1 Kings 8:26

And now, O God of Israel, let thy word, I pray thee, be verified, which thou spakest unto thy servant David my father.

And now, O God {H430} of Israel {H3478}, let thy word {H1697}, I pray thee, be verified {H539}, which thou spakest {H1696} unto thy servant {H5650} David {H1732} my father {H1}.

Now therefore, God of Isra'el, please let your word, which you spoke to your servant David, my father, be confirmed.

And now, O God of Israel, please confirm what You promised to Your servant, my father David.

Now therefore, O God of Israel, let thy word, I pray thee, be verified, which thou spakest unto thy servant David my father.

In 1 Kings 8:26, King Solomon, during the grand dedication of the First Temple in Jerusalem, petitions God to fulfill a specific promise made to his father, King David. This verse encapsulates Solomon's profound faith and understanding of God's covenantal faithfulness.

Context

This verse is part of Solomon's lengthy and powerful prayer of dedication for the magnificent Temple he built. Immediately prior, in 1 Kings 8:20, Solomon acknowledges that God has already fulfilled His word regarding the Temple's construction, which David was forbidden to build but Solomon was destined to complete. Building on this established faithfulness, Solomon now pivots to ask God to verify another crucial promise—the Davidic Covenant.

Key Themes

  • God's Unwavering Faithfulness: Solomon's prayer is rooted in the conviction that God is true to His word. He appeals to God's character, knowing that what God promises, He performs.
  • The Davidic Covenant: The "word...spakest unto thy servant David my father" refers primarily to the covenant detailed in 2 Samuel 7:12-16, where God promised David an enduring dynasty and a perpetual throne. Solomon is asking God to confirm this promise for his own reign and for future generations.
  • Prayer of Trust: Solomon's plea is not one of doubt, but of confident expectation. He prays for God to "verify" His word, reinforcing the idea that divine promises are reliable and will come to pass.

Linguistic Insight

The KJV word "verified" translates the Hebrew verb 'aman (אָמַן), which means to be firm, trustworthy, established, or confirmed. It's the root of the word "Amen." When Solomon prays for God's word to be "verified," he is asking for it to be shown true, established, and brought to fruition. It speaks to the absolute reliability and certainty of God's promises.

Practical Application

Solomon's prayer offers a powerful model for believers today:

  • Pray with Confidence: We can approach God in prayer with assurance, reminding Him (and ourselves) of His past faithfulness and His unchanging promises. Our prayers are often an appeal to God's character and His revealed will.
  • Anchor in God's Word: Knowing and remembering God's specific promises, like the New Covenant promises, provides a solid foundation for our faith and petitions.
  • God's Generational Faithfulness: This verse highlights that God's faithfulness extends across generations. What He promised to David, He continued to uphold for Solomon and beyond, ultimately finding its fulfillment in the eternal reign of Jesus Christ, the Son of David (Luke 1:32-33).
Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, 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. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • 2 Samuel 7:25

    And now, O LORD God, the word that thou hast spoken concerning thy servant, and concerning his house, establish [it] for ever, and do as thou hast said.

  • 2 Samuel 7:29

    Therefore now let it please thee to bless the house of thy servant, that it may continue for ever before thee: for thou, O Lord GOD, hast spoken [it]: and with thy blessing let the house of thy servant be blessed for ever.

  • Jeremiah 11:5

    That I may perform the oath which I have sworn unto your fathers, to give them a land flowing with milk and honey, as [it is] this day. Then answered I, and said, So be it, O LORD.

  • 1 Kings 8:23

    And he said, LORD God of Israel, [there is] no God like thee, in heaven above, or on earth beneath, who keepest covenant and mercy with thy servants that walk before thee with all their heart:

  • Psalms 119:49

    ¶ ZAIN. Remember the word unto thy servant, upon which thou hast caused me to hope.

  • Exodus 24:10

    And they saw the God of Israel: and [there was] under his feet as it were a paved work of a sapphire stone, and as it were the body of heaven in [his] clearness.

  • 2 Chronicles 1:9

    Now, O LORD God, let thy promise unto David my father be established: for thou hast made me king over a people like the dust of the earth in multitude.
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