2 Chronicles 3:3

Translation
King James Version
Now these are the things wherein Solomon was instructed for the building of the house of God. The length by cubits after the first measure was threescore cubits, and the breadth twenty cubits.
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KJV (with Strong's)
Now these are the things wherein Solomon H8010 was instructed H3245 for the building H1129 of the house H1004 of God H430. The length H753 by cubits H520 after the first H7223 measure H4060 was threescore H8346 cubits H520, and the breadth H7341 twenty H6242 cubits H520.
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Complete Jewish Bible
These are the foundations Shlomo laid for building the house of God: the length in old-standard cubits was sixty cubits [105 feet] and the width twenty cubits [thirty-five feet].
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Berean Standard Bible
The foundation that Solomon laid for the house of God was sixty cubits long and twenty cubits wide, according to the old standard.
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American Standard Version
Now these are the foundations which Solomon laid for the building of the house of God. The length by cubits after the first measure was threescore cubits, and the breadth twenty cubits.
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World English Bible Messianic
Now these are the foundations which Solomon laid for the building of God’s house. The length by cubits after the first measure was sixty cubits, and the breadth twenty cubits.
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Geneva Bible (1599)
And these are the measures, whereon Salomon grounded to buylde the house of God: the length of cubites after the first measure was threescore cubites, and the breadth twenty cubites:
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Young's Literal Translation
And in these hath Solomon been instructed to build the house of God: The length in cubits by the former measure is sixty cubits, and the breadth twenty cubits.
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See also
1 Chronicles 28:111 Chronicles 28:191 Kings 6:21 Kings 6:3
See on the biblical-era map
Building Plan: Solomon's Temple
Building Plan: Solomon's Temple View full PDF
Building Plan: Solomon's Palace and the Temple Complex
Building Plan: Solomon's Palace and the Temple Complex View full PDF
The Construction of Solomon’s Temple
The Construction of Solomon’s Temple View full PDF

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In the KJVVerse 11,233 of 31,102

Study This Verse

SUMMARY

Second Chronicles 3:3 initiates the detailed account of Solomon's construction of the First Temple, specifically outlining the foundational dimensions of the main sanctuary. This verse underscores that these measurements were not arbitrary but were divinely "instructed," emphasizing the sacred precision and adherence to God's revealed plan for His dwelling place, setting the stage for the magnificent edifice to be built in Jerusalem as the central place of worship for Israel.

CONTEXT

  • Literary Context: This verse serves as the immediate precursor to the detailed architectural description of Solomon's Temple, which spans the remainder of 2 Chronicles 3 and extends into 2 Chronicles 4. It follows the extensive preparations made by King David and subsequently by Solomon, including the gathering of materials, the organization of labor, and the confirmation of the Temple's location on Mount Moriah, specifically the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite, as noted in 2 Chronicles 3:1. By stating that Solomon "was instructed," the Chronicler emphasizes the divine origin of the Temple's design, echoing the meticulous blueprint given for the Tabernacle in the wilderness. This verse, therefore, establishes the divine authority and precision behind the subsequent architectural details, setting a reverent tone for a sacred undertaking that was not of human devising but divine command.
  • Historical & Cultural Context: The construction of a permanent temple in Jerusalem marked a pivotal moment in Israelite history, signifying a shift from the nomadic worship of the Tabernacle to a fixed, central place of worship. In the ancient Near East, temple building was a common practice, with rulers often constructing grand edifices to honor their deities and solidify their own power. However, Israel's Temple was unique in that its design was explicitly revealed by God, not merely a product of human architectural innovation or a king's personal ambition. The "cubit" (Hebrew: ʾammah) was a standard unit of linear measurement in the ancient world, though its precise length could vary regionally. The phrase "the first measure" likely refers to a standard or established cubit, perhaps a "royal cubit" or the commonly accepted sacred measure, ensuring accuracy and adherence to a consistent divine blueprint. This precision was crucial for a structure intended to house the very presence of God, distinguishing it from pagan temples.
  • Key Themes: The primary themes emerging from 2 Chronicles 3:3 include Divine Instruction and Authority, as the text explicitly states Solomon "was instructed" by God, highlighting that the Temple's design was not a human invention but a divinely revealed plan. This underscores God's sovereignty over worship and His desire for order and excellence in His dwelling place. Another significant theme is the Grandeur and Sacredness of God's Dwelling. The substantial dimensions—sixty cubits in length and twenty cubits in breadth—for the main hall (the hekal or Holy Place) signify the scale and importance of this structure dedicated to the Lord. It was to be a prominent and impressive edifice, a physical manifestation of God's presence among His people, as further detailed in 1 Kings 6. Furthermore, the mention of "the first measure" points to Adherence to Established Standards and Divine Precision, emphasizing the importance of faithfulness to God's detailed specifications, a principle also evident in the construction of the Tabernacle and later reiterated in prophetic visions of future temples, such as Ezekiel 40.

EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

Key Word Analysis

  • Instructed (Hebrew, yâçad', H3245): This verb, derived from H3245, carries the primary meaning "to found," "to lay a foundation," or "to establish." In this context, it signifies that the architectural plans and specifications for the Temple were not Solomon's own ingenious design but were divinely revealed and given to him by God. It strongly implies a pre-ordained blueprint, underscoring the sacred origin and ultimate authority behind the entire building project, emphasizing that Solomon was merely executing a divinely established plan.
  • House (Hebrew, bayith', H1004): This term broadly means "a house" but encompasses a wide range of applications, including family, home, palace, and significantly, "temple." When combined with "of God" (H430, ʼĕlôhîym), it designates the structure as God's dwelling place, His sacred abode among His people. This emphasizes its unique status and purpose, distinguishing it from ordinary buildings and highlighting its role as the central locus of Israelite worship and divine presence.
  • Measure (Hebrew, middâh', H4060): This feminine noun refers to "extension," "height," "breadth," or "a measure" (including its standard). The phrase "after the first measure" indicates adherence to a specific, perhaps longer or more authoritative, cubit (H520, ʼammâh) that was a recognized standard for sacred structures. This highlights the meticulous detail and precision required by God for His Temple, ensuring that its dimensions conformed to a divinely sanctioned standard rather than arbitrary human calculations.

Verse Breakdown

  • "Now these [are the things wherein] Solomon was instructed for the building of the house of God": This opening clause immediately establishes the divine origin and authority behind the Temple's construction. It asserts that Solomon did not conceive the design on his own but received specific, detailed instructions from God. The phrase "house of God" highlights the sacred purpose of the edifice as a dwelling place for the Lord's presence among His people, emphasizing its unique status compared to other ancient Near Eastern temples and setting the stage for the meticulous details to follow.
  • "The length by cubits after the first measure [was] threescore cubits": This specifies the primary dimension of the Temple's main sanctuary, the hekal or Holy Place. "Threescore cubits" translates to 60 cubits (approximately 90-105 feet or 27-32 meters, depending on the cubit's precise length). The phrase "after the first measure" indicates adherence to a standardized or traditional unit of measurement, possibly a "royal cubit" (which was slightly longer than the common cubit) or a consistent measure established for sacred structures, ensuring precision and fidelity to the divine blueprint.
  • "and the breadth twenty cubits": This provides the second key dimension of the main sanctuary, specifying its width as 20 cubits (approximately 30-35 feet or 9-11 meters). Together with the length, these foundational measurements define the substantial size of the central area where priestly service would take place, underscoring the grandeur and significance of God's intended dwelling and demonstrating the detailed nature of the divine instructions given to Solomon.

Literary Devices

The primary literary device at play in 2 Chronicles 3:3 is Precision through the explicit statement of exact measurements. The detailed enumeration of "threescore cubits" and "twenty cubits" for the Temple's dimensions emphasizes the meticulous nature of God's instructions and the importance of adherence to divine specifications for the sacred space. This numerical exactitude serves to underscore the divine blueprint, contrasting it with any human improvisation or estimation. Furthermore, the phrase "Solomon was instructed" employs Emphasis on divine authority, highlighting that the Temple's design was not born of human ingenuity but was a direct revelation from God. This sets a reverent tone for the entire building narrative, framing the construction as an act of obedience to a perfect, divinely ordained plan, thereby elevating the Temple's significance beyond mere architecture to a sacred manifestation of God's will.

THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS

The meticulous detail and divine instruction for the Temple's dimensions in 2 Chronicles 3:3 speak volumes about God's character. It reveals a God of order, precision, and intentionality, who is deeply concerned with the details of His dwelling place and the worship rendered to Him. This divine blueprint for a physical structure foreshadows God's equally precise and perfect plan for salvation and the establishment of His spiritual dwelling—the Church. Just as the Temple was built according to specific, revealed measurements, so too is God's redemptive work executed with absolute perfection and according to His eternal counsel. This verse reminds us that God's ways are not haphazard but are characterized by divine wisdom and purposeful design, inviting us to trust in His perfect plans for our lives and for His kingdom, recognizing that every detail serves His overarching purpose.

REFLECTION AND APPLICATION

The emphasis on divine instruction and precise measurements for the Temple's construction in 2 Chronicles 3:3 offers profound lessons for contemporary believers. It challenges us to consider the source of our blueprints for life, ministry, and the Church. Are we building according to human wisdom, trends, or convenience, or are we meticulously seeking and adhering to God's revealed will? Just as God had a specific design for His physical dwelling, He has a divine design for our spiritual lives and for the collective body of Christ. This calls for a posture of humility and diligent study of Scripture, ensuring that our actions, beliefs, and structures align with God's perfect standards. It reminds us that excellence in worship and service is not merely about grandeur, but about faithfulness to God's specific instructions, recognizing that even the seemingly small details are significant in His eyes, contributing to a structure that truly honors Him.

Questions for Reflection

  • How does the emphasis on divine instruction for the Temple's construction challenge our tendency to rely on human wisdom or popular trends in spiritual matters?
  • In what areas of your personal life or ministry do you sense God calling for greater precision and adherence to His revealed will, rather than approximation or convenience?
  • What does the grandeur implied by the Temple's dimensions teach us about the reverence and excellence due to God in our worship and service today?

FAQ

What does "the first measure" mean in this context?

Answer: "The first measure" (Hebrew: bamiddah harishonah) likely refers to a standard or established unit of measurement, possibly a "royal cubit" which was slightly longer than the common cubit (perhaps 20-21 inches compared to 18 inches). It could also simply mean the original, standard, or authoritative cubit used for sacred architecture, ensuring consistency with previous divine blueprints (like the Tabernacle) or a recognized sacred standard of the time. This phrase emphasizes that the dimensions were not arbitrary but conformed to a known and accepted precise standard, underscoring the meticulous nature of the divine instructions for the Temple and highlighting the importance of fidelity to God's exact specifications.

How do these dimensions compare to the Tabernacle or other ancient structures?

Answer: The dimensions given in 2 Chronicles 3:3 for the main hall (Holy Place) of Solomon's Temple—sixty cubits long and twenty cubits wide—show a significant increase in scale compared to the Tabernacle. The Tabernacle's Holy Place was thirty cubits long and ten cubits wide, as detailed in Exodus 26:15-25, meaning Solomon's Temple was exactly double the length and double the breadth of the Tabernacle's main sanctuary. This demonstrates a progression in the grandeur of God's dwelling among His people, reflecting a new era of settled worship. While other ancient Near Eastern temples were also built with specific dimensions, the divine instruction and the sacred purpose of the Temple of Yahweh set it apart, making its precise measurements a reflection of God's unique design and His increasing revelation of His presence.

CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT

The precise dimensions and divine instruction for Solomon's Temple in 2 Chronicles 3:3 find their ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ. The physical Temple was God's dwelling place among His people, a meticulously designed structure to house His presence and facilitate worship. However, in the New Covenant, God's ultimate dwelling is not in a building made with hands, but in the person of Jesus Christ. As John 1:14 declares, "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us," literally "tabernacled among us." Christ is the true and perfect Temple, the very embodiment of God's presence, fulfilling all the types and shadows of the Old Testament sanctuary. His body was the Temple that would be destroyed and raised in three days, as He Himself prophesied in John 2:19-21, signifying the end of the old sacrificial system and the inauguration of a new way of worship through Him. The divine precision seen in the Temple's blueprint foreshadows the perfect, unblemished life and sacrifice of Christ, who perfectly fulfilled God's redemptive plan down to the smallest detail. Through Him, believers are now living stones, being built into a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, as described in 1 Peter 2:5, with Christ Himself as the cornerstone, uniting Jew and Gentile into one new man, as revealed in Ephesians 2:19-22. Thus, the meticulous design of the earthly Temple points forward to the perfect, divinely ordained person and work of Christ, who is the ultimate reality of God's dwelling with humanity and the foundation of His spiritual kingdom.

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Commentary on 2 Chronicles 3 verses 1–9

Here is, I. The place where the temple was built. Solomon was neither at liberty to choose nor at a loss to fix the place. It was before determined (Ch1 22:1), which was an ease to his mind. 1. It must be at Jerusalem; for that was the place where God had chosen to put his name there. The royal city must be the holy city. There must be the testimony of Israel; for there are set the thrones of judgment, Psa 122:4, Psa 122:5. 2. It must be on Mount Moriah, which, some think, was that very place in the land of Moriah where Abraham offered Isaac, Gen 22:2. So the Targum says expressly, adding, But he was delivered by the word of the Lord, and a ram provided in his place. That was typical of Christ's sacrifice of himself; therefore fitly was the temple, which was likewise a type of him, built there. 3. It must be where the Lord appeared to David, and answered him by fire, Ch1 21:18, Ch1 21:26. There atonement was made once; and therefore, in remembrance of that, there atonement was made once; and therefore, in remembrance of that, there atonement must still be made. Where God has met with me it is to be hoped that he will still manifest himself. 4. It must be in the place which David has prepared, not only which he had purchased with his money, but which he had purchased with his money, but which he had pitched upon divine direction. It was Solomon's wisdom not to enquire out a more convenient place, but to acquiesce in the appointment of God, whatever might be objected against it. 5. It must be in the threshold floor of Ornan, which, if (as a Jebusite) it gives encouragement to the Gentiles, obliges us to look upon temple-work as that which requires the labour of the mind, no less than threshing-work dos that of the body.

II. The time when it was begun; not till the fourth year of Solomon's reign, Ch2 3:2. Not that the first three years were trifled away, or spent in deliberating whether they should build the temple or no; but they were employed in the necessary preparations for it, wherein three years would be soon gone, considering how many hands were to be got together and set to work. Some conjecture that this was a sabbatical year, or year of release and rest to the land, when the people, being discharged from their husbandry, might more easily lend a hand to the beginning of this work; and then the year in which it was finished would fall out to be another sabbatical year, when they would likewise have leisure to attend the solemnity of the dedication of it.

III. The dimensions of it, in which Solomon was instructed (Ch2 3:3), as he was in other things, by his father. This was the foundation (so it may be read) which Solomon laid for the building of the house. This was the rule he went by, so many cubits the length and breadth, after the first measure, that is, according to the measure first fixed, which there was no reason to make any alteration of when the work came to be done; for the dimensions were given by divine wisdom, and what God does shall be for ever; nothing can be put to it, or taken from it, Ecc 3:14. His first measure will be the last.

IV. The ornaments of the temple. The timber-work was very fine, and yet, within, it was overlaid with pure gold (Ch2 3:4), with fine gold (Ch2 3:5). and that embossed with palm-trees and chains. It was gold of Parvaim (Ch2 3:6), the best gold. The beams and posts, the walls and doors, were overlaid with gold, Ch2 3:7. The most holy place, which was ten yards square, was all overlaid with fine gold (Ch2 3:8), even the upper chambers, or rather the upper floor or roof - top, bottom, and sides, were all overlaid with gold. Every nail, or screw, or pin, with which the golden plates were fastened to the walls that were overlaid with them, weighed fifty shekels, or was worth so much, workmanship and all. A great many precious stones were dedicated to God (Ch1 29:2, Ch1 29:8), and these were set here and there, where they would show to the best advantage. The finest houses now pretend to no better garnishing than good paint on the roof and walls; but the ornaments of the temple were most substantially rich. It was set with precious stones, because it was a type of the new Jerusalem, which has no temple in it because it is all temple, and the walls, gates, and foundations of which are said to be of precious stones and pearls, Rev 21:18, Rev 21:19, Rev 21:21.

Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verses 1–9. Public domain.
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Source: Quotations drawn from early Church Fathers and historical Christian theologians (AD 100–1500). Some quotes address the surrounding passage context rather than this verse alone.
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