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1 Kings 8:47

Old Testament Historical ASV (1901)

What does 1 Kings 8:47 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “yet if they shall bethink themselves in the land whither they are carried captive, and turn again, and make supplication unto thee in the land of them that carried them captive, saying, We have sinned, and have done perversely, we have dealt wickedly;” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

yet if they shall bethink themselves in the land whither they are carried captive, and turn again, and make supplication unto thee in the land of them that carried them captive, saying, We have sinned, and have done perversely, we have dealt wickedly;
1 Kings 8:47 — American Standard Version

Context — 1 Kings 8

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
44If thy people go out to battle against their enemy, by whatsoever way thou shalt send them, and they pray unto Jehovah toward the city which thou hast chosen, and toward the house which I have built for thy name;
45then hear thou in heaven their prayer and their supplication, and maintain their cause.
46If 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 the land of the enemy, far off or near;
47yet if they shall bethink themselves in the land whither they are carried captive, and turn again, and make supplication unto thee in the land of them that carried them captive, saying, We have sinned, and have done perversely, we have dealt wickedly;
48if they return unto thee with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their enemies, who carried them captive, and pray unto thee toward their land, which thou gavest unto their fathers, the city which thou hast chosen, and the house which I have built for thy name:
49then hear thou their prayer and their supplication in heaven thy dwelling-place, and maintain their cause;
50and forgive thy people who have sinned against thee, and all their transgressions wherein they have transgressed against thee; and give them compassion before those who carried them captive, that they may have compassion on them
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“Yet if they shall bethink themselves in the land whither they were carried captives, etc.] Or, “return to their heart” f157; remember their sins, the cause of their captivity, and reflect upon them: and repent of them, and make supplication unto thee in the land of them that carried them captives; though and while they are in such a state: saying, we have sinned, and have done perversely, we have committed wickedness; which phrases include all their sins, with all the aggravated circumstances of them, and their sense of them, and contrition for them.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Bethink themselves - literally, as in the margin - i. e. “reflect,” “consider seriously.” Compare Deuteronomy 30:1. Sinned, done perversely, committed wickedness - The words here used seem to have become the standard form of expressing contrition when the time of the captivity arrived and the Israelites were forcibly removed to Babylon (compare the margin reference). The three expressions are thought to form a climax, rising from negative to positive guilt, and from mere wrongful acts to depravation of the moral character. return to 'Top of Page'”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“Yet if they: Lev 26:40-45; Deu 4:29-31, Deu 30:1, Deu 30:2; Ch2 6:37, Ch2 33:12, Ch2 33:13; Eze 16:61, Eze 16:63; Eze 18:28; Hag 1:7; Luk 15:17 bethink themselves: Heb. bring back to their heart saying: Ezr 9:6, Ezr 9:7; Neh 1:6-11, Neh 9:26-30; Psa 106:6; Isa 64:6-12; Dan 9:5-11; Zac 12:10 done perversely: Job 33:27, Job 33:28; Jer 31:18-20; Luk 15:18 3 Kings (1 Kings) 8:48”
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