1 Kings 6:19

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

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}.

In the inner part of the house he set up the sanctuary, so that the ark for the covenant of ADONAI could be placed there.

Solomon also prepared the inner sanctuary within the temple to set the ark of the covenant of the LORD there.

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

Commentary

1 Kings 6:19 describes a crucial aspect of the construction of King Solomon's magnificent Temple in Jerusalem. This verse highlights the meticulous preparation of the innermost sanctuary, known as the "oracle," specifically designed to house the sacred Ark of the Covenant.

Context

This verse is part of the detailed account of Solomon's monumental project of building the First Temple. This undertaking fulfilled his father King David's fervent desire to construct a permanent dwelling place for the LORD, replacing the portable Tabernacle. The Temple was divided into several sections, with the "oracle" being the most holy and exclusive chamber, set apart for the direct presence of God.

Key Themes

  • Divine Presence: The primary purpose of the "oracle" and indeed the entire Temple was to provide a consecrated space for the presence of God to dwell among His people, Israel. The Ark of the Covenant was the tangible symbol of this divine presence.
  • Sacred Space and Separation: The meticulous preparation and extreme sanctity of this inner sanctuary emphasize its complete separation from the common and profane. Only the High Priest was permitted to enter this Most Holy Place, and that only once a year on the Day of Atonement (Hebrews 9:7), underscoring the holiness of God.
  • Fulfillment of Promise: Solomon's construction of the Temple, and specifically the preparation of this inner chamber for the Ark, represents the fulfillment of God's promise to David that his son would build a house for His name (2 Samuel 7:13).

Linguistic Insights

The KJV term "oracle" translates the Hebrew word debir (Χ“Φ°ΦΌΧ‘Φ΄Χ™Χ¨). This unique term specifically refers to the innermost sanctuary of the Temple, often called the Holy of Holies or the Most Holy Place. The root of debir is related to "to speak" or "to declare," suggesting that this was the place where God would speak to His people, particularly from above the mercy seat on the Ark (Exodus 25:22). It was the very heart of divine communication and revelation for Israel.

Significance of the Ark of the Covenant

The Ark of the Covenant was the most revered object in ancient Israel, serving as the physical representation of God's throne and His covenant relationship with His chosen people. It contained the tablets of the Law, Aaron's rod that budded, and a pot of manna, symbolizing God's law, His miraculous provision, and His chosen priesthood (Hebrews 9:4). Placing the Ark within the innermost chamber of the Temple solidified the Temple's role as the central place of worship and divine encounter for the nation of Israel.

Practical Application

While the physical Temple and the Ark are no longer present, the principles of God desiring to dwell among His people and the sacredness of His presence remain profoundly relevant. In the New Testament, believers are taught that their bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, and the Church collectively is the dwelling place of God through the Spirit (Ephesians 2:22). This verse reminds us of the profound reverence due to God's presence and the sacredness of our relationship with Him, which is now mediated not by a physical structure, but by Jesus Christ, our ultimate High Priest.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated β€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Exodus 40:20

    And he took and put the testimony into the ark, and set the staves on the ark, and put the mercy seat above upon the ark:

  • Exodus 40:21

    And he brought the ark into the tabernacle, and set up the vail of the covering, and covered the ark of the testimony; as the LORD commanded Moses.

  • 1 Kings 6:16

    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].

  • 1 Kings 6:5

    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:

  • 2 Chronicles 5:7

    And the priests brought in the ark of the covenant of the LORD unto his place, to the oracle of the house, into the most holy [place, even] under the wings of the cherubims:

  • 1 Kings 8:6

    And the priests brought in the ark of the covenant of the LORD unto his place, into the oracle of the house, to the most holy [place, even] under the wings of the cherubims.

  • 1 Kings 8:10

    And it came to pass, when the priests were come out of the holy [place], that the cloud filled the house of the LORD,
← Back