1 Kings 8:52

KJV

That thine eyes may be open unto the supplication of thy servant, and unto the supplication of thy people Israel, to hearken unto them in all that they call for unto thee.

KJV (with Strong's)

That thine eyes {H5869} may be open {H6605} unto the supplication {H8467} of thy servant {H5650}, and unto the supplication {H8467} of thy people {H5971} Israel {H3478}, to hearken {H8085} unto them in all that they call {H7121} for unto thee.

Complete Jewish Bible

"May your eyes be open to the plea of your servant and to the plea of your people Isra'el, so that you will hear them whenever they cry out to you.

Berean Standard Bible

May Your eyes be open to the pleas of Your servant and of Your people Israel, and may You listen to them whenever they call to You.

American Standard Version

that thine eyes may be open unto the supplication of thy servant, and unto the supplication of thy people Israel, to hearken unto them whensoever they cry unto thee.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
King Solomon, in his magnificent prayer dedicating the newly constructed Temple, earnestly petitions the Lord for His perpetual attentiveness to the prayers of both the king and the entire nation of Israel. This verse encapsulates a profound request for divine responsiveness, asking that God's watchful care and listening ear would be continually extended to His people, hearing and acting upon every sincere appeal they bring before Him, regardless of their circumstances or the nature of their need.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is situated within King Solomon's extensive prayer of dedication for the newly completed Temple in Jerusalem, as recorded in [1 Kings 8](/1_kings/8 "1 Kings 8 - Dedication of the Temple"). Following the Ark of the Covenant's placement in the Most Holy Place and the glorious manifestation of God's presence (vv. 1-11), Solomon blesses the assembly (vv. 12-21) and then offers this monumental prayer (vv. 22-53). His prayer covers a wide spectrum of potential future scenarios where Israel might find themselves in need—from war and famine to plague and exile—and in each instance, he appeals to God to hear their prayers offered towards this Temple. Verse 52 serves as a concluding, overarching plea, summarizing the core request that God would consistently and actively attend to the supplications of both the king and the entire nation, regardless of the specific circumstances outlined in the preceding verses.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The dedication of Solomon's Temple was a watershed moment in Israelite history, signifying the establishment of a permanent dwelling place for God's presence among His people, a concept central to the Mosaic covenant. Prior to this, the tabernacle served as a mobile sanctuary. The Temple, built with immense resources and labor, became the spiritual, national, and even political epicenter of Israel. Culturally, prayer was not merely a private act but a communal expression of dependence on YHWH, often directed towards the Temple as the symbol of God's presence. Solomon's prayer reflects the understanding that while God is transcendent, He also condescends to hear and respond to His people's cries from this specific, consecrated space, embodying the covenant promise of God's dwelling with Israel (cf. [Exodus 29:45](/exodus/29-45 "Exodus 29:45 - God's Dwelling Among Israel")).
* **Key Themes:** A primary theme is **Divine Attentiveness and Responsiveness**, central to Solomon's petition that God's "eyes may be open" and He would "hearken unto them." This underscores God's active engagement with His people's needs, moving beyond passive hearing to active intervention. Another crucial theme is the **Significance of Supplication**, highlighted by the repetition of the term, emphasizing humble, earnest prayer as the primary means of communication with God. This act of calling upon God reinforces Israel's **Covenant Relationship** with YHWH, appealing to His faithfulness to His promises made to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and David. The prayer also emphasizes **God's Comprehensive Hearing**, as Solomon asks God to hear "in all that they call for unto thee," indicating God's willingness to address every facet of human experience and distress, reflecting the breadth of God's care for His people, as seen in [Psalm 145:18](/psalms/145-18 "Psalm 145:18 - The Lord is near to all who call on Him").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Supplication (Hebrew, _tefillah'_):** This noun (תְּפִלָּה) refers specifically to prayer, intercession, or earnest entreaty. It often carries the connotation of a humble, dependent request made from a position of need. In the Old Testament, _tefillah_ is not merely a formal utterance but a heartfelt pouring out of one's soul to God, signifying a deep reliance on divine mercy and intervention. Its repetition in this verse ("thy servant," "thy people Israel") emphasizes the pervasive and essential nature of prayer for both individual and communal life.
* **Open (Hebrew, _pāqaḥ'_):** The verb (פָּקַח) means 'to open,' specifically referring to the eyes. When applied to God, as in "thine eyes may be open," it is an anthropomorphism signifying divine attentiveness, awareness, and active observation. It implies not just a passive seeing, but a watchful, discerning gaze that perceives the needs and cries of His people, ready to respond. This imagery assures the supplicant that God is not oblivious or distant but actively engaged with human affairs.
* **Hearken (Hebrew, _shama'_):** The verb (שָׁמַע) is rich in meaning, encompassing 'to hear,' 'to listen attentively,' 'to understand,' and, crucially, 'to obey' or 'to respond.' Solomon's plea for God to "hearken unto them" goes beyond mere auditory perception; it is a request for God to act upon what He hears. It implies a divine commitment to intervene on behalf of His people, fulfilling His covenant promises through active engagement with their prayers.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"That thine eyes may be open unto the supplication of thy servant":** This initial clause expresses Solomon's personal plea, asking God to maintain a watchful and attentive gaze over his own prayers. The imagery of God's "eyes being open" is an anthropomorphism signifying divine awareness, vigilance, and readiness to perceive and respond. Solomon, as king, recognized his profound dependence on God's guidance and intervention for the welfare of the nation, making his own supplication a vital act of leadership and faith.
* **"and unto the supplication of thy people Israel":** The scope of the prayer immediately expands from the king to encompass the entire nation. Solomon intercedes not only for himself but for all of Israel, recognizing their corporate identity and shared reliance on God. This highlights the communal aspect of prayer in Israelite worship, where the well-being of the individual was often intertwined with the spiritual health and covenant standing of the whole community. It underscores God's commitment to His people as a collective entity.
* **"to hearken unto them in all that they call for unto thee":** This concluding phrase broadens the petition to include the full spectrum of Israel's prayers and needs. "To hearken" implies not just passive hearing but active listening, understanding, and, most importantly, responding. The phrase "in all that they call for unto thee" signifies the comprehensive nature of God's attentiveness—He is willing to hear and respond to every type of prayer, whether it be for deliverance, forgiveness, guidance, or provision. This demonstrates God's boundless care and accessibility to His covenant people.

#### Literary Devices
This verse employs several significant literary devices to convey its profound message. **Anthropomorphism** is prominent in the phrase "thine eyes may be open," attributing human physical characteristics (eyes, seeing) to God. This device makes the transcendent God more relatable and understandable, assuring the audience that God is not distant or uncaring but actively perceives and attends to their needs. The repetition of "supplication" exemplifies **Emphasis**, underscoring the central role and importance of prayer in the relationship between God and His people. The structure of the verse, moving from the "supplication of thy servant" to "the supplication of thy people Israel," demonstrates a form of **Expansion** or **Climax**, broadening the scope of God's requested attentiveness from the individual king to the entire nation, culminating in the comprehensive "all that they call for," thereby highlighting the universal reach of God's potential responsiveness within the covenant community.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
1 Kings 8:52 stands as a powerful testament to the biblical truth of God's active engagement with humanity through prayer. It affirms that God is not a deistic observer but a personal, covenant-keeping Lord who inclines His ear to the cries of His people. This verse reinforces the concept of divine accessibility and the efficacy of earnest supplication, establishing prayer as a foundational element of the covenant relationship. It prefigures the New Testament emphasis on approaching God with confidence through Christ, building upon the Old Testament understanding that God desires to communicate with and respond to His children. The comprehensive nature of God's hearing ("in all that they call for") speaks to His boundless grace and willingness to meet His people in every circumstance, echoing His character revealed throughout Scripture as one who delights in hearing and answering His faithful.

* [Psalm 34:15](/psalms/34-15 "Psalm 34:15 - The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous")
* [Psalm 65:2](/psalms/65-2 "Psalm 65:2 - O You who hear prayer")
* [2 Chronicles 7:14](/2_chronicles/7-14 "2 Chronicles 7:14 - God's promise to hear and heal")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
1 Kings 8:52 offers profound encouragement for believers today, reminding us of the unwavering attentiveness of our Heavenly Father. Just as Solomon confidently appealed to God to hear the prayers of Israel, we are invited to approach God's throne of grace with boldness, assured that His "eyes are open" to our needs and His "ears are open" to our cries. This verse challenges us to cultivate a consistent and heartfelt prayer life, recognizing that no concern is too small or too large for God's attention. It underscores the privilege and power of prayer, not as a last resort, but as a primary means of communion with a God who actively listens and desires to respond. In a world often marked by noise and distraction, this passage calls us to quiet our hearts and confidently present our supplications, trusting in the divine promise of a God who truly hears.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the imagery of God's "eyes being open" and His willingness "to hearken" deepen your understanding of His character?**
* **In what specific areas of your life are you currently called to bring "all that you call for" before the Lord?**
* **How does knowing God's comprehensive attentiveness impact your confidence and consistency in prayer?**

### FAQ
**Why does Solomon emphasize God's "eyes being open" when God is all-knowing?**

Answer: While God is indeed omniscient and knows all things, the phrase "thine eyes may be open" is an anthropomorphism used to convey active, engaged attentiveness rather than mere passive knowledge. It implies a watchful, discerning, and responsive presence. Solomon is not asking God to gain new information, but to actively turn His attention, care, and intervention towards their prayers. It's a plea for divine favor and active engagement, assuring the people that God is not distant or indifferent but intimately involved and ready to respond to their needs, much like a parent's watchful eye over a child. This concept is further developed in passages like [Psalm 33:18](/psalms/33-18 "Psalm 33:18 - The eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him").

**What is the significance of the repetition of "supplication" in this verse?**

Answer: The repetition of "supplication" (Hebrew: _tefillah_) serves to emphasize the earnest, humble, and persistent nature of the prayers being offered. By applying it first to "thy servant" (Solomon) and then to "thy people Israel," it highlights both the individual and corporate dimensions of prayer within the covenant community. It underscores that prayer is not a casual act but a serious, heartfelt appeal made from a position of need and dependence on God's mercy and intervention. This repetition reinforces the central role of prayer as the means by which God's people communicate with Him and seek His favor, a theme echoed throughout the Psalms, such as [Psalm 116:1-2](/psalms/116-1 "Psalm 116:1-2 - I love the Lord, because he has heard my voice and my pleas for mercy").

**How does this verse relate to the Temple's purpose?**

Answer: This verse is intrinsically linked to the Temple's purpose as the designated place where God's presence dwelt among Israel and where His people could draw near to Him in prayer. Solomon's entire prayer of dedication (1 Kings 8) consistently directs the people to pray "toward this place" or "in this house," believing that God's presence was uniquely manifested there. The Temple served as a tangible symbol of God's covenant faithfulness and His willingness to meet with His people. Therefore, Solomon's plea for God's eyes to be open and to hearken to their supplications is a request for the Temple to fulfill its divinely ordained function as a house of prayer and a point of divine encounter, as prophesied in [Isaiah 56:7](/isaiah/56-7 "Isaiah 56:7 - My house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While Solomon's prayer in 1 Kings 8:52 sought God's attentiveness through the physical Temple, its ultimate fulfillment is found in Jesus Christ, who is the true and living Temple of God. The longing for God's "eyes to be open" and for Him "to hearken" to His people's prayers finds its perfect answer in Christ, who not only embodies God's presence but also serves as our ultimate High Priest and Mediator. Through His atoning sacrifice, Jesus has opened a new and living way to the Father, granting believers direct access to God's throne of grace (cf. [Hebrews 10:19-22](/hebrews/10-19 "Hebrews 10:19-22 - Boldness to Enter the Holy Place")). The comprehensive hearing Solomon prayed for is now assured through Christ, for we are invited to bring "all that they call for" to God in His name, confident that He intercedes for us (cf. [Romans 8:34](/romans/8-34 "Romans 8:34 - Christ Jesus is at the right hand of God and intercedes for us")) and that the Father always hears Him (cf. [John 11:42](/john/11-42 "John 11:42 - I knew that you always hear me")). Thus, the hope of 1 Kings 8:52 for a God who actively listens and responds is fully realized in the New Covenant, where believers, united with Christ, can draw near with confidence, knowing their prayers are heard and answered according to His perfect will (cf. [1 John 5:14-15](/1_john/5-14 "1 John 5:14-15 - Confidence in Prayer")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

1 Kings 8:29

That thine eyes may be open toward this house night and day, [even] toward the place of which thou hast said, My name shall be there: that thou mayest hearken unto the prayer which thy servant shall make toward this place.

Psalms 145:18

The LORD [is] nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth.

Psalms 86:5

For thou, Lord, [art] good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.

2 Chronicles 6:40

Now, my God, let, I beseech thee, thine eyes be open, and [let] thine ears [be] attent unto the prayer [that is made] in this place.