“If they sin against you (for there is no man who doesn’t sin), and you are angry with them, and deliver them to the enemy, so that they carry them away captive to a land far off or near; yet if they come to their senses in the land where they are carried captive, and turn again, and make supplication to you in the land of their captivity, saying, ‘We have sinned, we have done perversely, and have dealt wickedly;’ if they return to you with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their captivity, where they have carried them captive, and pray toward their land, which you gave to their fathers, and the city which you have chosen, and toward the house which I have built for your name; then hear from heaven, even from your dwelling place, their prayer and their petitions, and maintain their cause, and forgive your people who have sinned against you.
Parallel Translations
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“If they sin against you (for there is no man who doesn’t sin), and you are angry with them, and deliver them to the enemy, so that they carry them away captive to a land far off or near;
yet if they come to their senses in the land where they are carried captive, and turn again, and make supplication to you in the land of their captivity, saying, ‘We have sinned, we have done perversely, and have dealt wickedly;’
if they return to you with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their captivity, where they have carried them captive, and pray toward their land, which you gave to their fathers, and the city which you have chosen, and toward the house which I have built for your name;
then hear from heaven, even from your dwelling place, their prayer and their petitions, and maintain their cause, and forgive your people who have sinned against you.
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If they sin against thee, (for there is no man which sinneth not,) and thou be angry with them, and deliver them over before their enemies, and they carry them away captives unto a land far off or near;
Yet if they bethink themselves in the land whither they are carried captive, and turn and pray unto thee in the land of their captivity, saying, We have sinned, we have done amiss, and have dealt wickedly;
If they return to thee with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their captivity, whither they have carried them captives, and pray toward their land, which thou gavest unto their fathers, and toward the city which thou hast chosen, and toward the house which I have built for thy name:
Then hear thou from the heavens, even from thy dwelling place, their prayer and their supplications, and maintain their cause, and forgive thy people which have sinned against thee.
Show all 3 translations
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If they sin against Thee — for there is no man that sinneth not — and Thou be angry with them, and deliver them to the enemy, so that they carry them away captive unto a land far off or near;
yet if they shall bethink themselves in the land whither they are carried captive, and turn, and make supplication unto Thee in the land of their captivity, saying: We have sinned, we have done iniquitously, and have dealt wickedly;
if they return unto Thee with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their captivity, whither they have carried them captive, and pray toward their land, which Thou gavest unto their fathers, and the city which Thou hast chosen, and toward the house which I have built for Thy name;
then hear Thou from heaven, even from Thy dwelling-place, their prayer and their supplications, and maintain their cause; and forgive Thy people who have sinned against Thee.
Examined in Scripture Analysis
Contradictions (1)
Questions where the Bible appears to say two different things, with the passages on each side set together.
Cross-references (45)
- Ecclesiastes 7:20 (v36) Surely there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and doesn’t sin.
- James 3:2 (v36) For we all stumble in many things. Anyone who doesn’t stumble in word is a perfect person, able to bridle the whole body also.
- 1 John 1:8-10 (v36) If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to…
- Job 15:14-16 (v36) What is man, that he should be clean? What is he who is born of a woman, that he should be righteous? Behold, he puts no trust in his holy…
- Psalms 130:3 (v36) If you, Yah, kept a record of sins, Lord, who could stand?
Show all 45 cross-references
- Psalms 143:2 (v36) Don’t enter into judgment with your servant, for in your sight no man living is righteous.
- Isaiah 64:6-12 (v37) For we have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteousness is like a polluted garment. We all fade like a leaf; and our…
- Jeremiah 31:18-20 (v37) “I have surely heard Ephraim grieving thus, ‘You have chastised me, and I was chastised, as an untrained calf. Turn me, and I will be…
- Daniel 9:5-11 (v37) we have sinned, and have dealt perversely, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled, even turning aside from your precepts and from your…
- Luke 15:17-19 (v37) But when he came to himself he said, ‘How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough to spare, and I’m dying with hunger! I will…
- Leviticus 26:34-44 (v36) Then the land will enjoy its Sabbaths as long as it lies desolate and you are in your enemies’ land. Even then the land will rest and enjoy…
- Leviticus 26:40-45 (v37) “ ‘If they confess their iniquity and the iniquity of their fathers, in their trespass which they trespassed against me; and also that…
- Deuteronomy 4:26-27 (v36) I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that you will soon utterly perish from off the land which you go over the Jordan to…
- Deuteronomy 4:29-30 (v37) But from there you shall seek Yahweh your God, and you shall find him when you search after him with all your heart and with all your soul.…
- Deuteronomy 28:36 (v36) Yahweh will bring you, and your king whom you will set over yourselves, to a nation that you have not known, you nor your fathers. There…
- Deuteronomy 28:64-68 (v36) Yahweh will scatter you among all peoples, from one end of the earth to the other end of the earth. There you will serve other gods which…
- Deuteronomy 29:24-28 (v36) Even all the nations will say, “Why has Yahweh done this to this land? What does the heat of this great anger mean?” Then men will say,…
- Deuteronomy 30:1-3 (v37) It shall happen, when all these things have come on you, the blessing and the curse, which I have set before you, and you shall call them…
- Deuteronomy 30:2-6 (v38) and return to Yahweh your God and obey his voice according to all that I command you today, you and your children, with all your heart and…
- 1 Kings 8:46 (v36) If they sin against you (for there is no man who doesn’t sin), and you are angry with them, and deliver them to the enemy, so that they…
- 1 Kings 8:50 (v36) and forgive your people who have sinned against you, and all their transgressions in which they have transgressed against you; and give…
- 2 Kings 15:21 (v36) Now the rest of the acts of Menahem, and all that he did, aren’t they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?
- 2 Kings 17:6 (v36) In the ninth year of Hoshea the king of Assyria took Samaria, and carried Israel away to Assyria, and placed them in Halah, and on the…
- 2 Kings 17:18 (v36) Therefore Yahweh was very angry with Israel, and removed them out of his sight. There was none left but the tribe of Judah only.
- 2 Kings 17:23 (v36) until Yahweh removed Israel out of his sight, as he said by all his servants the prophets. So Israel was carried away out of their own land…
- 2 Chronicles 6:34 (v38) “If your people go out to battle against their enemies, by whatever way you send them, and they pray to you toward this city which you have…
- 2 Chronicles 6:35 (v39) then hear from heaven their prayer and their supplication, and maintain their cause.
- 2 Chronicles 33:11-13 (v38) Therefore Yahweh brought on them the captains of the army of the king of Assyria, who took Manasseh in chains, bound him with fetters, and…
- Ezra 9:6-7 (v37) and I said, “My God, I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to you, my God; for our iniquities have increased over our head, and our…
- Nehemiah 1:6 (v37) Let your ear now be attentive, and your eyes open, that you may listen to the prayer of your servant, which I pray before you at this time,…
- Nehemiah 9:26-30 (v37) “Nevertheless they were disobedient, and rebelled against you, cast your law behind their back, killed your prophets that testified against…
- Job 33:27-28 (v37) He sings before men, and says, ‘I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, and it didn’t profit me. He has redeemed my soul from…
- Psalms 25:18 (v39) Consider my affliction and my travail. Forgive all my sins.
- Psalms 106:6 (v37) We have sinned with our fathers. We have committed iniquity. We have done wickedly.
- Proverbs 20:9 (v36) Who can say, “I have made my heart pure. I am clean and without sin?”
- Jeremiah 3:12-14 (v37) Go, and proclaim these words toward the north, and say, ‘Return, you backsliding Israel,’ says Yahweh; ‘I will not look in anger on you;…
- Jeremiah 29:12-14 (v38) You shall call on me, and you shall go and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You shall seek me, and find me, when you search for me…
- Daniel 6:10 (v38) When Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house (now his windows were open in his room toward Jerusalem) and he…
- Daniel 9:3-4 (v38) I set my face to the Lord God, to seek by prayer and petitions, with fasting and sackcloth and ashes. I prayed to Yahweh my God, and made…
- Daniel 9:7-14 (v36) “Lord, righteousness belongs to you, but to us confusion of face, as it is today; to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem,…
- Hosea 14:1-4 (v38) Israel, return to Yahweh your God; for you have fallen because of your sin. Take words with you, and return to Yahweh. Tell him, “Forgive…
- Joel 2:12-13 (v38) “Yet even now,” says Yahweh, “turn to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning.” Tear your heart, and…
- Micah 7:18-20 (v39) Who is a God like you, who pardons iniquity, and passes over the disobedience of the remnant of his heritage? He doesn’t retain his anger…
- Luke 21:24 (v36) They will fall by the edge of the sword, and will be led captive into all the nations. Jerusalem will be trampled down by the Gentiles,…
- Zechariah 1:15-16 (v39) I am very angry with the nations that are at ease; for I was but a little displeased, but they added to the calamity.” Therefore Yahweh…
Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)
Explain this passage (9 sources)
Historical commentary, presented as a primary source — not an endorsement.
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Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain On vv37, 39 Or, repent.
Or, repent.
Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain On vv36–37 Verse 36. For there is no man which sinneth…
Verse 36. For there is no man which sinneth not] See this case largely considered in Clarke's note on "1Ki 8:46".
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary 1859 · Public Domain On v38 Name. Hence arose the custom of turning towards Jerusalem…
Name. Hence arose the custom of turning towards Jerusalem and the temple, when the Jews poured for their supplications, in any country, 3 Kings viii. 44.
George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown 1871 · Public Domain On v38 If they return to thee . . . in…
If they return to thee . . . in the land of their captivity . . . and pray toward their land, which thou gavest unto their fathers--These words gave rise to the favorite usage of the ancient as well as modern Jews, of turning in prayer toward Jerusalem, in whatever quarter of the world they might be, and of directing their faces toward the temple when in Jerusalem itself or in any part of the holy land (Kg1 8:44).
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain On vv36–39 36. there is no man which sinneth not] Cp.…
36. there is no man which sinneth not] Cp. Ecc_7:20.
deliver them over before their enemies] R.V. deliver them to the enemy (as 1 Kings).
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain On vv36–39 (36) Their enemies.—An enemy.
(36) Their enemies.—An enemy.
And they carry them away.—See margin. LXX., αἰχμαλωτεύσουσιναὐτοὺς οἱ αἰχμαλωτεύοντες αὐτοὺς.
A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain On v36 Vers. 36-39. The matter of these verses is given…
Vers. 36-39. The matter of these verses is given fuller in the parallel. (1Ki_8:46-53) The prayer is remarkable all the more as the last of the whole series, and one so sadly ominous! The last clause of ver. 36, carrying the expression far off, as the alternative of near, throws its lurid glare of unwelcome suggestion on all the rest. No man which sinneth not. The words need the summoning of no biblical parallels, for these are so numerous. But out of the rest emphasis may be placed at least on those furnished by Solomon himself Pro_20:9; Ecc_7:21; both of which are particularly sententious. Bethink themselves. The words well express, in English idiom, the literal Hebrew, as in margin, "bring back to their heart". (Deu_30:1-11) Have sinned, ... done amiss, dealt wickedly (so Psa_106:6; Dan_9:5) The Authorized Version in the parallel ( (1Ki_8:47) is somewhat happier in its rendering of the three verbs employed here. It seems doubtful whether these have it in them to form a climax; more probably they speak of three different directions in wrong going. The parallel is well worthy of being referred to, in its vers. 50, 51.
Vers. 36-39.
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Departure and return.
It seems a melancholy thing that, at this hour of sacred joy and triumph, Solomon should have been under the necessity of contemplating national unfaithfulness, Divine displeasure, a return of the people of God to ignominious captivity and all its consequent distress. But he felt that it was necessary, and the issue abundantly justified his forecast.
I DEPARTURE FROM GOD. In the case of Israel, departure from the Lord their God meant either
(1) the formal substitution of another deity for Jehovah, or
(2) widespread disobedience to his Law, moral or ceremonial, or both. With ourselves it signifies one or more of three things.
1. A growing disregard, ending in an absolute indifference, or even denial,of God"s claims.
2. A serious and, in the end, a shameful violation of his moral Law; doingthat which is grievous in his sight and injurious to ourselves and our neighbours.
3. Gradual but growing declension after acquaintance with God; the heartallowing itself to become loosened from sacred ties and attaching itself to other objects separating itself from him and quitting his service.
II ITS PENALTY.
1. Divine displeasure. "Thou be angry with them." A moss serious and most deplorable thing it is to abide beneath the displeasure of our heavenly Father. The anger of love, the righteous anger of holy love, is ill to bear, indeed; it is a heavy weight upon the heart; it is a darkening of the life of man.
2. The triumph of our enemy. "And deliver them over before their enemies," etc. A sad thing it is for the human soul to be at the mercy of its enemy. Sin is a cruel enemy, and exacts a full penalty.
(1) How it robs us of our true treasure of our joy in God, of our gladness in his service, of our likeness to him, of the friendship of Jesus Christ, of the hope of eternal life!
(2) How it smites us with inward compunction, with a sense of our guiltiness and folly, with humiliation at our low estate 1
(3) How it degrades us bringing us down into captivity, so that we are no longer masters of ourselves, but are at the mercy of any tyrannous habit we may have contracted! We are in the land of the enemy; his bonds are upon our soul.
III OUR REPENTANCE AND RETURN.
1. Distress leads to thoughtfulness. "They bethink themselves." We "cometo ourselves", (Luk_15:17) as those who were created to consider and act reasonably; we weigh our condition and our prospects.
2. Thoughtfulness leads to self-rebuke. We reprove ourselves for our folly. We compare or contrast the present with the past, the land whither we have been "carried away captive" with the home of freedom and of sacred joy. We reproach ourselves with our guilt. We are pained and ashamed that we have left him, who is worthy of the riches of our strength, for all that is unworthy; him, to whom we owe everything, for that or for those to whom we owe nothing. We repent of our decision and our deed.
3. Repentance leads to return. We return unto God "with all our heart andwith all our soul." We come with confession; we say freely and sincerely, "We have sinned" (ver. 38). We come with consecration; we offer ourselves, our hearts and lives, unto God, that henceforth we may walk in his ways with a perfect heart. We come in faith; we have hope in his mercy, for we know what will be
IV HIS RECEPTION OF US. He will "forgive his people that have sinned against him" (ver. 39). He will cordially welcome; he will immediately and magnanimously restore C.. (see Luk_15:20-24)
The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On v36 Connecting Statement:
Connecting Statement:
King Solomon continues praying.
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Suppose they sin ... suppose that you are angry ... suppose they realize ... suppose that they repent ... Suppose that they say ... Suppose that they return ... suppose that they pray
When Solomon was speaking, these hypothetical situations had not happened, but Solomon knew that they might happen in the future. Use the form in your language for talking about events that have not happened but might happen in the future. (See: Hypothetical Situations)
hand them over to the enemy
Here "hand them over to the enemy" represents allowing the enemy to capture them. (See: Metaphor)
so that the enemy carries them away
Here "carries them away" represents forcing them to leave their own country. AT: "so that the enemy forces them to leave" (See: Metaphor)
where they have been exiled
This can be stated in active form. AT: "where their enemies have taken them as exiles" (See: Active or Passive)
seek favor from you
"beg you to be merciful to them"
We have acted perversely and sinned. We have behaved wickedly
These two sentences mean the same thing. Together they emphasize how bad the people's actions were. (See: Parallelism)
acted perversely and sinned
The words mean basically the same thing and emphasize how badly the people sinned. (See: Doublet)
they return to you
Here "return to you" represents submitting to Yahweh again. AT: "they submit to you again" (See: Metaphor)
with all their heart and with all their soul
The idioms "with all their heart" means "completely" and "with all their soul" means "with all their being." These two phrases have similar meanings. AT: "completely" (See: Idiom and Doublet)
where they took them as captives
"where their enemies took them as captives"
that they pray toward their land
This refers to Israel. Praying toward Israel would show that they were praying to Yahweh, the God of Israel. AT: "that they pray facing their land" (See: Symbolic Action)
toward the city that you chose
This refers to Jerusalem.
the house that I have built
Solomon speaks of commanding the people to build the temple and telling them how to do it as if he himself had built it. AT: "the house that your people have built under my leadership" or "the house that I and your people have built" (See: Synecdoche)
for your name
Possible meanings are 1) Yahweh's name represents himself. AT: "for you" or 2) Yahweh's name represents his reputation. AT: "for your reputation" (See: Metonymy)
to their prayer and to their requests
The words "prayer" and "requests" mean basically the same thing and emphasize that the people are sincere as they make their requests. AT: "their requests" (See: Doublet)
translationWords
sin
anger
captive
exile
repent
favor
perverse
evil
soul
unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.
Tyndale Open Study Notes 2022 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On v36 6:36-39 Petition 7: Solomon’s prophetic concern that Israel might…
6:36-39 Petition 7: Solomon’s prophetic concern that Israel might be completely exiled is evident in the final petition of his prayer. There were many exiles in the history of Israel, but complete destruction of Jerusalem and its Temple were the greatest challenges to faith. Solomon’s petitions looked to the Temple as a resource for faith; in a foreign land, the people might remember the chosen place and pray. The mention of land, city, and Temple (6:38) suggests total destruction, not partial exile. The Temple might no longer be present, but the people could still direct their prayers to God in heaven, who would hear and forgive.
Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.