1 Kings 8:37
New International Version
“When famine or plague comes to the land, or blight or mildew, locusts or grasshoppers, or when an enemy besieges them in any of their cities, whatever disaster or disease may come,

New Living Translation
“If there is a famine in the land or a plague or crop disease or attacks of locusts or caterpillars, or if your people’s enemies are in the land besieging their towns—whatever disaster or disease there is—

English Standard Version
“If there is famine in the land, if there is pestilence or blight or mildew or locust or caterpillar, if their enemy besieges them in the land at their gates, whatever plague, whatever sickness there is,

Berean Standard Bible
When famine or plague comes upon the land, or blight or mildew or locusts or grasshoppers, or when their enemy besieges them in their cities, whatever plague or sickness may come,

King James Bible
If there be in the land famine, if there be pestilence, blasting, mildew, locust, or if there be caterpiller; if their enemy besiege them in the land of their cities; whatsoever plague, whatsoever sickness there be;

New King James Version
“When there is famine in the land, pestilence or blight or mildew, locusts or grasshoppers; when their enemy besieges them in the land of their cities; whatever plague or whatever sickness there is;

New American Standard Bible
“If there is a famine in the land, if there is a plague, if there is blight or mildew, locust or grasshopper, if their enemy harasses them in the land of their cities, whatever plague, whatever sickness there is,

NASB 1995
“If there is famine in the land, if there is pestilence, if there is blight or mildew, locust or grasshopper, if their enemy besieges them in the land of their cities, whatever plague, whatever sickness there is,

NASB 1977
“If there is famine in the land, if there is pestilence, if there is blight or mildew, locust or grasshopper, if their enemy besieges them in the land of their cities, whatever plague, whatever sickness there is,

Legacy Standard Bible
“If there is famine in the land, if there is pestilence, if there is scorching wind or mildew, locust or grasshopper, if their enemy besieges them in the land of their cities, whatever plague, whatever sickness there is,

Amplified Bible
“If there is famine in the land, or if there is pestilence (plague), blight, mildew, migratory locusts, or grasshoppers, if their enemy besieges them in the land of their cities, whatever affliction or plague, whatever sickness [there is],

Christian Standard Bible
When there is famine in the land, when there is pestilence, when there is blight or mildew, locust or grasshopper, when their enemy besieges them in the land and its cities, when there is any plague or illness,

Holman Christian Standard Bible
When there is famine on the earth, when there is pestilence, when there is blight, mildew, locust, or grasshopper, when their enemy besieges them in the region of their fortified cities, when there is any plague or illness,

American Standard Version
If there be in the land famine, if there be pestilence, if there be blasting or mildew, locust or caterpillar; if their enemy besiege them in the land of their cities; whatsoever plague, whatsoever sickness there be;

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And when famine shall be in the land or plague, or slaughter, or mildew, or locust, or the crawling locust, when it shall be and when enemies will distress them in one of their cities, and any disease and any disease

Brenton Septuagint Translation
If there should be famine, if there should be death, because there should be blasting, locust, or if there be mildew, and if their enemy oppress them in any one of their cities, with regard to every calamity, every trouble,

Contemporary English Version
Sometimes the crops may dry up or rot or be eaten by locusts or grasshoppers, and your people will be starving. Sometimes enemies may surround their towns, or your people will become sick with deadly diseases.

Douay-Rheims Bible
If a famine arise in the land, or a pestilence, or corrupt air, or blasting, or locust, or mildew, if their enemy afflict them besieging the gates, whatsoever plague, whatsoever infirmity,

English Revised Version
If there be in the land famine, if there be pestilence, if there be blasting or mildew, locust or caterpiller; if their enemy besiege them in the land of their cities; whatsoever plague, whatsoever sickness there be;

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"There may be famine in the land. Plant diseases, heat waves, funguses, locusts, or grasshoppers may destroy crops. Enemies may blockade Israel's city gates. During every plague or sickness

Good News Translation
"When there is famine in the land or an epidemic or the crops are destroyed by scorching winds or swarms of locusts, or when your people are attacked by their enemies, or when there is disease or sickness among them,

International Standard Version
"If a famine comes to the land, or if plant diseases, mildew, locust, or grasshoppers appear, or if their enemies attack them in their settlements of the land, no matter what the epidemic or illness is,

JPS Tanakh 1917
If there be in the land famine, if there be pestilence, if there be blasting or mildew, locust or caterpillar; if their enemy besiege them in the land of their cities; whatsoever plague, whatsoever sickness there be;

Literal Standard Version
Famine—when it is in the land; pestilence—when it is [in the land]; blasting, mildew, locust; caterpillar—when it is [in the land]; when its enemy has distressed it in the land [in] its gates, any plague, any sickness—

Majority Standard Bible
When famine or plague comes upon the land, or blight or mildew or locusts or grasshoppers, or when their enemy besieges them in their cities, whatever plague or sickness may come,

New American Bible
“If there is famine in the land or pestilence; or if blight comes, or mildew, or locusts, or caterpillars; if an enemy of your people presses upon them in the land and at their gates; whatever plague or sickness there may be;

NET Bible
"The time will come when the land suffers from a famine, a plague, blight and disease, or a locust invasion, or when their enemy lays siege to the cities of the land, or when some other type of plague or epidemic occurs.

New Revised Standard Version
“If there is famine in the land, if there is plague, blight, mildew, locust, or caterpillar; if their enemy besieges them in any of their cities; whatever plague, whatever sickness there is;

New Heart English Bible
"If there is famine in the land, if there is pestilence, if there is blight, mildew, locust or caterpillar; if their enemy besieges them in the land of their gates; whatever plague, whatever sickness there is;

Webster's Bible Translation
If there shall be in the land famine, if there shall be pestilence, blasting, mildew, locust, or if there shall be caterpillar; if their enemy shall besiege them in the land of their cities, whatever plague, whatever sickness there shall be;

World English Bible
“If there is famine in the land, if there is pestilence, if there is blight, mildew, locust or caterpillar; if their enemy besieges them in the land of their cities, whatever plague, whatever sickness there is,

Young's Literal Translation
Famine -- when it is in the land; pestilence -- when it is; blasting, mildew, locust; caterpillar -- when it is; when its enemy hath distressed it in the land in its gates, any plague, any sickness, --

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Solomon's Prayer of Dedication
36then 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. 37When famine or plague comes upon the land, or blight or mildew or locusts or grasshoppers, or when their enemy besieges them in their cities, whatever plague or sickness may come, 38then may whatever prayer or petition Your people Israel make—each knowing his own afflictions and spreading out his hands toward this temple—…

Cross References
Leviticus 26:16
then this is what I will do to you: I will bring upon you sudden terror, wasting disease, and fever that will destroy your sight and drain your life. You will sow your seed in vain, because your enemies will eat it.

Leviticus 26:25
And I will bring a sword against you to execute the vengeance of the covenant. Though you withdraw into your cities, I will send a plague among you, and you will be delivered into the hand of the enemy.

Deuteronomy 28:21
The LORD will make the plague cling to you until He has exterminated you from the land that you are entering to possess.

Deuteronomy 28:38
You will sow much seed in the field but harvest little, because the locusts will consume it.

1 Kings 8:38
then may whatever prayer or petition Your people Israel make--each knowing his own afflictions and spreading out his hands toward this temple--

Psalm 78:46
He gave their crops to the grasshopper, the fruit of their labor to the locust.

Psalm 91:3
Surely He will deliver you from the snare of the fowler, and from the deadly plague.


Treasury of Scripture

If there be in the land famine, if there be pestilence, blasting, mildew, locust, or if there be caterpillar; if their enemy besiege them in the land of their cities; whatever plague, whatever sickness there be;

in the land famine

Leviticus 26:16,25,26
I also will do this unto you; I will even appoint over you terror, consumption, and the burning ague, that shall consume the eyes, and cause sorrow of heart: and ye shall sow your seed in vain, for your enemies shall eat it…

Deuteronomy 28:21,22,25,38-42,52-61
The LORD shall make the pestilence cleave unto thee, until he have consumed thee from off the land, whither thou goest to possess it…

2 Kings 6:25-29
And there was a great famine in Samaria: and, behold, they besieged it, until an ass's head was sold for fourscore pieces of silver, and the fourth part of a cab of dove's dung for five pieces of silver…

cities.

Jump to Previous
Besiege Blasting Blight Caterpillar Cities Damaged Disaster Disease Earth Enemy Famine Food Fruits Grasshopper Grasshoppers Heat Locust Mildew Pestilence Plague Shut Sickness Towns Trouble Water Whatever Whatsoever Worm
Jump to Next
Besiege Blasting Blight Caterpillar Cities Damaged Disaster Disease Earth Enemy Famine Food Fruits Grasshopper Grasshoppers Heat Locust Mildew Pestilence Plague Shut Sickness Towns Trouble Water Whatever Whatsoever Worm
1 Kings 8
1. The feast of the temple
12. Solomon's blessing
22. Solomon's prayer
54. Solomon's blessing
62. His sacrifice of peace offerings














(37-40) If there be pestilence.--He then passes on to the various plagues threatened in the Law--famine, pestilence, blasting of the corn, mildew on the fruit, locust and caterpillar (see Leviticus 26:25-26; Deuteronomy 28:22-24; Deuteronomy 28:38-42), the distress of siege, so terribly depicted (Deuteronomy 28:52-57), and so often terribly fulfilled (not least in the last great siege of Jerusalem), and adds, to sum up all, "whatsoever plague, whatsoever sickness there be." Through any, or all of these, he pictures each man as brought to "know the plague of his own heart"--that is, as startled into a consciousness of sin, and recognition of it as the true "plague," the cause of all outward plagues, and so drawn to prayer of penitence and of godly fear.

Thou only, knowest the hearts . . . of men. The emphasis laid on this knowledge of the heart (as in Psalm 11:4; Psalm 139:2-4; Jeremiah 17:9-10) as the special attribute of Deity, though, of course, belonging to all vital religion, yet marks especially the leading thought of the Psalms and the Proverbs, which always realise the presence of God, not so much in the outer spheres of Nature and history, as in the soul of man itself. It carries with it, as here, the conviction that, under the general dealings of God's righteousness with man, there lies an individuality of judgment, making them to each exactly what his spiritual condition needs. The plague, for example, which cuts off one man unrepentant in his sins, may be to another a merciful "deliverance out of the miseries of this sinful world." . . .

Verse 37. - If there be in the land famine [Heb. Famine should there be, etc. The word is emphatic by position. Famine is denounced, Leviticus 26:20, 26; Deuteronomy 28:33], if there be pestilence [Leviticus 26:25; Jeremiah 14:12; Jeremiah 24:10; Amos 4:10; Ezekiel 6:12, etc.], blasting [same word Genesis 41:6; Amos 4:9; Deuteronomy 28:22], mildew [lit. paleness, χλωρότης, Deuteronomy l.c.], locust, or if there be caterpillar [It is uncertain whether חָסִיל, lit., devourer, here rendered "caterpillar," is not an adjective and an appellation of the locust = devouring locust. Deuteronomy 28:38 (יַאֲסְלֶנוּ חָאַרְבֶּה "the locust shall consume it") certainly favours this view. But the Chronicles and the Verss. distinguish it here (by the introduction of "and" between the two words) as a separate plague. It is also similarly distinguished, Joel 1:4; Psalm 78:46. Gesen. considers it to be a species of locust]; if their enemy besiege them in the land of their cities [Heb. his gates, but "the land of his gates" hardly yields sense. It is noteworthy that the LXX. (with most of the Verss.) reads ἐν μιᾷ τῶν πόλεων αὐτοῦ. Thenius, consequently, to bring the Hebrew text into harmony, would substitute באחת עיריו for בארץ שעריו. Another suggested emendation is בארץ בשעריו, "in the land, even in their gates." But it is doubtful whether any alteration is really required. "The land of their gates" (cf. "land of their captivity," 2 Chronicles 6:37; Jeremiah 30:10, etc.) may perhaps be interpreted the land where their gates (i.e., fortified cities) are. The marg. "Jurisdiction" - the gate being the place of judgment (Ruth 4:11; Proverbs 22:22; 2 Samuel 15:2) - is altogether out of the question]; whatsoever plague, whatsoever [Heb. every plague, etc.] sickness there be.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
When
כִּֽי־ (kî-)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

famine
רָעָ֞ב (rā·‘āḇ)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7458: Famine, hunger

[or]
יִהְיֶ֔ה (yih·yeh)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

pestilence
דֶּ֣בֶר (de·ḇer)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1698: A pestilence

comes
יִהְיֶ֣ה (yih·yeh)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

upon the land,
בָאָ֗רֶץ (ḇā·’ā·reṣ)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 776: Earth, land

[or]
כִּ֣י (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

blight
שִׁדָּפ֨וֹן (šid·dā·p̄ō·wn)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7711: Blighted or blasted thing

[or] mildew
יֵרָק֜וֹן (yê·rā·qō·wn)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3420: Mildew, paleness, lividness

[or] locusts
אַרְבֶּ֤ה (’ar·beh)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 697: (a kind of) locust

[or] grasshoppers,
חָסִיל֙ (ḥā·sîl)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2625: The ravager, a locust

when
כִּ֧י (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

their enemy
אֹיְב֖וֹ (’ō·yə·ḇōw)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 341: Hating, an adversary

besieges
יָֽצַר־ (yā·ṣar-)
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6887: To bind, tie up, be restricted, narrow, scant, or cramped

them
ל֛וֹ (lōw)
Preposition | third person masculine singular
Strong's Hebrew

in
בְּאֶ֣רֶץ (bə·’e·reṣ)
Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 776: Earth, land

their cities,
שְׁעָרָ֑יו (šə·‘ā·rāw)
Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 8179: An opening, door, gate

whatever
כָּל־ (kāl-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

plague
נֶ֖גַע (ne·ḡa‘)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5061: Mark -- a blow, a spot

[or]
כָּֽל־ (kāl-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

sickness [there is],
מַחֲלָֽה׃ (ma·ḥă·lāh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 4245: Sickness, disease


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OT History: 1 Kings 8:37 If there be in the land famine (1Ki iKi i Ki 1 Kg 1kg)
1 Kings 8:36
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