1 Kings 8:14

14 And the king turned his face, and blessed all the church in Israel; for all the church of Israel stood. (And the king turned himself, and blessed all the congregation of Israel; for all the congregation of Israel stood there.)

1 Kings 8:14 Meaning and Commentary

1 Kings 8:14

And the king turned his face about
He was before the altar, ( 1 Kings 8:22 ) , with his face to that first, and looking towards the holy and the most holy place, filled with the cloud and glory; and now he turned himself and stood with the altar behind him, and looking to the court of the people:

and blessed all the congregation of Israel;
either blessed the Lord before them, or prayed for blessings for them, or congratulated them upon the Lord's taking up his residence in the temple, which was so great an honour and favour to them:

and all the congregation of Israel stood:
ready to receive the king's blessing, and in honour of him, and reverence to the divine Being. The Jews say, none might sit in the court but the kings of the house of David.

1 Kings 8:14 In-Context

12 Then Solomon said, The Lord said, that he would dwell in a cloud/in a mist.

13 I building have builded an house into thy dwelling place, into thy most steadfast throne without end. (I have built a house for thy dwelling place, to be thy most steadfast throne forevermore.)

14 And the king turned his face, and blessed all the church in Israel; for all the church of Israel stood. (And the king turned himself, and blessed all the congregation of Israel; for all the congregation of Israel stood there.)

15 And Solomon said, Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, that spake with his mouth to David, my father, and performed (it) in his hands, and said, (And Solomon said, Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, who spoke with his mouth to my father David, and fulfilled his word with his hands, and said,)

16 From the day in which I led my people Israel out of Egypt, I chose not a city of all the lineages of Israel, that an house should be builded, and my name should be there; but I chose David, that he should be over my people Israel. (From the day in which I led my people Israel out of Egypt, I chose not a city out of all the tribes of Israel, where a House should be built, for my name to be honoured there; but I chose David, that he should rule over my people Israel.)