HolyStudy
Bible IndexRead BibleNotesChurchesMissionPrivacyTermsContact
© 2026 HolyStudy
HomeRead BibleBible NotesChurchesSign in
HolyStudy
HomeRead BibleBible NotesChurches
Sign in

1 Kings 6

1

And it came to pass in the four hundred and eightieth year after the children of Israel were come out of the land of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon’s reign over Israel, in the month Zif, which is the second month, that he began to build the house of the Lord.

2

And the house which king Solomon built for the Lord, the length thereof was threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof twenty cubits, and the height thereof thirty cubits.

3

And the porch before the temple of the house, twenty cubits was the length thereof, according to the breadth of the house; and ten cubits was the breadth thereof before the house.

4

And for the house he made windows of narrow lights.

5

And against the wall of the house he built chambers round about, against the walls of the house round about, both of the temple and of the oracle: and he made chambers round about:

1
6

The nethermost chamber was five cubits broad, and the middle was six cubits broad, and the third was seven cubits broad: for without in the wall of the house he made narrowed rests round about, that the beams should not be fastened in the walls of the house.

7

And the house, when it was in building, was built of stone made ready before it was brought thither: so that there was neither hammer nor axe nor any tool of iron heard in the house, while it was in building.

8

The door for the middle chamber was in the right side of the house: and they went up with winding stairs into the middle chamber, and out of the middle into the third.

9

So he built the house, and finished it; and covered the house with beams and boards of cedar.

10

And then he built chambers against all the house, five cubits high: and they rested on the house with timber of cedar.

11

And the word of the Lord came to Solomon, saying,

12

Concerning this house which thou art in building, if thou wilt walk in my statutes, and execute my judgments, and keep all my commandments to walk in them; then will I perform my word with thee, which I spake unto David thy father:

13

And I will dwell among the children of Israel, and will not forsake my people Israel.

14

So Solomon built the house, and finished it.

15

And he built the walls of the house within with boards of cedar, both the floor of the house, and the walls of the cieling: and he covered them on the inside with wood, and covered the floor of the house with planks of fir.

1
16

And he built twenty cubits on the sides of the house, both the floor and the walls with boards of cedar: he even built them for it within, even for the oracle, even for the most holy place.

17

And the house, that is, the temple before it, was forty cubits long.

18

And the cedar of the house within was carved with knops and open flowers: all was cedar; there was no stone seen.

19

And the oracle he prepared in the house within, to set there the ark of the covenant of the Lord.

20

And the oracle in the forepart was twenty cubits in length, and twenty cubits in breadth, and twenty cubits in the height thereof: and he overlaid it with pure gold; and so covered the altar which was of cedar.

21

So Solomon overlaid the house within with pure gold: and he made a partition by the chains of gold before the oracle; and he overlaid it with gold.

22

And the whole house he overlaid with gold, until he had finished all the house: also the whole altar that was by the oracle he overlaid with gold.

23

And within the oracle he made two cherubims of olive tree, each ten cubits high.

24

And five cubits was the one wing of the cherub, and five cubits the other wing of the cherub: from the uttermost part of the one wing unto the uttermost part of the other were ten cubits.

1
25

And the other cherub was ten cubits: both the cherubims were of one measure and one size.

26

The height of the one cherub was ten cubits, and so was it of the other cherub.

27

And he set the cherubims within the inner house: and they stretched forth the wings of the cherubims, so that the wing of the one touched the one wall, and the wing of the other cherub touched the other wall; and their wings touched one another in the midst of the house.

28

And he overlaid the cherubims with gold.

29

And he carved all the walls of the house round about with carved figures of cherubims and palm trees and open flowers, within and without.

30

And the floor of the house he overlaid with gold, within and without.

31

And for the entering of the oracle he made doors of olive tree: the lintel and side posts were a fifth part of the wall.

32

The two doors also were of olive tree; and he carved upon them carvings of cherubims and palm trees and open flowers, and overlaid them with gold, and spread gold upon the cherubims, and upon the palm trees.

33

So also made he for the door of the temple posts of olive tree, a fourth part of the wall.

34

And the two doors were of fir tree: the two leaves of the one door were folding, and the two leaves of the other door were folding.

35

And he carved thereon cherubims and palm trees and open flowers: and covered them with gold fitted upon the carved work.

36

And he built the inner court with three rows of hewed stone, and a row of cedar beams.

37

In the fourth year was the foundation of the house of the Lord laid, in the month Zif:

38

And in the eleventh year, in the month Bul, which is the eighth month, was the house finished throughout all the parts thereof, and according to all the fashion of it. So was he seven years in building it.

← Previous ChapterNext Chapter →

1 Kings 6

The account of the construction of the temple, undertaken over seven years by the labor of Solomon's conscripted workers and Hiram's skilled craftsmen, establishes the physical embodiment of Israel's covenant with YHWH and the architectural realization of David's vision. The chapter details the temple's construction: the stonework and cedar paneling, the inner sanctuary where the ark of the covenant will be placed, and the elaborate decoration with palm trees and open flowers. The specification of the temple's dimensions suggests a structure of considerable size and grandeur, befitting its role as the religious and political center of the kingdom. The chapter records YHWH's address to Solomon upon the completion of the temple: 'If you walk in my statutes, obey my ordinances, and keep all my commandments by walking in them, then I will establish my word with you.' The promise includes a warning: 'But if you turn aside from following me, you or your children, and do not keep my commandments and my statutes that I have set before you, but go and serve other gods and worship them, then I will cut off Israel from the land.' The theological significance lies in the establishment that the temple represents the culmination of the Davidic promise and the physical manifestation of the covenant between YHWH and Israel.

1 Kings 6:28

"And he overlaid the cherubim with gold." — The *golden covering*: *va-yicheh et-ha-keruv zahav* (he overlaid the cherubim with gold). The *golden bodies* of the *cherubim* reflect the *light*, radiating *divine glory*.

1 Kings 6:10

"He also built the structure of side chambers all around the house; he connected it to the house with beams of cedar." — The *side chambers* are structurally integrated via *cedar beams* (*qoroth araz*), which tie the *peripheral structure* to the *central core*.

1 Kings 6:37

"In the fourth year the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid, in the month of Ziv." — The *chronological marker*: the *foundation* (*yesod*) was laid in the *fourth year* of Solomon's reign, in the *month of Ziv* (spring). This verse may indicate the *beginning of construction* (verse 1) or the *laying of foundational stones for the main structure* (in distinction from preparatory work).

1 Kings 6:9

"So he built the house and finished it; and he covered the house with beams and planks of cedar." — The *completion* of the *structural shell*: *va-yiben et-ha-bayit va-yekleh otho* (he built the house and finished it). The *beams* (*qoroth*) and *planks* (*sippim*) of *cedar* (*araz*) provided the *structural ceiling* and *interior lining*.

1 Kings 6:1

"In the four hundred and eightieth year after the people of Israel came out of the land of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon's reign over Israel, in the month of Ziv, which is the second month, he began to build the house of the LORD." — The *chronological framework* is explicit: *ba-shnat arba meot u-shmonim le-tze'et beney Yisra'el me-Eretz Mitzrayim...ba-shnat ha-reviyit le-melukhato...ba-chadesh Ziv* (in the four hundred and eightieth year after Israel came out of Egypt, in the fourth year of his reign, in the month of Ziv). The *480 years* (a symbolic number: 12 generations x 40 years each) links the *Exodus* to the *temple construction*, suggesting a *complete cycle* of redemptive history: liberation, wilderness, conquest, dynasty, sanctuary. The temple construction begins in the *second month* (*Ziv*, later called Iyar), traditionally *spring* and the season for building projects.

1 Kings 6:2

"The house which King Solomon built for the LORD was sixty cubits long, twenty cubits wide, and thirty cubits high." — The *dimensions*: *u-megdat ha-bayit 'asher bana Shlomoh le-YHVH shishim amah ke'arko u-esrim amah rochbo u-shloshim amah gabahohu* (the house was sixty cubits in length, twenty cubits in width, and thirty cubits in height). The *proportions* (3:1 length to width, 1.5:1 height to width) reflect *classical proportions*. The structure is *relatively modest* in size—roughly 27 meters long, 9 meters wide, 13.5 meters high—yet *immensely significant* as the *sanctuary of God's presence*.

1 Kings 6:3

"The vestibule in front of the main hall of the house was twenty cubits in depth, extending the full width of the house. Its depth in front of the house was twenty cubits." — The *porch* (*ulam*) is *twenty cubits deep* (*esrim amah*), extending the full *width* (*rochab ha-bayit*) of the structure. This *entrance vestibule* provides *transition space* between the secular courtyard and the sacred interior. The *proportions* suggest an *imposing gateway*.

1 Kings 6:4

"And he made for the house windows with broad frames." — The *windows* (*challon*) have *broad frames* (*shiqufim*), suggesting *geometric precision*. The exact nature of these windows is debated, but they likely provided *filtered light* while maintaining *privacy* and *separation from external view*.

1 Kings 6:5

"And against the wall of the house he built a structure with rooms all around the walls of the house, both of the main hall and of the inner sanctuary; and he made side chambers all around." — Solomon constructed *chambers* (*tzela'im*, side rooms) *around the main house*: *va-yiben 'al-qir ha-bayit tzela'im sovev sovev* (he built chambers around the walls all around). The *side chambers* (three stories high, as verse 6 specifies) served various functions: *storage*, *priestly quarters*, *treasury*. The *concentric structure*—sanctuary at center, chambers around periphery—suggests a *protective/supportive framework* around the holy place.

1 Kings 6:6

"The lower story of the side structure was five cubits broad, and the middle story was six cubits broad, and the third story was seven cubits broad; for around the outside of the house he made offsets in the wall so that the beams should not be inserted into the walls of the house." — The *three stories* increase in width as they ascend: *chamesh amot rochab*, *shesh amot*, *sheva amot* (five cubits, six cubits, seven cubits). The *offsets* (*rebatzim*, setbacks or shoulders) in the outer wall allowed the *beams* (*qorot*) to rest *without penetrating* the *temple walls* proper. This architectural detail shows *care* to preserve the sanctity of the main structure's walls—no foreign material intrudes into the sacred space.

1 Kings 6:7

"When the house was built, it was with stone prepared at the quarry, so that neither hammer nor axe nor any tool of iron was heard in the house while it was being built." — The *construction silence* is theologically and practically significant: *ve-ha-bayit be-hibanoto even shlemit niskhetah ni-shamat be-ha-bayit lo-hashma'u tsa'ar matteah ve-mahzor ve-kol-keliy barzel* (the house was built with stones cut at the quarry, so that no sound of hammer or axe or any iron tool was heard in the house while it was being built). The *no-sound* requirement suggests *holiness* and *sacredness*—the sanctuary must be built in *silence*, *reverence*, *absence of noise*. This anticipates the later principle that *the temple is a place of sacred quiet*. Practically, stones were *pre-cut*, *fitted*, and *assembled* without on-site modification.

1 Kings 6:8

"The entrance to the lowest story of the side structure was on the south side of the house; and one went up by stairs to the middle story, and from the middle story to the third." — The *access* to the side chambers was via an *entrance on the south side* (*be-ketar-yamim*) with *stairs* (*madregot*) ascending through the *three stories*. The phrase *va-yishlav el-ha-ketzichon meha-kanon ve-meha-kanon el-ha-shilishi* (one went up by stairs from the lowest to the middle, from the middle to the third) suggests a *vertical stack* of chambers accessed by *internal circulation*.

1 Kings 6:11

The Lord's word to Solomon during the temple construction emphasizes that the building's spiritual significance and efficacy depend entirely on Solomon's obedience to divine covenant rather than the magnificence of the structure itself, establishing the theological principle that material splendor without spiritual fidelity is ultimately hollow. God's intervention during the building process serves to remind Solomon that he is not a autonomous ruler establishing his own monument but rather a covenant partner whose authority derives from and remains subordinate to the divine will. This direct communication from the Lord underscores that the temple project has theological dimensions that transcend architecture, involving the establishment of a permanent dwelling place for God's presence among Israel contingent upon continued obedience.

1 Kings 6:12

God's promise to Solomon that He will "dwell among the Israelites" and "not abandon" Israel if Solomon walks in the divine statutes and keeps the commandments reveals the conditional nature of God's presence and blessing—a principle that challenges any presumption of automatic divine favor regardless of human conduct. This verse establishes that the magnificent temple will serve as the locus of God's presence only insofar as the nation's leadership and people honor the covenant obligations that bind them to the Lord, making the temple contingent upon righteousness rather than a talisman guaranteeing divine favor. The explicit mention of maintaining and keeping "all my statutes and ordinances" indicates that obedience encompasses both cultic practices and ethical behavior, ensuring that the temple's sanctity depends upon the holiness of those who worship there.

1 Kings 6:13

"And I will dwell among the children of Israel, and will not forsake my people Israel.'" — God's promise of *immanence*: *ve-shakhanti be-tokhakh beney Yisra'el ve-lo-'a'azov et-'am Yisra'el* (I will dwell among the children of Israel and will not forsake Israel). The *indwelling* (*shakan*) suggests God's *habitation*, *presence*, *commitment* to Israel. The promise of not *forsaking* (*azav*) affirms *eternal covenantal relationship*, even as the condition (verse 12) makes it *conditional*.

1 Kings 6:14

"So Solomon built the house and finished it." — The *second completion formula* marks the *end of the narrative account* of construction and the *beginning of detailed descriptions* of interior features.

1 Kings 6:15

"He lined the walls of the house on the inside with boards of cedar; from the floor of the house to the rafters of the ceiling, he covered them on the inside with wood; and he covered the floor of the house with boards of cypress." — The *interior finish*: cedar *boards* (*luach araz*) line the *walls* (*qirot*), covering from *floor* to *ceiling* (*me-kirah u-'ad ha-qirot*). The *cypress* (*berosh*) *flooring* provides a *finished surface*. The *wood paneling* and *wooden floor* create a *rich, warm interior*, befitting the sanctuary.

1 Kings 6:16

"And he built twenty cubits of the rear of the house with boards of cedar from the floor to the rafters; he thus formed within the house an inner sanctuary, the most holy place." — The *inner sanctuary* (*dvir*, literally "the speaker" or oracle chamber) is separated from the main hall: *va-yiven et-esrim amah ba-achar ha-bayit...ve-yiven otah le-dvir le-kodesh ha-kodashim* (he built twenty cubits of the rear with boards of cedar; he formed within the house an inner sanctuary, the most holy place). The *inner sanctuary* is a *perfect cube* (*twenty cubits* in all dimensions: length, width, height as specified in verse 2), creating the *holiest space* where the *ark of the covenant* will rest. The *Hebrew phrase kodesh ha-kodashim* (holy of holies) is the *absolute superlative of sanctity*.

1 Kings 6:17

"The main hall in front of this room was forty cubits long." — The *main hall* (*ha-bayit ha-chitzon*, the outer house) measured *forty cubits*, leaving *twenty cubits* for the *inner sanctuary* (sixty minus twenty). The *ratio* of outer to inner hall is *2:1*, suggesting *graduated progression* toward increasing holiness.

1 Kings 6:18

"And the cedar on the inside of the house was carved with gourds and open flowers; all was cedar, there was no stone seen." — The *decorative program*: *u-ke'tzurat pa'am u-petach perach* (carved with gourds and open flowers). The *carved ornamentation* suggests *floral motifs*—*gourds* (*pavam*, possibly pomegranates) and *open flowers* (*petach perakim*, blossoms). The *vision of nature* in the sanctuary recalls the *garden symbolism* (Eden, paradise). The phrase *'ayno nir'a even* (no stone was seen) emphasizes the *complete wooden interior*—the *exterior stone walls* are now *hidden* behind *cedar paneling*.

1 Kings 6:19

"The inner sanctuary he prepared in the innermost part of the house to set the ark of the covenant of the LORD there." — The *purpose* of the *inner sanctuary* (*dvir*) is *explicit*: to house the *ark of the covenant* (*aron berit YHVH*). The *ark*, containing the *two tablets of stone* (the law given at Sinai), is the *physical embodiment* of God's *covenant* with Israel. Its placement in the *inner sanctuary* makes that space the *most sacred*, the *place where heaven and earth meet*, where God's *presence* and *Israel's covenant* are united.

1 Kings 6:20

"Now the inner sanctuary was twenty cubits long, twenty cubits wide, and twenty cubits high; and he overlaid it with pure gold." — The *perfect cube*: *u-megdat ha-dvir esrim amah u-esrim amah u-esrim amah...va-yichashu otah zahav tahor* (the inner sanctuary was twenty cubits in all dimensions, and he overlaid it with pure gold). The *cube* is the *perfect geometric form*, symbolizing *completeness* and *divine order*. The *pure gold* (*zahav tahor*) *covers the entire interior*—walls, ceiling, floor—creating a *shining, luminous space* that *radiates holiness* and *reflects divine glory*.

1 Kings 6:21

"And Solomon overlaid the house on the inside with pure gold, and he drew chains of gold across, in front of the inner sanctuary; and he overlaid it with gold." — The *golden overlay* extends beyond the inner sanctuary to the *main house* (*ha-bayit*) itself: *zahav tahor*. The *chains of gold* (*sh'lot zahav*) are drawn *across, in front of the inner sanctuary* (*le-pney ha-dvir*), possibly forming a *golden barrier* or *decorative screen* that separates the *holiest space* from the *lesser holy space*. The *profusion of gold* creates an *impression of overwhelming holiness and divine presence*.

1 Kings 6:22

"And the whole house he overlaid with gold, until all the house was finished; also the whole altar that belonged to the inner sanctuary he overlaid with gold." — The *total golden encasement*: *et-kol ha-bayit...zahav* (the whole house was overlaid with gold). Even the *altar* (*miz-beach*) in the *inner sanctuary* (the *altar of incense*, distinguished from the *bronze altar* in the outer courtyard) was *gold-overlaid*. The *golden sanctuary* becomes a *luminous void*, filled with *divine presence* and *cosmic significance*.

1 Kings 6:23

"In the inner sanctuary he made two cherubim of olivewood, each ten cubits high." — The *cherubim* (*keruvim*, plural of *kerub*, a hybrid creature with human face, animal body, and wings) are carved from *olive wood* (*etzey-zayit*) and measure *ten cubits high* (*eser amot gabaham*). The *cherubim* are *celestial beings*, guardians of sacred space, associated with the *ark of the covenant* (Exodus 25). Their placement in the *inner sanctuary* emphasizes the *otherworldly* and *divine* character of the space.

1 Kings 6:24

The cherubim's measurement of ten cubits in height represents the monumental scale of these angelic guardians flanking the ark of the covenant, illustrating through sheer physical dimension the transcendent power and majesty of the beings who serve as intercessors between heaven and earth. The careful specification of these measurements in the biblical text elevates the cherubim from decorative elements to theological statements, their immense size emphasizing the overwhelming holiness and otherness of the divine presence they protect and surround. Their symbolic role as guardians of God's covenant and throne demonstrates that access to the divine realm is controlled by celestial beings whose very stature reflects the infinite gap between heaven and earth.

1 Kings 6:25

The second cherub, identically measured at ten cubits and positioned to balance and mirror the first, establishes a pattern of divine symmetry and completeness within the holy of holies, suggesting that the pair together creates a complete representation of heavenly order and divine governance. The identical measurements and mutual positioning of both cherubim emphasize theological balance and completeness, preventing any hierarchy or distinction that might compromise the symmetrical perfection reflecting God's transcendent nature. Their wings, extending toward the center of the holy of holies where the ark rested, create a protective canopy over the covenant, symbolizing that God's presence and protection are universally comprehensive for those who approach in faith and obedience.

1 Kings 6:26

"The height of one cherub was ten cubits, and so was that of the other cherub." — The *parallel structure*: both *cherubim* measure *ten cubits*. The *repetition* in the text (*esrim amah gabaham...esrim amah gavahom*) suggests *symmetry* and *perfect correspondence*.

1 Kings 6:27

"And he set the cherubim in the innermost part of the house; and the wings of the cherubim were spread out so that a wing of one was touching the one wall and a wing of the other cherub was touching the other wall; their other wings were touching each other in the middle of the house." — The *placement*: *va-yiten et-ha-keruv be-tokhakh bayit kodesh kodashim* (he set the cherubim in the inner sanctuary). Their *wings touch the walls and each other*: *kanaph ha-kerub echad noge'a be-kir echad u-kanaph ha-kerub ha-sheni noge'a be-kir ha-sheni...ve-knafeyhen bi-tokhakh ha-bayit noguot* (one wing of each touches the wall, and their other wings touch in the middle). The *configuration* creates a *protective arch* over the *ark*, their *wings forming a canopy* (*kapporet*, the mercy seat, the covering of the ark where the divine presence is localized).

1 Kings 6:29

"And he carved all the walls of the house round about with carved figures of cherubim, palm trees, and open flowers, both in the inner room and in the outer room." — The *decorative program* of the *walls* includes *cherubim* (*keruvim*), *palm trees* (*tmarim*), and *flowers* (*perachim*). The *carved figures* appear *throughout* the sanctuary—*both in the inner room and the outer room* (*be-dvir u-ve-chavatzrat ha-bayit*). The *symbols* create a *visual theology*: *cherubim* represent *divine presence and protection*, *palms* suggest *victory, triumph*, *flowers* suggest *life, beauty, paradise*. Together they transform the sanctuary into a *cosmic garden* where *heaven and earth meet*.

1 Kings 6:30

"And the floor of the house he overlaid with gold, both in the inner room and in the outer room." — The *golden floor* (*ritzpat ha-bayit zahav*) extends throughout, creating a *unified golden surface* from which *the divine presence radiates upward*.

1 Kings 6:31

"For the entrance to the inner sanctuary, he made doors of olivewood; the lintel and the sidewalls made a pentagon." — The *doors* (*delatayim*) of the *inner sanctuary* are *olive wood* (*etzey-zayit*), matching the *cherubim*. The *architectural detail*—*lintel and sidewalls form a pentagon* (*chamesh tzla'im*, five sides)—suggests an *elaborate entranceway* with *geometric precision*. The *pentagon* (five-sided figure) is unusual in temple architecture and may indicate *special sanctity*.

1 Kings 6:32

"And on the doors of olivewood he carved cherubim, palm trees, and open flowers; and he overlaid them with gold, and spread the gold upon the cherubim and upon the palm trees." — The *doors* themselves are *decorated*: *cherubim* and *palms* are *carved* into the *olivewood*, and then *overlaid with gold*. The *golden covering* emphasizes the *sacredness* of the *threshold* between the *outer* and *inner sanctuary*.

1 Kings 6:33

"So also he made for the entrance of the main hall doorposts of olivewood, a four-sided frame." — The *main entrance* (*petach ha-bayit*) has *doorposts* (*mezuzot*) of *olive wood* and a *four-sided frame*, creating a *regular rectangular entrance* (contrasting with the *pentagonal door* to the inner sanctuary).

1 Kings 6:34

"And two doors of cypress wood; the two leaves of the one door were folding, and the two leaves of the other door were folding." — The *main doors* (*delatayim*) are *cypress* (*berosh*), with *folding leaves* (*notzrim*—wings or panels that fold). The *double doors with folding panels* allow *flexible access and closure*.

1 Kings 6:35

"On them he carved cherubim and palm trees and open flowers; and he overlaid them with gold fitted upon the carved work." — The *doors* to the *main hall* are similarly *decorated* with *cherubim*, *palms*, and *flowers*, all *overlaid with gold*, creating *visual consistency* throughout the sanctuary.

1 Kings 6:36

"And he built the inner court with three rows of hewn stone and one row of cedar beams." — The *inner court* (*azarat ha-phenimith*, the inner courtyard) has *walls* (*qirot*) of *three rows of hewn stone* and *one row of cedar beams*. This *composite construction*—stone and wood alternating—provides both *structural strength* and *aesthetic elegance*.

1 Kings 6:38

"And in the eleventh year, in the month of Bul, which is the eighth month, the house was finished in all its details and according to all its specifications. He was seven years in building it." — The *completion*: in the *eleventh year*, *eighth month* (*Bul*, later called Marheshvan, autumn), the *temple was finished*. The phrase *le-kol-dabar u-le-kol-mishpato* (according to all its details and specifications) emphasizes the *thoroughness* and *precision*. The *total building time*—*sheva shanim* (seven years)—is *symbolically complete*, suggesting a *full cycle* of creation (seven days) extended to *seven years*. The *temple construction* is thus framed as a *new creation*, bringing *cosmic order* and *divine presence* into physical reality.