1 Kings 6:18 kjv
And the cedar of the house within was carved with knops and open flowers: all was cedar; there was no stone seen.
1 Kings 6:18 nkjv
The inside of the temple was cedar, carved with ornamental buds and open flowers. All was cedar; there was no stone to be seen.
1 Kings 6:18 niv
The inside of the temple was cedar, carved with gourds and open flowers. Everything was cedar; no stone was to be seen.
1 Kings 6:18 esv
The cedar within the house was carved in the form of gourds and open flowers. All was cedar; no stone was seen.
1 Kings 6:18 nlt
Cedar paneling completely covered the stone walls throughout the Temple, and the paneling was decorated with carvings of gourds and open flowers.
1 Kings 6 18 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Exod 25:8-9 | "Let them make Me a sanctuary... according to all that I show you..." | God gives specific building plans. |
| Exod 35:30-35 | "...skillful men, that they may work in all manner of cunning work..." | God gifted craftsmen for the Tabernacle. |
| Exod 36:8-19 | "...made the curtains for the tabernacle of twisted fine linen..." | Details of luxurious Tabernacle coverings. |
| Num 17:8 | "...the rod of Aaron... sprouted and put forth buds and produced blossoms." | 'Tzitzim' (blossoms/flowers) found in context. |
| 1 Kgs 5:6-10 | "Hiram provided Solomon with cedar trees and cypress trees..." | Alliance and provision of precious timber. |
| 1 Kgs 6:7 | "The house, when it was in building, was built of stone made ready..." | Contrast: loud quarry work vs. finished silence. |
| 2 Sam 5:11 | "Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David... with cedar trees..." | David's earlier use of cedar for his own palace. |
| 1 Chron 22:5 | "The house that is to be built for the LORD must be exceedingly magnificent." | David's desire for a glorious house for God. |
| Ps 29:2 | "Worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness." | Importance of reverent, beautiful worship. |
| Ps 92:12 | "The righteous will flourish like a palm tree; they will grow like a cedar in Lebanon." | Cedar as a symbol of strength and beauty. |
| Ps 96:9 | "Oh, worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness! Tremble before Him..." | Reiteration of worship in holiness and beauty. |
| Isa 60:13 | "The glory of Lebanon shall come to you, the cypress, the plane tree, and the pine together, to beautify the place of My sanctuary." | Prophecy of beautiful materials for God's sanctuary. |
| Ezek 31:3-9 | "Indeed, Assyria was a cedar in Lebanon, with beautiful branches..." | Cedar symbolizing strength, grandeur, beauty. |
| Hag 1:4 | "Is it time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, and this temple to lie in ruins?" | Priority of God's house over personal dwellings. |
| Mal 1:10-14 | "Oh, that there were one among you who would shut the gates... nor receive an offering from your hand!" | Condemnation of contempt for God's house/offerings. |
| Jn 2:19-21 | "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up... He was speaking of the temple of His body." | Jesus as the ultimate Temple. |
| Acts 7:48-50 | "However, the Most High does not dwell in temples made with human hands..." | New Testament shift: God dwells not in physical structures. |
| 1 Cor 3:16-17 | "Do you not know that you are the temple of God... The temple of God is holy, which you are." | Believers as the spiritual Temple. |
| Eph 2:19-22 | "You are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit." | Believers as living stones, forming a spiritual dwelling. |
| 1 Pet 3:3-4 | "Do not let your adornment be merely outward... rather let it be the hidden person of the heart." | Emphasizing inward beauty over outward show. |
| Heb 9:1-5 | "Then indeed, even the first covenant had ordinances... and a worldly sanctuary... having the cherubim of glory shadowing the mercy seat." | Detailed beauty of the Tabernacle's interior. |
| Rev 21:11-21 | "Having the glory of God... its structure of jasper; and the city was pure gold..." | The ultimate heavenly city, resplendent with precious materials. |
1 Kings 6 verses
1 Kings 6 18 Meaning
The verse describes the magnificent interior of the Temple, revealing that its walls were completely lined with cedarwood. This cedar was not plain but intricately carved with decorative motifs of gourds and blooming flowers. The ultimate statement is that the stone structure, though immense and fundamental to the building, was entirely concealed from view, signifying that the finished sacred space presented an overwhelming visual experience of beautiful, crafted cedar.
1 Kings 6 18 Context
1 Kings chapter 6 details the meticulous construction of Solomon’s Temple, emphasizing its precise dimensions, precious materials, and elaborate decorations. This specific verse describes the finished interior of the nave (the main hall of the Temple, before the Most Holy Place), focusing on the overwhelming presence of fine cedar wood. This detail immediately follows the description of the building's outer walls and foundational stone work, setting a stark contrast between the hidden, silent, foundational strength of the stone and the visible, exquisite, luxurious beauty of the inner cedar cladding, all dedicated to honoring God.
1 Kings 6 18 Word analysis
- And the cedar (וְאֶרֶז - ve'erez): The Hebrew word erez refers to the cedar of Lebanon, renowned for its stately growth, aromatic quality, durability, and resistance to decay. It was considered the finest and most valuable timber in the ancient Near East, symbolizing royalty, wealth, and God's blessing (e.g., Ps 92:12). Its prominent use underscores the immense value and honor ascribed to God's dwelling place.
- was within the house (בֵּיתָה - bayta'): This phrase clarifies the location: the interior of the Temple's main sanctuary area, not merely external decoration. It speaks to an inward focus, a hidden glory for God.
- carved (קָלוּעַ - qalu'a): Implies intricate, skilled workmanship, not just plain wood panels. This word suggests detailed artistic expression, signifying the effort and beauty invested in God's sanctuary.
- with gourds (פֶּקָעִים - peqa'im): These were likely stylized ornamental knobs or possibly wild gourds, a common decorative motif in ancient Near Eastern art. They could symbolize life, fruitfulness, or abundance, consecrated for divine purposes within the Temple.
- and open flowers (וּפְתוּחֵי צִצִּים - u'fetuchei tzitzim): Refers to blooming, fully opened flowers. Flowers symbolize beauty, growth, and possibly even life or fertility, here transformed into sacred ornamentation. Together with the gourds, they demonstrate a theme of organic life and beauty dedicated to God's glory.
- all was cedar (הַכֹּל אֶרֶז - hakol erez): This emphasizes the total coverage. It wasn't partially lined, but completely overwhelmed by this luxurious material. This hyper-emphasis conveys absolute devotion and lavish expenditure.
- there was no stone seen (אֵין אֶבֶן נִרְאֶה - ein even nir'ah): This is a profound statement. Despite the Temple being built of massive, precisely cut stone blocks (1 Kgs 6:7), not a single one was visible inside the sanctuary. It indicates a meticulous and comprehensive internal finishing. This detail contrasts the laborious, noisy, foundational work of quarrying and fitting stone with the exquisite, silent, beautified interior. The raw strength of construction was wholly hidden by the glorious artistry for God. This might symbolize how earthly, mundane efforts are perfected and transfigured for divine purposes, or that God's dwelling presents only beauty and holiness, not the raw mechanics of its making.
1 Kings 6 18 Bonus section
- The overwhelming presence of cedar and the concealment of stone visually represented the transition from the functional, practical phase of construction (where stone was paramount) to the sacred, completed phase of consecration. The interior was to be a place of quiet reverence and beauty, removed from the sounds of hammer and chisel.
- The peqa'im (gourds) and tzitzim (flowers) reflect a common ancient Near Eastern artistic lexicon but were here integrated into the worship of the one true God, elevating natural beauty to a sacred purpose.
- The meticulous attention to hidden details – beauty on the inside not visible to all – can serve as a spiritual lesson on the importance of an adorned inner life (1 Pet 3:3-4), emphasizing true piety and devotion often found in unseen faithfulness.
1 Kings 6 18 Commentary
1 Kings 6:18 powerfully describes the Temple's inner sanctuary, emphasizing its overwhelming beauty and the intentional concealment of its underlying structure. The exclusive use of exquisitely carved cedar, adorned with symbolic gourds and flowers, communicates an unparalleled level of dedication, craftsmanship, and expense offered to God. This was not a merely functional building, but a sanctuary designed to reflect divine majesty. The detail that "no stone was seen" is critical: it contrasts the foundational strength (built of rough-hewn stone from the quarry in 1 Kgs 6:7) with the completed, hallowed space. It signifies that the inner reality of God's dwelling was one of pure, seamless beauty and sacred artistry, far removed from the laborious process of its construction. This serves as a testament to the immense value the Israelites, under Solomon, placed on creating a suitable dwelling for Yahweh, focusing all human skill and precious resources to glorify Him.