1 Kings 8:39

Then hear thou in heaven thy dwelling place, and forgive, and do, and give to every man according to his ways, whose heart thou knowest; (for thou, [even] thou only, knowest the hearts of all the children of men;)

Then hear {H8085} thou in heaven {H8064} thy dwelling {H3427} place {H4349}, and forgive {H5545}, and do {H6213}, and give {H5414} to every man {H376} according to his ways {H1870}, whose heart {H3824} thou knowest {H3045};(for thou, even thou only, knowest {H3045} the hearts {H3824} of all the children {H1121} of men {H120};)

hear in heaven where you live, and forgive, and act, and, since you know what is in each one's heart, give each person what his conduct deserves (because you, and only you, know all human hearts),

be heard by You from heaven, Your dwelling place. And may You forgive and act, and repay each man according to all his ways, since You know his heart—for You alone know the hearts of all men—

then hear thou in heaven thy dwelling-place, and forgive, and do, and render unto every man according to all his ways, whose heart thou knowest; (for thou, even thou only, knowest the hearts of all the children of men;)

Commentary

1 Kings 8:39 is part of King Solomon's magnificent dedicatory prayer for the newly completed Temple in Jerusalem. Following a series of specific petitions for various national crises and individual needs, this verse encapsulates a fundamental theological truth: God's unique and perfect knowledge of the human heart.

Context

This verse follows Solomon's acknowledgment that no building, however grand, can truly contain God (1 Kings 8:27). He has just prayed for God to hear the prayers of His people when they turn toward the Temple, confess their sins, and seek His forgiveness and intervention. Verse 39 serves as the theological underpinning for all these requests, emphasizing that God's ability to respond justly and mercifully stems from His intimate understanding of each individual's true condition and intentions, not just their outward actions.

Key Themes

  • God's Omniscience and Heart-Knowledge: The core message is that God alone possesses the ability to truly "know the hearts of all the children of men." This divine attribute means He sees beyond superficial appearances and understands the deepest motives, thoughts, and intentions of every person. This is a unique characteristic of the Almighty (Jeremiah 17:10).
  • Divine Justice and Forgiveness: Solomon implores God to "forgive, and do, and give to every man according to his ways." This demonstrates a plea for both mercy when repentance is genuine and righteous judgment when actions warrant it. God's perfect knowledge ensures His response is always just and appropriate to the heart's condition, whether it be for forgiveness or for recompense for deeds (Romans 2:6).
  • God's True Dwelling Place: While the Temple is a designated place for prayer and God's name, Solomon rightly states that God's actual "dwelling place" is "in heaven." This prevents any notion that God is confined to a physical structure and reinforces His transcendence and ability to hear prayers from anywhere.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "knowest" is yada' (יָדַע), which signifies a deep, experiential, and intimate knowledge, far beyond mere intellectual understanding. When applied to God knowing the "heart" (לֵב - lev), it refers to the totality of a person's inner being—their thoughts, emotions, will, conscience, and true character. This highlights that God perceives the very essence of who we are, not just what we do.

Practical Application

This verse offers profound implications for believers today:

  • It encourages sincerity in prayer, knowing that God sees our true motives and hears beyond our words. We cannot hide our hearts from Him (Hebrews 4:13).
  • It promotes introspection and self-examination, urging us to align our inner selves with God's will, knowing that our "ways" are ultimately judged by the condition of our hearts.
  • It provides comfort in the assurance of God's perfect justice. He will always act righteously, forgiving those who genuinely repent and justly dealing with all according to their inner disposition.
  • It reminds us that our true worship is not merely external ritual but an offering from a sincere heart, known intimately by the Lord.
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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

  • 1 Chronicles 28:9

    And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the LORD searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever.

  • Jeremiah 17:10

    I the LORD search the heart, [I] try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, [and] according to the fruit of his doings.

  • 1 Samuel 16:7

    But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for [the LORD seeth] not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.

  • Acts 1:24

    And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all [men], shew whether of these two thou hast chosen,

  • John 2:24

    But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all [men],

  • John 2:25

    And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man.

  • Hebrews 4:12

    For the word of God [is] quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and [is] a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
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