1 Kings 9:3

And the LORD said to him: “I have heard your prayer and petition before Me. I have consecrated this temple, which you have built, by putting My Name there forever; My eyes and My heart will be there for all time.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The LORD speaks to Solomon immediately after appearing to him a second time at the finished temple, responding to Solomon’s dedication prayer.

The words — The Hebrew שָׁמַעְתִּי (Sha.ma'.ti) literally means "I have heard," and תְּחִנָּתְךָ (te.chi.na.te./Kha) translates to "your supplication" or petition.

The thread — God’s pledge to keep His eyes and heart fixed on the temple mirrors the request in 1 Kings 8:29 and reappears in 2 Kings 20:5 when the LORD hears Hezekiah’s plea.

Why it lands — The text records God’s formal declaration that He has accepted Solomon’s prayer and permanently placed His Name in the temple, which conditions future divine favor on Solomon’s continued obedience as detailed in 1 Kings 9:4.

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

וַיֹּ֨אמֶרva/i.Yo.merand/ he said יְהוָ֜הYah.wehYahweh אֵלָ֗יו'e.La/vto/ him שָׁ֠מַעְתִּיSha.ma'.tiI have heard אֶת־'et-<obj.>תְּפִלָּתְךָ֣te.fi.la.te./Khaprayer/ your וְאֶת־ve./'Etand/ <obj.>תְּחִנָּתְךָ֮te.chi.na.te./Khasupplication/ your אֲשֶׁ֣ר'a.Sherwhich הִתְחַנַּ֣נְתָּהhit.cha.Nan.tahyou have sought favor לְפָנַי֒le./fa.Na/i<to>/ before/ me הִקְדַּ֗שְׁתִּיhik.Dash.tiI have consecrated אֶת־'et-<obj.>הַבַּ֤יִתha./Ba.yitthe/ house הַזֶּה֙ha./Zeh<the>/ this אֲשֶׁ֣ר'a.Sherwhich בָּנִ֔תָהba.Ni.tahyou have built לָשֽׂוּם־la./sum-by/ putting שְׁמִ֥יshe.M/iname/ my שָׁ֖םshamthere עַד־'ad-until עוֹלָ֑םo.Lamperpetuity וְהָי֨וּve./ha.Yuand/ they will be עֵינַ֧י'ei.Na/ieyes/ my וְלִבִּ֛יve./li.B/iand/ heart/ my שָׁ֖םshamthere כָּל־kol-all הַיָּמִֽים׃hai./ya.Mimthe/ days

King James Version

And the Lord said unto him, I have heard thy prayer and thy supplication, that thou hast made before me: I have hallowed this house, which thou hast built, to put my name there for ever; and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually.

Cross-references

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.
2 Kings 20:5 “Go back and tell Hezekiah the leader of My people that this is what the LORD, the God of your father David, says: ‘I have heard your prayer; I have seen your tears. I will surely heal you. On the third day from now you will go up to the house of the LORD.
Psalms 10:17 You have heard, O LORD, the desire of the humble; You will strengthen their hearts. You will incline Your ear,
1 John 5:14 And this is the confidence that we have before Him: If we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.
Psalms 116:1 I love the LORD, for He has heard my voice—my appeal for mercy.
Deuteronomy 11:12 It is a land for which the LORD your God cares; the eyes of the LORD your God are always on it, from the beginning to the end of the year.
2 Chronicles 6:40 Now, my God, may Your eyes be open and Your ears attentive to the prayer offered in this place.
Psalms 132:13 For the LORD has chosen Zion; He has desired it for His home:
Exodus 20:11 For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth and the sea and all that is in them, but on the seventh day He rested. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and set it apart as holy.
Matthew 6:9 So then, this is how you should pray: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name.