1 Kings 8:11
in 1 Kings 8so that the priests could not stand there to minister because of the cloud; for the glory of the LORD filled the house of the LORD.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
so that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud; for the glory of Jehovah filled the house of Jehovah.
KJV
So that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud: for the glory of the Lord had filled the house of the Lord.
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This verse in 1 Kings 8
Commentary
7 notes on this verseA commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
As in the case of Moses Exo 40:35, so now the glory of the Lord, the manifestation of the divine presence, which the cloud usually veiled, shone forth from it with such brilliancy, that mortal man could not bear the sight.
This site's exposition
the cloud filled the house
on 1 Kings 8:10-11
The cloud filling the house and driving the priests from their ministry repeats Ex 40:34-35 in shape and nearly in words, the same glory that kept Moses from entering the finished tabernacle now stopping the priests at the finished temple. Barnes ties the two scenes together directly, the glory the cloud usually veiled now shining out with a brightness mortal men could not bear, exactly as it had at the tabernacle's own dedication. The moment answers Deut 12's promise of a place for the name with an unmistakable sign that the Lord himself has taken up residence, the temple thread reaching its summit here.
This site's exposition
the priests could not stand there to minister
Adam Clarke held that the cloud filled the whole house, court and all, so that the people saw it too. Jamieson, Fausset and Brown weigh whether blazing light or a dense and fearful darkness drove the priests out. Verse 12 takes up the darkness.
The record, by era
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
But the glory of God appeared in a cloud, a dark cloud, to signify, (1.) The darkness of that dispensation in comparison with the light of the gospel, by which, with open face, we behold, as in a glass, the glory of the Lord. (2.) The darkness of our present state in comparison with the vision of God, which will be the happiness of heaven, where the divine glory is unveiled.
So that the priests could not stand to minister, because of the cloud,....
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
The dazzling brightness, or rather, perhaps, the dense portentous darkness of the cloud, struck the minds of the priests, as it formerly had done Moses, which such astonishment and terror (Le 16:2-13; Ex 40:35) that they could not remain. Thus the temple became the place where the divine glory was revealed, and the king of Israel established his royal residence.
The glory of the Lord had filled the house - The cloud, the symbol of the Divine glory and presence, appears to have filled not only the holy of holies, but the whole temple, court and all, and to have become evident to the people; and by this Solomon knew that God had honored the place with his presence, and taken it for his habitation in reference to the people of Israel.
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
On the verses either side of this one
After the Kohanim went out of the Kodesh. As the Kohanim who carried the Ark into the Holy of Holies were leaving, the Divine Presence immediately came to rest in the Sanctuary.
1 more on this passage, in their own words ▾
Then Shlomo declared. When he saw the cloud, he said, “Now I see that the Divine Presence is in the house which I built, for thus did He promise to come and dwell in it from the midst of a cloud and thick darkness.
This section is reception history: how the passage was read and kept in the Jewish tradition. Where a reading parts from an essential of the Christian faith, the section says so at that point.
Texts and citation data: Sefaria; each excerpt follows its version’s licence. 3 further sources are cited on this chapter that carry no English text this site may quote or only restate the verse.
The words behind it
14 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וְלֹֽא־ | velo'- | and not | H3808 → | 5168 times |
| יָכְל֧וּ | yakhelu | they were able | H3201 → | 194 times |
| הַכֹּהֲנִ֛ים | hakohanim | the priests | H3548 → | 750 times |
| לַעֲמֹ֥ד | laamod | to stand | H5975 → | 521 times |
| לְשָׁרֵ֖ת | lesharet | to serve | H8334 → | 97 times |
| מִפְּנֵ֥י | mipenei | <from> because of | H6440 → | 2123 times |
| הֶֽעָנָ֑ן | heanan | the cloud | H6051 → | |
| כִּי־ | ki- | for | H3588 → | 4482 times |
| מָלֵ֥א | male' | it filled | H4390 → | 249 times |
| כְבוֹד־ | khevod- | [the] glory of | H3519 → | |
| יְהוָ֖ה | yahweh | Yahweh | H3068 → | 6520 times |
| אֶת־ | ʾet- | <obj.> | H853 → | 10935 times |
| בֵּ֥ית | beit | [the] house of | H1004 → | 2046 times |
| יְהוָֽה׃ פ | yahweh | Yahweh | H3068 → | 6520 times |
וְלֹֽא־and not
velo'-H3808 →5168 times
יָכְל֧וּthey were able
yakheluH3201 →194 times
הַכֹּהֲנִ֛יםthe priests
hakohanimH3548 →750 times
לַעֲמֹ֥דto stand
laamodH5975 →521 times
לְשָׁרֵ֖תto serve
lesharetH8334 →97 times
מִפְּנֵ֥י<from> because of
mipeneiH6440 →2123 times
הֶֽעָנָ֑ןthe cloud
heananH6051 →
כִּי־for
ki-H3588 →4482 times
מָלֵ֥אit filled
male'H4390 →249 times
כְבוֹד־[the] glory of
khevod-H3519 →
יְהוָ֖הYahweh
yahwehH3068 →6520 times
אֶת־<obj.>
ʾet-H853 →10935 times
בֵּ֥ית[the] house of
beitH1004 →2046 times
יְהוָֽה׃ פYahweh
yahwehH3068 →6520 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
2 Corinthians 3:18And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into His image with intensifying glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
it leads to
- 2 Corinthians 4:6
For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of…
- Ephesians 4:22–24
to put off your former way of life, your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires;
- Romans 12:2
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of…
- 2 Corinthians 4:4
The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers so they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
- 1 Corinthians 13:12
Now we see but a dim reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
- 2 Corinthians 4:6
Through
2 Corinthians 4:6For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of…
it leads to
- Isaiah 60:2
For behold, darkness covers the earth, and thick darkness is over the peoples; but the LORD will rise upon you, and His glory will appear over you.
- Genesis 1:3
And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.
- 1 Peter 2:9
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, to proclaim the virtues of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.
- Isaiah 60:2
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies4
On this verse
On this chapter
About 1 Kings

This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Albert Barnes, Notes on the Old Testament; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); Keil, The Books of the Kings and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.
