Bible Strands
1 Kings 8:22
Then Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in front of the whole assembly of Israel, spread out his hands toward heaven,
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Solomon stands before the altar of the LORD in the presence of the entire assembly of Israel, transitioning from a statement about the ark's placement to the opening of his prayer. He addresses God while the gathered people witness the dedication moment.
The words — The Hebrew verb וַיַּעֲמֹד (wa-yyaʿamōd) means "and he stood," indicating a formal, stationary posture at the sanctuary. The phrase נֶגֶד כָּל־קְהַל (neged kol-qehal) translates literally to "before all the assembly," emphasizing the public scope of the ritual.
The thread — The gesture of spreading hands toward heaven appears in Exodus 9:33 during Moses' intercession and in Ezra 9:5 during corporate confession. The altar location reappears in 1 Kings 8:54 when Solomon rises after completing the prayer.
Why it lands — The text records a physical posture of prayer before God and the community, requiring the reader to recognize reverence as a public, embodied act rather than a private abstraction. It demands attention to the structural placement of worship within Israel's covenant assembly.
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
And Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord in the presence of all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth his hands toward heaven:
Cross-references
- Ezra 9:5 At the evening offering, I got up from my humiliation with my tunic and cloak torn, and I fell on my knees, spread out my hands to the LORD my God,
- Exodus 9:33 Then Moses departed from Pharaoh, went out of the city, and spread out his hands to the LORD. The thunder and hail ceased, and the rain no longer poured down on the land.
- 1 Kings 8:54 Now when Solomon had finished praying this entire prayer and petition to the LORD, he got up before the altar of the LORD, where he had been kneeling with his hands spread out toward heaven.
- Exodus 9:29 Moses said to him, “When I have left the city, I will spread out my hands to the LORD. The thunder will cease, and there will be no more hail, so that you may know that the earth is the LORD’s.
- Isaiah 1:15 When you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide My eyes from you; even though you multiply your prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are covered with blood.
- 2 Kings 11:14 And she looked out and saw the king standing by the pillar, according to the custom. The officers and trumpeters were beside the king, and all the people of the land were rejoicing and blowing trumpets. Then Athaliah tore her clothes and screamed, “Treason! Treason!”
- 2 Kings 23:3 So the king stood by the pillar and made a covenant before the LORD to follow the LORD and to keep His commandments, decrees, and statutes with all his heart and all his soul, and to carry out the words of the covenant that were written in this book. And all the people entered into the covenant.
- 2 Chronicles 6:12 Then Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in front of the whole assembly of Israel and spread out his hands.
- Job 11:13 As for you, if you direct your heart and lift up your hands to Him,
- Psalms 28:2 Hear my cry for mercy when I call to You for help, when I lift up my hands toward Your holy sanctuary.