1 Kings 8:50

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

And forgive thy people that have sinned against thee, and all their transgressions wherein they have transgressed against thee, and give them compassion before them who carried them captive, that they may have compassion on them:

Complete Jewish Bible:

and forgive your people who have sinned against you - forgive their transgressions which they have committed against you, and give them compassion in the sight of their captors, so that they will show compassion toward them;

Berean Standard Bible:

May You forgive Your people who have sinned against You and all the transgressions they have committed against You, and may You grant them compassion in the eyes of their captors to show them mercy.

American Standard Version:

and forgive thy people who have sinned against thee, and all their transgressions wherein they have transgressed against thee; and give them compassion before those who carried them captive, that they may have compassion on them

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And forgive^{H5545} thy people^{H5971} that have sinned^{H2398} against thee, and all their transgressions^{H6588} wherein they have transgressed^{H6586} against thee, and give^{H5414} them compassion^{H7356} before^{H6440} them who carried them captive^{H7617}, that they may have compassion^{H7355} on them:

Cross-References (KJV):

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Commentary for 1 Kings 8:50

1 Kings 8:50 is part of the lengthy prayer offered by King Solomon at the dedication of the Temple in Jerusalem. This event marks a pivotal moment in Israel's history, as the Temple, a place of centralized worship, replaces the Tabernacle, which had been used since the time of Moses. Solomon's prayer, which includes our verse, is a reflection of deep theological understanding and a plea for God's mercy and faithfulness to His people.

In verse 50, Solomon is asking God to forgive the Israelites for their sins and transgressions. This plea for forgiveness is not just for the present time but also for future generations who might stray from God's commandments. Solomon recognizes that the people of Israel will inevitably sin and that they will face consequences for their disobedience, including the possibility of being taken into captivity by their enemies.

The historical context of this verse is significant. Solomon is aware of the cyclical nature of Israel's relationship with God—times of faithfulness followed by periods of apostasy. He prays that when the people are taken captive due to their sins, God would soften the hearts of their captors, so that they would treat the Israelites with compassion. This reflects an understanding that God's people are not immune to the effects of their actions and that their fate among nations would be a testimony to God's patience and mercy.

The themes of this verse include God's forgiveness, the need for repentance, divine justice, and the importance of compassion and mercy in interpersonal relationships, especially in situations where one group has power over another. Solomon's prayer underscores the belief that God's people, though chosen and beloved, are subject to the moral laws of the universe that God has established, and that their welfare depends on their obedience to God and the compassion they receive from others when they falter.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: H5545
   There are 45 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: סָלַח
   Transliteration: çâlach
   Pronunciation: saw-lakh'
   Description: a primitive root; to forgive; forgive, pardon, spare.
   
2. Strong's Number: H5971
   There are 1654 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: עַם
   Transliteration: ʻam
   Pronunciation: am
   Description: from עָמַם; a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock; folk, men, nation, people.
   
3. 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.
   
4. Strong's Number: H6588
   There are 90 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: פֶּשַׁע
   Transliteration: peshaʻ
   Pronunciation: peh'-shah
   Description: from פָּשַׁע; a revolt (national, moral or religious); rebellion, sin, transgression, trespass.
   
5. Strong's Number: H6586
   There are 37 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: פָּשַׁע
   Transliteration: pâshaʻ
   Pronunciation: paw-shah'
   Description: a primitive root (identical with through the idea of expansion); to break away (from just authority), i.e. trespass, apostatize, quarrel; offend, rebel, revolt, transgress(-ion, -or).
   
6. Strong's Number: H5414
   There are 1816 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: נָתַן
   Transliteration: nâthan
   Pronunciation: naw-than'
   Description: a primitive root; to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.); add, apply, appoint, ascribe, assign, [idiom] avenge, [idiom] be (healed), bestow, bring (forth, hither), cast, cause, charge, come, commit, consider, count, [phrase] cry, deliver (up), direct, distribute, do, [idiom] doubtless, [idiom] without fail, fasten, frame, [idiom] get, give (forth, over, up), grant, hang (up), [idiom] have, [idiom] indeed, lay (unto charge, up), (give) leave, lend, let (out), [phrase] lie, lift up, make, [phrase] O that, occupy, offer, ordain, pay, perform, place, pour, print, [idiom] pull, put (forth), recompense, render, requite, restore, send (out), set (forth), shew, shoot forth (up), [phrase] sing, [phrase] slander, strike, (sub-) mit, suffer, [idiom] surely, [idiom] take, thrust, trade, turn, utter, [phrase] weep, [phrase] willingly, [phrase] withdraw, [phrase] would (to) God, yield.
   
7. Strong's Number: H7356
   There are 44 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: רַחַם
   Transliteration: racham
   Pronunciation: rakh'-am
   Description: from רָחַם; compassion (in the plural); by extension, the womb (as cherishing the fetus); by implication, a maiden; bowels, compassion, damsel, tender love, (great, tender) mercy, pity, womb.
   
8. Strong's Number: H6440
   There are 1890 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: פָּנִים
   Transliteration: pânîym
   Pronunciation: paw-neem'
   Description: plural (but always as singular) of an unused noun פָּנֶה; from פָּנָה); the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposition (before, etc.); [phrase] accept, a-(be-) fore(-time), against, anger, [idiom] as (long as), at, [phrase] battle, [phrase] because (of), [phrase] beseech, countenance, edge, [phrase] employ, endure, [phrase] enquire, face, favour, fear of, for, forefront(-part), form(-er time, -ward), from, front, heaviness, [idiom] him(-self), [phrase] honourable, [phrase] impudent, [phrase] in, it, look(-eth) (-s), [idiom] me, [phrase] meet, [idiom] more than, mouth, of, off, (of) old (time), [idiom] on, open, [phrase] out of, over against, the partial, person, [phrase] please, presence, propect, was purposed, by reason of, [phrase] regard, right forth, [phrase] serve, [idiom] shewbread, sight, state, straight, [phrase] street, [idiom] thee, [idiom] them(-selves), through ([phrase] -out), till, time(-s) past, (un-) to(-ward), [phrase] upon, upside ([phrase] down), with(-in, [phrase] -stand), [idiom] ye, [idiom] you.
   
9. Strong's Number: H7617
   There are 42 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: שָׁבָה
   Transliteration: shâbâh
   Pronunciation: shaw-baw'
   Description: a primitive root; to transport into captivity; (bring away, carry, carry away, lead, lead away, take) captive(-s), drive (take) away.
   
10. Strong's Number: H7355
    There are 43 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: רָחַם
    Transliteration: râcham
    Pronunciation: raw-kham'
    Description: a primitive root; to fondle; by implication, to love, especially to compassionate; have compassion (on, upon), love, (find, have, obtain, shew) mercy(-iful, on, upon), (have) pity, Ruhamah, [idiom] surely.