1 Kings 8:27 - Printer Friendly

ESV: "But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain you; how much less this house that I have built!

NIV: "But will God really dwell on earth? The heavens, even the highest heaven, cannot contain you. How much less this temple I have built!

NASB: But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain You, how much less this house which I have built!

CSB: But will God indeed live on earth? Even heaven, the highest heaven, cannot contain you, much less this temple I have built.

NLT: 'But will God really live on earth? Why, even the highest heavens cannot contain you. How much less this Temple I have built!

KJV: But will God indeed dwell on the earth? behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house that I have builded?

NKJV: “But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain You. How much less this temple which I have built!

This was originally the first half of a combined text. First Kings records the end of David's reign and the rule of Solomon. After this, the kingdom is split in two. The northern nation of Israel no longer submits to the king of the southern nation, called Judah. The prophet Elijah first appears in this book. The kings mostly fail to honor the Lord. They participate in idolatry and other sins. This will eventually result in their conquest and exile, as depicted throughout the books of Chronicles.

Accessed 6/6/2026 8:00:55 AM