1 Kings 8:27
25 Therefore now, O LORD, God of Israel, keep for Your servant, my father David, what You promised when You said: ‘You will never fail to have a man to sit before Me on the throne of Israel, if only your descendants guard their way to walk before Me as you have done.’
26 And now, O God of Israel, please confirm what You promised to Your servant, my father David.
But will God indeed dwell upon the earth? Even heaven, the highest heaven, cannot contain You, much less this temple I have built.
28 Yet regard the prayer and plea of Your servant, O LORD my God, so that You may hear the cry and the prayer that Your servant is praying before You today.
29 May Your eyes be open toward this temple night and day, toward the place of which You said, ‘My Name shall be there,’ so that You may hear the prayer that Your servant prays toward this place.
Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- But will God indeed dwell upon the earth? Even heaven, the highest heaven, cannot contain You, much less this temple I have built.
- KJV
- But will God indeed dwell on the earth? behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house that I have builded?
- WEB
- But will God in very deed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens can’t contain you; how much less this house that I have built!
- ASV
- But will God in very deed dwell on the earth? behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house that I have builded!
- DARBY
- But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, the heavens, and the heaven of heavens, cannot contain thee; how much less this house which I have built!
- BLB
- But will indeed God dwell on the earth? Behold, the heavens and the heavens of the heavens cannot contain You. How much less this house that I have built?
- ÅB
- Men bor da Gud virkelig på jorden? Se, himlene og himlenes himler rommer deg ikke; hvor meget mindre da dette hus som jeg har bygget!
- OTB
- Men kan Gud virkelig bo på jorden? Se, himmelen og de høyeste himler kan ikke romme Deg, hvor mye mindre dette huset som jeg har bygget!
- B1930
- Men bor da Gud virkelig på jorden? Se, himlene og himlenes himler rummer dig ikke; hvor meget mindre da dette hus som jeg har bygget!
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Isaiah 66:1
This is what the LORD says: “Heaven is My throne, and earth is My footstool. What kind of house will you build for Me? Or where will My place of repose be?
Read in contextJeremiah 23:24
“Can a man hide in secret places where I cannot see him?” declares the LORD. “Do I not fill the heavens and the earth?” declares the LORD.
Read in context2 Chronicles 2:6
But who is able to build a house for Him, since the heavens, even the highest heavens, cannot contain Him? Who then am I, that I should build a house for Him, except as a place to burn sacrifices before Him?
Read in context2 Chronicles 6:18
But will God indeed dwell with man upon the earth? Even heaven, the highest heaven, cannot contain You, much less this temple I have built.
Read in contextActs 7:48–49
However, the Most High does not dwell in houses made by human hands. As the prophet says:
Read in contextPsalms 139:7–16
Where can I go to escape Your Spirit? Where can I flee from Your presence?
Read in contextDeuteronomy 10:14
Behold, to the LORD your God belong the heavens, even the highest heavens, and the earth and everything in it.
Read in contextJohn 1:14
The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Read in context