1 Kings 8:10

And it came to pass, when the priests were come out of the holy [place], that the cloud filled the house of the LORD,

And it came to pass, when the priests {H3548} were come out {H3318} of the holy {H6944} place, that the cloud {H6051} filled {H4390} the house {H1004} of the LORD {H3068},

When the cohanim came out of the Holy Place, the cloud filled the house of ADONAI,

And when the priests came out of the Holy Place, the cloud filled the house of the LORD

And it came to pass, when the priests were come out of the holy place, that the cloud filled the house of Jehovah,

Commentary

1 Kings 8:10 describes a pivotal moment in Israel's history: the dedication of Solomon's magnificent Temple in Jerusalem. This verse immediately follows the placement of the sacred Ark of the Covenant into the Most Holy Place, signifying the ultimate act of consecration.

Context

After seven years of construction, King Solomon had finally completed the Temple, a permanent dwelling place for the Lord, fulfilling the desire of his father, King David. Chapter 8 details the grand dedication ceremony. The priests, having brought the Ark into the inner sanctuary, then exited the holy place. At this precise moment, the presence of God manifested in a visible, tangible way, echoing earlier divine manifestations.

Key Themes

  • Divine Presence (Shekinah Glory): The "cloud" filling the house of the LORD is a clear manifestation of God's tangible presence, often referred to as the Shekinah glory. This same cloud had guided Israel through the wilderness (Exodus 13:21-22) and filled the Tabernacle upon its completion (Exodus 40:34-35). Its appearance here signified God's acceptance of the Temple as His dwelling place among His people.
  • God's Approval and Consecration: The filling of the Temple with the cloud served as God's unmistakable seal of approval on Solomon's work and the worship to be offered there. It consecrated the entire structure, making it truly the "house of the LORD."
  • Awe and Reverence: The overwhelming nature of God's glory, described as a cloud so thick the priests could not stand to minister (1 Kings 8:11), instilled deep awe and reverence, reminding everyone of the holiness and power of the Almighty.

Linguistic Insight

While the KJV uses "cloud," the concept conveyed is that of God's glorious, weighty presence. In Hebrew, the root shakan (to dwell) is associated with the Tabernacle (Mishkan) and the idea of God "dwelling" among His people. The "cloud" here is the visible sign of that divine indwelling, often referred to as the Shekinah glory, a term not found in the Hebrew Bible itself but used in rabbinic literature to describe God's manifest presence.

Practical Application

For believers today, 1 Kings 8:10 reminds us that God still desires to dwell among His people. While He no longer resides in a physical temple made with hands, He dwells in the hearts of believers through the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19). This verse encourages us to live in a way that honors God's presence within us, recognizing that we are now His temple. It also points forward to the ultimate fulfillment of God's dwelling with humanity in the new heavens and new earth (Revelation 21:3).

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Exodus 40:34 (8 votes)

    ¶ Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.

  • Exodus 40:35 (8 votes)

    And Moses was not able to enter into the tent of the congregation, because the cloud abode thereon, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.

  • 2 Chronicles 7:1 (8 votes)

    ¶ Now when Solomon had made an end of praying, the fire came down from heaven, and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the LORD filled the house.

  • 2 Chronicles 7:2 (8 votes)

    And the priests could not enter into the house of the LORD, because the glory of the LORD had filled the LORD'S house.