Parallel Verses

A Conservative Version

But who is able to build for him a house, seeing heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain him? Who am I then, that I should build for him a house, except only to burn incense before him?

New American Standard Bible

But who is able to build a house for Him, for the heavens and the highest heavens cannot contain Him? So who am I, that I should build a house for Him, except to burn incense before Him?

King James Version

But who is able to build him an house, seeing the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain him? who am I then, that I should build him an house, save only to burn sacrifice before him?

Holman Bible

But who is able to build a temple for Him, since even heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain Him? Who am I then that I should build a temple for Him except as a place to burn incense before Him?

International Standard Version

But who can build a temple for him, since neither heaven nor the highest of the heavens can contain him? So who am I, that I should build a temple to him, except to burn incense in his presence?

American Standard Version

But who is able to build him a house, seeing heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain him? who am I then, that I should build him a house, save only to burn incense before him?

Amplified

But who is able to build a house for Him, since the heavens and [even] the highest heavens cannot contain Him? Who am I to build a house for Him, except [as a place] to burn incense before Him?

Bible in Basic English

But who may have strength enough to make a house for him, seeing that the heaven and the heaven of heavens are not wide enough to be his resting-place? who am I then to make a house for him? But I am building it only for the burning of perfume before him.

Darby Translation

But who is able to build him a house, seeing the heavens and the heaven of heavens cannot contain him? And who am I that I should build him a house, except to burn sacrifice before him?

Julia Smith Translation

For who shall retain power to build for him a house? for the heavens and the heavens of the heavens shall not contain him: and who am I who shall build to him a house but to burn incense before him?

King James 2000

But who is able to build him a house, seeing the heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain him? who am I then, that I should build him a house, except only to burn sacrifices before him?

Lexham Expanded Bible

Now who indeed has adequate strength to build a house for him? For the heavens and {the highest heavens} are not able to contain him. Now who [am] I that I would build a house for him, except to burn incense before him?

Modern King James verseion

But who is able to build Him a house, since the heavens and heaven of the heavens cannot contain Him? Who am I then, that I should build Him a house, except only to burn sacrifice before Him?

Modern Spelling Tyndale-Coverdale

So that who can be able to build him a house: when that heaven, neither heaven above all heavens, is able to receive him - what am I then that I should build him a house? Nay, but to burn sacrifice before him:

NET Bible

Of course, who can really build a temple for him, since the sky and the highest heavens cannot contain him? Who am I that I should build him a temple! It will really be only a place to offer sacrifices before him.

New Heart English Bible

But who is able to build him a house, since heaven and the heaven of heavens can't contain him? Who am I then, that I should build him a house, except just to burn incense before him?

The Emphasized Bible

But who is able to build unto him a house? for, the heavens, even the heaven of heavens, cannot contain him, - who then am, I, that I should build unto him a house, though only to burn incense before him?

Webster

But who is able to build him a house, seeing the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain him? who am I then that I should build him a house, save only to burn sacrifice before him?

World English Bible

But who is able to build him a house, since heaven and the heaven of heavens can't contain him? who am I then, that I should build him a house, except just to burn incense before him?

Youngs Literal Translation

and who doth retain strength to build to Him a house, for the heavens, even the heavens of the heavens, do not contain Him? and who am I that I do build to Him a house, except to make perfume before Him?

Interlinear

English(KJV)
Strong's
Root Form
Definition
Usage
But who is able
עצר 
`atsar 
Usage: 46

to build
בּנה 
Banah 
Usage: 376

him an house
בּית 
Bayith 
בּית 
Bayith 
Usage: 2053
Usage: 2053

שׁמה שׁמים 
Shamayim 
Usage: 420

and heaven
שׁמה שׁמים 
Shamayim 
Usage: 420

of heavens
שׁמה שׁמים 
Shamayim 
Usage: 420

בּנה 
Banah 
Usage: 376

אם 
'im 
Usage: 999

קטר 
Qatar 
Usage: 116

פּנים 
Paniym 
Usage: 2119

References

Morish

Context Readings

Solomon Petitions The King Of Tyre

5 And the house which I build is great. For our God is great above all gods. 6 But who is able to build for him a house, seeing heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain him? Who am I then, that I should build for him a house, except only to burn incense before him? 7 Now therefore send me a man skilful to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass, and in iron, and in purple, and crimson, and blue, and who knows how to engrave engravings, [to be] with the skilful men who are with me in Judah and


Cross References

1 Kings 8:27

But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain thee. How much less this house that I have built!

2 Chronicles 6:18

But will God in very deed dwell with men on the earth? Behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain thee. How much less this house which I have built!

Exodus 3:11

And Moses said to God, Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the sons of Israel out of Egypt?

Isaiah 66:1

Thus says LORD, Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. What manner of house will ye build to me, and what place shall be my rest?

Deuteronomy 12:5-6

But to the place which LORD your God shall choose out of all your tribes, to put his name there, even to his habitation ye shall seek, and there thou shall come.

Deuteronomy 12:11

then it shall come to pass that to the place which LORD your God shall choose to cause his name to dwell there, there ye shall bring all that I command you: your burnt-offerings, and your sacrifices, your tithes, and the heave-offe

Deuteronomy 12:14

but in the place which LORD shall choose in one of thy tribes. There thou shall offer thy burnt-offerings, and there thou shall do all that I command thee.

Deuteronomy 12:26

Only thy holy things which thou have, and thy vows, thou shall take, and go to the place which LORD shall choose.

2 Samuel 7:18

Then David the king went in, and sat before LORD. And he said, Who am I, O lord LORD, and what is my house, that thou have brought me thus far?

1 Chronicles 29:14

But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort? For all things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee.

2 Chronicles 1:10

Give me now wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people. For who can judge this thy people, that is so great?

Acts 7:48-49

However the Most High does not dwell in man-made temples, just as the prophet says,

2 Corinthians 2:16

to the one an odor of death for death, and to the other an aroma of life for life. And who is adequate for these things?

Ephesians 3:8

To me, a man less than the least of all the sanctified, this grace was given to preach good-news among the Gentiles, the unsearchable wealth of Christ,

King James Version Public Domain

Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers.

International Standard Version Copyright © 1996-2008 by the ISV Foundation.

New American Standard Bible Copyright ©1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org

American Standard Version Public Domain

NET Bible copyright © 1996-2006 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. NetBible

Basic English, produced by Mr C. K. Ogden of the Orthological Institute - public domain