1 Kings 8:36

then may You hear from heaven and forgive the sin of Your servants, Your people Israel, so that You may teach them the good way in which they should walk. May You send rain on the land that You gave Your people as an inheritance.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Solomon addresses God during the temple dedication, praying for divine response to Israel's sin and subsequent repentance.

The words — תִשְׁמַ֣ע (tish.ma') translates to "you will hear," and סָ֨לַחְתָּ֜ (sa.lach.ta) translates to "you will forgive," both verbs describing God's responsive action to Israel's prayer.

The thread — The verse's plea for divine instruction and forgiveness runs parallel to the intercessory commitment in 1 Samuel 12:23, the request for guidance in Psalms 27:11, and the call to seek the ancient paths in Jeremiah 6:16.

Why it lands — The text explicitly states that God must first hear, forgive, and teach the good way before He sends rain on the land. It requires readers to acknowledge that national restoration and right conduct depend on divine initiative rather than human effort alone.

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

וְאַתָּ֣ה׀ve./'a.Tahand/ you תִּשְׁמַ֣עtish.Ma'you will hear הַשָּׁמַ֗יִםha./sha.Ma.yimthe/ heavens וְסָ֨לַחְתָּ֜ve./Sa.lach.taand/ you will forgive לְחַטַּ֤אתle./cha.Tat<to>/ [the] sin of עֲבָדֶ֙יךָ֙'a.va.Dei./khaservants/ your וְעַמְּךָ֣ve./'a.me./Khaand/ people/ your יִשְׂרָאֵ֔לYis.ra.'ElIsrael כִּ֥יkithat תוֹרֵ֛םto.Re/myou will teach/ them אֶת־'et-<obj.>הַדֶּ֥רֶךְha./De.rekhthe/ way הַטּוֹבָ֖הha./to.Vah<the>/ good אֲשֶׁ֣ר'a.Sherwhich יֵֽלְכוּ־ye.le.khu-they will walkבָ֑הּVa/hin/ itוְנָתַתָּ֤הve./na.ta.Tahand/ you will give מָטָר֙ma.Tarrain עַל־'al-on אַרְצְךָ֔'ar.tze./Khaland/ your אֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-which נָתַ֥תָּהna.Ta.tahyou gave לְעַמְּךָ֖le./'a.me./Khato/ people/ your לְנַחֲלָֽה׃ סle./na.cha.Lahto/ an inheritance

King James Version

Then hear thou in heaven, and forgive the sin of thy servants, and of thy people Israel, that thou teach them the good way wherein they should walk, and give rain upon thy land, which thou hast given to thy people for an inheritance.

Cross-references

1 Samuel 12:23 As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD by ceasing to pray for you. And I will continue to teach you the good and right way.
Psalms 27:11 Teach me Your way, O LORD, and lead me on a level path, because of my oppressors.
Jeremiah 6:16 This is what the LORD says: “Stand at the crossroads and look. Ask for the ancient paths: ‘Where is the good way?’ Then walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls. But they said, ‘We will not walk in it!’
1 Kings 18:1 After a long time, in the third year of the drought, the word of the LORD came to Elijah: “Go and present yourself to Ahab, and I will send rain upon the face of the earth.”
1 Kings 18:45 Meanwhile, the sky grew dark with clouds and wind, and a heavy rain began to fall. So Ahab rode away and went to Jezreel.
Psalms 25:4 Show me Your ways, O LORD; teach me Your paths.
Psalms 94:12 Blessed is the man You discipline, O LORD, and teach from Your law,
Jeremiah 14:22 Can the worthless idols of the nations bring rain? Do the skies alone send showers? Is this not by You, O LORD our God? So we put our hope in You, for You have done all these things.
1 Kings 18:27 At noon Elijah began to taunt them, saying, “Shout louder, for he is a god! Perhaps he is deep in thought, or occupied, or on a journey. Perhaps he is sleeping and must be awakened!”
2 Chronicles 6:26 When the skies are shut and there is no rain because Your people have sinned against You, and they pray toward this place and confess Your name, and they turn from their sins because You have afflicted them,