Bible Strands
1 Kings 8:16
‘Since the day I brought My people Israel out of Egypt, I have not chosen a city from any tribe of Israel in which to build a house so that My Name would be there. But I have chosen David to be over My people Israel.’
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Solomon addresses the assembly of Israel and the elders during the temple dedication, recounting God’s historical actions regarding the sanctuary and kingship. He speaks immediately after blessing God for fulfilling the promise recorded in 1 Kings 8:15.
The words — The Hebrew מִן־יּוֹם (min-yom) translates literally as “from the day,” and הוֹצֵאתִי (ho.Tze.ti) means “I brought out.” These terms anchor the verse in the Exodus event as the chronological and theological baseline for God’s subsequent choices.
The thread — The motif of God choosing a city for His Name appears in Deuteronomy 12:11, while the substitution of David for other tribal claims parallels the rejection of Saul in 1 Samuel 16:1 and the covenant promise in 2 Samuel 7:4.
Why it lands — The text states that God deliberately withheld a chosen city until David’s reign and explicitly names David as the chosen ruler. It requires the reader to recognize that divine appointment overrides tribal precedence and human architectural ambition.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
Since the day that I brought forth my people Israel out of Egypt, I chose no city out of all the tribes of Israel to build an house, that my name might be therein; but I chose David to be over my people Israel.
Cross-references
- 1 Samuel 16:1 Now the LORD said to Samuel, “How long are you going to mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and go. I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem, for I have selected from his sons a king for Myself.”
- Deuteronomy 12:11 then the LORD your God will choose a dwelling for His Name. And there you are to bring everything I command you: your burnt offerings and sacrifices, your tithes and special gifts, and all the choice offerings you vow to the LORD.
- 2 Samuel 7:4 But that night the word of the LORD came to Nathan, saying,
- 1 Kings 8:29 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.
- 1 Chronicles 28:4 Yet the LORD, the God of Israel, chose me out of all my father’s house to be king over Israel forever. For He chose Judah as leader, and from the house of Judah He chose my father’s household, and from my father’s sons He was pleased to make me king over all Israel.
- 1 Chronicles 17:5 For I have not dwelt in a house from the day I brought Israel up out of Egypt until this day, but I have moved from tent to tent and dwelling to dwelling.
- Psalms 132:13 For the LORD has chosen Zion; He has desired it for His home:
- 1 Kings 11:36 I will give one tribe to his son, so that My servant David will always have a lamp before Me in Jerusalem, the city where I chose to put My Name.
- 2 Chronicles 6:5 ‘Since the day I brought My people out of the land of Egypt, I have not chosen a city from any tribe of Israel in which to build a house so that My Name would be there, nor have I chosen anyone to be ruler over My people Israel.
- Psalms 78:70 He chose David His servant and took him from the sheepfolds;