And when this temple has become a heap of rubble, all who pass by it will be appalled and say, ‘Why has the LORD done such a thing to this land and to this temple?’ / And others will answer, ‘Because they have forsaken the LORD, the God of their fathers, who brought them out of the land of Egypt, and have embraced other gods, worshiping and serving them—because of this, He has brought all this disaster upon them.’”

Deuteronomy 29:24-28
So all the nations will ask, ‘Why has the LORD done such a thing to this land? Why this great outburst of anger?’ / And the people will answer, ‘It is because they abandoned the covenant of the LORD, the God of their fathers, which He made with them when He brought them out of the land of Egypt. / They went and served other gods, and they worshiped gods they had not known—gods that the LORD had not given to them. ...

Jeremiah 22:8-9
And many nations will pass by this city and ask one another, ‘Why has the LORD done such a thing to this great city?’ / Then people will reply, ‘Because they have forsaken the covenant of the LORD their God and have worshiped and served other gods.’”

Jeremiah 18:16
They have made their land a desolation, a perpetual object of scorn; all who pass by will be appalled and shake their heads.

Jeremiah 19:8
I will make this city a desolation and an object of scorn. All who pass by will be appalled and will scoff at all her wounds.

Jeremiah 25:9
behold, I will summon all the families of the north, declares the LORD, and I will send for My servant Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, whom I will bring against this land, against its residents, and against all the surrounding nations. So I will devote them to destruction and make them an object of horror and contempt, an everlasting desolation.

Jeremiah 25:18
to make them a ruin, an object of horror and contempt and cursing, as they are to this day—Jerusalem and the cities of Judah, its kings and officials;

Jeremiah 44:22
So the LORD could no longer endure the evil deeds and detestable acts you committed, and your land became a desolation, a horror, and an object of cursing, without inhabitant, as it is this day.

Ezekiel 5:14-15
I will make you a ruin and a disgrace among the nations around you, in the sight of all who pass by. / So you will be a reproach and a taunt, a warning and a horror to the nations around you, when I execute judgments against you in anger, wrath, and raging fury. I, the LORD, have spoken.

Ezekiel 14:8
I will set My face against that man and make him a sign and a proverb; I will cut him off from among My people. Then you will know that I am the LORD.

Ezekiel 15:8
Thus I will make the land desolate, because they have acted unfaithfully,’ declares the Lord GOD.”

Matthew 24:1-2
As Jesus left the temple and was walking away, His disciples came up to Him to point out its buildings. / “Do you see all these things?” He replied. “Truly I tell you, not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.”

Luke 19:41-44
As Jesus approached Jerusalem and saw the city, He wept over it / and said, “If only you had known on this day what would bring you peace! But now it is hidden from your eyes. / For the days will come upon you when your enemies will barricade you and surround you and hem you in on every side. ...

Luke 21:5-6
As some of the disciples were remarking how the temple was adorned with beautiful stones and consecrated gifts, Jesus said, / “As for what you see here, the time will come when not one stone will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.”

Mark 13:1-2
As Jesus was leaving the temple, one of His disciples said to Him, “Teacher, look at the magnificent stones and buildings!” / “Do you see all these great buildings?” Jesus replied. “Not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.”

Treasury of Scripture

And at this house, which is high, every one that passes by it shall be astonished, and shall hiss; and they shall say, Why has the LORD done thus to this land, and to this house?

2 Chronicles 7:21
And this house, which is high, shall be an astonishment to every one that passeth by it; so that he shall say, Why hath the LORD done thus unto this land, and unto this house?

Isaiah 64:11
Our holy and our beautiful house, where our fathers praised thee, is burned up with fire: and all our pleasant things are laid waste.

Jeremiah 19:8
And I will make this city desolate, and an hissing; every one that passeth thereby shall be astonished and hiss because of all the plagues thereof.

Why

Deuteronomy 29:24-26
Even all nations shall say, Wherefore hath the LORD done thus unto this land? what meaneth the heat of this great anger? …

Jeremiah 22:8,9,28
And many nations shall pass by this city, and they shall say every man to his neighbour, Wherefore hath the LORD done thus unto this great city? …

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Astonished Broken Desolate Goes Heap High Hiss Hissed House Imposing Mass Overcome Passes Passeth Passing Ruins Sounds Temple Walls Wherefore Whistling Wonder

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Astonished Broken Desolate Goes Heap High Hiss Hissed House Imposing Mass Overcome Passes Passeth Passing Ruins Sounds Temple Walls Wherefore Whistling Wonder

1 Kings 9

1. God's covenant in a vision with Solomon
10. The mutual presents of Solomon and Hiran
15. In Solomon's works the Gentiles were his bondmen, the Israelites servants
24. Pharaoh's daughter removes to her house
25. Solomon's yearly solemn sacrifices
26. His navy fetches gold from Ophir

Berean Study Bible

And this temple
The Hebrew word for "temple" here is "הַבַּיִת" (ha-bayit), which literally means "the house." In the context of 1 Kings, it refers to the magnificent temple built by Solomon in Jerusalem, a central place of worship for the Israelites. This temple was not just a physical structure but a symbol of God's presence among His people. Its mention here underscores the gravity of the warning; the very dwelling place of God on earth is at risk of becoming desolate due to disobedience.

will become a heap of rubble
The phrase "heap of rubble" translates from the Hebrew "עִי" (i), which means a ruin or desolation. This imagery is stark and serves as a prophetic warning of the consequences of turning away from God. Historically, this prophecy was fulfilled when the Babylonians destroyed the temple in 586 BC. The transformation from a place of glory to ruins serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of faithfulness to God.

All who pass by
This phrase indicates that the destruction of the temple will be so significant that it will attract the attention of passersby. In ancient times, travelers and traders would have been common, and the sight of such a ruin would provoke questions and discussions. This serves as a metaphor for the public nature of Israel's covenant with God and the visible consequences of their actions.

will be appalled
The Hebrew word "שָׁמֵם" (shamem) means to be desolate or astonished. The reaction of being appalled suggests a deep sense of shock and horror at the sight of the temple's destruction. This reflects the gravity of the situation and the profound impact of divine judgment on the land and its people.

and will scoff
The word "scoff" comes from the Hebrew "שָׁרַק" (sharaq), which means to hiss or mock. This indicates that the onlookers will not only be shocked but will also ridicule the fallen state of the temple. This mocking is a reflection of the shame and dishonor brought upon the people due to their unfaithfulness to God.

and say, 'Why has the LORD done such a thing
This rhetorical question highlights the bewilderment and curiosity of the onlookers. It implies that the destruction is so severe that it prompts a search for understanding. The use of "the LORD" (Yahweh) emphasizes that this is not just a natural disaster but a divine act, a direct consequence of the people's actions against their covenant with God.

to this land and to this temple?'
The mention of both "land" and "temple" underscores the comprehensive nature of the judgment. The land, promised to the Israelites, and the temple, the center of their worship, are both affected. This serves as a reminder of the interconnectedness of the people's spiritual and physical well-being and the holistic nature of God's covenant with them. The destruction of both signifies a breach in the relationship between God and His people, calling them back to repentance and faithfulness.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(8) At this house, which is high.--The word "which" is not in the original Hebrew here (although found in the present Hebrew text of 2Chronicles 7:21). The true meaning is certainly "This house shall be high;" which is the reading of the LXX., while the Vulg. has a good explanatory gloss, "This house shall be for an example." Various corrections have been proposed, but there seems no necessity for them. There is evidently an allusion to the lofty position of the Temple. Generally the exaltation of "the mountain of the Lord" is made a type of its glory (as in Micah 4:1-2; Psalm 68:15-16, &c.); here of its destruction. Its magnificence and its ruin are equally conspicuous: for "a city set on a hill cannot be hid."

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 8. - And at this house, which is high [Heb., And this house shall be high, עֶלְיון יִהְיֶה. Our translators were probably influenced by 2 Chronicles 7:21, the text of which is אֲשֶׁר הָיהָ עֶלְיון which would seem to be an emendation, designed to clear up the difficulty rather than an accidental variation of the text. But here the literal rendering is probably the truer, the meaning being "this house shall be conspicuous, as an example" - so the Vulg. domus haec erit in exemplum. The LXX. accords with the Hebrew text, ὁ οῖκος οῦτος ἔσται ὁ ὐψηλὸς, but the Syriac and Arabic read, "this house shall be destroyed." Keil sees in the words an allusion implicite to Deuteronomy 26:19, and Deuteronomy 28:1, where God promises to make Israel עֶלְיון, and says "the blessing will be turned into a curse." The temple should indeed be "high," should be what Israel would have been, but it shall be as a warning, etc.; but this connexion is somewhat far fetched and artificial. Thenius would read for, עִיִּין עֶלְיון. "ruins," after Micah 3:12; Jeremiah 26:18; Psalm 79:1; but it is hardly right to resort to conjectures, unsupported by a single version or MS., so long as any sufficient meaning can be extracted from the words as they stand, and no one can deny that "high" may surely signify "conspicuous." Cf. Matthew 11:23], every one that passeth by it shall be astonished. [שָׁמֵם primarily means to be dumb with astonishment, Gesen., Thessalonians 3. p. 1435] and shall hiss [שָׁרַק, like "hiss," is an onomatopoetic word. It does not denote the hissing of terror (Bahr) but of derision; cf. Jeremiah 19:8; Jeremiah 49:17; Job 27:23; Lamentations 2:15, 16. Rawlinson aptly remarks, as bearing on the authorship of the Kings, that this is a familiar word in Jeremiah (see 1 Kings 18:16; 25:9; 29:18; 50:13; 51:37, in addition to the passages cited above), and that the other prophets rarely use it. The fact that much of this charge is in Jeremiah's style, confirms the view taken above (note on ver. 4), that the ipsissima verba of the dream are not preserved to us. The author indeed could hardly do more than preserve its leading ideas, which he would naturally present in his own dress]; and they shall say, Why hath the Lord done thus unto this land and to this house? [Similar words Deuteronomy 29:24, 25; Jeremiah 22:8.]

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

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

temple
וְהַבַּ֤יִת (wə·hab·ba·yiṯ)
Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1004: A house

will now
יִהְיֶ֣ה (yih·yeh)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

become a heap of rubble.
עֶלְי֔וֹן (‘el·yō·wn)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 5945: An elevation, lofty, as title, the Supreme

All
כָּל־ (kāl-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

who pass
עֹבֵ֥ר (‘ō·ḇêr)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 5674: To pass over, through, or by, pass on

by it
עָלָ֖יו (‘ā·lāw)
Preposition | third person masculine singular
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

will be appalled
יִשֹּׁ֣ם (yiš·šōm)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 8074: To stun, devastate, stupefy

and will hiss
וְשָׁרָ֑ק (wə·šā·rāq)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 8319: To be shrill, to whistle, hiss

and say,
וְאָמְר֗וּ (wə·’ā·mə·rū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 559: To utter, say

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

has the LORD
יְהוָה֙ (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

done
עָשָׂ֤ה (‘ā·śāh)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6213: To do, make

such a thing
כָּ֔כָה (kā·ḵāh)
Adverb
Strong's 3602: Just so

to this
הַזֹּ֖את (haz·zōṯ)
Article | Pronoun - feminine singular
Strong's 2063: Hereby in it, likewise, the one other, same, she, so much, such deed, that,

land
לָאָ֥רֶץ (lā·’ā·reṣ)
Preposition-l, Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 776: Earth, land

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

temple?’
וְלַבַּ֥יִת (wə·lab·ba·yiṯ)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1004: A house

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OT History: 1 Kings 9:8 Though this house is so high yet (1Ki iKi i Ki 1 Kg 1kg)