New International Version And forgive your people, who have sinned against you; forgive all the offenses they have committed against you, and cause their captors to show them mercy; New Living Translation Forgive your people who have sinned against you. Forgive all the offenses they have committed against you. Make their captors merciful to them, English Standard Version and forgive your people who have sinned against you, and all their transgressions that they have committed against you, and grant them compassion in the sight of those who carried them captive, that they may have compassion on them Berean Standard Bible May You forgive Your people who have sinned against You and all the transgressions they have committed against You, and may You grant them compassion in the eyes of their captors to show them mercy. Berean Literal Bible and forgive Your people who have sinned against You, and all their transgressions that they have transgressed against You, and may You grant them compassion before the face of those who took them captive, that they may have compassion on them. King James Bible And forgive thy people that have sinned against thee, and all their transgressions wherein they have transgressed against thee, and give them compassion before them who carried them captive, that they may have compassion on them: New King James Version and forgive Your people who have sinned against You, and all their transgressions which they have transgressed against You; and grant them compassion before those who took them captive, that they may have compassion on them New American Standard Bible and forgive Your people who have sinned against You and all their wrongdoings which they have committed against You, and make them objects of compassion before those who have taken them captive, so that they will have compassion on them NASB 1995 and forgive Your people who have sinned against You and all their transgressions which they have transgressed against You, and make them objects of compassion before those who have taken them captive, that they may have compassion on them NASB 1977 and forgive Thy people who have sinned against Thee and all their transgressions which they have transgressed against Thee, and make them objects of compassion before those who have taken them captive, that they may have compassion on them Legacy Standard Bible and forgive Your people who have sinned against You and all their transgressions which they have transgressed against You, and give them over as objects of compassion before those who have taken them captive, that they may have compassion on them Amplified Bible and forgive Your people who have sinned against You and all the transgressions which they have committed against You, and make them objects of compassion before their captors, that they will be merciful to them Berean Annotated Bible May You forgive Your people who have sinned against You and all the transgressions they have committed against You, and may You grant them compassion in the eyes of their captors to show them mercy. Christian Standard Bible May you forgive your people who sinned against you and all their rebellions against you, and may you grant them compassion before their captors, so that they may treat them compassionately. Holman Christian Standard Bible May You forgive Your people who sinned against You and all their rebellions against You, and may You give them compassion in the eyes of their captors, so that they may be compassionate to them. American Standard Version and forgive thy people who have sinned against thee, and all their transgressions wherein they have transgressed against thee; and give them compassion before those who carried them captive, that they may have compassion on them Contemporary English Version Forgive your people no matter how much they have sinned against you. Make the enemies who defeated them be kind to them. English Revised Version and forgive thy people which have sinned against thee, and all their transgressions wherein they have transgressed against thee; and give them compassion before those who carried them captive, that they may have compassion on them: GOD'S WORD® Translation Forgive your people, who have sinned against you. [Forgive] all their wrongs when they rebelled against you, and cause those who captured them to have mercy on them Good News Translation Forgive all their sins and their rebellion against you, and make their enemies treat them with kindness. International Standard Version forgiving your people who have sinned against you, along with their transgressions by which they have transgressed against you. "Show your compassion in the presence of those who have taken them captive, so they may show compassion on them, NET Bible Forgive all the rebellious acts of your sinful people and cause their captors to have mercy on them. New Heart English Bible and forgive your people who have sinned against you, and all their transgressions in which they have transgressed against you; and give them compassion before those who carried them captive, that they may have compassion on them Webster's Bible Translation And forgive thy people that have sinned against thee, and all their transgressions in which they have transgressed against thee, and give them compassion before them who carried them captive, that they may have compassion on them: Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleMay You forgive Your people who have sinned against You and all the transgressions they have committed against You, and may You grant them compassion in the eyes of their captors to show them mercy. World English Bible and forgive your people who have sinned against you, and all their transgressions in which they have transgressed against you; and give them compassion before those who carried them captive, that they may have compassion on them Literal Translations Literal Standard Versionand have forgiven Your people who have sinned against You, even all their transgressions which they have transgressed against You, and have given them mercies before their captors, and they have had mercy [on] them— Berean Literal Bible and forgive Your people who have sinned against You, and all their transgressions that they have transgressed against You, and may You grant them compassion before the face of those who took them captive, that they may have compassion on them. Young's Literal Translation and hast forgiven Thy people who have sinned against Thee, even all their transgressions which they have transgressed against Thee, and hast given them mercies before their captors, and they have had mercy on them -- Smith's Literal Translation And forgive to thy people who sinned against thee, and all their transgressions which they transgressed against thee, and give them for compassion before those carrying them captive, and they compassionated them: Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd forgive thy people, that have sinned against thee, and all their iniquities, by which they have transgressed against thee: and give them mercy before them that have made them captives, that they may have compassion on them. Catholic Public Domain Version And you will forgive your people, who have sinned against you, and all their iniquities, by which they have transgressed against you. And you will grant to them mercy in the sight of those who have made them captives, so that they may take pity on them. New American Bible Forgive your people who have sinned against you and all the offenses they have committed against you, and grant them mercy in the sight of their captors, so that these will be merciful to them. New Revised Standard Version and forgive your people who have sinned against you, and all their transgressions that they have committed against you; and grant them compassion in the sight of their captors, so that they may have compassion on them Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAnd forgive thy people who have sinned against thee and all their transgressions wherein they have transgressed against thee, and give them compassion in the presence of those who carried them captive, that they may have compassion on them; Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And you will forgive your people because they have sinned against you and for all their offenses that they had offended against you, and you shall give them favor before their captors and they will show compassion upon them OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917and forgive Thy people who have sinned against Thee, and all their transgressions wherein they have transgressed against Thee; and give them compassion before those who carried them captive, that they may have compassion on them; Brenton Septuagint Translation and thou shalt be merciful to their unrighteousness wherein they have trespassed against thee, and according to all their transgressions wherewith they have transgressed against thee, and thou shalt cause them to be pitied before them that carried them captives, and they shall have compassion on them: Additional Translations ... Audio Bible (Voice ▾ Musical ▾) Context Solomon's Prayer of Dedication…49then may You hear from heaven, Your dwelling place, their prayer and petition, and may You uphold their cause. 50May You forgive Your people who have sinned against You and all the transgressions they have committed against You, and may You grant them compassion in the eyes of their captors to show them mercy. 51For they are Your people and Your inheritance; You brought them out of Egypt, out of the furnace for iron.… Cross References May You forgive Your people who have sinned against You 2 Chronicles 6:39 then may You hear from heaven, Your dwelling place, their prayer and pleas, and may You uphold their cause. May You forgive Your people who sinned against You. Daniel 9:19 O Lord, listen! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, hear and act! For Your sake, O my God, do not delay, because Your city and Your people bear Your name.” Nehemiah 1:6-7 let Your eyes be open and Your ears attentive to hear the prayer that I, Your servant, now pray before You day and night for Your servants, the Israelites. I confess the sins that we Israelites have committed against You. Both I and my father’s house have sinned. / We have behaved corruptly against You and have not kept the commandments, statutes, and ordinances that You gave Your servant Moses. and all the transgressions they have committed against You, Isaiah 43:25 I, yes I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake and remembers your sins no more. Jeremiah 33:8 And I will cleanse them from all the iniquity they have committed against Me, and will forgive all their sins of rebellion against Me. Leviticus 26:40-42 But if they will confess their iniquity and that of their fathers in the unfaithfulness that they practiced against Me, by which they have also walked in hostility toward Me— / and I acted with hostility toward them and brought them into the land of their enemies—and if their uncircumcised hearts will be humbled and they will make amends for their iniquity, / then I will remember My covenant with Jacob and My covenant with Isaac and My covenant with Abraham, and I will remember the land. and may You grant them compassion in the eyes of their captors Daniel 1:9 Now God had granted Daniel favor and compassion from the chief official, Exodus 12:36 And the LORD gave the people such favor in the sight of the Egyptians that they granted their request. In this way they plundered the Egyptians. Genesis 39:21 the LORD was with him and extended kindness to him, granting him favor in the eyes of the prison warden. to show them mercy. Psalm 106:46 He made them objects of compassion to all who held them captive. 2 Kings 25:27-30 On the twenty-seventh day of the twelfth month of the thirty-seventh year of the exile of Judah’s King Jehoiachin, in the year Evil-merodach became king of Babylon, he released King Jehoiachin of Judah from prison. / And he spoke kindly to Jehoiachin and set his throne above the thrones of the other kings who were with him in Babylon. / So Jehoiachin changed out of his prison clothes, and he dined regularly at the king’s table for the rest of his life. … Proverbs 16:7 When a man’s ways please the LORD, He makes even the man’s enemies live at peace with him. 2 Chronicles 7:14 and if My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land. Daniel 9:9 To the Lord our God belong compassion and forgiveness, even though we have rebelled against Him Psalm 130:4 But with You there is forgiveness, so that You may be feared. Psalm 86:5 For You, O Lord, are kind and forgiving, rich in loving devotion to all who call on You. Treasury of Scripture And forgive your people that have sinned against you, and all their transgressions wherein they have transgressed against you, and give them compassion before them who carried them captive, that they may have compassion on them: and give them 2 Chronicles 30:9 For if ye turn again unto the LORD, your brethren and your children shall find compassion before them that lead them captive, so that they shall come again into this land: for the LORD your God is gracious and merciful, and will not turn away his face from you, if ye return unto him. Ezra 7:6,27,28 This Ezra went up from Babylon; and he was a ready scribe in the law of Moses, which the LORD God of Israel had given: and the king granted him all his request, according to the hand of the LORD his God upon him… Nehemiah 1:11 O Lord, I beseech thee, let now thine ear be attentive to the prayer of thy servant, and to the prayer of thy servants, who desire to fear thy name: and prosper, I pray thee, thy servant this day, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man. For I was the king's cupbearer. Jump to Previous Captive Carried Cause Committed Compassion Conquerors Evil Find Forgive Forgiven Forgiveness Grant Mercies Mercy Moved Objects Offenses Overlooking Pity Prisoners Show Sight Sin Sinned Transgressed Transgressions Whereby Wherein WrongJump to Next Captive Carried Cause Committed Compassion Conquerors Evil Find Forgive Forgiven Forgiveness Grant Mercies Mercy Moved Objects Offenses Overlooking Pity Prisoners Show Sight Sin Sinned Transgressed Transgressions Whereby Wherein Wrong1 Kings 8 1. The feast of the temple12. Solomon's blessing 22. Solomon's prayer 54. Solomon's blessing 62. His sacrifice of peace offerings May You forgive Your people who have sinned against You Solomon grounds Israel’s hope in God’s covenant mercy. Israel’s repeated failures would never place them beyond the reach of repentance, for the Lord had provided sacrifice, intercession, and the promise of restoration for those who turned back to Him. David’s prayer in Psalm 51 likewise rests on God’s willingness to cleanse the repentant heart. God’s forgiveness ultimately finds its fullest provision in Christ, whose atoning death secures pardon for all who repent and believe. 2Ch 6:39 then may You hear from heaven, Your dwelling place,… and all the transgressions they have committed against You, Israel’s sin was not merely failure against human standards but rebellion against the God who redeemed them from Egypt and gave them His law. Solomon asks for complete pardon, knowing that exile and discipline would result from persistent covenant unfaithfulness. No accumulation of guilt exceeds the mercy of God when sinners truly return to Him. The Lord’s promise through Isaiah that scarlet sins can become white as snow reveals both the depth of human guilt and the sufficiency of divine cleansing. Isa 43:25 I, yes I, am He who blots out your transgressions… and may You grant them compassion in the eyes of their captors Solomon anticipates the day when Israel’s disobedience could bring them under foreign rule. Even in exile, the people would remain under God’s sovereign care. The Lord had given Joseph favor in Egypt and Daniel favor in Babylon, demonstrating that kings and captors are not beyond His rule. Centuries later, God moved Cyrus of Persia to permit Jewish exiles to return and rebuild Jerusalem and the temple. Dan 1:9 Now God had granted Daniel favor and compassion… to show them mercy. Mercy from their captors would testify that God had not abandoned His people in judgment. Discipline was intended to turn Israel back to the Lord, not to destroy His covenant purposes. God’s mercy meets repentant sinners with forgiveness and opens a path toward restoration, a grace finally displayed in Jesus Christ, who delivers His people from sin and reconciles them to God. Psa 106:46 He made them objects of compassion to all who… Persons / Places / Events 1. SolomonThe king of Israel who is offering this prayer during the dedication of the temple. He is seeking God's favor and forgiveness for the people of Israel. 2. The Israelites The people of God who have sinned and are in need of forgiveness and mercy. They are the primary focus of Solomon's intercession. 3. The Temple in Jerusalem The newly built temple where Solomon is praying. It represents God's dwelling place among His people and a central place of worship. 4. Captors The foreign powers or individuals who may hold the Israelites in captivity. Solomon prays for compassion from these captors. 5. God The ultimate authority and the one to whom Solomon directs his prayer, seeking forgiveness and mercy for the people. Teaching Points The Power of Intercessory PrayerSolomon's prayer demonstrates the importance of interceding for others, especially in seeking God's forgiveness and mercy. God's Readiness to Forgive This passage reassures believers of God's willingness to forgive sins when approached with a repentant heart. Compassion from Unlikely Sources God can move the hearts of even those who are against us to show mercy, as seen in Solomon's request for compassion from captors. The Role of Leadership in Spiritual Matters Solomon, as a leader, takes responsibility for the spiritual well-being of his people, setting an example for leaders today. The Importance of Repentance Acknowledging sin and seeking forgiveness is crucial for restoring a right relationship with God. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of 1 Kings 8:50?2. How does 1 Kings 8:50 demonstrate God's mercy and forgiveness towards His people? 3. What role does repentance play in receiving God's compassion, according to 1 Kings 8:50? 4. How can we apply Solomon's prayer for forgiveness in our own prayer life? 5. In what ways does 1 Kings 8:50 connect with the New Testament teachings on forgiveness? 6. How can understanding God's compassion in 1 Kings 8:50 impact our relationships with others? 7. How does 1 Kings 8:50 reflect God's nature of forgiveness and mercy? 8. What historical context surrounds Solomon's prayer in 1 Kings 8:50? 9. How does 1 Kings 8:50 relate to the concept of repentance in the Bible? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from 1 Kings 8? What Does 1 Kings 8:50 Mean May You forgive Your peopleSolomon opens this line by appealing to the Lord’s willingness to wipe the slate clean. Forgiveness is a divine act that restores relationship. • 1 John 1:9 assures us, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” • Psalm 86:5 highlights the same heart: “For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, and abundant in loving devotion to all who call on You.” • In the larger context of 1 Kings 8, Solomon has already said, “There is no one who does not sin” (v. 46), underscoring why forgiveness is desperately needed. who have sinned against You Sin is personal; it is “against You.” The focus is not on social missteps but on violating God’s holiness. • Romans 3:23 reminds us, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” • David confesses the same truth in Psalm 51:4, “Against You, You only, have I sinned.” The phrase drives home that our primary accountability is vertical, not merely horizontal. and all the transgressions they have committed against You Solomon widens the request from general sin to specific acts—“all the transgressions.” Nothing is too numerous or too serious for God’s pardon. • Isaiah 43:25 records God’s pledge: “I, yes I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake, and remembers your sins no more.” • Colossians 2:13–14 echoes this promise in Christ: “He forgave us all our trespasses, having canceled the debt ascribed to us … nailing it to the cross.” The king prays for comprehensive cleansing, not partial relief. and may You grant them compassion Forgiveness is paired with favor. Solomon asks God to move hearts so that His people experience tangible kindness, even in exile. • Genesis 39:21 illustrates this pattern: “The LORD was with Joseph and extended kindness to him; He granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden.” • Proverbs 21:1 explains the mechanism: “The king’s heart is a watercourse in the hand of the LORD; He directs it wherever He pleases.” God not only forgives; He actively orchestrates circumstances for the good of His repentant people. in the eyes of their captors The setting assumed here is exile—discipline that results from covenant unfaithfulness. Yet even then, God can soften the oppressor’s gaze. • Daniel 1:9 records, “God granted Daniel favor and compassion from the chief official.” • Psalm 106:46 ties directly to this petition: “He made them objects of compassion before all their captors.” The Lord’s sovereignty extends into hostile environments, proving that no earthly power can block divine mercy. to show them mercy The end goal is not mere survival but the experience of mercy—active, restorative kindness. • Titus 3:5 celebrates that “He saved us, not by works of righteousness that we had done, but according to His mercy.” • Micah 7:18–19 exults, “Who is a God like You, who pardons iniquity … You will again have compassion on us; You will tread our sins underfoot.” Mercy ensures that a forgiven people can live in hope, not perpetual regret. summary 1 Kings 8:50 unfolds like a multi-layered request: forgiveness for every sin, transformation of hostile hearts, and the gift of mercy that restores life even in exile. Solomon’s prayer teaches that God’s pardon is total, His control is absolute, and His compassion is practical—reaching all the way into enemy territory to cradle His people with favor. (50) Forgive . . . and give them compassion This prayer was singularly fulfilled at the captivity of Judah in Babylon, though we hear of no such thing in relation to the captivity of the “lost tribes” of Israel in Assyria. We see this in the exceptional favour of Nebuchadnezzar and of the Ahasuerus of the Book of Esther to the Jews in Babylon; we see it still more in the greater boon of restoration granted them by Cyrus and Darius, and the Artaxerxes of the Book of Nehemiah. Like the whole course of the fortunes of the Jews in their subsequent dispersion, these things,—however they may be accounted for—are certainly unique in history.Verse 50. - And forgive thy people that have sinned against thee, and all their transgressions wherein they have transgressed against thee, and give them compassion [Heb. to compassion or bowels רַחֲמִים = τὰ σπλάγχνα, 2 Corinthians 6:12; Philippians 1:8; Philippians 2:1, etc. before them who carried them captive, that they may have compassion on them. [For the fulfilment of this prayer, see Ezra 1:3, 7; Ezra 6:13; Nehemiah 2:6. Compare Psalm 106:46.] In the three following verses we have a sort of general conclusion to the dedication prayer. It is hardly correct to say that these last words apply to all the preceding petitions - the plea "they are thy people" manifestly cannot apply in the case of vers. 41-43. On the other hand, as little are they to be limited to the persons last mentioned in vers. 46-50, though it is highly probable they were suggested by the thought of the captives. They are manifestly in close connection with the preceding verses.Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew May You forgiveוְסָלַחְתָּ֤ (wə·sā·laḥ·tā) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular Strong's 5545: To forgive, pardon Your people לְעַמְּךָ֙ (lə·‘am·mə·ḵā) Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular Strong's 5971: A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock who אֲשֶׁ֣ר (’ă·šer) Pronoun - relative Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that have sinned חָֽטְאוּ־ (ḥā·ṭə·’ū-) Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural Strong's 2398: To miss, to sin, to forfeit, lack, expiate, repent, lead astray, condemn against You לָ֔ךְ (lāḵ) Preposition | second person feminine singular Strong's Hebrew and all וּלְכָל־ (ū·lə·ḵāl-) Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every the transgressions פִּשְׁעֵיהֶ֖ם (piš·‘ê·hem) Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural Strong's 6588: Transgression they have committed פָּשְׁעוּ־ (pā·šə·‘ū-) Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural Strong's 6586: To break away, trespass, apostatize, quarrel against You, בָ֑ךְ (ḇāḵ) Preposition | second person masculine singular Strong's Hebrew and may You grant them וּנְתַתָּ֧ם (ū·nə·ṯat·tām) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular | third person masculine plural Strong's 5414: To give, put, set compassion לְרַחֲמִ֛ים (lə·ra·ḥă·mîm) Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural Strong's 7356: Compassion, the womb, a maiden in the eyes לִפְנֵ֥י (lip̄·nê) Preposition-l | Noun - common plural construct Strong's 6440: The face of their captors שֹׁבֵיהֶ֖ם (šō·ḇê·hem) Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural Strong's 7617: To transport into captivity to show them mercy. וְרִֽחֲמֽוּם׃ (wə·ri·ḥă·mūm) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural | third person masculine plural Strong's 7355: To fondle, to love, to compassionate Additonal Resources 1 Kings 8:50 Blue Letter Bible1 Kings 8:50 Bible Gateway 1 Kings 8:50 Bible.com 1 Kings 8:50 NIV |
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