When a man sins against his neighbor and is required to take an oath, and he comes to take an oath before Your altar in this temple,
Parallel translations
- WEB “If a man sins against his neighbor, and an oath is laid on him to cause him to swear, and he comes and swears before your altar in this house;
- KJV If any man trespass against his neighbour, and an oath be laid upon him to cause him to swear, and the oath come before thine altar in this house:
- NKJV “When anyone sins against his neighbor, and is forced to take an oath, and comes and takes an oath before Your altar in this temple,
- NASB “If a person sins against his neighbor and is compelled to take an oath of innocence, and he comes and takes an oath before Your altar in this house,
- NLT “If someone wrongs another person and is required to take an oath of innocence in front of your altar in this Temple,
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 raises the case of disputes settled by an oath taken at the altar. It seeks God's involvement in matters of justice.
Overview
The first specific petition concerns legal disputes between neighbors resolved by a solemn oath before God's altar. The temple becomes a place where truth is invoked and justice sought. This reflects God's concern that His people deal truthfully, a righteousness perfectly embodied in Christ.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 5
- Exod 22:8–11If the thief is not found, the owner of the house must appear before the judges to determine whether he has taken his neighbor’s property.
- Prov 30:9Otherwise, I may have too much and deny You, saying, ‘Who is the LORD?’ Or I may become poor and steal, profaning the name of my God.
- 2 Chr 6:22–23When a man sins against his neighbor and is required to take an oath, and he comes to take an oath before Your altar in this temple,
- Num 5:16–22The priest is to bring the wife forward and have her stand before the LORD.
- Lev 5:1“If someone sins by failing to testify when he hears a public charge about something he has witnessed, whether he has seen it or learned of it, he shall bear the iniquity.
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 8:31 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.