1 Kings 8:47

[Yet] if they shall bethink themselves in the land whither they were carried captives, and repent, and make supplication unto thee in the land of them that carried them captives, saying, We have sinned, and have done perversely, we have committed wickedness;

Yet if they shall bethink {H7725} themselves in the land {H776} whither they were carried captives {H7617}, and repent {H7725}{H3820}, and make supplication {H2603} unto thee in the land {H776} of them that carried them captives {H7617}, saying {H559}, We have sinned {H2398}, and have done perversely {H5753}, we have committed wickedness {H7561};

then, if they come to their senses in the land where they have been carried away captive, turn back and make their plea to you in the land of those who carried them off captive, saying, 'We sinned, we acted wrongly, we behaved wickedly,'

and when they come to their senses in the land to which they were taken, and they repent and plead with You in the land of their captors, saying, โ€˜We have sinned and done wrong; we have acted wickedly,โ€™

yet if they shall bethink themselves in the land whither they are carried captive, and turn again, and make supplication unto thee in the land of them that carried them captive, saying, We have sinned, and have done perversely, we have dealt wickedly;

Commentary

1 Kings 8:47 is a powerful verse from King Solomon's prayer of dedication for the newly built Temple in Jerusalem. It speaks to a future scenario where the people of Israel, having been carried into captivity due to their disobedience, would come to their senses, repent, and seek God's forgiveness from a foreign land. This verse encapsulates the enduring themes of divine justice, human repentance, and God's readiness to restore.

Context

This verse is part of a lengthy and prophetic prayer offered by King Solomon to God during the dedication of the First Temple, as recorded in 1 Kings chapter 8. Solomon, standing before the altar, anticipates various future trials and sins of the nation. He petitions God to hear the prayers of His people, even when they are far from the Temple, particularly in a scenario of exile. This specific plea highlights the conditional nature of God's covenant with Israel, where blessings were tied to obedience and judgment to disobedience, as outlined in books like Deuteronomy 28. Solomon foresees a time when Israel would stray so far as to face the ultimate consequence: exile from their promised land.

Key Themes

  • Repentance and Self-Examination: The phrase "bethink themselves" signifies a profound internal turning, a deep self-reflection on their actions and their departure from God's ways. It's the first crucial step towards restoration.
  • Confession of Sin: The explicit admission, "We have sinned, and have done perversely, we have committed wickedness," demonstrates a full and unreserved acknowledgment of guilt. This three-tiered confession covers general transgression, twisted actions, and outright evil, leaving no room for self-justification.
  • God's Mercy and Faithfulness: Despite the severity of their sin and the judgment of exile, Solomon's prayer rests on the conviction that God remains faithful to His covenant promises and is willing to hear and respond to a truly repentant heart. This foreshadows God's consistent character throughout biblical history.
  • Prayer from Adversity: The verse emphasizes the power of supplication even from the most dire circumstances โ€“ "in the land of them that carried them captives." It underscores that no location or situation can separate a repentant heart from God's ear.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew behind "bethink themselves and repent" is significant. "Bethink themselves" comes from the Hebrew verb shuv (ืฉื•ื‘), which literally means "to turn back" or "to return." It implies a change of direction, a spiritual U-turn. "Repent" here is from nacham (ื ื—ื), which conveys sorrow, regret, or even comfort. When combined, these terms describe not just a change of mind, but a deep emotional sorrow leading to a decisive turning away from sin and back towards God. The progression of sin describedโ€”"sinned," "done perversely," "committed wickedness"โ€”uses terms that escalate in severity, indicating a comprehensive acknowledgment of their transgression against God's law.

Practical Application

1 Kings 8:47 offers timeless truths for believers today:

  • The Pathway to Restoration: It illustrates that no matter how far one has strayed or how dire the consequences of sin, the path back to God always begins with sincere self-reflection, genuine repentance, and humble confession.
  • God's Enduring Grace: This verse is a testament to God's unfailing grace and willingness to forgive. Even when His people face the consequences of their disobedience, His ear remains open to their cries for mercy when coupled with true repentance.
  • Hope in Adversity: It provides immense hope for those facing difficult circumstances, reminding us that prayer is effective regardless of our physical location or the severity of our trials. Even from the "land of captivity," God hears the contrite heart.

This passage encourages believers to regularly examine their hearts, confess their sins, and turn back to God, trusting in His compassionate response and His promise to restore.

Note: If the commentary doesnโ€™t appear instantly, please allow 2โ€“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 โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Psalms 106:6

    ยถ We have sinned with our fathers, we have committed iniquity, we have done wickedly.

  • Ezra 9:6

    And said, O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to thee, my God: for our iniquities are increased over [our] head, and our trespass is grown up unto the heavens.

  • Ezra 9:7

    Since the days of our fathers [have] we [been] in a great trespass unto this day; and for our iniquities have we, our kings, [and] our priests, been delivered into the hand of the kings of the lands, to the sword, to captivity, and to a spoil, and to confusion of face, as [it is] this day.

  • Nehemiah 1:6

    Let thine ear now be attentive, and thine eyes open, that thou mayest hear the prayer of thy servant, which I pray before thee now, day and night, for the children of Israel thy servants, and confess the sins of the children of Israel, which we have sinned against thee: both I and my father's house have sinned.

  • Nehemiah 1:11

    O Lord, I beseech thee, let now thine ear be attentive to the prayer of thy servant, and to the prayer of thy servants, who desire to fear thy name: and prosper, I pray thee, thy servant this day, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man. For I was the king's cupbearer.

  • Nehemiah 9:26

    Nevertheless they were disobedient, and rebelled against thee, and cast thy law behind their backs, and slew thy prophets which testified against them to turn them to thee, and they wrought great provocations.

  • Nehemiah 9:30

    Yet many years didst thou forbear them, and testifiedst against them by thy spirit in thy prophets: yet would they not give ear: therefore gavest thou them into the hand of the people of the lands.
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