King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
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.
Complete Jewish Bible:
This sanctuary was thirty-five feet long, wide and high; and it was overlaid with pure gold. In front of it he set an altar, which he covered with cedar.
Berean Standard Bible:
The inner sanctuary was twenty cubits long, twenty cubits wide, and twenty cubits high. He overlaid the inside with pure gold, and he also overlaid the altar of cedar.
American Standard Version:
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.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
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}.
Cross-References (KJV):
1 Kings 6:2
- 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.
1 Kings 6:3
- 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.
1 Kings 6:22
- 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.
1 Kings 7:48
- ¶ And Solomon made all the vessels that [pertained] unto the house of the LORD: the altar of gold, and the table of gold, whereupon the shewbread [was],
Exodus 30:1
- ¶ And thou shalt make an altar to burn incense upon: [of] shittim wood shalt thou make it.
Exodus 30:3
- And thou shalt overlay it with pure gold, the top thereof, and the sides thereof round about, and the horns thereof; and thou shalt make unto it a crown of gold round about.
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for 1 Kings 6:20
1 Kings 6:20 is a verse that describes specific details of the construction of the inner sanctuary, known as the Holy of Holies, within the Temple built by King Solomon in Jerusalem. This verse is part of the larger narrative found in 1 Kings 6, which recounts the building of the First Temple, a central place of worship for the Israelites.
The verse highlights the dimensions of the oracle, or the Most Holy Place, which housed the Ark of the Covenant, the sacred chest containing the stone tablets of the Ten Commandments. The oracle's dimensions were perfectly cubic, each side measuring twenty cubits (approximately thirty feet or nine meters), symbolizing perfection and completeness. The cubic shape may also reflect the heavenly pattern shown to Moses for the Tabernacle (Exodus 25:10-22).
The text emphasizes the lavish use of pure gold to overlay the interior of the oracle, as well as the cedar altar within it. Gold was a symbol of divine purity, holiness, and the majesty of God, while cedar wood was prized for its durability and fragrance, signifying the enduring presence of God among His people. The overlaying of gold upon the cedar altar and walls of the oracle would have created a dazzling effect, reflecting the glory of God and setting apart this sacred space from the rest of the Temple and the outside world.
In its historical context, the detailed description of the Temple's construction reflects the importance of the Temple in the religious, political, and social life of ancient Israel. It was not only a place for worship and sacrifices but also a tangible symbol of God's covenant with the Israelites and His promise to dwell among them. The Temple became the center of religious life in Jerusalem and a focal point for the Israelite identity. The meticulous account of the Temple's dimensions and materials also serves to underscore the wealth, power, and dedication of Solomon's reign, as well as the grandeur and solemnity associated with the worship of the God of Israel.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H1687
There are 16 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: דְּבִיר
Transliteration: dᵉbîyr
Pronunciation: deb-eer'
Description: or (shortened) דְּבִר; from דָבַר (apparently in the sense of oracle); the shrine or innermost part of the sanctuary; oracle. - Strong's Number: H6440
There are 1890 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: פָּנִים
Transliteration: pânîym
Pronunciation: paw-neem'
Description: plural (but always as singular) of an unused noun פָּנֶה; from פָּנָה); the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposition (before, etc.); [phrase] accept, a-(be-) fore(-time), against, anger, [idiom] as (long as), at, [phrase] battle, [phrase] because (of), [phrase] beseech, countenance, edge, [phrase] employ, endure, [phrase] enquire, face, favour, fear of, for, forefront(-part), form(-er time, -ward), from, front, heaviness, [idiom] him(-self), [phrase] honourable, [phrase] impudent, [phrase] in, it, look(-eth) (-s), [idiom] me, [phrase] meet, [idiom] more than, mouth, of, off, (of) old (time), [idiom] on, open, [phrase] out of, over against, the partial, person, [phrase] please, presence, propect, was purposed, by reason of, [phrase] regard, right forth, [phrase] serve, [idiom] shewbread, sight, state, straight, [phrase] street, [idiom] thee, [idiom] them(-selves), through ([phrase] -out), till, time(-s) past, (un-) to(-ward), [phrase] upon, upside ([phrase] down), with(-in, [phrase] -stand), [idiom] ye, [idiom] you. - Strong's Number: H6242
There are 281 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עֶשְׂרִים
Transliteration: ʻesrîym
Pronunciation: es-reem'
Description: from עֶשֶׂר; twenty; also (ordinal) twentieth; (six-) score, twenty(-ieth). - Strong's Number: H520
There are 240 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אַמָּה
Transliteration: ʼammâh
Pronunciation: am-maw'
Description: prolonged from אֵם; properly, a mother (i.e. unit of measure, or the fore-arm (below the elbow), i.e. a cubit; also a door-base (as a bond of the entrance); cubit, [phrase] hundred (by exchange for מֵאָה), measure, post. - Strong's Number: H753
There are 149 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אֹרֶךְ
Transliteration: ʼôrek
Pronunciation: o'rek'
Description: from אָרַךְ; length; [phrase] forever, length, long. - Strong's Number: H7341
There are 89 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: רֹחַב
Transliteration: rôchab
Pronunciation: ro'-khab
Description: from רָחַב; width (literally or figuratively); breadth, broad, largeness, thickness, wideness. - Strong's Number: H6967
There are 43 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: קוֹמָה
Transliteration: qôwmâh
Pronunciation: ko-maw'
Description: from קוּם; height; [idiom] along, height, high, stature, tall. - Strong's Number: H6823
There are 39 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: צָפָה
Transliteration: tsâphâh
Pronunciation: tsaw-faw'
Description: a primitive root (probably identical with צָפָה through the idea of expansion in outlook, transferring to action); to sheet over (especially with metal); cover, overlay. - Strong's Number: H5462
There are 87 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: סָגַר
Transliteration: çâgar
Pronunciation: saw-gar'
Description: a primitive root; to shut up; figuratively, to surrender; close up, deliver (up), give over (up), inclose, [idiom] pure, repair, shut (in, self, out, up, up together), stop, [idiom] straitly. - Strong's Number: H2091
There are 336 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: זָהָב
Transliteration: zâhâb
Pronunciation: zaw-hawb'
Description: from an unused root meaning to shimmer; gold, figuratively, something gold-colored (i.e. yellow), as oil, a clear sky; gold(-en), fair weather. - Strong's Number: H4196
There are 338 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מִזְבֵּחַ
Transliteration: mizbêach
Pronunciation: miz-bay'-akh
Description: from זָבַח; an altar; altar. - Strong's Number: H730
There are 466 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אֶרֶז
Transliteration: ʼerez
Pronunciation: eh-rez'
Description: from אָרַז; a cedar tree (from the tenacity of its roots); cedar (tree).