1 Kings 8:46-47
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This verse holds a beautiful, often overlooked honesty: Solomon acknowledges upfront that Israel will sin, and God's response will be just. The surprise isn't that people sin, but that God’s pronouncement includes the phrase "for there is no one who does not sin," showing a profound understanding of human frailty woven into His covenant. This isn't a loophole, but an honest assessment of the reality of life before a holy God.
“If they sin against you—for there is no one who does not sin—and you are angry with them and give them to an enemy, so that they are carried away captive to the land of the enemy, far off or near, yet if they turn their heart in the land to which they have been carried captive, and repent and plead with you in the land of their captors, saying, ‘We have sinned and have acted perversely and wickedly,’
English Standard Version (ESV)
Solomon has just dedicated the magnificent Temple in Jerusalem, a place where God's presence is meant to dwell. In this prayer, he anticipates that the people of Israel, despite this sacred space, will inevitably fall into sin and face God's discipline. This verse sets up the plea for God's mercy when they are exiled and suffering because of their disobedience.
Solomon stands before the Lord, dedicating the magnificent temple. Yet, even in this moment of awe and worship, he acknowledges a stark reality about humanity.
The Honest Admission
When Solomon dedicates the temple, he's not just praising God's glory; he's also laying out the terms of the covenant and Israel's potential failures. In this verse, he makes a breathtakingly honest statement: 'for there is no one who does not sin.'
This isn't a hesitant maybe or a conditional possibility. It's a bold, unqualified declaration about the human condition. It means that every single person, from the highest king to the humblest servant, is susceptible to sin. No amount of wisdom, wealth, or religious devotion can make someone immune.
Solomon connects sin directly to a severe, tangible consequence for the nation of Israel. What happens when this universal reality plays out on a national scale?
God's Judgment and Discipline
The verse doesn't just state that sin happens; it outlines what happens because of sin. When 'they sin against you,' God's response is anger, leading to being 'give them to an enemy.'
This 'giving to an enemy' refers to the practice of exile – being defeated and carried away captive. For ancient Israel, this was a direct consequence of breaking their covenant with God. It was a form of discipline, designed to bring them to their senses and back to Him. The lands of the enemies, 'far off or near,' emphasize the thoroughness and severity of this judgment.
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Understand the original words
chata · Hebrew Verb
The act of missing the mark of God's standard, a failure to conform to His moral law in thought, word, or deed. It represents a state of rebellion or estrangement from God that is universal to the human condition.
anaph · Hebrew Verb
Divine displeasure or righteous judgment expressed toward rebellion against His holiness. It is not an irrational emotion but a settled, holy reaction of God against everything that contradicts His nature.
shebiy · Hebrew Noun
To be taken prisoner or subdued by an adversary; often used in the context of divine judgment where God allows His people to be brought under the control of foreign nations due to covenant unfaithfulness.
shub · Hebrew Verb
A fundamental turning or returning to God. It involves a genuine change of mind and direction, moving away from sinful ways back toward obedience to the Lord.
shub · Hebrew Verb
A profound turning away from sin and toward God, characterized by regret, confession, and a resolve to change one's path. It is the essential response to God's conviction of sin.
avah · Hebrew Verb
To act in a way that is twisted, distorted, or contrary to what is right; it denotes a willful perversion of truth or moral integrity.
rasha · Hebrew Adjective/Verb
A state of moral wrongness, guilt, or deliberate rebellion against God's law. It describes the condition or action of one who has consciously chosen to depart from God's righteous requirements.
This verse, spoken by Solomon at the dedication of the Temple, directly anticipates the catastrophic consequences of Israel's persistent sin: the destruction of their beloved city and Temple and their exile to foreign lands, events that profoundly shaped Jewish identity and theology.
c. 970 BC
Division of the Kingdom
After Solomon's death, the united kingdom of Israel splits into two: the northern Kingdom of Israel and the southern Kingdom of Judah. This division creates lasting political instability and conflict.
722 BC
Fall of Samaria
The Assyrian Empire conquers the northern Kingdom of Israel, deporting many of its people. This event serves as a stark warning for Judah about the consequences of disobedience.
605 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon conquers Jerusalem and deports a group of Israelites, including Daniel. This marks the beginning of Judah's Babylonian exile.
597 BC
Second Deportation to Babylon
Babylon captures Jerusalem again, exiling King Jehoiachin and thousands more. The prophet Ezekiel is among this group, ministering to the exiles.
586 BC— this verse
Destruction of Jerusalem and Temple
Nebuchadnezzar's forces finally destroy Jerusalem and Solomon's magnificent Temple. Most of the remaining population is exiled to Babylon, fulfilling the dire warnings of the prophets.
539 BC
Cyrus Permits Return
The Persian king Cyrus the Great conquers Babylon and issues a decree allowing the Jewish exiles to return to Jerusalem and rebuild their Temple. This marks the end of the Babylonian exile.
This passage is essentially the same prayer from Solomon, reinforcing the idea that Solomon himself acknowledged universal human sinfulness before God.
Ecclesiastes 7:20This wisdom literature directly echoes the sentiment of 1 Kings 8:46, stating, 'Indeed, there is no righteous person on earth who continually does good and never sins.'
Romans 3:23The Apostle Paul directly quotes and expands on this biblical truth, declaring that 'all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,' making it a foundational concept in the New Testament understanding of sin.
1 John 1:8This verse offers a powerful contrast and a path forward, reminding believers that 'If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us,' while also pointing to confession and cleansing.
This verse holds a beautiful, often overlooked honesty: Solomon acknowledges upfront that Israel will sin, and God's response will be just. The surprise isn't that people sin, but that God’s pronouncement includes the phrase "for there is no one who does not sin," showing a profound understanding of human frailty woven into His covenant. This isn't a loophole, but an honest assessment of the reality of life before a holy God.
Solomon has just dedicated the magnificent Temple in Jerusalem, a place where God's presence is meant to dwell. In this prayer, he anticipates that the people of Israel, despite this sacred space, will inevitably fall into sin and face God's discipline. This verse sets up the plea for God's mercy when they are exiled and suffering because of their disobedience.
Solomon has just dedicated the magnificent Temple in Jerusalem, a place where God's presence is meant to dwell. In this prayer, he anticipates that the people of Israel, despite this sacred space, will inevitably fall into sin and face God's discipline. This verse sets up the plea for God's mercy when they are exiled and suffering because of their disobedience.
"“If they sin against you—for there is no one who does not sin—and you are angry with them and give them to an enemy, so that they are carried away captive to the land of the enemy, far off or near, yet if they turn their heart in the land…" — This verse holds a beautiful, often overlooked honesty: Solomon acknowledges upfront that Israel will sin, and God's response will be just. The surprise isn't that people sin, but that God’s pronou…
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Last reviewed October 2026
