The Meaning of 1 Kings 8:41 Explained

1 Kings 8:41

KJV: Moreover concerning a stranger, that is not of thy people Israel, but cometh out of a far country for thy name's sake;

YLT: And also, unto the stranger who is not of Thy people Israel, and hath come from a land afar off for Thy name's sake --

Darby: And as to the stranger also, who is not of thy people Israel, but cometh out of a far country for thy name's sake

ASV: Moreover concerning the foreigner, that is not of thy people Israel, when he shall come out of a far country for thy name's sake;

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Moreover concerning a stranger,  that [is] not of thy people  Israel,  but cometh out  of a far  country  for  thy name's  sake; 

What does 1 Kings 8:41 Mean?

Context Summary

1 Kings 8:33-43 - Appeals To The God Of Mercy
Solomon's prayer is evidently based on the book of Deuteronomy, and tends to confirm the old belief that, with the rest of the Pentateuch, this book came from the hand of Moses. In 2 Chronicles 20:7-9, Jehoshaphat pleaded this prayer as though it were substantially a promise, and therefore all needy souls who find their case described here, may plead it on their own behalf.
Notice how frequently Solomon speaks of prayer, even in the land of captivity and exile, as being-directed toward the Temple, 1 Kings 8:38, etc. It reminds us of the grave need of maintaining unimpaired our spiritual frontage. It has been truly said that the direction of the soul's outlook is the preliminary question in religion. Whether our home looks south or north; whether it faces sunless alleys or sunny fields, is an important physical consideration with us: It is likewise of great importance that the mind or soul should face the right way. The difference between spiritual health and disease is very largely one of the way in which we front. For us, Temple, Altar, and Mercy-Seat are all summed up in Jesus Christ. Our life must be spent looking unto Him, Hebrews 12:2.
1 Kings 8:1-66 - Breaking Three Commandments
From a worldly point of view Naboth might have done a good stroke of business by selling his estate to. Ahab. A royal price and assured favor might have been his-but he had a conscience! Above the persuasive tones of the monarch's offer sounded the voice of God: "The land shall not be sold for ever, for the land is mine." See Leviticus 25:23; Numbers 36:7; Ezekiel 46:18.
Ahab knew perfectly well that Jezebel could not give him the property of another except by foul means, but he took pains not to inquire. Though the direct orders for Naboth's death did not come from him, yet, by his silence, he was an accomplice and an accessory; and divine justice penetrates all such specious excuses. God holds us responsible for wrongs which we do not arrest, though we have the power. The crime was blacker because of the pretext of religion, as suggested by a fast. See also 2 Kings 9:26. The blood of murdered innocence cries to God, and his requital, though delayed, is inevitable. See Revelation 6:9-10. [source]

Chapter Summary: 1 Kings 8

1  The feast of the temple
12  Solomon's blessing
22  Solomon's prayer
54  Solomon's blessing
62  His sacrifice of peace offerings

What do the individual words in 1 Kings 8:41 mean?

Moreover concerning a foreigner who not of Your people Israel is but has come from a country far for sake of Your name
וְגַם֙ אֶל־ הַנָּכְרִ֔י אֲשֶׁ֛ר לֹא־ מֵעַמְּךָ֥ יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל ה֑וּא וּבָ֛א מֵאֶ֥רֶץ רְחוֹקָ֖ה לְמַ֥עַן שְׁמֶֽךָ

וְגַם֙  Moreover 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Conjunction
Root: גַּם  
Sense: also, even, indeed, moreover, yea.
אֶל־  concerning 
Parse: Preposition
Root: אֶל  
Sense: to, toward, unto (of motion).
הַנָּכְרִ֔י  a  foreigner 
Parse: Article, Adjective, masculine singular
Root: נָכְרִי  
Sense: foreign, alien.
מֵעַמְּךָ֥  of  Your  people 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: עַם 
Sense: nation, people.
יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל  Israel 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יִשְׂרָאֵל  
Sense: the second name for Jacob given to him by God after his wrestling with the angel at Peniel.
וּבָ֛א  but  has  come 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: בֹּוא 
Sense: to go in, enter, come, go, come in.
מֵאֶ֥רֶץ  from  a  country 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, feminine singular
Root: אֶרֶץ  
Sense: land, earth.
רְחוֹקָ֖ה  far 
Parse: Adjective, feminine singular
Root: רָחֹוק  
Sense: remote, far, distant, distant lands, distant ones.
לְמַ֥עַן  for  sake 
Parse: Preposition
Root: לְמַעַן 
Sense: purpose, intent prep.
שְׁמֶֽךָ  of  Your  name 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: שֵׁם  
Sense: name.