Worthy.Bible » Parallel » 1 Kings » Chapter 6 » Verse 1-38

1 Kings 6:1-38 King James Version (KJV)

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:

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 ceiling: and he covered them on the inside with wood, and covered the floor of the house with planks of fir.

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 cherubim 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.

25 And the other cherub was ten cubits: both the cherubim 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 cherubim within the inner house: and they stretched forth the wings of the cherubim, 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 cherubim with gold.

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

30 And the floors 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 cherubim and palm trees and open flowers, and overlaid them with gold, and spread gold upon the cherubim, 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 cherubim 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.


1 Kings 6:1-38 King James Version with Strong's Concordance (STRONG)

1 And it came to pass in the four H702 hundred H3967 H8141 and eightieth H8084 year H8141 after the children H1121 of Israel H3478 were come out H3318 of the land H776 of Egypt, H4714 in the fourth H7243 year H8141 of Solomon's H8010 reign H4427 over Israel, H3478 in the month H2320 Zif, H2099 which is the second H8145 month, H2320 that he began to build H1129 the house H1004 of the LORD. H3068

2 And the house H1004 which king H4428 Solomon H8010 built H1129 for the LORD, H3068 the length H753 thereof was threescore H8346 cubits, H520 and the breadth H7341 thereof twenty H6242 cubits, and the height H6967 thereof thirty H7970 cubits. H520

3 And the porch H197 before H6440 the temple H1964 of the house, H1004 twenty H6242 cubits H520 was the length H753 thereof, according to the breadth H7341 of the house; H1004 and ten H6235 cubits H520 was the breadth H7341 thereof before the house. H1004

4 And for the house H1004 he made H6213 windows H2474 of narrow H331 lights. H8261

5 And against the wall H7023 of the house H1004 he built H1129 chambers H3326 H3326 round about, H5439 against the walls H7023 of the house H1004 round about, H5439 both of the temple H1964 and of the oracle: H1687 and he made H6213 chambers H6763 round about: H5439

6 The nethermost H8481 chamber H3326 H3326 was five H2568 cubits H520 broad, H7341 and the middle H8484 was six H8337 cubits H520 broad, H7341 and the third H7992 was seven H7651 cubits H520 broad: H7341 for without in the wall of H2351 the house H1004 he made H5414 narrowed rests H4052 round about, H5439 that the beams should not be fastened H270 in the walls H7023 of the house. H1004

7 And the house, H1004 when it was in building, H1129 was built H1129 of stone H68 made ready H8003 before it was brought H4551 thither: so that there was neither hammer H4717 nor axe H1631 nor any tool H3627 of iron H1270 heard H8085 in the house, H1004 while it was in building. H1129

8 The door H6607 for the middle H8484 chamber H6763 was in the right H3233 side H3802 of the house: H1004 and they went up H5927 with winding stairs H3883 into the middle H8484 chamber, and out of the middle H8484 into the third. H7992

9 So he built H1129 the house, H1004 and finished H3615 it; and covered H5603 the house H1004 with beams H1356 and boards H7713 of cedar. H730

10 And then he built H1129 chambers H3326 H3326 against all the house, H1004 five H2568 cubits H520 high: H6967 and they rested H270 on the house H1004 with timber H6086 of cedar. H730

11 And the word H1697 of the LORD H3068 came to Solomon, H8010 saying, H559

12 Concerning this house H1004 which thou art in building, H1129 if thou wilt walk H3212 in my statutes, H2708 and execute H6213 my judgments, H4941 and keep H8104 all my commandments H4687 to walk H3212 in them; then will I perform H6965 my word H1697 with thee, which I spake H1696 unto David H1732 thy father: H1

13 And I will dwell H7931 among H8432 the children H1121 of Israel, H3478 and will not forsake H5800 my people H5971 Israel. H3478

14 So Solomon H8010 built H1129 the house, H1004 and finished H3615 it.

15 And he built H1129 the walls H7023 of the house H1004 within H1004 with boards H6763 of cedar, H730 both the floor H7172 of the house, H1004 and the walls H7023 of the cieling: H5604 and he covered H6823 them on the inside H1004 with wood, H6086 and covered H6823 the floor H7172 of the house H1004 with planks H6763 of fir. H1265

16 And he built H1129 twenty H6242 cubits H520 on the sides H3411 of the house, H1004 both H4480 the floor H7172 and the walls H7023 with boards H6763 of cedar: H730 he even built H1129 them for it within, H1004 even for the oracle, H1687 even for the most H6944 holy H6944 place.

17 And the house, H1004 that is, the temple H1964 before H3942 it, was forty H705 cubits H520 long.

18 And the cedar H730 of the house H1004 within H6441 was carved H4734 with knops H6497 and open H6362 flowers: H6731 all was cedar; H730 there was no stone H68 seen. H7200

19 And the oracle H1687 he prepared H3559 in H8432 the house H1004 within, H6441 to set H5414 there the ark H727 of the covenant H1285 of the LORD. H3068

20 And the oracle H1687 in the forepart H6440 was twenty H6242 cubits H520 in length, H753 and twenty H6242 cubits H520 in breadth, H7341 and twenty H6242 cubits H520 in the height H6967 thereof: and he overlaid H6823 it with pure H5462 gold; H2091 and so covered H6823 the altar H4196 which was of cedar. H730

21 So Solomon H8010 overlaid H6823 the house H1004 within H6441 with pure H5462 gold: H2091 and he made a partition H5674 by the chains H7572 H7572 of gold H2091 before H6440 the oracle; H1687 and he overlaid H6823 it with gold. H2091

22 And the whole house H1004 he overlaid H6823 with gold, H2091 until he had finished H8552 all the house: H1004 also the whole altar H4196 that was by the oracle H1687 he overlaid H6823 with gold. H2091

23 And within the oracle H1687 he made H6213 two H8147 cherubims H3742 of olive H8081 tree, H6086 each ten H6235 cubits H520 high. H6967

24 And five H2568 cubits H520 was the one H259 wing H3671 of the cherub, H3742 and five H2568 cubits H520 the other H8145 wing H3671 of the cherub: H3742 from the uttermost part H7098 of the one wing H3671 unto the uttermost part H7098 of the other H3671 were ten H6235 cubits. H520

25 And the other H8145 cherub H3742 was ten H6235 cubits: H520 both H8147 the cherubims H3742 were of one H259 measure H4060 and one H259 size. H7095

26 The height H6967 of the one H259 cherub H3742 was ten H6235 cubits, H520 and so was it of the other H8145 cherub. H3742

27 And he set H5414 the cherubims H3742 within H8432 the inner H6442 house: H1004 and they stretched forth H6566 the wings H3671 of the cherubims, H3742 so that the wing H3671 of the one H259 touched H5060 the one wall, H7023 and the wing H3671 of the other H8145 cherub H3742 touched H5060 the other H8145 wall; H7023 and their wings H3671 touched H5060 one H3671 another H3671 in the midst H8432 of the house. H1004

28 And he overlaid H6823 the cherubims H3742 with gold. H2091

29 And he carved H7049 all the walls H7023 of the house H1004 round about H4524 with carved H6603 figures H4734 of cherubims H3742 and palm trees H8561 and open H6362 flowers, H6731 within H6441 and without. H2435

30 And the floor H7172 of the house H1004 he overlaid H6823 with gold, H2091 within H6441 and without. H2435

31 And for the entering H6607 of the oracle H1687 he made H6213 doors H1817 of olive H8081 tree: H6086 the lintel H352 and side posts H4201 were a fifth part H2549 of the wall.

32 The two H8147 doors H1817 also were of olive H8081 tree; H6086 and he carved H7049 upon them carvings H4734 of cherubims H3742 and palm trees H8561 and open H6362 flowers, H6731 and overlaid H6823 them with gold, H2091 and spread H7286 gold H2091 upon the cherubims, H3742 and upon the palm trees. H8561

33 So also made H6213 he for the door H6607 of the temple H1964 posts H4201 of olive H8081 tree, H6086 a fourth part H7243 of the wall.

34 And the two H8147 doors H1817 were of fir H1265 tree: H6086 the two H8147 leaves H6763 of the one H259 door H1817 were folding, H1550 and the two H8147 leaves H7050 of the other H8145 door H1817 were folding. H1550

35 And he carved H7049 thereon cherubims H3742 and palm trees H8561 and open H6362 flowers: H6731 and covered H6823 them with gold H2091 fitted H3474 upon the carved work. H2707

36 And he built H1129 the inner H6442 court H2691 with three H7969 rows H2905 of hewed stone, H1496 and a row H2905 of cedar H730 beams. H3773

37 In the fourth H7243 year H8141 was the foundation H3245 of the house H1004 of the LORD H3068 laid, H3245 in the month H3391 Zif: H2099

38 And in the eleventh H259 H6240 year, H8141 in the month H3391 Bul, H945 which is the eighth H8066 month, H2320 was the house H1004 finished H3615 throughout all the parts H1697 thereof, and according to all the fashion H4941 of it. So was he seven H7651 years H8141 in building H1129 it.


1 Kings 6:1-38 American Standard (ASV)

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 Ziv, which is the second month, that he began to build the house of Jehovah.

2 And the house which king Solomon built for Jehovah, 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 fixed lattice-work.

5 And against the wall of the house he built stories round about, against the walls of the house round about, both of the temple and of the oracle; and he made side-chambers round about.

6 The nethermost story was five cubits broad, and the middle was six cubits broad, and the third was seven cubits broad; for on the outside he made offsets `in the wall' of the house round about, that `the beams' should not have hold in the walls of the house.

7 And the house, when it was in building, was built of stone made ready at the quarry; and 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 side-chambers was in the right side of the house: and they went up by winding stairs into the middle `story', and out of the middle into the third.

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

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

11 And the word of Jehovah came to Solomon, saying,

12 Concerning this house which thou art building, if thou wilt walk in my statutes, and execute mine ordinances, and keep all my commandments to walk in them; then will I establish 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: from the floor of the house unto the walls of the ceiling, he covered them on the inside with wood; and he covered the floor of the house with boards of fir.

16 And he built twenty cubits on the hinder part of the house with boards of cedar from the floor unto the walls `of the ceiling': he built `them' for it within, for an oracle, even for the most holy place.

17 And the house, that is, the temple before `the oracle', was forty cubits `long'.

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

19 And he prepared an oracle in the midst of the house within, to set there the ark of the covenant of Jehovah.

20 And within the oracle was `a space of' twenty cubits in length, and twenty cubits in breadth, and twenty cubits in the height thereof; and he overlaid it with pure gold: and he covered the altar with cedar.

21 So Solomon overlaid the house within with pure gold: and he drew chains of gold across before the oracle; and he overlaid it with gold.

22 And the whole house he overlaid with gold, until all the house was finished: also the whole altar that belonged to the oracle he overlaid with gold.

23 And in the oracle he made two cherubim of olive-wood, 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.

25 And the other cherub was ten cubits: both the cherubim were of one measure and one form.

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

27 And he set the cherubim within the inner house; and the wings of the cherubim were stretched forth, 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 cherubim with gold.

29 And he carved all the walls of the house round about with carved figures of cherubim 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 entrance of the oracle he made doors of olive-wood: the lintel `and' door-posts were a fifth part `of the wall'.

32 So `he made' two doors of olive-wood; and he carved upon them carvings of cherubim and palm-trees and open flowers, and overlaid them with gold; and he spread the gold upon the cherubim, and upon the palm-trees.

33 So also made he for the entrance of the temple door-posts of olive-wood, out of a fourth part `of the wall';

34 and two doors of fir-wood: the two leaves of the one door were folding, and the two leaves of the other door were folding.

35 And he carved `thereon' cherubim and palm-trees and open flowers; and he overlaid them with gold fitted upon the graven work.

36 And he built the inner court with three courses of hewn stone, and a course of cedar beams.

37 In the fourth year was the foundation of the house of Jehovah laid, in the month Ziv.

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.


1 Kings 6:1-38 Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

1 And it cometh to pass, in the four hundred and eightieth year of the going out of the sons of Israel from the land of Egypt, in the fourth year -- in the month of Zif, it `is' the second month -- of the reigning of Solomon over Israel, that he buildeth the house for Jehovah.

2 As to the house that king Solomon hath built for Jehovah, sixty cubits `is' its length, and twenty its breadth, and thirty cubits its height.

3 As to the porch on the front of the temple of the house, twenty cubits `is' its length on the front of the breadth of the house; ten by the cubit `is' its breadth on the front of the house;

4 and he maketh for the house windows of narrow lights.

5 And he buildeth against the wall of the house a couch round about, `even' the walls of the house round about, of the temple and of the oracle, and maketh sides round about.

6 The lowest couch, five by the cubit `is' its breadth; and the middle, six by the cubit `is' its breadth; and the third, seven by the cubit `is' its breadth, for withdrawings he hath put to the house round about, without -- not to lay hold on the walls of the house.

7 And the house, in its being built, of perfect stone brought `thither' hath been built, and hammer, and the axe -- any instrument of iron -- was not heard in the house, in its being built.

8 The opening of the middle side `is' at the right shoulder of the house, and with windings they go up on the middle one, and from the middle one unto the third.

9 And he buildeth the house, and completeth it, and covereth the house `with' beams and rows of cedars.

10 And he buildeth the couch against all the house, five cubits `is' its height, and it taketh hold of the house by cedar-wood.

11 And the word of Jehovah is unto Solomon, saying,

12 `This house that thou art building -- if thou dost walk in My statutes, and My judgments dost do, yea, hast done all My commands, to walk in them, then I have established My word with thee, which I spake unto David thy father,

13 and have tabernacled in the midst of the sons of Israel, and do not forsake My people Israel.'

14 And Solomon buildeth the house and completeth it;

15 and he buildeth the walls of the house within with beams of cedar, from the floor of the house unto the walls of the ceiling; he hath overlaid with wood the inside, and covereth the floor of the house with ribs of fir.

16 And he buildeth the twenty cubits on the sides of the house with ribs of cedar, from the floor unto the walls; and he buildeth for it within, for the oracle, for the holy of holies.

17 And forty by the cubit was the house, it `is' the temple before `it'.

18 And the cedar for the house within `is' carvings of knobs and openings of flowers; the whole `is' cedar, there is not a stone seen.

19 And the oracle in the midst of the house within he hath prepared, to put there the ark of the covenant of Jehovah.

20 And before the oracle `is' twenty cubits in length, and twenty cubits in breadth, and twenty cubits `is' its height; and he overlayeth it with gold refined, and overlayeth the altar with cedar.

21 And Solomon overlayeth the house within with gold refined, and causeth `it' to pass over in chains of gold before the oracle, and overlayeth it with gold.

22 And the whole of the house he hath overlaid with gold, till the completion of all the house; and the whole of the altar that the oracle hath, he hath overlaid with gold.

23 And he maketh within the oracle two cherubs, of the oil-tree, ten cubits `is' their height;

24 and five cubits `is' the one wing of the cherub, and five cubits the second wing of the cherub, ten cubits from the ends of its wings even unto the ends of its wings;

25 and ten by the cubit `is' the second cherub, one measure and one form `are' to the two cherubs,

26 the height of the one cherub `is' ten by the cubit, and so `is' the second cherub;

27 and he setteth the cherubs in the midst of the inner house, and they spread out the wings of the cherubs, and a wing of the one cometh against the wall, and a wing of the second cherub is coming against the second wall, and their wings `are' unto the midst of the house, coming wing against wing;

28 and he overlayeth the cherubs with gold,

29 and all the walls of the house round about he hath carved with openings of carvings, cherubs, and palm trees, and openings of flowers, within and without.

30 And the floor of the house he hath overlaid with gold, within and without;

31 as to the opening of the oracle, he made doors of the oil-tree; the lintel, side-posts, a fifth.

32 And the two doors `are' of the oil-tree, and he hath carved upon them carvings of cherubs, and palm-trees, and openings of flowers, and overlaid with gold, and he causeth the gold to go down on the cherubs and on the palm-trees.

33 And so he hath made for the opening of the temple, side-posts of the oil-tree, from the fourth.

34 And the two doors `are' of fir-tree, the two sides of the one door are revolving, and the two hangings of the second door are revolving.

35 And he hath carved cherubs, and palms, and openings of flowers, and overlaid with straightened gold the graved work.

36 And he buildeth the inner court, three rows of hewn work, and a row of beams of cedar.

37 In the fourth year hath the house of Jehovah been founded, in the month Zif,

38 and in the eleventh year, in the month Bul -- `that is' the eighth month -- hath the house been finished in all its matters, and in all its ordinances, and he buildeth it seven years.


1 Kings 6:1-38 Darby English Bible (DARBY)

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 Jehovah.

2 And the house that king Solomon built for Jehovah was sixty cubits in length, and twenty in breadth, and thirty cubits in height.

3 And the porch, in front of the temple of the house, was twenty cubits in length, in front of the house broadways, [and] ten cubits was its breadth, in front of the house.

4 And for the house he made closed windows with fixed lattices.

5 And against the wall of the house he built floors round about, [against] the walls of the house, round about the temple and the oracle; and he made side-chambers round about.

6 The lowest floor was five cubits broad, and the middle one was six cubits broad, and the third was seven cubits broad; for in the [thickness of the wall of] the house he made resets round about outside, that nothing should be fastened in the walls of the house.

7 And the house, when it was being built, was built of stone entirely 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 being built.

8 The entrance to the side-chambers of the middle [floor] was in the right side of the house; and they went up by winding stairs into the middle [floor], and out of the middle into the third.

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

10 And he built the floors against all the house, five cubits high; and they held to the house by the timbers of cedar.

11 And the word of Jehovah came to Solomon saying,

12 As to this house which thou art building, if thou wilt walk in my statutes, and practise mine ordinances, and keep all my commandments to walk in them, then will I perform my word as to thee which I spoke unto David thy father;

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

14 And Solomon built the house and finished it.

15 And he built the walls of the house within with boards of cedar, from the floor of the house to the walls of the roof; he overlaid [them] on the inside with wood, and overlaid the floor of the house with boards of cypress.

16 And he built twenty cubits of the innermost part of the house, both floor and walls, with boards of cedar; and he built [them] for it within, to [be] the oracle, 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 colocynths and half-open flowers: all was cedar; there was no stone seen.

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

20 And the oracle within 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 he overlaid the cedar-wood altar --

21 and Solomon overlaid the house within with pure gold, and shut off the oracle in front with chains of gold, and overlaid it with gold.

22 And the whole house he overlaid with gold, the whole house entirely; also the whole altar that was by the oracle he overlaid with gold.

23 And he made in the oracle two cherubim of olive-wood, ten cubits high;

24 and one wing of the cherub was five cubits, and five cubits the other wing of the cherub, ten cubits from the end of one wing to the end of the other wing;

25 and the other cherub was ten cubits: both the cherubim were of one measure and one form.

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

27 And he set the cherubim in the midst of the inner house; and the wings of the cherubim were stretched forth, so that the wing of the one touched the wall, and the wing of the other cherub touched the other wall; and their wings touched, wing to wing, in the midst of the house.

28 And he overlaid the cherubim with gold.

29 And he carved all the walls of the house round about with carved sculptures of cherubim, and palm-trees, and half-open flowers, within and without.

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

31 And for the entrance of the oracle he made doors of olive-wood: the lintel [and] side posts were the fifth part [of the breadth of the house].

32 The two doors were of olive-wood; and he carved on them carvings of cherubim, and palm-trees and half-open flowers, and overlaid them with gold, and spread gold on the cherubim and on the palm-trees.

33 And he also made for the doorway of the temple posts of olive-wood, of the fourth part [of the breadth of the house].

34 And the two folding-doors were of cypress-wood: the two leaves of the one door were folding, and the two leaves of the other door were folding.

35 And he carved on them cherubim, and palm-trees, and half-open flowers; and overlaid them with gold fitted on the carved work.

36 And he built the inner court of three rows of hewn stone, and a row of cedar-beams.

37 In the fourth year was the foundation of the house of Jehovah laid, in the month Zif;

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


1 Kings 6:1-38 World English Bible (WEB)

1 It happened 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 Ziv, which is the second month, that he began to build the house of Yahweh.

2 The house which king Solomon built for Yahweh, the length of it was sixty cubits, and the breadth of it twenty [cubits], and the height of it thirty cubits.

3 The porch before the temple of the house, twenty cubits was the length of it, according to the breadth of the house; [and] ten cubits was the breadth of it before the house.

4 For the house he made windows of fixed lattice-work.

5 Against the wall of the house he built stories round about, against the walls of the house round about, both of the temple and of the oracle; and he made side-chambers round about.

6 The nethermost story was five cubits broad, and the middle was six cubits broad, and the third was seven cubits broad; for on the outside he made offsets [in the wall] of the house round about, that [the beams] should not have hold in the walls of the house.

7 The house, when it was in building, was built of stone made ready at the quarry; and 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 side-chambers was in the right side of the house: and they went up by winding stairs into the middle [story], and out of the middle into the third.

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

10 He built the stories against all the house, each five cubits high: and they rested on the house with timber of cedar.

11 The word of Yahweh came to Solomon, saying,

12 Concerning this house which you are building, if you will walk in my statutes, and execute my ordinances, and keep all my commandments to walk in them; then will I establish my word with you, which I spoke to David your father.

13 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 He built the walls of the house within with boards of cedar: from the floor of the house to the walls of the ceiling, he covered them on the inside with wood; and he covered the floor of the house with boards of fir.

16 He built twenty cubits on the hinder part of the house with boards of cedar from the floor to the walls [of the ceiling]: he built [them] for it within, for an oracle, even for the most holy place.

17 The house, that is, the temple before [the oracle], was forty cubits [long].

18 There was cedar on the house within, carved with buds and open flowers: all was cedar; there was no stone seen.

19 He prepared an oracle in the midst of the house within, to set there the ark of the covenant of Yahweh.

20 Within the oracle was [a space of] twenty cubits in length, and twenty cubits in breadth, and twenty cubits in the height of it; and he overlaid it with pure gold: and he covered the altar with cedar.

21 So Solomon overlaid the house within with pure gold: and he drew chains of gold across before the oracle; and he overlaid it with gold.

22 The whole house he overlaid with gold, until all the house was finished: also the whole altar that belonged to the oracle he overlaid with gold.

23 In the oracle he made two cherubim of olive-wood, each ten cubits high.

24 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 to the uttermost part of the other were ten cubits.

25 The other cherub was ten cubits: both the cherubim were of one measure and one form.

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

27 He set the cherubim within the inner house; and the wings of the cherubim were stretched forth, 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 He overlaid the cherubim with gold.

29 He carved all the walls of the house round about with carved figures of cherubim and palm trees and open flowers, inside and outside.

30 The floor of the house he overlaid with gold, inside and outside.

31 For the entrance of the oracle he made doors of olive-wood: the lintel [and] door-posts were a fifth part [of the wall].

32 So [he made] two doors of olive-wood; and he carved on them carvings of cherubim and palm trees and open flowers, and overlaid them with gold; and he spread the gold on the cherubim, and on the palm trees.

33 So also made he for the entrance of the temple door-posts of olive-wood, out of a fourth part [of the wall];

34 and two doors of fir-wood: the two leaves of the one door were folding, and the two leaves of the other door were folding.

35 He carved [thereon] cherubim and palm trees and open flowers; and he overlaid them with gold fitted on the engraved work.

36 He built the inner court with three courses of hewn stone, and a course of cedar beams.

37 In the fourth year was the foundation of the house of Yahweh laid, in the month Ziv.

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


1 Kings 6:1-38 Bible in Basic English (BBE)

1 In the four hundred and eightieth year after the children of Israel came out of the land of Egypt, in the fourth year that Solomon was king of Israel, in the month Ziv, which is the second month, the building of the Lord's house was started.

2 The house which Solomon made for the Lord was sixty cubits long, twenty cubits wide and thirty cubits high.

3 The covered way before the Temple of the house was twenty cubits long, as wide as the house, and ten cubits wide in front of the house.

4 And for the house he made windows, with network across.

5 And against the walls all round, and against the walls of the Temple and of the inmost room, he put up wings, with side rooms all round:

6 The lowest line of them being five cubits wide, the middle six cubits wide and the third seven cubits; for there was a space all round the outside walls of the house so that the boards supporting the rooms did not have to be fixed in the walls of the house.

7 (And the stones used in the building of the house were squared at the place where they were cut out; there was no sound of hammer or axe or any iron instrument while they were building the house.)

8 The door to the lowest side rooms was in the right side of the house; and they went up by twisting steps into the middle rooms, and from the middle into the third.

9 So he put up the house and made it complete, roofing it with boards of cedar-wood.

10 And he put up the line of side rooms against the walls of the house, fifteen cubits high, resting against the house on boards of cedar-wood.

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

12 About this house which you are building: if you will keep my laws and give effect to my decisions and be guided by my rules, I will give effect to my word which I gave to David your father.

13 And I will be ever among the children of Israel, and will not go away from my people.

14 So Solomon made the building of the house complete.)

15 The walls of the house were covered inside with cedar-wood boards; from the floor to the roof of the house they were covered inside with wood; and the floor was covered with boards of cypress-wood.

16 And at the back of the house a further space of twenty cubits was shut in with boards of cedar-wood, for the inmost room.

17 And the house, that is, the Temple, in front of the holy place was forty cubits long.

18 (All the inside of the house was cedar-wood, ornamented with designs of buds and flowers; no stonework was to be seen inside.)

19 And he made ready an inmost room in the middle of the house, in which to put the ark of the agreement of the Lord.

20 And the inmost room was twenty cubits square and twenty cubits high, plated over with clear gold, and he made an altar of cedar-wood, plating it with gold.

21 Solomon had all the inside of the house covered with gold, and he put chains of gold across in front of the inmost room, which itself was covered with gold.

22 Plates of gold were put all through the house till it was covered completely (and the altar in the inmost room was all covered with gold).

23 In the inmost room he made two winged beings of olive-wood, ten cubits high;

24 With outstretched wings five cubits wide; the distance from the edge of one wing to the edge of the other was ten cubits.

25 The two winged ones were ten cubits high, of the same size and form.

26 The two of them were ten cubits high.

27 These were placed inside the inner house, their outstretched wings touching the walls of the house, one touching one wall and one the other, while their other wings were touching in the middle.

28 These winged ones were plated over with gold.

29 And all the walls of the house inside and out were ornamented with forms of winged ones and palm-trees and open flowers.

30 And the floor of the house was covered with gold, inside and out.

31 For the way into the inmost room he made doors of olive-wood, the arch and the door supports forming a five-sided opening.

32 On the olive-wood doors were cut designs of winged ones and palm-trees and open flowers, all of them, with the doors, plated with gold.

33 Then he made pillars of olive-wood for the way into the Temple; the pillars were square:

34 And two folding doors of cypress-wood, with two leaves.

35 These were ornamented with designs of winged ones and palm-trees and open flowers, plated over with gold.

36 And the inner space was walled with three lines of squared stones and a line of cedar-wood boards.

37 In the fourth year the base of the house was put in its place, in the month Ziv.

38 And in the eleventh year, in the month Bul, which is the eighth month, the building of the house was complete in every detail, as it had been designed. So he was seven years building it.

Commentary on 1 Kings 6 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible


CHAPTER 6

1Ki 6:1-4. The Building of Solomon's Temple.

2. the house which king Solomon built for the Lord—The dimensions are given in cubits, which are to be reckoned according to the early standard (2Ch 3:3), or holy cubit (Eze 40:5; 43:13), a handbreadth longer than the common or later one. It is probable that the internal elevation only is here stated.

3. the porch—or portico, extended across the whole front (see on 2Ch 3:4).

4. windows of narrow lights—that is, windows with lattices, capable of being shut and opened at pleasure, partly to let out the vapor of the lamps, the smoke of the frankincense, and partly to give light [Keil].

1Ki 6:5-10. The Chambers Thereof.

5. against the wall of the house he built chambers—On three sides, there were chambers in three stories, each story wider than the one beneath it, as the walls were narrowed or made thinner as they ascended, by a rebate being made, on which the beams of the side floor rested, without penetrating the wall. These chambers were approached from the right-hand side, in the interior of the under story, by a winding staircase of stone, which led to the middle and upper stories.

7. there was neither hammer nor axe nor any tool of iron heard in the house while it was in building—A subterranean quarry has been very recently discovered near Jerusalem, where the temple stones are supposed to have been hewn. There is unequivocal evidence in this quarry that the stones were dressed there; for there are blocks very similar in size, as well as of the same kind of stone, as those found in the ancient remains. Thence, probably, they would be moved on rollers down the Tyropean valley to the very side of the temple [Porter, Tent and Kahn].

9, 10. built the house—The temple is here distinguished from the wings or chambers attached to it—and its roofing was of cedar-wood.

10. chambers … five cubits high—The height of the whole three stories was therefore about fifteen cubits.

they rested on the house with timber of cedar—that is, because the beams of the side stones rested on the ledges of the temple wall. The wing was attached to the house; it was connected with the temple, without, however, interfering injuriously with the sanctuary [Keil].

1Ki 6:11-14. God's Promises unto It.

11-13. the word of the Lord came to Solomon—probably by a prophet. It was very seasonable, being designed: first, to encourage him to go on with the building, by confirming anew the promise made to his father David (2Sa 7:12-16); and secondly, to warn him against the pride and presumption of supposing that after the erection of so magnificent a temple, he and his people would always be sure of the presence and favor of God. The condition on which that blessing could alone be expected was expressly stated. The dwelling of God among the children of Israel refers to those symbols of His presence in the temple, which were the visible tokens of His spiritual relation to that people.

1Ki 6:15-22. The Ceiling and Adorning of It.

15-21. he built the walls of the house within—The walls were wainscotted with cedar-wood; the floor, paved with cypress planks; the interior was divided (by a partition consisting of folding doors, which were opened and shut with golden chains) into two apartments—the back or inner room, that is, the most holy place, was twenty cubits long and broad; the front, or outer room, that is, the holy place, was forty cubits. The cedar-wood was beautifully embellished with figures in relievo, representing clusters of foliage, open flowers, cherubims, and palm trees. The whole interior was overlaid with gold, so that neither wood nor stone was seen; nothing met the eye but pure gold, either plain or richly chased.

31-35. for the entering of the oracle—The door of the most holy place was made of solid olive tree and adorned with figures. The door of the holy place was made of cypress wood, the sides being of olive wood.

36. the inner court—was for the priests. Its wall, which had a coping of cedar, is said to have been so low that the people could see over it.

1Ki 6:37, 38. The time Taken to Build It.

37. In the fourth year was the foundation laid—The building was begun in the second month of the fourth year and completed in the eighth month of the eleventh year of Solomon's reign, comprising a period of seven and a half years, which is reckoned here in round numbers. It was not a very large, but a very splendid building, requiring great care, and ingenuity, and division of labor. The immense number of workmen employed, together with the previous preparation of the materials, serves to account for the short time occupied in the process of building.