1 Kings 5:17 kjv
And the king commanded, and they brought great stones, costly stones, and hewed stones, to lay the foundation of the house.
1 Kings 5:17 nkjv
And the king commanded them to quarry large stones, costly stones, and hewn stones, to lay the foundation of the temple.
1 Kings 5:17 niv
At the king's command they removed from the quarry large blocks of high-grade stone to provide a foundation of dressed stone for the temple.
1 Kings 5:17 esv
At the king's command they quarried out great, costly stones in order to lay the foundation of the house with dressed stones.
1 Kings 5:17 nlt
At the king's command, they quarried large blocks of high-quality stone and shaped them to make the foundation of the Temple.
1 Kings 5 17 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Ki 6:7 | And the house, when it was in building, was built of stone made ready before... | Stones prepared off-site. |
| 1 Ki 7:9-11 | All these were of costly stones, according to the measures of hewed stones... | Costly stones also used for king's palace. |
| 2 Chr 2:7 | Send me therefore a man cunning to work in gold... | Hiram sending skilled artisans. |
| 2 Chr 3:3 | Now these are the things wherein Solomon was instructed for the building... | Temple dimensions and materials specified. |
| Ezr 3:10-11 | And when the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the LORD... | Laying of second temple foundation with praise. |
| Job 38:6 | On what were its foundations laid, or who laid its cornerstone? | God's wisdom in creation's foundations. |
| Psa 118:22 | The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner. | Christ as the rejected, foundational stone. |
| Isa 28:16 | Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: "Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone..." | God lays a sure, precious foundation stone (Christ). |
| Zec 4:7 | ...He shall bring forth the capstone with shouts of 'Grace, grace to it!'" | Completion stone of Zerubbabel's temple. |
| Mt 7:24-27 | "Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like..." | Wisdom of building life on a solid foundation. |
| Lk 6:48 | He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation... | Jesus teaching on building on firm ground. |
| Jn 2:19-21 | Jesus answered them, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up." | Christ referring to His body as the true Temple. |
| Rom 9:33 | As it is written, "Behold, I lay in Zion a stumbling stone and a rock of offense..." | Christ as both cornerstone and stumbling stone. |
| 1 Cor 3:10-11 | According to the grace of God given to me, like a skillful master builder... | Christ is the only true foundation for believers. |
| Eph 2:19-22 | So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens... | Believers built on apostolic foundation with Christ as cornerstone. |
| Heb 11:10 | For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer... | Abraham seeking God's city with true foundations. |
| 1 Pet 2:4-6 | Come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen... | Believers as living stones built into a spiritual house. |
| Rev 21:14 | And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names... | Foundations of New Jerusalem. |
| Exo 25:1-8 | The LORD said to Moses, "Speak to the people of Israel that they take for me..." | Instructions for costly materials for the Tabernacle. |
| Exo 31:1-5 | The LORD said to Moses, "See, I have called by name Bezalel... | God empowering skilled artisans for His dwelling. |
| Hag 1:7-8 | Thus says the LORD of hosts: Consider your ways. Go up to the hills and... | Exhortation to bring timber to rebuild God's house. |
| Neh 4:6 | So we built the wall. And all the wall was joined together to half its height... | Effort in rebuilding city walls. |
1 Kings 5 verses
1 Kings 5 17 Meaning
First Kings 5:17 describes a crucial stage in the preparation for building the Temple in Jerusalem. It states that King Solomon commanded that large, valuable, and precisely shaped stones be brought to establish the very base of the sanctuary. This act underscores the immense scale, meticulous planning, and precious resources dedicated to constructing the "house of the Lord."
1 Kings 5 17 Context
First Kings 5:17 stands within the narrative of Solomon's grand project to build the Temple in Jerusalem. This specific verse follows Solomon's extensive preparations, including his alliance with Hiram, king of Tyre, who agreed to provide timber (cedar and cypress) and skilled Phoenician craftsmen. It also follows Solomon's conscription of 30,000 Israelites for timber felling and quarrying, led by Adoniram, with an additional 80,000 stonecutters in the hills and 3,300 supervisors (1 Ki 5:13-16). The immediate verse context describes the laying of the physical foundation after these vast preparations were put in motion. Historically, this period reflects the pinnacle of Israel's national prosperity and power under Solomon, a time when massive public works were feasible, demonstrating the nation's commitment and resources dedicated to worship and solidifying its spiritual center.
1 Kings 5 17 Word Analysis
- And the king commanded: Refers to King Solomon. This highlights his divinely appointed authority and his executive role in carrying out the Temple construction, fulfilling his father David's vision (1 Chr 22). It reflects an authoritative and organized endeavor.
- and they brought: Indicates the collective effort of the vast workforce Solomon mobilized—conscripted laborers and skilled Phoenicians (1 Ki 5:13-18). It underscores the monumental task requiring a multitude of hands.
- great stones (Hebrew: אֲבָנִים גְּדֹלֹת, ’ăḇānîm gəḏōlōṯ): Signifies stones of immense size, indicating the grand scale and solidity of the future Temple. The sheer bulk suggests a structure designed for permanence and a visual representation of the majesty of God. This detail also emphasizes the considerable labor and advanced engineering required for quarrying and transport.
- costly stones (Hebrew: אֲבָנִים יְקָרוֹת, ’ăḇānîm yəqārōṯ): Literally "precious" or "valuable" stones. These were not just large, but also of superior quality, chosen for their durability, beauty, and rarity. This implies that only the very best materials were deemed fitting for God's house, symbolizing the immense value and reverence ascribed to Him. In contrast to more primitive cultic sites, the Israelite Temple's construction used the most esteemed resources.
- and hewed stones (Hebrew: אַבְנֵי גָזִית, ’aḇnê gāzîṯ): Literally "cut stones" or "dressed stones." These were precisely shaped and smoothly finished, likely at the quarry, rather than rough-hewn. This reflects high craftsmanship and meticulous attention to detail. The precise fit was crucial for stability and aesthetic perfection (and also likely related to the instruction in Exod 20:25 against hewing altar stones with tools). This level of precision contrasts with crude building techniques common for ordinary structures, signaling the Temple's sacred purpose.
- to lay the foundation: (Hebrew: לְיַסֵּד בֵּית, ləyassēḏ bêṯ). To establish the base or groundwork. This points to the crucial importance of a stable, secure beginning for any major construction. Spiritually, a firm foundation is essential, often symbolizing Christ himself (1 Cor 3:11; Eph 2:20).
- of the house: Refers implicitly to the "house of the LORD," the Temple, known as the Beit Adonai or Beit Yahweh. It was more than a building; it was to be the fixed dwelling place of God's presence among His people (after the movable Tabernacle).
1 Kings 5 17 Bonus section
- Polemics: The Temple's construction using such high-quality, pre-fabricated materials stood in contrast to typical pagan temples of the time which, though sometimes grand, often lacked the systematic precision and focus on enduring quality evident here. It indirectly asserted Yahweh's superiority and worthiness of the highest standard.
- Solomon's Wisdom: This organized mobilization and use of top-tier resources further showcased Solomon's God-given wisdom and administrative capabilities.
- Parallel to Spiritual Foundations: The tangible foundation laid for the physical Temple prefigures the spiritual foundation laid in believers, where Christ is the chief cornerstone and believers are "living stones" built into a spiritual house for God's habitation (1 Pet 2:5; Eph 2:20-22). The solid, costly nature of these foundation stones foreshadows the unshakeable and precious nature of a faith founded on Christ.
1 Kings 5 17 Commentary
1 Kings 5:17 highlights the meticulous planning, vast resources, and incredible effort dedicated to the building of Solomon's Temple. The emphasis on "great, costly, and hewed stones" for the foundation speaks volumes about the Temple's significance. "Great" underscores its imposing scale and permanence, "costly" signifies the high value and preciousness of God's dwelling, while "hewed" reveals the meticulous craftsmanship and precision required. These details reflect the glory and order of God, for whom such a structure was deemed appropriate. This verse underscores the foundational truth that anything dedicated to God must be built with the utmost care, quality, and intention. The use of precisely prepared stones also points forward to the silent building of the Temple (1 Ki 6:7), where all cutting was done off-site, perhaps symbolizing the peaceful, ordered building of God's spiritual house without the clamor of human labor.