1 Kings 8:13 — Word Study
WLCבָּנֹ֥ה בָנִ֛יתִי בֵּ֥ית זְבֻ֖ל לָ֑ךְ מָכ֥וֹן לְשִׁבְתְּךָ֖ עוֹלָמִֽים׃
BSA◂I have indeed builtbânâh [surely, certainly, constructed, established] an exaltedzᵉbûwl [lofty, elevated] housebayith [temple, dwelling place] a placemâkôwn [residence, habitation] for You to dwellyâshab [reside, abide] foreverʻôwlâm [always, eternally]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| בָּנֹ֥ה | certainly | Verb, Qal, infinitive absolute |
| בָנִ֛יתִי | I have built | Verb, Qal, perfect first person common singular |
| בֵּ֥ית | a house of | Noun common, masculine singular construct |
| זְבֻ֖ל | loftiness | Noun common, masculine singular absolute |
| לָ֑ךְ | for you | Preposition, suffix |
| מָכ֥וֹן | a place | Noun common, masculine singular absolute |
| לְשִׁבְתְּךָ֖ | to dwell in you | Preposition, verb qal infinitive construct common, suffix |
| עוֹלָמִֽים׃ | forever | Noun common, masculine plural absolute |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | I have indeed built You an exalted house, a place for You to dwell forever.” |
| KJV | I have surely built thee an house to dwell in, a settled place for thee to abide in for ever. |
| ASV | I have surely built thee a house of habitation, a place for thee to dwell in for ever. |
| YLT | I have surely built a house of habitation for Thee; a fixed place for Thine abiding to the ages.' |
| WEB | I have surely built you a house of habitation, a place for you to dwell in forever.” |
| BBE | So I have made for you a living-place, a house in which you may be for ever present. |
Where they part company is in the translation of בָּנָה — see How Translations Differ.
The sentence has a main clause followed by a noun phrase and a prepositional phrase that clarifies the purpose of the house.






7 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
verbבָּנָה
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — 1 Kings 8:13
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — The Dedication of the Templegenerated
1 Kings 8:13 records Solomon's proclamation that he has built a magnificent temple for the Lord, emphasizing its purpose as a permanent dwelling place for God's presence. This moment marks a significant event in Israel's history, as the temple represents the fulfillment of God's promise to David and a central place for worship for the people of Israel.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 Samuel 7:13 | He will build a house for My Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. |
| 2 | 1 Chronicles 17:12 | He will build a house for Me, and I will establish his throne forever. |
| 3 | 1 Chronicles 22:10–11 | He is the one who will build a house for My Name. He will be My son, and I will be his Father. And I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel forever.’ |
| 4 | 1 Chronicles 28:6–10 | And He said to me, ‘Solomon your son is the one who will build My house and My courts, for I have chosen him as My son, and I will be his Father. |
| 5 | 2 Chronicles 6:2 | and I have built You an exalted house, a place for You to dwell forever.” |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 11 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — בָּנָה, ba.Nohgenerated
The verb בָּנָה (banah) means 'to build' and is used here in the infinitive absolute form, indicating certainty and emphasis. It conveys the act of constructing not just any house, but a significant and exalted one for the Lord.
This word encompasses various meanings, including establishing and making permanent, which highlights the importance of the temple as a lasting dwelling for God among His people.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, which uses the word built.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The main verb of the verse is בָנִ֛יתִי, I have built, which governs the noun phrase בֵּ֥ית, a house, and the prepositional phrase לְשִׁבְתְּךָ֖, for You to dwell. The structure emphasizes the act of building as the focal point of the declaration.
The Hebrew word order places emphasis on the act of building first, followed by the details of the house's purpose and significance.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates בָּנָה as οἰκοδόμησον (oikodomeison), which carries the same meaning of building but may imply a broader sense of establishing a home or dwelling.
This choice reflects the translators' understanding of the temple as not just a physical structure but as a significant place of God's presence.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
1 Kings 8:13 tells us that Solomon has built a grand house for the Lord, a place for Him to dwell forever. This temple is significant as it represents God's presence among His people and fulfills the promise made to David.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
The temple symbolizes God's presence among His people and fulfills the promise made to David about establishing a permanent dwelling for God.
The term 'exalted' indicates the temple's grandeur and importance as a holy place set apart for worship.
This moment marks the culmination of a long-awaited promise and establishes a central place for worship in Israel, shaping their identity as God's chosen people.
God's eternal dwelling signifies His unending presence and commitment to His people, assuring them of His guidance and protection.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what ways can I recognize God's presence in my life as a dwelling place?
- How can I contribute to building a community that honors God?
- What does it mean for me to have a place for God in my heart?
- How does understanding the significance of the temple influence my view of worship?
Commentators on this verse — 7 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on 1 Kings 8:13 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleI have surely built thee an house to dwell in,.... Turning himself from the priests and people, he quieted with a few words, he addressed the Lord; having built an house for him, for his worship and
Read John Gill on 1 Kings 8 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryI have surely built thee an house to dwell in, a settled place for thee to abide in for ever. I have surely built thee an house.
Read Robert Jamieson on 1 Kings 8 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleI have surely built thee an house to dwell in; I perceive by this thick darkness that thou art coming among us, and therefore make haste and come, O thou blessed Guest, into the dwelling-place which I have built by thy command, and for thy service. A settled place for thee to abide in for ever; not a tabernacle, which was made to be carried from place to place; but a durable, and, I hope, perpetual habitation.
Read Matthew Poole on 1 Kings 8 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments1 Kings 8:13 I have surely built thee an house to dwell in, a settled place for thee to abide in for ever.Ver. 13. I have surely built thee.] His great joy breaketh forth into a prayer. A settled place for thee to abide in.] Some render it, Directionem ad solium tuum, a direction to thine eternal throne - viz., to heaven; whither this temple pointed men, saith Cajetan.
Read John Trapp on 1 Kings 8 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 13. I have surely built thee a house] He was now fully convinced that the thing pleased God, and that he had taken this place for his settled habitation.
Read AdamClarke on 1 Kings 8 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges13. I have surely built thee a house to dwell in] R.V. ‘a house of habitation,’ which is more literal, but not a more elegant rendering. The king sees that God has deigned to accept the house that has been built, and his desire that God may always dwell there fashions the language which he uses. It is to be noted that in this dedication the priests play but a secondary part. Zadok is not once named. Solomon presides, speaks, prays. The LXX. (Vat.) omits these two verses altogether, but gives a modification and enlargement of them at 1 Kings 8:53 below. See note there. Josephus describes the opening of Solomon’s address to God as ‘words which the king considered fit to be addressed to the…
Read Cambridge on 1 Kings 8 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible13. A settled place… for ever — He had thus done according to the Divine counsel and direction, and with his face turned towards the holiest place he probably uttered these words as in prayer.
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on 1 Kings 8 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
I have indeed built You an exalted house, a place for You to dwell forever.”
I have surely built you a house of habitation, a place for you to dwell in forever.”
I have indeed built You an exalted house, a place for You to dwell forever.”
O Lord, truly I have built a lofty temple for you, a place where you can live permanently.”
Tyndale line
I have surely built thee an house to dwell in, a settled place for thee to abide in for ever.
I have surely built thee a house of habitation, a place for thee to dwell in for ever.
I have surely built thee an house of habitation, a place for thee to dwell in for ever.
I have surely built thee a house to dwell in, a settled place for thee to abide in for ever.
I haue built thee an house to dwell in, an habitation for thee to abide in for euer.
Strictly literal
I have indeed built a house of habitation for thee, a settled place for thee to abide in for ever.
I have surely built a house of habitation for Thee; a fixed place for Thine abiding to the ages.'
I have surely built a house of habitation for You; a fixed place for Your abiding for all ages.”
I have indeed built a dwelling-house for thee, a settled place for thy abode for ever.
But I have built you a lofty residence, a place for you to live in forever.”
From the Latin
Building I have built a house for thy dwelling, to be thy most firm throne for ever.
Simplified
Now I have built for you a majestic Temple, a place where you may live for ever.”
So I have made for you a living-place, a house in which you may be for ever present.
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint largely agree in their wording, with five out of eight words matched. The Septuagint's translation reflects a similar understanding of the verse, though its word order differs.
בָּנֹ֥ה בָנִ֛יתִי בֵּ֥ית זְבֻ֖ל לָ֑ךְ מָכ֥וֹן לְשִׁבְתְּךָ֖ עוֹלָמִֽים׃
5 of the 8 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in 1 Kings 8:13
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
The Hebrew word בָּנָה (banah) means "to build" and encompasses various forms such as rebuilding, establishing, and making permanent. It can refer to physical construction, like building a house or family, as well as metaphorical uses, such as the establishment of restored exiles. The entries indicate that it can also imply being built up, particularly in the context of a childless wife becoming a mother.
בָּנָה 373 vb. build
Qal build
Niph.
be built
be rebuilt
(fig.) of restored exiles, = established
established, made permanent
base
H1129 בָּנָה build .build
.. . be built
. be rebuilt
. . (fig.) of restored exiles, = established
. established, made permanent
1129 banah baw-naw'
a primitive root; to build (literally and
figuratively):--(begin to) build(-er), obtain children, make,
repair, set (up), X surely.
בָּנָה (ba.nah) — to build.
1) to build, rebuild, establish, cause to continue
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to build, rebuild
1a2) to build a house (ie, establish a family)
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to be built
1b2) to be rebuilt
1b3) established (of restored exiles) (fig.)
1b4) established (made permanent)
1b5) to be built up (of childless wife becoming the mother of a family through the children of a concubine)
Aramaic equivalent: be.nah (בְּנָה "to build" H1124)
V-Qal-Ptc — Verb · Qal · infinitive absoluteHVqaa
The Hebrew word בָּנָה (banah) means "to build" and encompasses various forms such as rebuilding, establishing, and making permanent. It can refer to physical construction, like building a house or family, as well as metaphorical uses, such as the establishment of restored exiles. The entries indicate that it can also imply being built up, particularly in the context of a childless wife becoming a mother.
בָּנָה 373 vb. build
Qal build
Niph.
be built
be rebuilt
(fig.) of restored exiles, = established
established, made permanent
base
H1129 בָּנָה build .build
.. . be built
. be rebuilt
. . (fig.) of restored exiles, = established
. established, made permanent
1129 banah baw-naw'
a primitive root; to build (literally and
figuratively):--(begin to) build(-er), obtain children, make,
repair, set (up), X surely.
בָּנָה (ba.nah) — to build.
1) to build, rebuild, establish, cause to continue
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to build, rebuild
1a2) to build a house (ie, establish a family)
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to be built
1b2) to be rebuilt
1b3) established (of restored exiles) (fig.)
1b4) established (made permanent)
1b5) to be built up (of childless wife becoming the mother of a family through the children of a concubine)
Aramaic equivalent: be.nah (בְּנָה "to build" H1124)
HVqp1cs — Verb · Qal · perfect first person common singularHVqp1cs
The Hebrew word בַּיִת (*bayith*) means 'house' and encompasses a wide range of meanings, including dwelling, family, and place. It can refer to physical structures, such as homes and temples, as well as metaphorical uses like the body or household affairs. The word is built from the root related to 'between' and appears in various contexts throughout the Old Testament.
בֵּית fem. of בַּיִן, בֵּין prep. between
base
בַּ֫יִת 2034 n.m. house
house
place
receptacle
of house as containing a family
household, family (592 t.)
house, including household affairs
lit. housewards, hence metaph. inwards
מִבַּיִת
adv. on the inside
prep. within
base
H1004a בֵּית fem. of בַּיִן, בֵּין prep. between H1004b בַּ֫יִת house
1004 bayith bah'-yith
probably from 1129 abbreviated; a house (in the greatest
variation of applications, especially family, etc.):--court,
daughter, door, + dungeon, family, + forth of, X great as
would contain, hangings, home(born), (winter)house(-hold),
inside(-ward), palace, place, + prison, + steward, + tablet,
temple, web, + within(-out).
see HEBREW for 01129
בֵּית (bet) — place.
nm
place, origin, between
בַּ֫יִת (ba.yit) — house: home.
: home/temple/building
nm
1) house
1a) house, dwelling habitation
1b) shelter or abode of animals
1c) human bodies (fig.)
1d) of Sheol
1e) of abode of light and darkness
1f) of land of Ephraim
2) place
3) receptacle
4) home, house as containing a family
5) household, family
5a) those belonging to the same household
5b) family of descendants, descendants as organized body
6) household affairs
7) inwards (metaph.)
8) (TWOT) temple
adv
9) on the inside
prep
10) within
בַּ֫יִת (ba.yit) — Beth-(ashbea).
nm
This name is used for a house, habitation
Combined with ash.be.a (אַשְׁבֵּעַ "Ashbea" H0791)
בַּ֫יִת (ba.yit) — Beth (Haggan).
nm
This name is used for a house, habitation
Combined with hag (גַּן "Haggan" H1588)
בַּ֫יִת (ba.yit) — Beth-(togarmah).
nm
This name is used for a house, habitation
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular constructHNcmsc
ov:
(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.
OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]
1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.
I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.
For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.
It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.
Lamentations 3:1.
The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.
Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.
That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.
Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…
זְבֻל (zbuwl) refers to concepts of elevation, height, and residence. It is derived from a root meaning to dwell, indicating a place of habitation. The term is used in various contexts, emphasizing lofty abodes or exalted places.
זְבֻל n.[m.] elevation, height, abode
base
H2073 זְבֻל elevation, height, abode
2073 zbuwl ze-bool'
or zbul {zeb-ool'}; from 2082; a residence:--dwell in,
dwelling, habitation.
see HEBREW for 02082
זְבֻל (ze.vul) — elevation.
exalted, residence, elevation, lofty abode, height, habitation
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absoluteHNcmsa
ךְ (kh) — you.
Personal object pronoun - suffix for propositions and verbs without an object: 2nd person feminine singular
HR/Sp2ms — Preposition · suffixHR/Sp2ms
מָכוֹן (makown) refers to a fixed or established place, often understood as a foundation or base. The term emphasizes stability and can denote a habitation or dwelling. It is primarily used in a poetic context to convey the idea of a secure location.
מָכוֹן n.m. fixed or established place, foundation (chiefly poet.)
base
H4349 מָכוֹן fixed established place,foundation
4349 makown maw-kone'
from 3559; properly, a fixture, i.e. a basis; generally a
place, especially as an abode:--foundation, habitation,
(dwelling-, settled) place.
see HEBREW for 03559
מָכוֹן (ma.khon) — foundation.
1) fixed or established place, foundation
1a) fixed place
1b) foundation
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absoluteHNcmsa
plas: Normally for maqom, Old Testament, and topos, New Testament, but in the King James Version "place" represents a great number of Hebrew and Greek words, often used with no difference in force (e.g. 2Ch 35:10,15). the Revised Version (British and American) has made few changes, but occasionally has attempted to specialize the meaning (Ge 40:13; Job 37:8; Ac 8:32; Jas 3:11, etc.).
יָשַׁב (yashab) is a Hebrew verb meaning to sit, remain, or dwell. It encompasses a range of actions from simply sitting down to more complex ideas like establishing a home or causing a place to be inhabited. The entries indicate various forms, including Qal (to sit), Niphal (to be inhabited), and Hiphil (to cause to dwell). There is an Aramaic equivalent, יְתִב (ye.tiv), meaning 'to dwell'.
יָשַׁב 1090 vb. sit, remain, dwell
Qal
sit
sit, sit down
sit down
sit = be set (as a jewel)
remain, stay, tarry
with special emphasis of qualifying phr.
dwell, have one’s abode
of a land or city, sit, abide, seated in its place, fig. for be inhabited
Niph. be inhabited, of land
Pi. and they shall set their encampments in thee
Hiph.
cause to sit
cause to abide
cause to dwell
cause cities to be inhabited
marry (prop. give a dwelling to)
Hoph. and ye be made to dwell alone in the midst of the land
base
H3427 יָשַׁב sit, remain, dwell
3427 yashab yaw-shab'
a primitive root; properly, to sit down (specifically as
judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to dwell, to
remain; causatively, to settle, to marry:--(make to)
abide(-ing), continue, (cause to, make to) dwell(-ing), ease
self, endure, establish, X fail, habitation, haunt, (make to)
inhabit(-ant), make to keep (house), lurking, X marry(-ing),
(bring again to) place, remain, return, seat, set(- tle),
(down-)sit(-down, still, -ting down, -ting (place) -uate),
take, tarry.
יָשַׁב (ya.shav) — to dwell.
1) to dwell, remain, sit, abide
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to sit, sit down
1a2) to be set
1a3) to remain, stay
1a4) to dwell, have one's abode
1b) (Niphal) to be inhabited
1c) (Piel) to set, place
1d) (Hiphil)
1d1) to cause to sit
1d2) to cause to abide, set
1d3) to cause to dwell
1d4) to cause (cities) to be inhabited
1d5) to marry (give an dwelling to)
1e) (Hophal)
1e1) to be inhabited
1e2) to make to dwell
Aramaic equivalent: ye.tiv (יְתִב "to dwell" H3488)
Prep | V-Qal-Inf-a | Suff — Preposition · verb qal infinitive construct common · suffixHR/Vqcc/Sp2ms
עוֹלָם (owlam) refers to concepts of long duration, antiquity, and futurity, encompassing meanings like eternity and perpetual existence. It is derived from a root meaning 'concealed' or 'the vanishing point.' The term is used to describe both ancient times and an indefinite future, indicating continuity and everlastingness.
עוֹלָם 439 n.m. long duration, antiquity, futurity
base
H5769 עוֹלָם long duration, antiquity, futurity
5769 `owlam o-lawm'
or lolam {o-lawm'}; from 5956; properly, concealed, i.e. the
vanishing point; generally, time out of mind (past or future),
i.e. (practically) eternity; frequentatively, adverbial
(especially with prepositional prefix) always:--alway(-s),
ancient (time), any more, continuance, eternal, (for,
(n-))ever(-lasting, -more, of old), lasting, long (time), (of)
old (time), perpetual, at any time, (beginning of the) world
(+ without end). Compare 5331, 5703.
see HEBREW for 05956
see HEBREW for 05331
see HEBREW for 05703
עוֹלָם (o.lam) — forever: enduring.
: enduring/eternal
1) long duration, antiquity, futurity, for ever, ever, everlasting, evermore, perpetual, old, ancient, world
1a) ancient time, long time (of past)
1b) (of future)
1b1) for ever, always
1b2) continuous existence, perpetual
1b3) everlasting, indefinite or unending future, eternity
עוֹלָם (o.lam) — Everlasting.
This name means long duration, everlasting, perpetual
Another name of ye.ho.vah (יהוה "LORD" H3068G)
עוֹלָם (o.lam) — forever: any time.
: any_time
1) long duration, antiquity, futurity, for ever, ever, everlasting, evermore, perpetual, old, ancient, world
1a) ancient time, long time (of past)
1b) (of future)
1b1) for ever, always
1b2) continuous existence, perpetual
1b3) everlasting, indefinite or unending future, eternity
עוֹלָם (o.lam) — forever: antiquity.
: old/ancient
N-mp — Noun common · masculine plural absoluteHNcmpa
