King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
When heaven is shut up, and there is no rain, because they have sinned against thee; if they pray toward this place, and confess thy name, and turn from their sin, when thou afflictest them:
Complete Jewish Bible:
"When they sin against you, and in consequence the sky is shut, so that there is no rain; then, if they pray toward this place, acknowledge your name and turn from their sin when you have brought them low;
Berean Standard Bible:
When the skies are shut and there is no rain because Your people have sinned against You, and they pray toward this place and confess Your name, and they turn from their sins because You have afflicted them,
American Standard Version:
When heaven is shut up, and there is no rain, because they have sinned against thee; if they pray toward this place, and confess thy name, and turn from their sin, when thou dost afflict them:
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
When heaven{H8064} is shut up{H6113}, and there is no rain{H4306}, because they have sinned{H2398} against thee; if they pray{H6419} toward this place{H4725}, and confess{H3034} thy name{H8034}, and turn{H7725} from their sin{H2403}, when thou afflictest{H6031} them:
Cross-References (KJV):
Leviticus 26:19
- And I will break the pride of your power; and I will make your heaven as iron, and your earth as brass:
1 Kings 8:33
- When thy people Israel be smitten down before the enemy, because they have sinned against thee, and shall turn again to thee, and confess thy name, and pray, and make supplication unto thee in this house:
Deuteronomy 11:17
- And [then] the LORD'S wrath be kindled against you, and he shut up the heaven, that there be no rain, and that the land yield not her fruit; and [lest] ye perish quickly from off the good land which the LORD giveth you.
2 Samuel 24:13
- So Gad came to David, and told him, and said unto him, Shall seven years of famine come unto thee in thy land? or wilt thou flee three months before thine enemies, while they pursue thee? or that there be three days' pestilence in thy land? now advise, and see what answer I shall return to him that sent me.
Revelation 11:6
- These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will.
Luke 4:25
- But I tell you of a truth, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elias, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, when great famine was throughout all the land;
2 Chronicles 6:26
- When the heaven is shut up, and there is no rain, because they have sinned against thee; [yet] if they pray toward this place, and confess thy name, and turn from their sin, when thou dost afflict them;
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for 1 Kings 8:35
1 Kings 8:35 is part of the dedicatory prayer of Solomon for the newly built Temple in Jerusalem. This verse captures a significant theme in the theology of the Old Testament, which is the relationship between the people's obedience to God and their physical prosperity or adversity. The historical context is the establishment of the Temple as the central place of worship for the Israelites, which Solomon envisions as the dwelling place of God's Name.
In this verse, Solomon acknowledges that drought and famine ("when heaven is shut up, and there is no rain") are potential divine judgments for the people's sin against God. The verse reflects the Deuteronomistic view that there is a direct correlation between the nation's spiritual fidelity and the fertility of their land. However, Solomon also emphasizes God's mercy and willingness to forgive. He outlines a protocol for national repentance: the people must pray toward the Temple ("this place"), confess God's name (acknowledging His sovereignty and faithfulness), and genuinely turn from their sinful ways ("turn from their sin"). If they fulfill these conditions during times of affliction, Solomon implores God to hear their prayers and forgive their sins, implicitly promising that the natural order, particularly rainfall, will be restored.
This verse underscores the importance of the Temple in Jerusalem as a focal point for prayer and confession, and it sets a precedent for how the Israelites should respond to divine chastisement—with humility, repentance, and a return to covenantal loyalty. It also reflects the belief that God is actively involved in the daily lives of His people, using even the forces of nature to guide them back to obedience and righteousness.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H8064
There are 395 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שָׁמַיִם
Transliteration: shâmayim
Pronunciation: shaw-mah'-yim
Description: dual of an unused singular שָׁמֶה; from an unused root meaning to be lofty; the sky (as aloft; the dual perhaps alluding to the visible arch in which the clouds move, as well as to the higher ether where the celestial bodies revolve); air, [idiom] astrologer, heaven(-s). - Strong's Number: H6113
There are 45 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עָצָר
Transliteration: ʻâtsâr
Pronunciation: aw-tsar'
Description: a primitive root; to inclose; by analogy, to hold back; also to maintain, rule, assemble; [idiom] be able, close up, detain, fast, keep (self close, still), prevail, recover, refrain, [idiom] reign, restrain, retain, shut (up), slack, stay, stop, withhold (self). - Strong's Number: H4306
There are 36 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מָטַר
Transliteration: mâṭar
Pronunciation: maw-tawr'
Description: from מָטַר; rain; rain. - Strong's Number: H2398
There are 220 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: חָטָא
Transliteration: châṭâʼ
Pronunciation: khaw-taw'
Description: a primitive root; properly, to miss; hence (figuratively and generally) to sin; by inference, to forfeit, lack, expiate, repent, (causatively) lead astray, condemn; bear the blame, cleanse, commit (sin), by fault, harm he hath done, loss, miss, (make) offend(-er), offer for sin, purge, purify (self), make reconciliation, (cause, make) sin(-ful, -ness), trespass. - Strong's Number: H6419
There are 82 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: פָּלַל
Transliteration: pâlal
Pronunciation: paw-lal'
Description: a primitive root; to judge (officially or mentally); by extension, to intercede, pray; intreat, judge(-ment), (make) pray(-er, -ing), make supplication. - Strong's Number: H4725
There are 379 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מָקוֹם
Transliteration: mâqôwm
Pronunciation: maw-kome'
Description: or מָקֹם; also (feminine) מְקוֹמָה; or מְקֹמָה; from קוּם; properly, a standing, i.e. a spot; but used widely of a locality (general or specific); also (figuratively) of a condition (of body or mind); country, [idiom] home, [idiom] open, place, room, space, [idiom] whither(-soever). - Strong's Number: H3034
There are 111 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יָדָה
Transliteration: yâdâh
Pronunciation: yaw-daw'
Description: a primitive root; used only as denominative from יָד; literally, to use (i.e. hold out) the hand; physically, to throw (a stone, an arrow) at or away; especially to revere or worship (with extended hands); intensively, to bemoan (by wringing the hands); cast (out), (make) confess(-ion), praise, shoot, (give) thank(-ful, -s, -sgiving). - Strong's Number: H8034
There are 771 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שֵׁם
Transliteration: shêm
Pronunciation: shame
Description: a primitive word (perhaps rather from through the idea of definite and conspicuous position; compare שָׁמַיִם); an appellation, as amark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority, character; [phrase] base, (in-) fame(-ous), named(-d), renown, report. - Strong's Number: H7725
There are 952 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שׁוּב
Transliteration: shûwb
Pronunciation: shoob
Description: a primitive root; to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily with the idea of return to the starting point); generally to retreat; often adverbial, again; ((break, build, circumcise, dig, do anything, do evil, feed, lay down, lie down, lodge, make, rejoice, send, take, weep)) [idiom] again, (cause to) answer ([phrase] again), [idiom] in any case (wise), [idiom] at all, averse, bring (again, back, home again), call (to mind), carry again (back), cease, [idiom] certainly, come again (back), [idiom] consider, [phrase] continually, convert, deliver (again), [phrase] deny, draw back, fetch home again, [idiom] fro, get (oneself) (back) again, [idiom] give (again), go again (back, home), (go) out, hinder, let, (see) more, [idiom] needs, be past, [idiom] pay, pervert, pull in again, put (again, up again), recall, recompense, recover, refresh, relieve, render (again), requite, rescue, restore, retrieve, (cause to, make to) return, reverse, reward, [phrase] say nay, send back, set again, slide back, still, [idiom] surely, take back (off), (cause to, make to) turn (again, self again, away, back, back again, backward, from, off), withdraw. - Strong's Number: H2403
There are 272 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: חַטָּאָה
Transliteration: chaṭṭâʼâh
Pronunciation: khat-taw-aw'
Description: or חַטָּאת; from חָטָא; an offence (sometimes habitual sinfulness), and its penalty, occasion, sacrifice, or expiation; also (concretely) an offender; punishment (of sin), purifying(-fication for sin), sin(-ner, offering). - Strong's Number: H6031
There are 80 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עָנָה
Transliteration: ʻânâh
Pronunciation: aw-naw'
Description: a primitive root (possibly rather identical with עָנָה through the idea of looking down or browbeating); to depress literally or figuratively, transitive or intransitive (in various applications, as follows); abase self, afflict(-ion, self), answer (by mistake for עָנָה), chasten self, deal hardly with, defile, exercise, force, gentleness, humble (self), hurt, ravish, sing (by mistake for עָנָה), speak (by mistake for עָנָה), submit self, weaken, [idiom] in any wise.