What is the meaning of 1 Kings 5:5?

So behold

Solomon opens with an alert: “pay close attention.”

• He is about to act on a long-awaited promise (cf. 1 Kings 8:17–20).

• The wording signals certainty; what follows is not a suggestion but a settled course that God Himself has initiated (cf. Numbers 23:19; Isaiah 55:11).

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I plan to build a house

• “House” points to a literal, physical temple—an actual structure in Jerusalem (2 Chronicles 3:1).

• The word also hints at a dynasty; Solomon’s building project is tied to the permanence of David’s royal line (2 Samuel 7:11).

• The intention is personal: “I plan.” Solomon owns the assignment instead of leaving it abstract or to future generations (1 Chronicles 22:6-10).

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for the Name of the LORD my God

• The temple’s primary purpose is to honor God’s revealed character and presence (Deuteronomy 12:5).

• Israel’s worship is centralized so that devotion stays pure, separating the true God from the idols of surrounding nations (Exodus 20:3).

• By saying “my God,” Solomon testifies to a covenant relationship, echoing his father David’s personal faith (Psalm 18:2).

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according to what the LORD said to my father David

• Solomon roots his project in God’s prior promise, not personal ambition (2 Samuel 7:12-13).

• Obedience to revealed Scripture safeguards the work from human manipulation (Psalm 119:89-90).

• Remembering David underscores continuity: the plan spans generations, proving God’s faithfulness (1 Kings 2:3-4).

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‘I will put your son on your throne in your place, and he will build the house for My Name.’

• God Himself placed Solomon on the throne, validating his right to rule (1 Chronicles 28:5-7).

• The construction of the temple is inseparable from covenant kingship—reigning under God means prioritizing worship of God (Psalm 132:11-12).

• The verse anticipates a greater Son who will build an everlasting house and kingdom, ultimately fulfilled in Christ (Luke 1:32-33; John 2:19-21).

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summary

1 Kings 5:5 records Solomon’s confident commitment to build the temple exactly as God promised David. The verse underscores God’s faithfulness across generations, the king’s joyful obedience, and the temple’s role in exalting the Lord’s Name. It reminds believers that every endeavor succeeds only when grounded in God’s Word and aimed at His glory.