I have surely built thee an house to dwell in, a settled place for thee to abide in for ever.
Parallel translations
- WEB I have surely built you a house of habitation, a place for you to dwell in forever.”
- BSB I have indeed built You an exalted house, a place for You to dwell forever.”
- NKJV I have surely built You an exalted house, And a place for You to dwell in forever.”
- NASB “I have truly built You a lofty house, A place for Your dwelling forever.”
- NLT Now I have built a glorious Temple for you, a place where you can live forever!”
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Solomon declares that he has built a permanent house for God to dwell in. It marks the temple as the settled center of God's presence among His people.
Overview
Concluding his words at the temple's dedication, Solomon affirms that the long-promised house is finished, a fixed dwelling replacing the mobile tabernacle. The language of God dwelling 'forever' anticipates a permanence ultimately fulfilled not in a building but in Christ, who is Immanuel, God with us, and in His people as God's temple. Even here, the hope of God dwelling with humanity points beyond stone and cedar.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 15
- 2 Sam 7:13He shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever.
- Exod 15:17Thou shalt bring them in, and plant them in the mountain of thine inheritance, in the place, O LORD, which thou hast made for thee to dwell in, in the Sanctuary, O LORD, which thy hands have established.
- Ps 132:13–14For the LORD hath chosen Zion; he hath desired it for his habitation.
- Heb 9:24For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:
- 1 Chr 17:12He shall build me an house, and I will stablish his throne for ever.
- 1 Chr 28:10Take heed now; for the LORD hath chosen thee to build an house for the sanctuary: be strong, and do it.
- Heb 9:11–12But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;
- 1 Chr 28:20And David said to Solomon his son, Be strong and of good courage, and do it: fear not, nor be dismayed: for the LORD God, even my God, will be with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee, until thou hast finished all the work for the service of the house of the LORD.
- Heb 8:5–13Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount.
- 1 Chr 22:10–11He shall build an house for my name; and he shall be my son, and I will be his father; and I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel for ever.
- John 4:21–23Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father.
- 2 Chr 6:2But I have built an house of habitation for thee, and a place for thy dwelling for ever.
- 1 Chr 28:6And he said unto me, Solomon thy son, he shall build my house and my courts: for I have chosen him to be my son, and I will be his father.
- Ps 78:68–69But chose the tribe of Judah, the mount Zion which he loved.
- Acts 6:14For we have heard him say, that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the customs which Moses delivered us.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Solomon's glory, wisdom, and temple where God's presence dwells are a shadow of the greater Son of David — 'one greater than Solomon is here' — and of the true Temple, Christ himself.
How 1 Kings 8:13 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.