1 Kings 6:2 kjv
And the house which king Solomon built for the LORD, the length thereof was threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof twenty cubits, and the height thereof thirty cubits.
1 Kings 6:2 nkjv
Now the house which King Solomon built for the LORD, its length was sixty cubits, its width twenty, and its height thirty cubits.
1 Kings 6:2 niv
The temple that King Solomon built for the LORD was sixty cubits long, twenty wide and thirty high.
1 Kings 6:2 esv
The house that King Solomon built for the LORD was sixty cubits long, twenty cubits wide, and thirty cubits high.
1 Kings 6:2 nlt
The Temple that King Solomon built for the LORD was 90 feet long, 30 feet wide, and 45 feet high.
1 Kings 6 2 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ex 26:15-30 | Detailed dimensions of the Tabernacle's framework and inner curtain... | Precedent for divine dwelling dimensions |
| Ex 35:10-19 | Moses' instructions for building the Tabernacle... | God's specific architectural requirements |
| Deut 12:5 | Seek the place the LORD your God will choose as a dwelling for His Name... | God chooses a specific place for worship |
| 2 Sam 7:13 | He is the one who will build a house for My Name... | Nathan's prophecy about Solomon building God's house |
| 1 Kgs 6:3 | The portico in front of the main hall of the temple was twenty cubits long... | Temple's antechamber dimensions |
| 1 Kgs 6:16 | He built twenty cubits of the rear of the house with boards of cedar... | Holy of Holies dimensions specified |
| 1 Kgs 6:20 | The inner sanctuary was twenty cubits long, twenty wide, and twenty high... | Holy of Holies, a perfect cube |
| 1 Kgs 7:1-51 | Details of Solomon's other buildings and temple furnishings... | Contrasts human structures with God's dwelling |
| 1 Kgs 8:10-11 | When the priests came out of the Holy Place, the cloud filled the house of the LORD... | God's presence filled the finished Temple |
| 1 Chr 22:5-10 | David prepares materials, charges Solomon to build the house for the LORD... | David's plan and Solomon's charge to build |
| 2 Chr 3:3-4 | These are the measurements of the foundation that Solomon laid for building the house of God... | Parallel account of Temple dimensions |
| Ez 40:48-49 | Ezekiel's vision describes the dimensions of the portico of the temple... | Vision of a future, idealized Temple |
| Hag 2:3 | ‘Who is left among you who saw this house in its former glory...’ | Refers to the first Temple's grandeur |
| Zec 6:12 | ‘Behold, a man whose name is Branch... He will build the temple of the LORD...’ | Prophecy of Messiah rebuilding the spiritual Temple |
| Jn 2:19-21 | Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” He was speaking of the temple of His body. | Jesus' body as the ultimate Temple |
| Acts 7:47-49 | But Solomon built Him a house. However, the Most High does not dwell in temples made with human hands... | God is not confined to physical structures |
| Acts 17:24 | The God who made the world and all things in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands... | God's omnipresence, transcending physical temples |
| Eph 2:19-22 | ...built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the cornerstone... growing into a holy temple in the Lord. | Believers as a spiritual temple for God |
| 1 Cor 3:16 | Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? | Individual believers as God's temple |
| Heb 8:1-2 | ...a minister in the sanctuary and in the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched... | Christ as High Priest in a greater heavenly sanctuary |
| Rev 21:22 | I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. | No physical temple needed in the New Jerusalem |
1 Kings 6 verses
1 Kings 6 2 Meaning
This verse describes the foundational internal dimensions of the main structure of the First Temple in Jerusalem, built by King Solomon. It specifies the length, width, and height in cubits, providing the precise physical scale of the "house" dedicated to the Lord.
1 Kings 6 2 Context
This verse is found within 1 Kings chapter 6, which meticulously details the construction of Solomon's Temple, a central edifice in Israelite worship and a symbol of God's dwelling among His people. Preceded by chapters describing preparations and Solomon's wisdom, this verse opens the architectural description, immediately establishing the physical scale of the main sanctuary. Historically, Solomon's reign was a time of unprecedented prosperity and building projects, enabling such a massive undertaking, which fulfilled David's desire to build a "house" for the Lord. This structure served as the sole legitimate place for sacrifice and primary worship for centuries, signifying God's presence and covenant relationship with Israel.
1 Kings 6 2 Word analysis
- The temple (הַבַּ֛יִת - habbayith): This word, 'bayith', fundamentally means "house." Here, it signifies the special dwelling place consecrated for God, emphasizing its divine purpose and the presence of the Lord within. It’s not merely a grand building, but God's house among His people, fulfilling a key aspect of the covenant.
- that King Solomon (הַמֶּלֶךְ שְׁלֹמֹה - hammalekh shelomoh): Establishes the specific monarch responsible for this monumental work, linking it directly to the era of Israel's unified kingdom and peak influence, fulfilling divine promise. Solomon’s role underscores both human effort and divine mandate.
- built (בָּנָה - banah): The verb "to build," emphasizing the act of construction and completion of this significant structure. It highlights the physical manifestation of David's longing and God's directive.
- for the Lord (לַיהוָה - layhvh): Crucial designation. The Temple was specifically dedicated to Yahweh, the God of Israel, distinguishing it from surrounding pagan temples and their deities. This divine ownership imbues the structure with sacred significance.
- was sixty cubits (אַמָּה שִׁשִּׁים - shishshim ammah): 'Ammah' (cubit) was a standard unit of length in the ancient Near East, roughly the length from elbow to the tip of the middle finger (about 18-20 inches or 45-52 cm). The "sixty cubits" refers to the internal length of the main temple structure (combining the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place).
- long (אָרְכּוֹ - orkô): Denotes the extent from front to back, indicating the overall depth of the primary edifice.
- twenty cubits (אַמָּה עֶשְׂרִים - esrîm ammah): This refers to the internal width of the temple's main sanctuary (Holy Place and Most Holy Place).
- wide (רָחְבּוֹ - roẖbô): Indicates the lateral dimension, across the building.
- and thirty cubits (אַמָּה שְׁלֹשִׁים - shĕloshim ammah): This specifies the internal height of the main chamber (Holy Place), as the Most Holy Place at the rear had a lower ceiling of twenty cubits (1 Kgs 6:20), creating upper chambers accessible from outside (1 Kgs 6:5).
- high (קֹמָתוֹ - qōmātô): Signifies the vertical dimension from floor to ceiling.
- "The temple... for the Lord": This phrase underlines the Temple's unique purpose. Unlike human dwellings or monuments, this structure was singularly consecrated for the worship and presence of Yahweh. It emphasizes divine ownership and the sacred nature of the building.
- "sixty cubits long, twenty cubits wide and thirty cubits high": These precise dimensions reflect a meticulous divine blueprint, echoing the detailed instructions given for the Tabernacle (Exodus 25-27). Such exactitude signals the importance and sacredness of the construction, not just a haphazard design. The proportions also reveal specific design choices, with length significantly greater than width and height.
1 Kings 6 2 Bonus section
- Architectural Significance: The stated dimensions likely refer to the interior measurements of the central edifice, which combined the Hekhal (Holy Place or nave) and the Debir (Most Holy Place or Holy of Holies). The 60-cubit length thus accommodates both, with the Debir being a 20-cubit cube within that total. The 30-cubit height specifically relates to the main chamber, while the inner sanctuary was a 20-cubit high perfect cube. This creates an upper story for side chambers, which are elaborated on later in the chapter.
- Symbolic Proportions: While not explicitly stated in the text, the 6:2:3 ratio of length, width, and height for the primary space holds some symbolic interpretations in ancient Near Eastern thought regarding cosmic order or perfection, but the immediate context emphasizes accuracy.
- The Cubit Measurement: The exact length of a cubit varied, but the "royal cubit" or longer cubit (about 20.6 inches or 52.3 cm) might have been used for major public works, making the Temple even larger than if a shorter common cubit (approx 18 inches) was employed. This precision reflects a commitment to a standard.
- Fulfillment of Prophecy: The building of this Temple, with its precise specifications, represents the fulfillment of God's promise to David (2 Sam 7) that his son would build a "house" for God's Name.
1 Kings 6 2 Commentary
This verse succinctly establishes the dimensions of the core structure of Solomon's Temple, a landmark building representing God's covenant presence among His people. The "house for the Lord" signifies its divine purpose and status as a place set apart for God's glory and the sacred worship of Israel. The specified cubit measurements, while seeming technical, were divinely prescribed, demonstrating the precise and deliberate nature of the construction, following a divine pattern, similar to the Tabernacle. This monumental effort, undertaken by King Solomon, not only solidified the national identity of Israel but also provided a tangible, physical center for their worship. Yet, while built to house God's Name and symbolize His nearness, later Scripture, particularly the New Testament, clarifies that God cannot truly be confined to structures "made with hands," transcending any physical building. The true Temple, ultimately, is found in Christ and His believing people.