What Does 1 Kings 8:54 Mean in the King James?
And it was so, that when Solomon had made an end of praying all this prayer and supplication unto the LORD, he arose from before the altar of the LORD, from kneeling on his knees with his hands spread up to 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 Hebrew word for “knees” shares its root with “bless,” so the bowed posture carries blessing in its very name.
THE MEANING
The prayer reaches its close, and the body rises from its kneeling while the hands remain spread toward the heavens. The scene holds a reader in a posture both yielded and open: bent knees, open hands. Supplication is an appeal rooted in favor, not a grip that can force an answer.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
Prayer is only words; the body has no place in it.
THE ROOT
בִּרְכָּיו
birkav
GROWS FROM
ברך
b-r-k
Knee or bending; the same Hebrew root also forms the word for blessing.
The verse’s word for “knees” carries the root ברך, also found in the Hebrew word for “bless.” The bowed posture is therefore linked to blessing in the language itself.
ALSO GROWS
berekh: Knee
בֶּרֶךְ
This is the body part named in the verse, directly expressing the root’s bodily sense.
barakh: Bless
בָּרַךְ
This branch shares the root with “knees,” linking the act of bending with blessing.
תְּחִנָּה
teḥinnah
GROWS FROM
חנן
ḥ-n-n
Show favor; be gracious.
The word translated “supplication” grows from the root for showing favor. The plea is not only a request; its language carries an appeal for favor.
ALSO GROWS
ḥen: Favor
חֵן
This branch names what the supplication appeals to.
ḥanan: Show favor; be gracious
חָנַן
This verb shares the seed of “supplication,” making the appeal’s relation to favor explicit.
THE PATTERN
Prayer takes visible shape through the body: bent knees, lifted hands, and an open heart give the appeal form.
Hear the voice of my supplications, when I cry unto thee, when I lift up my hands toward thy holy oracle.Let us lift up our heart with our hands unto God in the heavens.I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.THE THREAD
Have mercy upon me, O LORD; for I am weak: O LORD, heal me; for my bones are vexed.The Hebrew behind “Have mercy” comes from the same חנן root as “supplication” here. The psalm voices that root as a direct appeal: “show me favor.”
Read the SDV Bible.
Every verse has a Deep Dive in the app.
The iPhone Bible app with the Selah Decoded Version.
Does something in this reading look wrong? Tell us