What Does 1 Kings 8:22 Mean in the King James?
And Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence of all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth his hands toward heaven:
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
The prayer begins as a bodily opening: Solomon spreads his palms toward heaven before the whole assembly.
THE MEANING
Here, an act of address is already embodied: a person stands at the altar among the gathered people and spreads open palms toward heaven. The posture makes the address visible to the community while directing it heavenward.
THE ROOT
וַיִּפְרֹשׂ
vayyifros
GROWS FROM
פרשׂ
p-r-ś
to spread out or extend wide
“spread forth” in this verse is vayyifros. This verb names the physical act of extending something across space. The same root describes Moses spreading his palms toward the LORD and a garment spread over someone; the shared word connects reaching outward with extending a covering.
ALSO GROWS
spread abroad: extend the palms outward
Exodus uses the same verb for Moses spreading his hands toward the LORD, echoing Solomon’s gesture.
spread: extend a covering over someone
In Ruth, the same root describes spreading a garment, showing that its movement can extend beyond a gesture toward heaven to a covering laid over another.
THE PATTERN
Address takes visible form when hands extend toward the one being addressed.
And Moses said unto him, As soon as I am gone out of the city, I will spread abroad my hands unto the LORD; and the thunder shall cease, neither shall there be any more hail; that thou mayest know how that the earth is the LORD’s.I stretch forth my hands unto thee: my soul thirsteth after thee, as a thirsty land. Selah.I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.THE THREAD
And Moses said unto him, As soon as I am gone out of the city, I will spread abroad my hands unto the LORD; and the thunder shall cease, neither shall there be any more hail; that thou mayest know how that the earth is the LORD’s.Exodus uses the same Hebrew verb, פרשׂ (paras, “spread out”), for Moses extending his hands toward the LORD. The shared word links Solomon’s public gesture at the altar with Moses’ gesture amid the storm.
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