1 Kings 6:1 kjv
And it came to pass in the four hundred and eightieth year after the children of Israel were come out of the land of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon's reign over Israel, in the month Zif, which is the second month, that he began to build the house of the LORD.
1 Kings 6:1 nkjv
And it came to pass in the four hundred and eightieth year after the children of Israel had come out of the land of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon's reign over Israel, in the month of Ziv, which is the second month, that he began to build the house of the LORD.
1 Kings 6:1 niv
In the four hundred and eightieth year after the Israelites came out of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon's reign over Israel, in the month of Ziv, the second month, he began to build the temple of the LORD.
1 Kings 6:1 esv
In the four hundred and eightieth year after the people of Israel came out of the land of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon's reign over Israel, in the month of Ziv, which is the second month, he began to build the house of the LORD.
1 Kings 6:1 nlt
It was in midspring, in the month of Ziv, during the fourth year of Solomon's reign, that he began to construct the Temple of the LORD. This was 480 years after the people of Israel were rescued from their slavery in the land of Egypt.
1 Kings 6 1 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Exod 12:40-41 | The time that the people of Israel lived in Egypt was 430 years... | Exodus duration for Israel's enslavement |
| Num 1:1 | The LORD spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the second month... | Calendar date from Exodus context |
| Judg 11:26 | While Israel lived in Heshbon... for 300 years... | Length of time for Israel in Gilead during Judges |
| 2 Sam 7:12-13 | I will raise up your offspring after you... he shall build a house... | God's promise to David about Solomon building Temple |
| 1 Chron 22:7-10 | David said to Solomon, “My son, I had it in my heart to build... but the word of the LORD came to me..." | David's desire and divine direction for Solomon |
| 1 Chron 29:1-5 | King David said to the whole assembly, “My son Solomon, whom alone God has chosen... is young and inexperienced, and the work is great... I have provided..." | David's preparations and passing the torch |
| 1 Kgs 5:17-18 | The king commanded, and they quarried great stones, costly stones, to lay the foundation... | Prior preparations for Temple construction |
| 2 Chron 2:1-2 | Solomon purposed to build a house for the name of the LORD and a royal palace for himself. | Solomon's dual building projects |
| 2 Chron 3:1-2 | Then Solomon began to build the house of the LORD in Jerusalem... in the fourth year of his reign... | Parallel account confirming date and location |
| Ezra 3:8 | In the second year after their arrival at the house of God in Jerusalem, in the second month... | Rebuilding of Second Temple, also precise timing |
| Jer 7:1-7 | Amend your ways and your deeds, and I will let you dwell in this place. | Warning about false security in the Temple's presence |
| Ezek 40-43 | Detailed description of a future temple. | Vision of an ideal, future Temple |
| Hag 1:7-8 | Consider your ways. Go up to the hills and bring wood and build the house... | Exhortation to rebuild the Second Temple |
| Hag 2:6-9 | The glory of this latter temple shall be greater than the former... | Prophecy of greater glory for the rebuilt Temple |
| Zech 6:12-13 | Behold, the man whose name is the Branch... he shall build the temple of the LORD. | Prophecy of a spiritual builder (Messiah) |
| John 2:19-21 | Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” He was speaking about the temple of his body. | Jesus's body as the ultimate Temple |
| 1 Cor 3:16-17 | Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? | Believers as the New Testament Temple |
| 1 Cor 6:19-20 | Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit...? | Individual believers as God's dwelling |
| Eph 2:19-22 | So then you are no longer strangers... but fellow citizens... built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone... | The Church as a spiritual Temple for God |
| Rev 21:22 | And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb. | The eternal state, God Himself is the Temple |
1 Kings 6 verses
1 Kings 6 1 Meaning
This verse provides the precise chronological commencement of the First Temple's construction in Jerusalem, attributing it to King Solomon. It anchors this momentous event to two significant points in Israelite history: 480 years after their deliverance from Egypt (the Exodus) and the fourth year of Solomon's reign, specifying the month as Ziv, which is the second month of the Israelite calendar. This precision underscores the divine timing and significance of God's dwelling place among His people.
1 Kings 6 1 Context
This verse acts as a crucial historical marker within 1 Kings, following chapter 5, which details Solomon's preparations for the Temple project, including his alliance with Hiram, King of Tyre, and the conscription of laborers. It signifies the commencement of the central task for which Solomon's reign is most remembered, fulfilling God's promise to David that his son would build a house for the Lord (2 Sam 7). Historically, dating the Temple's construction 480 years after the Exodus firmly places it within a divine chronological framework for Israel, highlighting a significant milestone in their national and religious identity. The mention of "the month of Ziv" adds a layer of ancient Near Eastern cultural context, as months were often named rather than solely numbered. The precision emphasizes the meticulous nature of the biblical record.
1 Kings 6 1 Word analysis
- And it came to pass (וַיְהִי): This introductory phrase is a common Hebrew narrative marker, literally "and it was," signaling the beginning of a significant event or new section.
- in the four hundred and eightieth year (בְּאַרְבַּע מֵאוֹת וְשְׁמוֹנִים שָׁנָה): (Hebrew: bᵉ'arbā' mē'ôt wᵉshᵉmônîm shānāh) - A precise, round number, subject to scholarly discussion. Some interpret it as a theological figure (12 generations of 40 years each) rather than a strict literal calculation, perhaps emphasizing a significant span of time culminating in God's appointed season for the Temple. It directly connects the building of the Temple to Israel's foundational event, the Exodus.
- after the Israelites came out of the land of Egypt (לְצֵאת בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם): This establishes the Exodus as the primary historical anchor point for dating in Israel's history, underscoring its pivotal role in their identity and God's covenant with them.
- in the fourth year (בַּשָּׁנָה הָרְבִיעִית): A specific point within Solomon's reign, indicating his early consolidation of power and dedication to this divinely appointed task.
- of Solomon's reign over Israel (לְמַלְכוּת שְׁלֹמֹה עַל יִשְׂרָאֵל): (Hebrew: lᵉmalkhûth shᵉlomoh 'al Yisrael) - Pinpoints the king and the nation under his rule, confirming the timing of the construction during a period of relative peace and prosperity.
- in the month of Ziv (בְּיֶרַח זִו): (Hebrew: bᵉyerach ziw) - Ziv (meaning "radiance" or "bloom") is an ancient Canaanite name for the second month of the religious calendar, which corresponds to the month of Iyar (April-May). This specifies the exact time of year, optimal for building with good weather. It suggests the author's familiarity with local calendars, lending historical credibility.
- the second month (הוּא הַחֹדֶשׁ הַשֵּׁנִי): Clarifies "Ziv" for readers, connecting the foreign-sounding month name to the familiar numerical month system.
- he began to build the temple of the LORD (לִבְנוֹת אֶת בֵּית יְהוָה): (Hebrew: livnôt 'et bêth Yahweh) - This phrase emphasizes the initiation of construction, a significant fulfillment of God's plan for a central sanctuary. "House of Yahweh" explicitly declares its purpose as a dwelling for the Lord's presence.
1 Kings 6 1 Bonus section
The number "480 years" is sometimes seen in theological terms, being 12 generations multiplied by 40 years per generation, connecting different phases of Israel's history from the Exodus through the periods of the Judges to the establishment of the monarchy and the Temple. This numeric framework suggests a divinely appointed timeline leading to the central sanctuary. The Temple’s construction was the culmination of generations of anticipation for a settled dwelling place for the Ark of the Covenant, moving beyond the Tabernacle. This physical structure represented the permanent establishment of God's covenant presence among His people, serving as a focal point for worship and national identity, and signifying a period of unparalleled glory and peace for the united monarchy under Solomon.
1 Kings 6 1 Commentary
1 Kings 6:1 provides the foundational chronological detail for the most important architectural project in ancient Israel—the construction of Solomon's Temple. The precise dating—480 years after the Exodus, in the fourth year of Solomon's reign, in the month of Ziv—is not merely a historical record but a theological statement. It firmly places the Temple within God's meticulously orchestrated plan for His people. The 480-year interval links the glorious permanent dwelling for God's presence directly back to Israel's foundational act of liberation from Egypt, implying a journey from covenant-making to covenant-fulfillment in a tangible form. It highlights divine providence, assuring the reader that the Temple was built not by human whim but at the divinely appointed time.