King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
If there be in the land famine, if there be pestilence, blasting, mildew, locust, [or] if there be caterpiller; if their enemy besiege them in the land of their cities; whatsoever plague, whatsoever sickness [there be];
Complete Jewish Bible:
"If there is famine in the land, or blight, windstorm, mildew, locusts or shearer-worms; or if their enemy comes to the land and besieges them in any of their cities- no matter what kind of plague or sickness it is;
Berean Standard Bible:
When famine or plague comes upon the land, or blight or mildew or locusts or grasshoppers, or when their enemy besieges them in their cities, whatever plague or sickness may come,
American Standard Version:
If there be in the land famine, if there be pestilence, if there be blasting or mildew, locust or caterpillar; if their enemy besiege them in the land of their cities; whatsoever plague, whatsoever sickness there be;
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
If there be in the land{H776} famine{H7458}, if there be pestilence{H1698}, blasting{H7711}, mildew{H3420}, locust{H697}, or if there be caterpiller{H2625}; if their enemy{H341} besiege{H6887} them in the land{H776} of their cities{H8179}; whatsoever plague{H5061}, whatsoever sickness{H4245} there be;
Cross-References (KJV):
Leviticus 26:16
- I also will do this unto you; I will even appoint over you terror, consumption, and the burning ague, that shall consume the eyes, and cause sorrow of heart: and ye shall sow your seed in vain, for your enemies shall eat it.
Deuteronomy 28:21
- The LORD shall make the pestilence cleave unto thee, until he have consumed thee from off the land, whither thou goest to possess it.
Deuteronomy 28:22
- The LORD shall smite thee with a consumption, and with a fever, and with an inflammation, and with an extreme burning, and with the sword, and with blasting, and with mildew; and they shall pursue thee until thou perish.
Deuteronomy 28:38
- Thou shalt carry much seed out into the field, and shalt gather [but] little in; for the locust shall consume it.
Deuteronomy 28:42
- All thy trees and fruit of thy land shall the locust consume.
2 Chronicles 20:9
- If, [when] evil cometh upon us, [as] the sword, judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we stand before this house, and in thy presence, (for thy name [is] in this house,) and cry unto thee in our affliction, then thou wilt hear and help.
Jeremiah 32:2
- For then the king of Babylon's army besieged Jerusalem: and Jeremiah the prophet was shut up in the court of the prison, which [was] in the king of Judah's house.
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for 1 Kings 8:37
1 Kings 8:37 is part of the lengthy prayer offered by King Solomon at the dedication of the newly constructed Temple in Jerusalem. This event marks a significant moment in Israel's history, as the Temple was intended to be the permanent dwelling place of God's Name and presence. In this verse, Solomon is petitioning God to hear the prayers of the Israelites when they face various calamities that could afflict their land and people.
The verse enumerates a series of potential disasters that would have been familiar to an ancient agrarian society: famine, pestilence, blasting (perhaps a reference to destructive winds or storms), mildew, and locust or caterpillar infestations, all of which could devastate crops and lead to food scarcity. Additionally, Solomon mentions the threat of enemy sieges and general "plague" or "sickness," which could decimate the population and weaken the nation's strength.
The historical context of this prayer reflects the vulnerability of the Israelites, who were often at the mercy of the environment and surrounding nations. Solomon's words acknowledge God's sovereignty over all aspects of life and the need for divine intervention in times of trouble. The prayer is an appeal to God's covenant faithfulness, asking that He would forgive the sins of the people and respond to their prayers when they turn to Him in their afflictions.
In essence, 1 Kings 8:37 captures the essence of Israel's reliance on God for protection, provision, and forgiveness. It underscores the themes of humility before God, the centrality of prayer in the life of the nation, and the belief that God is actively involved in the affairs of His people, capable of bringing both blessing and calamity. Solomon's prayer sets a precedent for how the Israelites should approach God in times of distress and serves as a model for seeking God's mercy in the face of adversity.
*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: H776
There are 2739 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אֶרֶץ
Transliteration: ʼerets
Pronunciation: eh'-rets
Description: from an unused root probably meaning to be firm; the earth (at large, or partitively a land); [idiom] common, country, earth, field, ground, land, [idiom] natins, way, [phrase] wilderness, world. - Strong's Number: H7458
There are 88 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: רָעָב
Transliteration: râʻâb
Pronunciation: raw-awb'
Description: from רָעֵב; hunger (more or less extensive); dearth, famine, [phrase] famished, hunger. - Strong's Number: H1698
There are 48 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: דֶּבֶר
Transliteration: deber
Pronunciation: deh'-ber
Description: from דָבַר (in the sense of destroying); a pestilence; murrain, pestilence, plague. - Strong's Number: H7711
There are 6 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שְׁדֵפָה
Transliteration: shᵉdêphâh
Pronunciation: shed-ay-faw'
Description: or שִׁדָּפוֹן; from שָׁדַף; blight; blasted(-ing). - Strong's Number: H3420
There are 6 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יֵרָקוֹן
Transliteration: yêrâqôwn
Pronunciation: yay-raw-kone'
Description: from יֶרֶק; paleness, whether of persons (from fright), or of plants (from drought); greenish, yellow. - Strong's Number: H697
There are 82 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אַרְבֶּה
Transliteration: ʼarbeh
Pronunciation: ar-beh'
Description: from רָבָה; a locust (from its rapid increase); grasshopper, locust. - Strong's Number: H2625
There are 6 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: חָסִיל
Transliteration: châçîyl
Pronunciation: khaw-seel'
Description: from חָסַל; the ravager, i.e. a locust; caterpillar. - Strong's Number: H341
There are 481 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אֹיֵב
Transliteration: ʼôyêb
Pronunciation: o-yabe'
Description: or (fully) אוֹיֵב; active participle of אָיַב; hating; an adversary; enemy, foe. - Strong's Number: H6887
There are 56 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: צָרַר
Transliteration: tsârar
Pronunciation: tsaw-rar'
Description: a primitive root; to cramp, literally or figuratively, transitive or intransitive; adversary, (be in) afflict(-ion), beseige, bind (up), (be in, bring) distress, enemy, narrower, oppress, pangs, shut up, be in a strait (trouble), vex. - Strong's Number: H8179
There are 302 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שַׁעַר
Transliteration: shaʻar
Pronunciation: shah'-ar
Description: from שָׁעַר in its original sense; an opening, i.e. door or gate; city, door, gate, port ([idiom] -er). - Strong's Number: H5061
There are 62 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: נֶגַע
Transliteration: negaʻ
Pronunciation: neh'-gah
Description: from נָגַע; a blow (figuratively, infliction); also (by implication) a spot (concretely, a leprous person or dress); plague, sore, stricken, stripe, stroke, wound. - Strong's Number: H4245
There are 6 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מַחֲלֶה
Transliteration: machăleh
Pronunciation: makh-al-eh'
Description: or (feminine) מַחֲלָה; from חָלָה; sickness; disease, infirmity, sickness.