1 Kings 8:48

48 and if they return to you with all their heart and all their being in the enemy territory where they've been taken captive, and pray to you, toward their land, which you gave their ancestors, toward the city you have chosen, and toward the temple I have built for your name,

1 Kings 8:48 Meaning and Commentary

1 Kings 8:48

And so return unto thee, with all their heart, and with
all their soul
In the most sincere and cordial manner, with great ingenuity and uprightness; the Targum is,

``return unto thy worship;''

relinquishing false worship they had given into, and serve the Lord in the best manner they could:

in the land of their enemies, which led them away captive;
and so at a distance from that temple, and the service of it, which

1 Kings 8:48 In-Context

46 When they sin against you (for there is no one who doesn't sin) and you become angry with them and hand them over to an enemy who takes them away as prisoners to enemy territory, whether distant or nearby,

47 if they change their heart in whatever land they are held captive, changing their lives and begging for your mercy, saying, "We have sinned, we have done wrong, we have acted wickedly!"

48 and if they return to you with all their heart and all their being in the enemy territory where they've been taken captive, and pray to you, toward their land, which you gave their ancestors, toward the city you have chosen, and toward the temple I have built for your name,

49 then listen to their prayer and request from your heavenly dwelling place. Do what is right for them,

50 and forgive your people who have sinned against you. Forgive all their wrong that they have done against you. See to it that those who captured them show them mercy.