1 Kings 8:39

be heard by You from heaven, Your dwelling place. And may You forgive and act, and repay each man according to all his ways, since You know his heart—for You alone know the hearts of all men—

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Solomon prays this petition during the temple dedication, asking God to respond when Israel's people pray toward the temple while knowing their own afflictions.

The words — The Hebrew תִּשְׁמַע (tishma) means "you will hear," and סָלַחְתָּ (salachta) means "you will forgive," framing the petition for divine attention and pardon.

The thread — This theme of God's intimate knowledge of human hearts and corresponding judgment appears in Jeremiah 17:10 and 1 Samuel 16:7, while the call to know God wholeheartedly is David's charge to Solomon in 1 Chronicles 28:9.

Why it lands — The text demands recognition that God observes inner motives and dispenses justice accordingly, requiring readers to approach prayer with awareness of divine scrutiny.

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

וְ֠אַתָּהVe./'a.tahand/ you תִּשְׁמַ֨עtish.Ma'you will hear הַשָּׁמַ֜יִםha./sha.Ma.yimthe/ heavens מְכ֤וֹןme.Khon[the] place of שִׁבְתֶּ֙ךָ֙shiv.Te./khadwelling/ your וְסָלַחְתָּ֣ve./sa.lach.Taand/ you will forgive וְעָשִׂ֔יתָve./'a.Si.taand/ you will act וְנָתַתָּ֤ve./na.ta.Taand/ you will give לָאִישׁ֙la./'Ishto the/ person כְּכָל־ke./khol-according to/ all דְּרָכָ֔יוde.ra.Kha/vways/ his אֲשֶׁ֥ר'a.Sherwhom תֵּדַ֖עte.Da'you will know אֶת־'et-<obj.>לְבָב֑וֹle.va.V/oheart/ his כִּֽי־ki-for אַתָּ֤ה'a.Tahyou יָדַ֙עְתָּ֙ya.Da'.tayou know לְבַדְּךָ֔le./va.de./Khato/ alone/ you אֶת־'et-<obj.>לְבַ֖בle.Vav[the] heart of כָּל־kol-all בְּנֵ֥יbe.Nei[the] children of הָאָדָֽם׃ha./'a.Dam<the>/ humankind

King James Version

Then hear thou in heaven thy dwelling place, and forgive, and do, and give to every man according to his ways, whose heart thou knowest; (for thou, even thou only, knowest the hearts of all the children of men;)

Cross-references

1 Chronicles 28:9 As for you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father and serve Him wholeheartedly and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches every heart and understands the intent of every thought. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever.
Jeremiah 17:10 I, the LORD, search the heart; I examine the mind to reward a man according to his way, by what his deeds deserve.
1 Samuel 16:7 But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or height, for I have rejected him; the LORD does not see as man does. For man sees the outward appearance, but the LORD sees the heart.”
Acts 1:24 And they prayed, “Lord, You know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two You have chosen
1 Kings 8:32 then may You hear from heaven and act. May You judge Your servants, condemning the wicked man by bringing down on his own head what he has done, and justifying the righteous man by rewarding him according to his righteousness.
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.
2 Chronicles 6:30 be heard by You from heaven, Your dwelling place. And may You forgive and repay each man according to all his ways, since You know his heart—for You alone know the hearts of men—
Psalms 11:4 The LORD is in His holy temple; the LORD is on His heavenly throne. His eyes are watching closely; they examine the sons of men.
Psalms 18:20 The LORD has rewarded me according to my righteousness; He has repaid me according to the cleanness of my hands.
Psalms 28:4 Repay them according to their deeds and for their works of evil. Repay them for what their hands have done; bring back on them what they deserve.