1 Kings 8:38
New International Version
and when a prayer or plea is made by anyone among your people Israel—being aware of the afflictions of their own hearts, and spreading out their hands toward this temple—

New Living Translation
and if your people Israel pray about their troubles, raising their hands toward this Temple,

English Standard Version
whatever prayer, whatever plea is made by any man or by all your people Israel, each knowing the affliction of his own heart and stretching out his hands toward this house,

Berean Standard Bible
then may whatever prayer or petition Your people Israel make—each knowing his own afflictions and spreading out his hands toward this temple—

King James Bible
What prayer and supplication soever be made by any man, or by all thy people Israel, which shall know every man the plague of his own heart, and spread forth his hands toward this house:

New King James Version
whatever prayer, whatever supplication is made by anyone, or by all Your people Israel, when each one knows the plague of his own heart, and spreads out his hands toward this temple:

New American Standard Bible
whatever prayer or plea is offered by any person or by all Your people Israel, each knowing the affliction of his own heart, and spreading his hands toward this house;

NASB 1995
whatever prayer or supplication is made by any man or by all Your people Israel, each knowing the affliction of his own heart, and spreading his hands toward this house;

NASB 1977
whatever prayer or supplication is made by any man or by all Thy people Israel, each knowing the affliction of his own heart, and spreading his hands toward this house;

Legacy Standard Bible
whatever prayer or supplication is made by any man or by all Your people Israel, each of whom knows the affliction of his own heart, and spreads his hands toward this house;

Amplified Bible
whatever prayer or pleading is made by any individual, or by Your people Israel, each knowing the affliction of his own heart, and spreading his hands out toward this house;

Christian Standard Bible
every prayer or petition that any person or that all your people Israel may have — they each know their own affliction — as they spread out their hands toward this temple,

Holman Christian Standard Bible
whatever prayer or petition anyone from Your people Israel might have— each man knowing his own afflictions and spreading out his hands toward this temple—

American Standard Version
what prayer and supplication soever be made by any man, or by all thy people Israel, who shall know every man the plague of his own heart, and spread forth his hands toward this house:

Contemporary English Version
Listen when anyone in Israel truly feels sorry and sincerely prays with arms lifted toward your temple.

English Revised Version
what prayer and supplication soever be made by any man, or by all thy people Israel, which shall know every man the plague of his own heart, and spread forth his hands toward this house:

GOD'S WORD® Translation
[hear] every prayer for mercy, made by one person or by all the people in Israel, whose consciences bother them, who stretch out their hands toward this temple.

Good News Translation
listen to their prayers. If any of your people Israel, out of heartfelt sorrow, stretch out their hands in prayer toward this Temple,

International Standard Version
whatever prayer or request is made, no matter whether it's made by a single man or by all of your people Israel, each praying out of his own hurting heart and anguish and stretching out his hands toward this Temple,

Majority Standard Bible
then may whatever prayer or petition Your people Israel make—each knowing his own afflictions and spreading out his hands toward this temple—

NET Bible
When all your people Israel pray and ask for help, as they acknowledge their pain and spread out their hands toward this temple,

New Heart English Bible
whatever prayer and petition is made by any man, or by all your people Israel, who shall each know the plague of his own heart, and spread forth his hands toward this house:

Webster's Bible Translation
Whatever prayer and supplication shall be made by any man, or by all thy people Israel, who shall know every man the plague of his own heart, and spread forth his hands towards this house:

World English Bible
whatever prayer and supplication is made by any man, or by all your people Israel, who shall each know the plague of his own heart, and spread out his hands toward this house,
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
any prayer, any supplication that [is] of any man of all Your people Israel, each who knows the plague of his own heart, and has spread his hands toward this house,

Young's Literal Translation
any prayer, any supplication that is of any man of all Thy people Israel, who know each the plague of his own heart, and hath spread his hands towards this house,

Smith's Literal Translation
Every prayer, every supplication which shall be to every man to all thy people Israel which shall know a man the blow to his heart and spread forth his hands to this house:
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Whatsoever curse or imprecation shall happen to any man of thy people Israel: when a man shall know the wound of his own heart, and shall spread forth his hands in this house,

Catholic Public Domain Version
or whatever curse or divine intervention may happen to any man among your people Israel, if anyone understands, having been wounded in his heart, and if he will have extended his hands in this house,

New American Bible
whatever prayer or petition any may make, any of your people Israel, who know heartfelt remorse and stretch out their hands toward this house,

New Revised Standard Version
whatever prayer, whatever plea there is from any individual or from all your people Israel, all knowing the afflictions of their own hearts so that they stretch out their hands toward this house;
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Whatsoever prayer and whatsoever supplication be made by any man or by all thy people Israel, who shall know every man the trouble of his own heart, and shall spread forth his hands before thee in this house;

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Every prayer and every request that any man may have, of all your people, Israel, that each man may know the trouble of his heart and he shall stretch his hands before you in this house
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
what prayer and supplication soever be made by any man of all Thy people Israel, who shall know every man the plague of his own heart, and spread forth his hands toward this house;

Brenton Septuagint Translation
every prayer, every supplication whatever shall be made by any man, as they shall know each the plague of his heart, and shall spread abroad his hands to this house,

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Solomon's Prayer of Dedication
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— 39be heard by You from heaven, Your dwelling place. And may You forgive and act, and repay each man according to all his ways, since You know his heart—for You alone know the hearts of all men—…

Cross References
2 Chronicles 6:29-30
then may whatever prayer or plea Your people Israel make—each knowing his own afflictions and spreading out his hands toward this temple— / be heard by You from heaven, Your dwelling place. And may You forgive and repay each man according to all his ways, since You know his heart—for You alone know the hearts of men—

Psalm 32:5
Then I acknowledged my sin to You and did not hide my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,” and You forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah

Psalm 66:18-20
If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened. / But God has surely heard; He has attended to the sound of my prayer. / Blessed be God, who has not rejected my prayer or withheld from me His loving devotion!

Psalm 145:18-19
The LORD is near to all who call on Him, to all who call out to Him in truth. / He fulfills the desires of those who fear Him; He hears their cry and saves them.

Isaiah 1:15-18
When you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide My eyes from you; even though you multiply your prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are covered with blood. / Wash and cleanse yourselves. Remove your evil deeds from My sight. Stop doing evil! / Learn to do right; seek justice and correct the oppressor. Defend the fatherless and plead the case of the widow.” ...

Isaiah 55:6-7
Seek the LORD while He may be found; call on Him while He is near. / Let the wicked man forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that He may have compassion, and to our God, for He will freely pardon.

Jeremiah 29:12-13
Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. / You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.

Jeremiah 33:3
Call to Me, and I will answer and show you great and unsearchable things you do not know.

Daniel 9:4-5
And I prayed to the LORD my God and confessed, “O, Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant of loving devotion to those who love Him and keep His commandments, / we have sinned and done wrong. We have acted wickedly and rebelled. We have turned away from Your commandments and ordinances.

Hosea 14:1-2
Return, O Israel, to the LORD your God, for you have stumbled by your iniquity. / Bring your confessions and return to the LORD. Say to Him: “Take away all our iniquity and receive us graciously, that we may present the fruit of our lips.

Matthew 7:7-8
Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. / For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

Matthew 18:19-20
Again, I tell you truly that if two of you on the earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by My Father in heaven. / For where two or three gather together in My name, there am I with them.”

Mark 11:24
Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

Luke 11:9-10
So I tell you: Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. / For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

John 14:13-14
And I will do whatever you ask in My name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. / If you ask Me for anything in My name, I will do it.


Treasury of Scripture

What prayer and supplication soever be made by any man, or by all your people Israel, which shall know every man the plague of his own heart, and spread forth his hands toward this house:

prayer

2 Chronicles 20:5-13
And Jehoshaphat stood in the congregation of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the LORD, before the new court, …

Psalm 50:15
And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.

Psalm 91:15
He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.

the plague

2 Chronicles 6:29
Then what prayer or what supplication soever shall be made of any man, or of all thy people Israel, when every one shall know his own sore and his own grief, and shall spread forth his hands in this house:

Job 7:11
Therefore I will not refrain my mouth; I will speak in the anguish of my spirit; I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.

Psalm 32:3,4
When I kept silence, my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long…

spread forth

1 Kings 8:22
And Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence of all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth his hands toward heaven:

Isaiah 1:15
And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood.

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Affliction Aware Forth Hands Heart House Israel Plague Plea Prayer Soever Spread Spreading Stretching Supplication Towards Whatever
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Affliction Aware Forth Hands Heart House Israel Plague Plea Prayer Soever Spread Spreading Stretching Supplication Towards Whatever
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














then may whatever prayer or petition
The phrase "whatever prayer or petition" underscores the inclusivity and openness of God's invitation to His people to communicate with Him. The Hebrew word for "prayer" is "tefillah," which signifies a heartfelt conversation with God, while "petition" translates to "techinnah," indicating a plea or supplication. This duality reflects the depth and breadth of human communication with the divine, encompassing both routine prayers and urgent cries for help. Historically, this reflects the Jewish understanding of prayer as both a communal and personal act, deeply rooted in the covenant relationship between God and Israel.

any of Your people Israel make
This phrase emphasizes the collective identity of Israel as God's chosen people. The Hebrew term "Israel" (יִשְׂרָאֵל) is derived from the patriarch Jacob, who was renamed Israel after wrestling with God (Genesis 32:28). This name signifies a people who strive with God, highlighting their unique relationship and covenant. The historical context here is Solomon's dedication of the temple, a central place of worship for the nation, symbolizing unity and shared faith.

each knowing his own afflictions
The phrase "each knowing his own afflictions" speaks to the personal nature of prayer. The Hebrew word for "afflictions" is "nega," which can mean a physical ailment or a broader sense of trouble or distress. This acknowledges the individual struggles and burdens each person carries, inviting them to bring these before God. It reflects the compassionate nature of God, who is attentive to the personal needs and sufferings of His people.

and spreading out his hands
The act of "spreading out his hands" is a physical expression of prayer and supplication. In ancient Near Eastern cultures, this gesture was a common posture of prayer, symbolizing openness, surrender, and a plea for divine intervention. It is a visual representation of the worshiper's dependence on God and readiness to receive His grace and mercy. This practice is echoed throughout Scripture, illustrating a consistent posture of humility and reverence before God.

toward this house
"Toward this house" refers to the temple in Jerusalem, which Solomon had just dedicated as the dwelling place of God's presence among His people. The temple was the focal point of Israelite worship, symbolizing God's covenantal presence and the place where heaven and earth meet. Historically, the temple served as a tangible reminder of God's promises and faithfulness, and directing prayers toward it was an acknowledgment of God's sovereignty and the centrality of worship in the life of Israel. This phrase underscores the importance of the temple as a symbol of God's abiding presence and the communal and individual relationship with Him.

Verse 38. - What prayer and supplication soever [There is here a studied reference to the preceding words. Lit., every prayer, etc. We might render in ver. 37, "Whatsoever the plague," etc., and here, "Whatsoever the prayer," etc.] be made by any man, or by all thy people Israel, which shall know every man the plague of his own heart [Here again there is an unmistakeable reference to the "plague" (same word) of ver. 37. The plague of the heart is the inner smart of the conscience corresponding with and perhaps more painful than the smiting of the person. The meaning obviously is that the prayers will vary. according to the various mental and physical sufferings of men], and spread forth his hands [see on ver. 22] toward this house.

Parallel Commentaries ...


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

prayer
תְּפִלָּ֣ה (tə·p̄il·lāh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 8605: Intercession, supplication, a hymn

or petition
תְּחִנָּ֗ה (tə·ḥin·nāh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 8467: Favor, supplication for favor

Your people
עַמְּךָ֣ (‘am·mə·ḵā)
Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 5971: A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock

Israel
יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל (yiś·rā·’êl)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3478: Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc

make—
תִֽהְיֶה֙ (ṯih·yeh)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

each
אִ֚ישׁ (’îš)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person

knowing
יֵדְע֗וּן (yê·ḏə·‘ūn)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural | Paragogic nun
Strong's 3045: To know

his own
לְבָב֔וֹ (lə·ḇā·ḇōw)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 3824: Inner man, mind, will, heart

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

and spreading out
וּפָרַ֥שׂ (ū·p̄ā·raś)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6566: To break apart, disperse

his hands
כַּפָּ֖יו (kap·pāw)
Noun - fdc | third person masculine singular
Strong's 3709: Hollow or flat of the hand, palm, sole (of the foot), a pan

toward
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

this
הַזֶּֽה׃ (haz·zeh)
Article | Pronoun - masculine singular
Strong's 2088: This, that

house—
הַבַּ֥יִת (hab·ba·yiṯ)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1004: A house


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OT History: 1 Kings 8:38 Whatever prayer and supplication be made (1Ki iKi i Ki 1 Kg 1kg)
1 Kings 8:37
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