1 Kings 6 20

1 Kings 6:20 kjv

And the oracle in the forepart was twenty cubits in length, and twenty cubits in breadth, and twenty cubits in the height thereof: and he overlaid it with pure gold; and so covered the altar which was of cedar.

1 Kings 6:20 nkjv

The inner sanctuary was twenty cubits long, twenty cubits wide, and twenty cubits high. He overlaid it with pure gold, and overlaid the altar of cedar.

1 Kings 6:20 niv

The inner sanctuary was twenty cubits long, twenty wide and twenty high. He overlaid the inside with pure gold, and he also overlaid the altar of cedar.

1 Kings 6:20 esv

The inner sanctuary was twenty cubits long, twenty cubits wide, and twenty cubits high, and he overlaid it with pure gold. He also overlaid an altar of cedar.

1 Kings 6:20 nlt

This inner sanctuary was 30 feet long, 30 feet wide, and 30 feet high. He overlaid the inside with solid gold. He also overlaid the altar made of cedar.

1 Kings 6 verses

1 Kings 6 20 Meaning

1 Kings 6:20 meticulously describes the Most Holy Place, also known as the inner sanctuary or debir, within Solomon's Temple. It details its exact dimensions, forming a perfect cube, and its lavish material — pure gold overlaying its interior surfaces. The verse concludes by noting the construction of an "altar of cedar" within this exceptionally sacred space, signifying a dedicated area of worship or communion at the heart of God's earthly dwelling.

1 Kings 6 20 Context

This verse is found within 1 Kings chapter 6, which meticulously details the construction of Solomon's magnificent Temple in Jerusalem. This chapter describes the Temple's foundational elements, materials, and internal design, serving as a divinely sanctioned dwelling place for the Lord among His people. Verse 20 specifically focuses on the innermost chamber, the Debir or Most Holy Place, a highly restricted area reflecting God's unique presence. Historically, this Temple fulfilled God's desire for a permanent sanctuary following the portable Tabernacle. Culturally, its design and materials were unparalleled in the ancient Near East, symbolizing God's supremacy and transcendence over pagan deities whose temples often contained numerous idols or more limited access. The emptiness of the Most Holy Place (except for the Ark of the Covenant, and possibly the described altar) directly polemicized against the material idols found in surrounding religions, emphasizing Yahweh's invisible and boundless nature.

1 Kings 6 20 Word analysis

• Now the inner sanctuary (וְהַדְּבִיר - vehaDebir): The Hebrew Debir signifies "the innermost room" or "oracle," derived from the root dabar (to speak). It emphasizes this as the place where God spoke or communicated. It is the Most Holy Place, the most sacred area in the Temple.
• was twenty cubits long: A cubit was approximately 18-21 inches. Twenty cubits (about 30-35 feet) marked its spatial dimension, part of a perfect cube.
• and twenty cubits wide: Confirmed the perfect square base.
• and twenty cubits high: Established the perfect cube shape. This cubical form symbolizes perfection, completeness, and divine dwelling, resonating later with the description of the New Jerusalem in Rev 21:16.
• and he overlaid it: Hebrew vaYetzaf (וַיְצַף), meaning "and he covered it" or "overlaid." This indicates the structure beneath was of wood (cedar and olive wood as per 1 Kgs 6:18, 21). The external covering was key to its appearance.
• with pure gold (זָהָב סָגוּר - zahav sagur): Zahav sagur translates to "shut up gold" or "refined gold," implying gold of the highest purity. This emphasizes the sanctity, preciousness, and divine glory associated with God's dwelling. Gold frequently symbolizes divine purity and inherent value throughout Scripture.
• and he made (וַיַּעַשׂ - vaYa'as): Indicates a deliberate act of creation or construction.
• an altar of cedar (מִזְבַּח עֵץ - mizbeach etz): Mizbeach means "altar." Its specific material, "cedar wood" (etz means wood/tree), is notable. Unlike the Altar of Incense (Exod 30:1-6), which was acacia wood overlaid with gold and placed outside the Most Holy Place, this altar is specified as "of cedar" and explicitly placed within the Debir. Its purpose is debated: some scholars propose it was a pedestal for the Ark of the Covenant, elevating it, while others suggest it was a special, internal altar for unique offerings, potentially of a symbolic or non-burning nature. It further denotes the unparalleled sanctity of this inner sanctum.

Words-group by words-group analysis

• "the inner sanctuary was twenty cubits long, and twenty cubits wide, and twenty cubits high": This phrase details the exact, cubical dimensions of the Most Holy Place. This perfect cube signified ultimate perfection, completeness, and holiness in ancient architecture and cosmology. Its specific size (20 cubits, exactly half the main sanctuary's length of 40 cubits from 1 Kgs 6:17) underscored its distinct, holy status, serving as a tangible symbol of God's perfect dwelling place on earth.
• "and he overlaid it with pure gold": This highlights the unparalleled preciousness and divine radiance of the inner sanctuary. The pure gold overlay ensured that every surface of this sacred space reflected light and divine glory, emphasizing the matchless worth and sanctity of God's presence. It made the innermost chamber glow as if entirely made of solid gold, signaling the unblemished holiness required in His immediate presence.
• "and he made an altar of cedar": The inclusion of an "altar of cedar" within the innermost sanctuary is highly significant. An altar universally denotes a place of sacrifice, worship, or intimate communion with God. Made of durable and valuable cedar, it underscored the permanence and dignity of worship even within this most restricted area. This altar, unique in its specified material and location, indicated that even in the closest proximity to God, an intermediary point for profound communication or consecrated offering was established.

1 Kings 6 20 Bonus section

The Most Holy Place being a perfect cube is not merely architectural, but highly theological. It represents divine totality and completion, where God’s perfect character and will reside. This specific geometric design directly parallels the New Jerusalem described in Revelation 21:16 as "a perfect square," which signifies God's complete presence with His people in the eternal state, the ultimate realization of God dwelling among humanity without veils or barriers.

The Debir was unique because, unlike pagan temples that often housed a specific idol in their innermost sanctuaries, the Holy of Holies in the Jerusalem Temple was essentially empty save for the Ark of the Covenant (and later, even that was missing), embodying an aniconic representation of God. This empty space profoundly challenged the idolatrous practices of the surrounding cultures, asserting that Yahweh, the true God, cannot be confined to any image or statue. His presence transcended physical representation, signifying His omnipresence and spiritual nature. The overwhelming pure gold amplified His unseen glory rather than depicting Him.

The mizbeach etz or "altar of cedar" within the Debir (in 1 Kgs 6:20) presents a unique feature that prompts much discussion. Given that the main Golden Altar of Incense (Exod 30:1-6; 1 Kgs 7:48) was positioned in the Holy Place before the veil, this cedar altar's explicit placement inside the Debir suggests a function more intimate than regular daily incense offerings. It has been proposed that it served as the very pedestal or support for the Ark of the Covenant, thus gaining the designation "altar" due to the Ark's immense sacredness and direct association with God's presence and covenant communication, rather than being a place of actual combustion. The absence of explicit mention of gold overlay for this altar itself (distinct from the Debir's overall gold overlay) might point to its fundamental nature as a sturdy base. Alternatively, it could have been a special, consecrated piece for specific High Priestly offerings on the Day of Atonement, or a symbolic point of communion emphasizing the "speaking" aspect of the Debir.

1 Kings 6 20 Commentary

1 Kings 6:20 profoundly portrays the Debir, or Most Holy Place, as the pinnacle of Temple sacredness. Its dimensions, a perfect 20x20x20 cubit cube, were intentionally symbolic of divine perfection, completeness, and purity, a motif echoed in the eschatological vision of the New Jerusalem in Revelation 21. The total encasement in pure gold symbolized the unparalleled glory, holiness, and incalculable worth of God's dwelling place. This was not merely an ornate architectural feature but a visible sign of Yahweh's ultimate transcendence and immaculacy. The addition of an "altar of cedar" within this hallowed space, though its exact function is a subject of scholarly discussion (possibly a pedestal for the Ark, a unique symbolic altar for profound offerings, or the specific "altar of incense" associated with the inner chamber), further emphasizes the direct and singular avenue of communion with God. It was a space designed not for human traffic but for the dwelling of the Ark of the Covenant and the visible manifestation of God's glory, representing the spiritual center of the universe for the Israelite worshipper.