1 Kings 8:41 (LSB)

Passage

“Also concerning the foreigner who is not of Your people Israel, if he comes from a far country for Your name’s sake

Nearby Context

1 Kings 8:39 then listen in heaven Your dwelling place, and forgive and act and give to each according to all his ways, whose heart You know, for You alone know the hearts of all the sons of men,

1 Kings 8:40 that they may fear You all the days that they live upon the face of the land which You have given to our fathers.

1 Kings 8:41 “Also concerning the foreigner who is not of Your people Israel, if he comes from a far country for Your name’s sake

1 Kings 8:42 (for they will hear of Your great name and Your strong hand, and of Your outstretched arm); so if he comes and prays toward this house,

1 Kings 8:43 listen in heaven Your dwelling place, and do according to all for which the foreigner calls to You, in order that all the peoples of the earth may know Your name to fear You, as do Your people Israel, and to know that Your name is called upon this house which I have built.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "concerning", "foreigner", "people", "israel", "comes", "country", "name", and "sake". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "concerning" and "foreigner", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 40's "that they may fear You all the..." into verse 42's "for they will hear of Your great...", so "concerning" and "foreigner" belong inside that flow. In 1 Kings context, the local focus is covenant, worship, and faithfulness.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "concerning" and "foreigner" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.