1 Kings 6 17

1 Kings 6:17 kjv

And the house, that is, the temple before it, was forty cubits long.

1 Kings 6:17 nkjv

And in front of it the temple sanctuary was forty cubits long.

1 Kings 6:17 niv

The main hall in front of this room was forty cubits long.

1 Kings 6:17 esv

The house, that is, the nave in front of the inner sanctuary, was forty cubits long.

1 Kings 6:17 nlt

The main room of the Temple, outside the Most Holy Place, was 60 feet long.

1 Kings 6 verses

1 Kings 6 17 Meaning

This verse specifies a precise architectural dimension of Solomon's Temple. It describes the length of the heikal, which is the main hall or Holy Place of the temple structure. This hall was located immediately before the innermost sanctuary, the Most Holy Place, and measured forty cubits in length, emphasizing the structured and proportional nature of God's dwelling place built according to divine instruction.

1 Kings 6 17 Context

1 Kings chapter 6 details the extensive and meticulously planned construction of Solomon's Temple in Jerusalem. This chapter transitions from Solomon's preparations for the temple (1 Ki 5) to the actual building process, beginning in the fourth year of his reign (1 Ki 6:1). The descriptions include the dimensions of the temple as a whole (1 Ki 6:2), its various chambers, walls, floors, and the lavish materials used, particularly cedar and gold. Verse 17 specifically delineates the length of the main hall (the heikal or Holy Place), clarifying its relationship to the inner sanctuary (the devir or Most Holy Place). This precision underscores the sacredness and divine origin of the design, which served as a permanent, central dwelling place for the Ark of the Covenant and the visible presence of God among His people, a stark contrast to the portable Tabernacle. Historically, large, elaborate temples were common in the Ancient Near East, but Solomon's Temple stood distinct as the house of the one true God, built to His specific instructions.

1 Kings 6 17 Word analysis

• The house: Hebrew `בַּיִת` (bayit). While literally meaning "house" or "palace," in this context, it unequivocally refers to the sacred temple structure. It's often used throughout Scripture for God's dwelling place, highlighting its dedicated purpose as opposed to a common building.
• that is, the temple: This phrase serves as an appositive, clarifying that "the house" being described is indeed the sacred temple, specifically Solomon's magnificent sanctuary. This avoids ambiguity about the type of structure.
• in front of the nave: The original Hebrew phrase is `אֲשֶׁר לִפְנֵי הַדְּבִיר` (asher lifnei haddebir), meaning "which was before the inner sanctuary" or "which was before the oracle." The word `הַדְּבִיר` (haddebir) specifically refers to the Most Holy Place, the innermost room where the Ark of the Covenant resided. Therefore, "the house" being described (with a length of 40 cubits) is the heikal (הֵיכָל), the Holy Place or main hall, which immediately preceded the Most Holy Place. This spatial relationship is crucial for understanding the temple's layout and its separation into distinct sacred areas.
• was forty cubits long: Hebrew `אַרְבָּעִים אַמָּה אֹרֶךְ` (arbaim amma orekh).
  • Forty (אַרְבָּעִים - arbaim): This number denotes the specific length. In biblical contexts, "forty" often symbolizes a period of testing, purification, or completeness (e.g., 40 days/years), though here it is primarily a descriptive measurement. Its precise mention reflects the meticulous divine blueprint.
  • cubits (אַמָּה - amma): A unit of ancient measurement, approximately the length from the elbow to the tip of the middle finger, roughly 18-21 inches (45-52 cm). This exact unit provides tangible scale and illustrates the systematic construction, allowing ancient readers to visualize the significant size of this sacred space. The 40 cubits for the Holy Place contrasted with the 20 cubits for the Most Holy Place (1 Ki 6:20), creating a specific two-part primary structure for the 60-cubit total length (1 Ki 6:2).

1 Kings 6 17 Bonus section

The precise dimensions of the temple, including the 40-cubit length of the Holy Place, served several significant purposes beyond mere architecture. They reflected the detailed divine blueprints, similar to those given for the Tabernacle (Ex 25). This emphasized that the temple was not merely a human edifice but a divinely ordained structure, a concrete symbol of God's presence. In the ancient world, temples often served as residences for deities, and the specific design for the Temple in Jerusalem would have subtly counteracted the idolatrous practices of neighboring cultures, showcasing Yahweh as the transcendent yet indwelling God who meticulously prescribed His dwelling. The physical structure was a precursor, a type, for future realities: Christ Himself becoming the true Temple (Jn 2:21) and ultimately believers constituting a spiritual temple where God dwells by His Spirit (1 Cor 3:16).

1 Kings 6 17 Commentary

1 Kings 6:17 precisely details the dimensions of the Holy Place within Solomon's Temple. This specific measurement highlights the intentionality and precision embedded in the divine instructions for constructing God's earthly dwelling. The numerical exactitude not only serves an architectural function, allowing ancient builders to construct the structure accurately, but also carries theological weight, emphasizing God's orderly character and His meticulous nature in His relationship with humanity. The clear distinction and dimension of the Holy Place (40 cubits) separate it from the Most Holy Place (20 cubits) and the Vestibule, emphasizing a progression into increasing holiness towards God's immediate presence. This detailed description reinforces the uniqueness and sacredness of the Temple as a physical embodiment of God's promise to dwell among His people, established under a specific covenant.