1 Kings 8:27

27 But how could God possibly live on earth? If heaven, even the highest heaven, can't contain you, how can this temple that I've built contain you?

1 Kings 8:27 Meaning and Commentary

1 Kings 8:27

But will God indeed dwell on the earth?
&c.] Is it true? Can any credit be given to it? Who could ever have thought it, that so great and glorious a Being, who inhabits eternity, dwells in the highest heavens, should ever condescend to dwell on earth? Such was the amazing condescension of Christ, the Son of God, to tabernacle in human nature with men on earth, to which Solomon perhaps might have respect; his temple being the figure of his body, in which the Godhead dwells, ( John 2:19 ) ( Colossians 2:9 ) ( John 1:14 )

behold, the heaven, and the heaven of heavens, cannot
contain thee;
not, only the visible heavens, but the third heaven, where the throne of God is, and is the habitation of angels and saints; though there God makes the most glorious displays of himself yet he is so immense and infinite, that he is not to be comprehended and circumscribed in any place whatever:

how much less this house that I have builded?
Though temples built for idols contain them, and are large enough, yet Solomon had no notion, when he built his temple, though it was for the name of God, that he was restrained to it, but dwelt everywhere, filling heaven and earth with his presence.

1 Kings 8:27 In-Context

25 So now, LORD, Israel's God, keep what you promised my father David, your servant, when you said to him, "You will never fail to have a successor sitting on Israel's throne as long as your descendants carefully walk before me just as you walked before me."

26 So now, God of Israel, may your promise to your servant David, my father, come true.

27 But how could God possibly live on earth? If heaven, even the highest heaven, can't contain you, how can this temple that I've built contain you?

28 LORD my God, listen to your servant's prayer and request, and hear the cry and prayer that your servant prays to you today.

29 Constantly watch over this temple, the place about which you said, "My name will be there," and listen to the prayer that your servant is praying toward this place.