1 Kings 8:12

12 Then Solomon said, “The LORD has said that he would dwell in a dark cloud;

1 Kings 8:12 in Other Translations

12 Then spake Solomon, The LORD said that he would dwell in the thick darkness.

12 Then Solomon said, "The LORD has said that he would dwell in thick darkness.

12 Then Solomon prayed, “O LORD, you have said that you would live in a thick cloud of darkness.

12 Then Solomon spoke: God has told us that he lives in the dark where no one can see him;

12 Then spake Solomon, Jehovah hath said that he would dwell in the thick darkness.

12 Then Solomon said, "The LORD said he would live in a dark cloud.

12 Then Solomon said: The Lord said that He would dwell in thick darkness,

12 Then Solomon said, "Lord, you have said you would live in a dark cloud.

1 Kings 8:12 Meaning and Commentary

1 Kings 8:12

And then spake Solomon
Perceiving by this symbol that the Lord was come into his house, to take up his dwelling in it, and seeing the priests and people in consternation at it, spake the following words to their comfort:

the Lord said that he would dwell in the thick darkness;
and now was fulfilling his promise, and therefore to be considered not as a token of his displeasure, but of his gracious presence; this was done for the greater awe of the divine Majesty, and to denote the darkness of the former dispensation; reference may be had to ( Leviticus 16:2 ) or rather this was now said by the Lord, that is, it appeared to be his resolution and determination to dwell in this manner; the Targum is,

``the Lord is pleased to cause his Shechinah or divine Majesty to dwell in Jerusalem,''

in the temple there. This was imitated by the Heathens; hence the Lacedemonians had a temple dedicated to Jupiter Scotitas, or the dark, as Pausanias ^F21 relates; and the Indian Pagans to this day affect darkness in their temples, and are very careful that no light enter into them but by the door, which is commonly strait and low, and by little crevices in the windows ^F23.

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FOOTNOTES:

F21 Laconica, sive, I. 3. p. 178.
F23 Agreement of Customs between the East-Indians and Jews, art. 5. p. 35.

1 Kings 8:12 In-Context

10 When the priests withdrew from the Holy Place, the cloud filled the temple of the LORD.

11 And the priests could not perform their service because of the cloud, for the glory of the LORD filled his temple.

12 Then Solomon said, “The LORD has said that he would dwell in a dark cloud;

13 I have indeed built a magnificent temple for you, a place for you to dwell forever.”

14 While the whole assembly of Israel was standing there, the king turned around and blessed them.

Cross References

• 1. S Exodus 40:34; S 2 Samuel 22:10; Psalms 18:11; Psalms 97:2