1 Kings 8:14

And the king turned his face about, and blessed all the congregation of Israel: (and all the congregation of Israel stood;)

And the king {H4428} turned {H5437} his face {H6440} about {H5437}, and blessed {H1288} all the congregation {H6951} of Israel {H3478}:(and all the congregation {H6951} of Israel {H3478} stood {H5975};)

Then the king turned around and blessed the whole community of Isra'el. The whole community of Isra'el stood

And as the whole assembly of Israel stood there, the king turned around and blessed them all

And the king turned his face about, and blessed all the assembly of Israel: and all the assembly of Israel stood.

Commentary

Context of 1 Kings 8:14

This verse is situated at a pivotal moment in ancient Israel's history: the dedication of Solomon's magnificent Temple in Jerusalem. Immediately preceding this, the Ark of the Covenant had been brought into the Most Holy Place, and the glory of the Lord, manifested as a cloud, had so filled the Temple that the priests could not stand to minister (1 Kings 8:10-11). In this atmosphere of profound divine presence and awe, King Solomon turns to address the assembled congregation of Israel, who stood reverently before him.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Royal Authority and Divine Commission: Solomon, as king, acts as a spiritual leader and mediator, conveying a blessing to the people. This act underscores his divinely appointed role not only as a builder but also as a shepherd of his nation.
  • Blessing as a Response to God's Presence: The king's blessing immediately follows the visible manifestation of God's glory in the Temple. This highlights that true blessing flows from the Lord's presence and favor, which had just been powerfully demonstrated.
  • Congregational Reverence and Participation: The detail that "all the congregation of Israel stood" signifies their respect, attentiveness, and readiness to receive the king's words and the divine blessing. This posture of standing indicates a collective acknowledgment of the sacredness of the moment, similar to how people stood for the reading of the Law in Nehemiah 8:5.

Linguistic Insights

The word "blessed" comes from the Hebrew root barak (Χ‘ΦΈΦΌΧ¨Φ·ΧšΦ°), which implies invoking divine favor, prosperity, and well-being. When a king or a priest blesses the people, it is not merely a wish but a pronouncement of God's goodness and favor upon them. It's a formal declaration of divine grace and provision being extended to the assembled community.

Practical Application

This verse offers several insights for believers today:

  • The Importance of Leadership: It reminds us of the significant role leaders play in guiding and blessing their communities, whether in spiritual or secular contexts. Leaders are called to point people towards God's favor.
  • Reverence in Worship: The congregation's standing posture serves as a timeless example of the reverence and attentiveness appropriate in the presence of God. Our physical postures and attitudes can reflect our inner disposition towards the Lord.
  • God's Desire to Bless: Just as God's glory filled the Temple and prompted Solomon to bless the people, the Lord continues to desire to bless His people. Through Christ, we are blessed with every spiritual blessing, and His presence is the source of all good things.
Note: Commentary was generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please remember that only the commentary section is AI-generated. The main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are sourced from trusted and verified materials.
An Introduction to 1 Kings: From Solomon's Glory to a Divided Kingdom The Role of the King in Ancient Israel The History of the Temple in Jerusalem (Solomon's, Second, Herod's) The Building of Solomon's Temple The Tabernacle vs. The Temple: A Comparison

Cross-References

  • 2 Samuel 6:18

    And as soon as David had made an end of offering burnt offerings and peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD of hosts.

  • 1 Chronicles 16:2

    And when David had made an end of offering the burnt offerings and the peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD.

  • 1 Kings 8:55

    And he stood, and blessed all the congregation of Israel with a loud voice, saying,

  • 1 Kings 8:56

    Blessed [be] the LORD, that hath given rest unto his people Israel, according to all that he promised: there hath not failed one word of all his good promise, which he promised by the hand of Moses his servant.

  • Nehemiah 8:7

    Also Jeshua, and Bani, and Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodijah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites, caused the people to understand the law: and the people [stood] in their place.

  • Nehemiah 9:2

    And the seed of Israel separated themselves from all strangers, and stood and confessed their sins, and the iniquities of their fathers.

  • Matthew 13:2

    And great multitudes were gathered together unto him, so that he went into a ship, and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore.
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