King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
And he made the most holy house, the length whereof [was] according to the breadth of the house, twenty cubits, and the breadth thereof twenty cubits: and he overlaid it with fine gold, [amounting] to six hundred talents.
Complete Jewish Bible:
Then he made the Especially Holy Place; its length matched the width of the house, thirty-five feet, and its width was thirty-five feet. He overlaid it with twenty tons of fine gold.
Berean Standard Bible:
Then he made the Most Holy Place; its length corresponded to the width of the temple—twenty cubits long and twenty cubits wide. And he overlaid the inside with six hundred talents of fine gold.
American Standard Version:
And he made the most holy house: the length thereof, according to the breadth of the house, was twenty cubits, and the breadth thereof twenty cubits; and he overlaid it with fine gold, amounting to six hundred talents.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
And he made{H6213} the most{H6944} holy{H6944} house{H1004}, the length{H753} whereof was according to{H6440} the breadth{H7341} of the house{H1004}, twenty{H6242} cubits{H520}, and the breadth{H7341} thereof twenty{H6242} cubits{H520}: and he overlaid{H2645} it with fine{H2896} gold{H2091}, amounting to six{H8337} hundred{H3967} talents{H3603}.
Cross-References (KJV):
Exodus 26:33
- And thou shalt hang up the vail under the taches, that thou mayest bring in thither within the vail the ark of the testimony: and the vail shall divide unto you between the holy [place] and the most holy.
Hebrews 9:9
- Which [was] a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience;
1 Kings 6:19
- And the oracle he prepared in the house within, to set there the ark of the covenant of the LORD.
1 Kings 6:20
- 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.
Hebrews 9:3
- And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all;
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].
Hebrews 10:19
- ¶ Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for 2 Chronicles 3:8
2 Chronicles 3:8 is a verse that describes a specific detail of the construction of the First Temple in Jerusalem, also known as Solomon's Temple. The verse is part of the larger narrative found in the books of Kings and Chronicles, which recounts the reign of King Solomon and his endeavor to build a permanent sanctuary for the worship of God, fulfilling the wish of his father, King David.
In this verse, the "most holy house" refers to the inner sanctuary of the Temple, known as the Holy of Holies, where the Ark of the Covenant was to be placed. This sanctuary was a perfect cube, with each side measuring twenty cubits, which is approximately thirty feet or nine meters, reflecting the symmetry and balance that were characteristic of ancient sacred architecture. The text emphasizes the lavish use of fine gold to overlay the entire interior of this sanctuary, amounting to six hundred talents of gold. Given that a talent was a unit of weight that could vary, but was roughly equivalent to 75 pounds or 34 kilograms, this would have been an immense amount of gold, signifying the immense value and sanctity of the space.
The historical context of this verse is the height of Solomon's reign, a period marked by political stability, economic prosperity, and expansive building projects. The construction of the Temple was not only a religious endeavor but also a political statement of the established kingdom of Israel. It symbolized the centralization of worship and the consolidation of the Israelite tribes under the Davidic monarchy. The detailed description of the Temple's dimensions and the precious materials used in its construction reflects the meticulous care and resources dedicated to the project, as well as the religious fervor and cultural values of the time.
In summary, 2 Chronicles 3:8 encapsulates the grandeur and holiness of the Holy of Holies within Solomon's Temple, highlighting the religious devotion and the significant investment of resources in its construction. This verse also underscores the importance of the Temple in the religious and political life of ancient Israel, serving as a testament to Solomon's commitment to building a fitting dwelling place for 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: H6213
There are 2286 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עָשָׂה
Transliteration: ʻâsâh
Pronunciation: aw-saw'
Description: a primitive root; to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application; accomplish, advance, appoint, apt, be at, become, bear, bestow, bring forth, bruise, be busy, [idiom] certainly, have the charge of, commit, deal (with), deck, [phrase] displease, do, (ready) dress(-ed), (put in) execute(-ion), exercise, fashion, [phrase] feast, (fight-) ing man, [phrase] finish, fit, fly, follow, fulfill, furnish, gather, get, go about, govern, grant, great, [phrase] hinder, hold (a feast), [idiom] indeed, [phrase] be industrious, [phrase] journey, keep, labour, maintain, make, be meet, observe, be occupied, offer, [phrase] officer, pare, bring (come) to pass, perform, pracise, prepare, procure, provide, put, requite, [idiom] sacrifice, serve, set, shew, [idiom] sin, spend, [idiom] surely, take, [idiom] thoroughly, trim, [idiom] very, [phrase] vex, be (warr-) ior, work(-man), yield, use. - Strong's Number: H6944
There are 382 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: קֹדֶשׁ
Transliteration: qôdesh
Pronunciation: ko'-desh
Description: from קָדַשׁ; a sacred place or thing; rarely abstract, sanctity; consecrated (thing), dedicated (thing), hallowed (thing), holiness, ([idiom] most) holy ([idiom] day, portion, thing), saint, sanctuary. - Strong's Number: H1004
There are 1718 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בַּיִת
Transliteration: bayith
Pronunciation: bah'-yith
Description: probably from בָּנָה abbreviated; a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.); court, daughter, door, [phrase] dungeon, family, [phrase] forth of, [idiom] great as would contain, hangings, home(born), (winter) house(-hold), inside(-ward), palace, place, [phrase] prison, [phrase] steward, [phrase] tablet, temple, web, [phrase] within(-out). - 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: 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: 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: 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: H2645
There are 10 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: חָפָה
Transliteration: châphâh
Pronunciation: khaw-faw'
Description: a primitive root (compare חָפָא, חׇפַף); to cover; by implication, to veil, to encase, protect; ceil, cover, overlay. - Strong's Number: H2896
There are 517 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: טוֹב
Transliteration: ṭôwb
Pronunciation: tobe
Description: from טוֹב; good (as an adjective) in the widest sense; used likewise as a noun, both in the masculine and the feminine, the singular and the plural (good, a good or good thing, a good man or woman; the good, goods or good things, good men or women), also as an adverb (well); beautiful, best, better, bountiful, cheerful, at ease, [idiom] fair (word), (be in) favour, fine, glad, good (deed, -lier, -liest, -ly, -ness, -s), graciously, joyful, kindly, kindness, liketh (best), loving, merry, [idiom] most, pleasant, [phrase] pleaseth, pleasure, precious, prosperity, ready, sweet, wealth, welfare, (be) well(-favoured). - 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: H8337
There are 203 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שֵׁשׁ
Transliteration: shêsh
Pronunciation: shaysh
Description: masculine שִׁשָּׁה; a primitive number; compare שׂוּשׂ; six (as an overplus beyond five or the fingers of the hand); as ord. sixth; six(-teen, -teenth), sixth. - Strong's Number: H3967
There are 512 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מֵאָה
Transliteration: mêʼâh
Pronunciation: may-aw'
Description: or מֵאיָה; properly, a primitive numeral; a hundred; also as a multiplicative and a fraction; hundred((-fold), -th), [phrase] sixscore. - Strong's Number: H3603
There are 55 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: כִּכָּר
Transliteration: kikkâr
Pronunciation: kik-kawr'
Description: from כָּרַר; a circle, i.e. (by implication) a circumjacent tract or region, especially the Ghor or valley of the Jordan; also a (round) loaf; also a talent (or large [round] coin); loaf, morsel, piece, plain, talent.