1 Kings 8:5

5 and King Solomon and the entire assembly of Israel that had gathered about him were before the ark, sacrificing so many sheep and cattle that they could not be recorded or counted.

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1 Kings 8:5 in Other Translations

King James Version (KJV)
5 And king Solomon, and all the congregation of Israel, that were assembled unto him, were with him before the ark, sacrificing sheep and oxen, that could not be told nor numbered for multitude.
English Standard Version (ESV)
5 And King Solomon and all the congregation of Israel, who had assembled before him, were with him before the ark, sacrificing so many sheep and oxen that they could not be counted or numbered.
New Living Translation (NLT)
5 There, before the Ark, King Solomon and the entire community of Israel sacrificed so many sheep, goats, and cattle that no one could keep count!
The Message Bible (MSG)
5 King Solomon and the entire congregation of Israel were there at the Chest worshiping and sacrificing huge numbers of sheep and cattle - so many that no one could keep track.
American Standard Version (ASV)
5 And king Solomon and all the congregation of Israel, that were assembled unto him, were with him before the ark, sacrificing sheep and oxen, that could not be counted nor numbered for multitude.
GOD'S WORD Translation (GW)
5 while King Solomon with the whole assembly from Israel were offering countless sheep and cattle sacrifices in front of the ark.
Holman Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
5 King Solomon and the entire congregation of Israel, who had gathered around him and were with him in front of the ark, were sacrificing sheep and cattle that could not be counted or numbered, because there were so many.
New International Reader's Version (NIRV)
5 The entire community of Israel had gathered around King Solomon. All of them were in front of the ark. They sacrificed huge numbers of sheep and cattle. There were so many that they couldn't be recorded. In fact, they couldn't even be counted.

1 Kings 8:5 Meaning and Commentary

1 Kings 8:5

And King Solomon, and all the congregation of Israel, that were
assembled together
On this solemn occasion:

were with him before the ark;
while it was in the court of the priests, before it was carried into the most holy place:

sacrificing sheep and oxen, that could not be told nor numbered for
multitude;
the phrase seems to be hyperbolical, and designed to denote a great number.

1 Kings 8:5 In-Context

3 When all the elders of Israel had arrived, the priests took up the ark,
4 and they brought up the ark of the LORD and the tent of meeting and all the sacred furnishings in it. The priests and Levites carried them up,
5 and King Solomon and the entire assembly of Israel that had gathered about him were before the ark, sacrificing so many sheep and cattle that they could not be recorded or counted.
6 The priests then brought the ark of the LORD’s covenant to its place in the inner sanctuary of the temple, the Most Holy Place, and put it beneath the wings of the cherubim.
7 The cherubim spread their wings over the place of the ark and overshadowed the ark and its carrying poles.

Cross References 1

  • 1. S 2 Samuel 6:13; S 2 Chronicles 30:24
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