1 Kings 8:12
in 1 Kings 8Then Solomon declared: “The LORD has said that He would dwell in the thick cloud.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Then spake Solomon, Jehovah hath said that he would dwell in the thick darkness.
KJV
Then spake Solomon, The Lord said that he would dwell in the thick darkness.
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This verse in 1 Kings 8
Commentary
8 notes on this verseThe Lord said - he would dwell - It was under the appearance of a cloud that God showed himself present with Israel in the wilderness; see Exo 14:19, Exo 14:20. And at the dedication of the tabernacle in the wilderness, God manifested himself in the same way that he did here at the dedication of the temple; see Exo 40:34, Exo 40:35.
This site's exposition
dwell in the thick darkness
on 1 Kings 8:12-13
Solomon's declaration that the Lord would dwell in the thick darkness echoes Sinai's own cloud at Ex 20:21 and Deut 4:11, and David had already sung of the Lord making darkness his secret place at 2 Sam 22:12. Wesley and the bench read the king's words as reassurance rather than alarm, turning to a priesthood and people struck silent by the darkness to tell them it marks approval, not disfavor. The house Solomon calls settled and everlasting stands in tension with his own later question at verse 27, and the prayer does not smooth that tension over.
The record, by era
The Puritans and the Awakening4 voices
Then spake - Perceiving both priests and people struck with wonder at this darkness, he minds them, that this was no sign of God's disfavour, as some might possibly imagine; but a token of his approbation, and special presence among them.
Thus our holy faith is exercised and our holy fear is increased. Where God dwells in light faith is swallowed up in vision and fear in love. He himself bids it welcome, as worthy of all acceptation; and since God, by this cloud, came down to take possession, he does, in a few words, solemnly give him possession (
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — unbalanced-parens
And then spake Solomon,....
In a long prayer he recommended to God's gracious acceptance all the prayers that should be made in or towards this place,
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
Then spake Solomon--For the reassurance of the priests and people, the king reminded them that the cloud, instead of being a sign ominous of evil, was a token of approval.
1 more voice on this verse
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
Rather, “The Lord spake of dwelling in the thick darkness” (margin reference). Solomon sees in the cloud the visible symbol of God’s presence, and accepts the token as a proof that He has taken possession of the house built for Him, and will thenceforth dwell there 1Ki 8:13.
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
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.
1 more on this passage, in their own words ▾
A dwelling place for You forever. From when it was chosen it would no longer be permissible [to offer sacrifices] on improvised altars, and the Divine Presence no longer dwelled in any other place.
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
7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| אָ֖ז | ʾaz | then | H227 → | 141 times |
| אָמַ֣ר | ʾamar | he said | H559 → | 5305 times |
| שְׁלֹמֹ֑ה | shelomoh | Solomon | H8010 → | 291 times |
| יְהוָ֣ה | yahweh | Yahweh | H3068 → | 6520 times |
| אָמַ֔ר | ʾamar | he has said | H559 → | 5305 times |
| לִשְׁכֹּ֖ן | lishkon | to dwell | H7931 → | |
| בָּעֲרָפֶֽל׃ | baarafel | in <the> thick darkness | H6205 → |
אָ֖זthen
ʾazH227 →141 times
אָמַ֣רhe said
ʾamarH559 →5305 times
שְׁלֹמֹ֑הSolomon
shelomohH8010 →291 times
יְהוָ֣הYahweh
yahwehH3068 →6520 times
אָמַ֔רhe has said
ʾamarH559 →5305 times
לִשְׁכֹּ֖ןto dwell
lishkonH7931 →
בָּעֲרָפֶֽל׃in <the> thick darkness
baarafelH6205 →
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
Psalms 97:2Clouds and darkness surround Him; righteousness and justice are His throne’s foundation.
it leads to
- Psalms 89:14
Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; loving devotion and faithfulness go before You.
- Exodus 19:9
The LORD said to Moses, “Behold, I will come to you in a dense cloud, so that the people will hear when I speak with you, and they will always put their trust in…
- Proverbs 16:12
Wicked behavior is detestable to kings, for a throne is established through righteousness.
- Psalms 89:14
Through
Leviticus 16:2And the LORD said to Moses: “Tell your brother Aaron not to enter freely into the Most Holy Place behind the veil in front of the mercy seat on the ark, or else he…
it leads to
- Exodus 30:10
Once a year Aaron shall make atonement on the horns of the altar. Throughout your generations he shall make atonement on it annually with the blood of the sin offering of atonement. The altar…
- 1 Kings 8:10–12
And when the priests came out of the Holy Place, the cloud filled the house of the LORD
- Hebrews 10:19–20
Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus,
- Exodus 30:10
Through
Isaiah 45:15Truly You are a God who hides Himself, O God of Israel, the Savior.
it leads to
- Isaiah 8:17
I will wait for the LORD, who is hiding His face from the house of Jacob. I will put my trust in Him.
- Psalms 44:24
Why do You hide Your face and forget our affliction and oppression?
- Isaiah 8:17
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies4
On this verse
On this chapter
About 1 Kings
Who and where
1 name in this verse with a page on the site.
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Jamieson Fausset and Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.