1 Kings 8:33

When Your people Israel are defeated before an enemy because they have sinned against You, and they return to You and confess Your name, praying and pleading with You in this temple,

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Solomon addresses God during the temple dedication, describing a future scenario where Israel suffers military defeat due to sin and subsequently seeks mercy. (1 Kings 8:33)

The words — The Hebrew verb בְּֽ/הִנָּגֵ֞ף (be./hi.na.Gef) literally means to be struck down or defeated, while וְ/שָׁ֤בוּ (ve./Sha.vu) means to turn back or return.

The thread — The text places this cycle within Solomon’s prayer, while Leviticus 26:17, Leviticus 26:25, and Deuteronomy 28:25 provide parallel warnings of military defeat without adding repentance or forgiveness to those specific passages.

Why it lands — The verse states that defeat follows sin, but God’s hearing and forgiveness are triggered when the people confess His name and pray in the temple. (1 Kings 8:34)

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

בְּֽהִנָּגֵ֞ףbe./hi.na.Gefwhen/ are defeated עַמְּךָ֧'a.me./Khapeople/ your יִשְׂרָאֵ֛לYis.ra.'ElIsrael לִפְנֵ֥יli/f.Nei<to>/ before אוֹיֵ֖ב'o.Yevan enemy אֲשֶׁ֣ר'a.Sherthat יֶחֶטְאוּ־ye.chet.'u-they will sinלָ֑ךְLa/khto/ youוְשָׁ֤בוּve./Sha.vuand/ they will turn back אֵלֶ֙יךָ֙'e.Lei./khato/ you וְהוֹד֣וּve./ho.Duand/ they will praise אֶת־'et-<obj.>שְׁמֶ֔ךָshe.Me./khaname/ your וְהִֽתְפַּֽלְל֧וּve./hit.pa.Luand/ they will pray וְהִֽתְחַנְּנ֛וּve./hit.cha.ne.Nuand/ they will seek favor אֵלֶ֖יךָ'e.Lei./khato/ you בַּבַּ֥יִתba./Ba.yitin the/ house הַזֶּֽה׃ha./Zeh<the>/ this

King James Version

When thy people Israel be smitten down before the enemy, because they have sinned against thee, and shall turn again to thee, and confess thy name, and pray, and make supplication unto thee in this house:

Cross-references

Leviticus 26:17 And I will set My face against you, so that you will be defeated by your enemies. Those who hate you will rule over you, and you will flee when no one pursues you.
Deuteronomy 28:25 The LORD will cause you to be defeated before your enemies. You will march out against them in one direction but flee from them in seven. You will be an object of horror to all the kingdoms of the earth.
Leviticus 26:25 And I will bring a sword against you to execute the vengeance of the covenant. Though you withdraw into your cities, I will send a plague among you, and you will be delivered into the hand of the enemy.
Leviticus 26:39 Those of you who survive in the lands of your enemies will waste away in their iniquity and will decay in the sins of their fathers.
Deuteronomy 28:48 you will serve your enemies the LORD will send against you in famine, thirst, nakedness, and destitution. He will place an iron yoke on your neck until He has destroyed you.
2 Chronicles 6:24 When Your people Israel are defeated before an enemy because they have sinned against You, and they return to You and confess Your name, praying and pleading before You in this temple,
Jonah 3:10 When God saw their actions—that they had turned from their evil ways—He relented from the disaster He had threatened to bring upon them.
Joshua 7:8 O Lord, what can I say, now that Israel has turned its back and run from its enemies?
Joshua 7:11 Israel has sinned; they have transgressed My covenant that I commanded them, and they have taken some of what was devoted to destruction. Indeed, they have stolen and lied, and they have put these things with their own possessions.
Judges 6:1 Again the Israelites did evil in the sight of the LORD; so He delivered them into the hand of Midian for seven years,