1 Kings 8:66On the eighth day he sent the people away; and they blessed the king, and went to their tents joyful and glad of heart for all the goodness that Yahweh had shown to David his servant, and to Israel his people.
The setting
Jerusalem, Israel, ~950 BC. Dawn of the eighth day. Thousands of Israelites pack their belongings after the greatest celebration in their nation's history...
The emotion here: recording with amazement at the people's unity and joy
The original word
śāmēaḥ (שָׂמֵחַ) — deep satisfaction and contentment, not just happiness but fulfillment
Why it matters
This was a 14-day celebration — 7 days for temple dedication plus 7 for the Feast of Tabernacles
Read with care
What most readers miss in 1 Kings 8:66
They blessed the KING, not just God — showing how a godly leader brings joy to people
Common misconceptionPeople think this is just about a party ending, but it represents the peak moment when Israel was most unified and blessed under God's covenant.
The thread continues
Verses that echo 1 Kings 8:66
Bible Genome reading
1 Kings 8:66 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
1 Kings 8:66 comes from the book of 1 Kings, written during the United Kingdom period. The setting is the Temple. These words are attributed to Narrator. The dominant emotion in this verse is joyful, with a comfort power of 70% and a tone that is joyful. It belongs to the narrative genre of biblical literature. Key themes include joy, gratitude, God's goodness. Notable phrases: joyful and glad of heart; goodness that Yahweh.
Emotionally similar
Verses that meet the same joyful
“For to us a child is born. To us a son is given; and the government will be on his shoulders. His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, …”
— Isaiah 9:6
“For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.”
— 1 Corinthians 15:22
“"Death, where is your sting? Hades, where is your victory?"”
— 1 Corinthians 15:55
“Rejoice always.”
— 1 Thessalonians 5:16
“Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old things have passed away. Behold, all things have become new.”
— 2 Corinthians 5:17
Your reflection
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