And Solomon offered a sacrifice of peace offerings, which he offered unto the LORD, two and twenty thousand oxen, and an hundred and twenty thousand sheep. So the king and all the children of Israel dedicated the house of the LORD.

1 KINGS 8:63KJV
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1 Kings 8:63 (KJV)

What does 1 Kings 8:63 mean?

1 Kings 8:63 describes King Solomon offering an enormous number of peace offerings—22,000 oxen and 120,000 sheep—to the LORD as part of dedicating the newly built temple in Jerusalem. This verse highlights the scale of the celebration and the collective participation of Solomon and all the Israelites in setting apart the temple for God.

The verse is set during the dedication ceremony of the temple, with Solomon as king leading the people of Israel in worship. The sacrifices, called "peace offerings," were a way to express gratitude and fellowship with God. The huge numbers show the importance of the event and the unity of the nation in honoring the LORD.

The Hebrew behind 1 Kings 8:63

  • "Offered" (זָבַח, zāvaḥ): This word means to slaughter or sacrifice, specifically in a ritual context. It emphasizes that these were not ordinary slaughters but formal acts of worship.
  • "Peace offerings" (שֶׁלֶם, shelem): This type of offering was about expressing thanks and seeking peace or well-being with God, not just atonement for sin. It involved sharing the meal with others, which fit the communal celebration.
  • "Dedicated" (חָנַךְ, ḥanakh): This word means to inaugurate or set apart for a special purpose. Here, it marks the official beginning of the temple's use as a place for worshiping the LORD (יְהוָה, YHWH).

Why 1 Kings 8:63 matters

  • The verse shows the extraordinary scale of Solomon’s dedication, underlining how significant the temple was for Israel’s worship and national identity.
  • The mention of "peace offerings" (שֶׁלֶם, shelem) clarifies that this was a joyful, communal event, not just a solemn or private ritual.
  • By noting that "all the children of Israel" participated, the verse emphasizes national unity and shared commitment to the LORD at a key moment in Israel’s history.

Where else these words appear

“dedicated” Hebrew H2596 · used in 4 verses

  • Deuteronomy 20:5 And the officers shall speak unto the people, saying, What man is there that hath built a new house, and hath not dedicated it? let him go and return to his house, lest he die in the battle, and another man dedicate it.
  • 2 Chronicles 7:5 And king Solomon offered a sacrifice of twenty and two thousand oxen, and an hundred and twenty thousand sheep: so the king and all the people dedicated the house of God.
  • Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

“offerings” Hebrew H8002 · used in 84 verses

  • Exodus 20:24 An altar of earth thou shalt make unto me, and shalt sacrifice thereon thy burnt offerings, and thy peace offerings, thy sheep, and thine oxen: in all places where I record my name I will come unto thee, and I will bless thee.
  • Leviticus 9:22 And Aaron lifted up his hand toward the people, and blessed them, and came down from offering of the sin offering, and the burnt offering, and peace offerings.
  • Joshua 22:27 But that it may be a witness between us, and you, and our generations after us, that we might do the service of the LORD before him with our burnt offerings, and with our sacrifices, and with our peace offerings; that your children may not say to our children in time to come, Ye have no part in the LORD.

“offered” Hebrew H2076 · used in 127 verses

  • Genesis 31:54 Then Jacob offered sacrifice upon the mount, and called his brethren to eat bread: and they did eat bread, and tarried all night in the mount.
  • 1 Samuel 1:21 And the man Elkanah, and all his house, went up to offer unto the LORD the yearly sacrifice, and his vow.
  • 2 Chronicles 15:11 And they offered unto the LORD the same time, of the spoil which they had brought, seven hundred oxen and seven thousand sheep.