1 Kings 8:55

KJV

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

KJV (with Strong's)

And he stood {H5975}, and blessed {H1288} all the congregation {H6951} of Israel {H3478} with a loud {H1419} voice {H6963}, saying {H559},

Complete Jewish Bible

stood up, and raised his voice to bless the whole community of Isra'el. He said,

Berean Standard Bible

And he stood and blessed the whole assembly of Israel in a loud voice, saying:

American Standard Version

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

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Following the dramatic manifestation of God's glory filling the newly dedicated Temple, 1 Kings 8:55 captures King Solomon's pivotal action: rising from his knees to publicly bless the entire assembly of Israel with a powerful, authoritative voice. This moment serves as a solemn declaration of divine favor upon the people, a priestly act by the king, and a formal transition into his subsequent dedicatory prayer, underscoring the spiritual significance and communal impact of the Temple's inauguration.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse serves as a crucial transition point within the grand narrative of the Temple's dedication. Immediately preceding it, the narrative culminates in the overwhelming descent of the Lord's glory, which so filled the house that the priests could not stand to minister ([1 Kings 8:10-11](/1_kings/8-10 "1 Kings 8:10-11 - The Glory of the Lord Fills the Temple")). Solomon himself had just concluded a lengthy and fervent prayer of dedication, having knelt before the altar in the presence of the entire assembly ([1 Kings 8:22-53](/1_kings/8-22 "1 Kings 8:22-53 - Solomon's Prayer of Dedication") and specifically [1 Kings 8:54](/1_kings/8-54 "1 Kings 8:54 - Solomon Kneels in Prayer")). His act of standing in [1 Kings 8:55](/1_kings/8-55 "1 Kings 8:55 - Solomon Blesses the Congregation") signals a shift from personal supplication to public, authoritative proclamation. It sets the stage for the specific content of his blessing and exhortation that follows in [1 Kings 8:56-61](/1_kings/8-56 "1 Kings 8:56-61 - Solomon's Concluding Blessing and Exhortation"), marking the formal conclusion of the dedication ceremony before the sacrificial offerings commence.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The dedication of the Temple was arguably the most significant national and religious event in Israel since the Exodus and the giving of the Law at Sinai. The Temple itself was the physical embodiment of God's dwelling among His people, a concept central to Israelite theology. In ancient Near Eastern cultures, kings often held significant religious roles, acting as mediators between the divine and the human realm. Solomon's action here reflects this dual role, not merely as a political ruler but as a spiritual leader who could invoke divine blessing upon his people. The gathering of "all the congregation of Israel" underscores the national unity and collective participation in this monumental event, a public demonstration of their covenant relationship with Yahweh. The "loud voice" was customary for important public declarations, ensuring all present could hear and acknowledge the pronouncement.
* **Key Themes:** [1 Kings 8:55](/1_kings/8-55 "1 Kings 8:55 - Solomon Blesses the Congregation") powerfully contributes to several overarching themes within the book of 1 Kings and the broader Deuteronomistic History. Firstly, it highlights **Divine Authority and Leadership**, demonstrating Solomon's legitimate role as God's chosen king to mediate blessing to the people, a function that blends royal and priestly aspects. Secondly, it reinforces the theme of **Covenant Faithfulness**, as Solomon's blessing is implicitly rooted in God's unwavering commitment to His promises to David and to Israel as a whole, a theme explicitly articulated in his preceding prayer ([1 Kings 8:23-26](/1_kings/8-23 "1 Kings 8:23-26 - God's Faithfulness to the Covenant")). Thirdly, the blessing is directed at "all the congregation of Israel," emphasizing **Corporate Blessing and Unity**, signifying that God's favor is extended to the entire nation, not just individuals. This collective identity is crucial to Israel's understanding of itself as God's chosen people. Finally, the "Public Proclamation" aspect underscores the importance of communal worship and the open declaration of God's presence and favor among His people.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Blessed (Hebrew, _barak_):** This verb carries a rich theological meaning, encompassing the act of conferring favor, prosperity, or divine approval. While it can also mean "to praise" (when man blesses God), in this context, it signifies Solomon, as God's representative, invoking God's goodness and favor upon the people. It implies a bestowal of spiritual and material well-being, rooted in God's covenant promises. The act of blessing was a significant priestly and patriarchal function in ancient Israel, here performed by the king.
* **Congregation (Hebrew, _qahal_):** This term refers to the assembled community or assembly, specifically the collective body of Israel gathered before the Lord. It emphasizes the corporate nature of God's relationship with His people. The use of "all the congregation of Israel" highlights the comprehensive scope of Solomon's blessing, encompassing every tribe and individual present at this momentous national event. It underscores the unity of the nation under God and their shared covenant identity.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And he stood,"**: This phrase signifies a deliberate and significant change in posture. Solomon had previously been kneeling in humble supplication during his extensive prayer of dedication ([1 Kings 8:54](/1_kings/8-54 "1 Kings 8:54 - Solomon Kneels in Prayer")). Rising to his feet indicates a shift from personal petition to public, authoritative proclamation. It conveys a sense of readiness to act, to speak with royal and divine authority, and to assume his role as the mediator of God's blessing to the gathered assembly.
* **"and blessed all the congregation of Israel"**: This is the central action of the verse. Solomon, acting in his capacity as king and God's chosen leader, formally invokes God's favor upon the entire nation. This blessing is not merely a wish but a performative act, a declaration intended to bring about the very good it pronounces. The inclusion of "all the congregation" stresses the comprehensive nature of this divine favor, extending to every individual and family united under the covenant.
* **"with a loud voice, saying,"**: The manner of delivery is as important as the content. "With a loud voice" emphasizes the public, audible, and authoritative nature of Solomon's pronouncement. It ensures that his words were heard by the vast assembly, leaving no doubt as to the solemnity and importance of the blessing. This public declaration reinforces the communal aspect of the Temple dedication and the shared reception of God's grace, preparing the people to receive the specific words of blessing that follow in the subsequent verses.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several significant literary devices. The most prominent is **Symbolism** in Solomon's change of posture; his transition from kneeling in humble prayer to standing upright symbolizes his shift from a supplicant before God to an authoritative representative of God to the people. The act of blessing itself is a **Solemn Declaration**, a formal, weighty pronouncement with spiritual import. The phrase "with a loud voice" functions as **Emphasis**, highlighting the public and undeniable nature of the blessing, ensuring its reception by the entire assembly. Furthermore, the verse acts as a crucial **Transition**, moving the narrative from the intense, personal prayer of the king to a communal, public act of divine favor, setting the stage for the concluding exhortations and the subsequent feasting and sacrifices.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This verse profoundly underscores the themes of divine faithfulness and the role of human leadership in mediating God's blessings. Solomon's act of blessing the entire congregation is a direct echo of God's covenant promises, particularly those made to Abraham and David, which assured blessing for Israel and through Israel to the nations. It highlights the king's unique position as God's chosen representative, not merely a political ruler but one entrusted with spiritual authority to declare God's favor. The corporate nature of the blessing emphasizes that God's covenant relationship is with the entire nation, fostering a sense of unity and shared destiny under divine providence. This public, authoritative pronouncement, following the visible manifestation of God's glory, establishes the Temple as the central place where God's presence is experienced and His blessings are formally bestowed upon His people, reinforcing the idea that true blessing flows from God's active presence and His unwavering commitment to His covenant.

* [Genesis 12:2-3](/genesis/12-2 "Genesis 12:2-3 - The Abrahamic Blessing")
* [Numbers 6:23-27](/numbers/6-23 "Numbers 6:23-27 - The Priestly Blessing")
* [Deuteronomy 28:1-2](/deuteronomy/28-1 "Deuteronomy 28:1-2 - Blessings for Obedience")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Solomon's solemn act in [1 Kings 8:55](/1_kings/8-55 "1 Kings 8:55 - Solomon Blesses the Congregation") offers profound insights for contemporary believers. It reminds us of the power and significance of spoken blessing, particularly from those in spiritual authority. Just as Solomon stood to declare God's favor over Israel, leaders today are called to speak words of truth, encouragement, and divine affirmation into the lives of those they serve, reflecting God's heart for His people. This verse also highlights the importance of public worship and the corporate reception of God's presence. The "loud voice" ensures that the blessing is heard and received by "all the congregation," emphasizing that God's grace is often experienced communally within the gathered body of believers. Our response to such divine favor should be one of humble gratitude and continued faithfulness, recognizing that true blessing flows from God's active presence among us and His unwavering commitment to His promises. It challenges us to consider how we, too, can be channels of God's blessing to others, both individually and corporately, through our words and actions.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does Solomon's posture change from kneeling to standing inform our understanding of different aspects of worship and ministry?**
* **In what ways do we, as believers, participate in the "blessing" of others, both within and outside the church?**
* **What is the significance of public declarations of faith and blessing in our contemporary worship contexts?**
* **How does recognizing God's presence as the source of all blessing shape our daily lives and our interactions with others?**

### FAQ
**Why did Solomon stand up to bless the people after kneeling?**

Answer: Solomon's change in posture from kneeling ([1 Kings 8:54](/1_kings/8-54 "1 Kings 8:54 - Solomon Kneels in Prayer")) to standing ([1 Kings 8:55](/1_kings/8-55 "1 Kings 8:55 - Solomon Blesses the Congregation")) is highly symbolic and practical. Kneeling signified humility, reverence, and supplication before God during his prayer. Standing, by contrast, conveyed authority, readiness to act, and the assumption of his royal and mediatorial role as he addressed the people. It was a formal posture for public proclamation, ensuring that his words of blessing were delivered with the full weight of his kingship and as God's representative to the assembled congregation.

**Was Solomon acting as a priest in blessing the people?**

Answer: While Solomon was not a Levitical priest by lineage, his actions here demonstrate a kingly role that often overlapped with priestly functions in ancient Israel. Kings, particularly in the Davidic line, were seen as mediators between God and the people. Solomon's blessing of the congregation, much like David's actions in [2 Samuel 6:18](/2_samuel/6-18 "2 Samuel 6:18 - David Blesses the People"), reflects a "royal priesthood" or a unique spiritual authority granted to the anointed king. He was not performing sacrificial rites, which were exclusive to the Levitical priesthood, but rather invoking divine favor and declaring God's promises, a function appropriate for the divinely appointed leader of the nation at such a monumental occasion as the Temple dedication.

**What was the content of Solomon's blessing?**

Answer: [1 Kings 8:55](/1_kings/8-55 "1 Kings 8:55 - Solomon Blesses the Congregation") introduces the act of blessing, and the specific content follows in [1 Kings 8:56-61](/1_kings/8-56 "1 Kings 8:56-61 - Solomon's Concluding Blessing and Exhortation"). His blessing primarily focuses on God's faithfulness to His promises, particularly those made to David and concerning the rest that God had given Israel. He declares that "there hath not failed one word of all his good promise" ([1 Kings 8:56](/1_kings/8-56 "1 Kings 8:56 - God's Promises Fulfilled")). He then exhorts the people to remain faithful to God's commandments, statutes, and judgments, so that God's presence would continue to be with them and that all the peoples of the earth might know the Lord.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Solomon's act of standing and blessing the congregation in [1 Kings 8:55](/1_kings/8-55 "1 Kings 8:55 - Solomon Blesses the Congregation") finds its ultimate and perfect fulfillment in Jesus Christ. While Solomon, as king, mediated God's blessing to Israel, Jesus is the divine King and the eternal High Priest, who not only mediates but embodies and bestows all blessing. The Temple, which Solomon dedicated, was a shadow of God's dwelling among His people, a reality fully realized in Christ, who is the true Temple ([John 2:19-21](/john/2-19 "John 2:19-21 - Jesus, the True Temple")). Solomon's blessing was limited by his human nature and the conditional nature of the Old Covenant; however, Christ's blessing is eternal, unconditional, and secured through His perfect sacrifice and resurrection. He is the one through whom "all the families of the earth shall be blessed" ([Acts 3:25-26](/acts/3-25 "Acts 3:25-26 - Abrahamic Covenant Fulfilled in Christ"), echoing [Genesis 12:3](/genesis/12-3 "Genesis 12:3 - The Abrahamic Blessing")). Jesus's final act before His ascension was to lift up His hands and bless His disciples ([Luke 24:50-51](/luke/24-50 "Luke 24:50-51 - Jesus Ascends, Blessing His Disciples")), a profound echo of Solomon's public blessing, but now from the resurrected Lord who has obtained for us every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places ([Ephesians 1:3](/ephesians/1-3 "Ephesians 1:3 - Every Spiritual Blessing in Christ")). He is indeed "greater than Solomon" ([Matthew 12:42](/matthew/12-42 "Matthew 12:42 - The Queen of the South and Solomon")), for He is the source of all blessing, the one who brings definitive peace, reconciliation, and eternal life to all who believe.

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 8:14

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

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.

Numbers 6:23

Speak unto Aaron and unto his sons, saying, On this wise ye shall bless the children of Israel, saying unto them,

Numbers 6:26

The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.

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.