1 Kings 6:23 kjv
And within the oracle he made two cherubim of olive tree, each ten cubits high.
1 Kings 6:23 nkjv
Inside the inner sanctuary he made two cherubim of olive wood, each ten cubits high.
1 Kings 6:23 niv
For the inner sanctuary he made a pair of cherubim out of olive wood, each ten cubits high.
1 Kings 6:23 esv
In the inner sanctuary he made two cherubim of olivewood, each ten cubits high.
1 Kings 6:23 nlt
He made two cherubim of wild olive wood, each 15 feet tall, and placed them in the inner sanctuary.
1 Kings 6 23 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
| Gen 3:24 | He drove out the man, and at the east of the garden of Eden he placed the cherubim and a flaming sword... | Cherubim as guardians of sacred space |
| Exod 25:18-22 | You shall make two cherubim of gold... over the mercy seat... | Cherubim on Ark of Covenant, symbol of God's throne |
| Exod 26:1 | Moreover, you shall make the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine twined linen and blue and purple and scarlet yarns, with cherubim skillfully worked into them. | Cherubim woven into Tabernacle curtains |
| Exod 26:31 | And you shall make a veil of blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen, with cherubim skillfully worked into it. | Cherubim on the veil separating Holy Place and Most Holy Place |
| Exod 37:7-9 | And he made two cherubim of hammered gold; he made them of one piece... | Construction of Ark's cherubim by Bezaleel |
| Num 7:89 | When Moses went into the tent of meeting to speak with the LORD, he heard the voice speaking to him from above the mercy seat that was on the ark of the testimony, from between the two cherubim... | God speaking from between the cherubim |
| 1 Sam 4:4 | So the people sent to Shiloh and brought from there the ark of the covenant of the LORD of hosts, who is enthroned on the cherubim. | God enthroned on/between the cherubim |
| 2 Sam 6:2 | And David and all the people with him arose and went to Baale-judah... to bring up from there the ark of God, which is called by the name of the LORD of hosts who sits enthroned on the cherubim. | Reference to God's enthronement on cherubim |
| 2 Sam 22:11 | He rode on a cherub and flew; he was seen upon the wings of the wind. | God using cherubim in movement/manifestation |
| 1 Kgs 6:5 | He built an annex to the house, all around the walls of the house, around the nave and the inner sanctuary. And he made side chambers all around. | Broader context of Temple structure |
| 1 Kgs 6:27 | He put the cherubim in the inner room of the house. And the wings of the cherubim were spread out, so that the wing of one touched the one wall, and the wing of the other cherub touched the other wall; and their wings touched each other in the middle of the room. | Further details on the placement and size of the cherubim |
| 1 Kgs 6:29 | He carved all the walls of the house round about with carved figures of cherubim and palm trees and open flowers, in the inner and outer rooms. | Cherubim as common decorative motif in Temple |
| 1 Kgs 6:35 | He carved on it cherubim and palm trees and open flowers, and overlaid them with gold fitted to the carved work. | Gold overlay on carved cherubim |
| Ps 18:10 | He rode on a cherub and flew; he soared on the wings of the wind. | Echoes 2 Sam 22:11, divine speed and power |
| Ps 80:1 | Hear us, O Shepherd of Israel, you who lead Joseph like a flock! You who are enthroned upon the cherubim, shine forth. | Petition to God enthroned on cherubim |
| Ps 99:1 | The LORD reigns; let the peoples tremble! He sits enthroned upon the cherubim; let the earth quake! | Declaration of God's sovereign rule from cherubic throne |
| Isa 37:16 | "O LORD of hosts, God of Israel, enthroned above the cherubim, you are the God, you alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth..." | Hezekiah's prayer affirming God's enthronement on cherubim |
| Ezek 1:5-14 | And from the midst of it came the likeness of four living creatures... This was their appearance: they had a human likeness. | Ezekiel's vision of cherubim as divine carriers/living creatures |
| Ezek 10:1-22 | Then I looked, and behold, on the expanse that was over the heads of the cherubim... | Further vision of cherubim in heavenly context, carrying God's glory |
| Heb 9:3-5 | Behind the second curtain was a room called the Most Holy Place, which had the golden altar of incense and the gold-covered ark of the covenant, which contained the gold jar of manna, Aaron's staff that budded, and the stone tablets of the covenant. Above the ark were the cherubim of glory, overshadowing the mercy seat. | NT description of Tabernacle's Holy of Holies, including the cherubim of glory, highlighting their typological significance for Christ |
| Rev 4:6-8 | ...and around the throne, four living creatures, full of eyes in front and behind: the first living creature like a lion, the second living creature like an ox, the third living creature with the face of a man, and the fourth living creature like an eagle in flight. And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say, “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!” | New Testament vision of "living creatures" (cherubim-like) surrounding God's heavenly throne |
1 Kings 6 verses
1 Kings 6 23 Meaning
The verse describes a pivotal feature of Solomon's newly constructed Temple: the creation of two magnificent cherubim, fashioned from olive wood, positioned within the inner sanctuary. These massive figures, each standing ten cubits tall, were integral to the design of the Holy of Holies, serving as prominent guardians and visual symbols reinforcing the sacred presence of God within His dwelling place. They signify the culmination of God's directive for a fixed, grand house where His glory would reside, mirroring aspects of the Tabernacle but on an unprecedented scale of majesty and permanence.
1 Kings 6 23 Context
1 Kings chapter 6 details Solomon’s construction of the first permanent Temple in Jerusalem, a significant milestone after centuries of the nomadic Tabernacle. The inner sanctuary, referred to here as the Holy of Holies or Devir (דְּבִיר), was the most sacred chamber, intended to house the Ark of the Covenant, representing God's throne on earth. This verse specifically describes a key element within this innermost chamber: two colossal cherubim. Historically, this monumental undertaking symbolized God's faithful presence with His people and the establishment of centralized worship in Jerusalem. Culturally, while other Ancient Near Eastern temples often featured guardian figures, Israel’s cherubim were distinct; they were not worshipped themselves but depicted as attendants of the true God, Yahweh, reinforcing His singular supremacy and avoiding any hint of idolatry, thus serving as an implicit polemic against contemporary polytheistic practices.
1 Kings 6 23 Word analysis
- In the inner sanctuary: This refers to the innermost room of the Temple, known in Hebrew as the Devir (דְּבִיר), or "oracle" place. It was the Holy of Holies, accessible only to the high priest once a year on the Day of Atonement. This extreme restriction highlighted God's holiness and man's separation due to sin, a boundary only bridged by specific divine allowance. The name "oracle" implies it was a place of divine revelation and communication.
- he made: This implicitly refers to Solomon. While not personally crafting them, he commissioned, supervised, and provided for their creation, fulfilling the grand architectural plans divinely revealed. This verb underscores Solomon’s role as the instrument for fulfilling God's long-standing desire for a permanent dwelling place among His people (cf. 2 Sam 7).
- two cherubim: The Hebrew word is keruvim (כְּרוּבִים), the plural of cherub. These are not merely decorative figures but representations of heavenly beings closely associated with God's presence, glory, and throne. Unlike the smaller cherubim affixed to the mercy seat of the Ark (Exod 25), these were independent, free-standing colossal statues, significantly amplifying their visual impact. Their origin is tied to the guardian cherubim of Eden (Gen 3:24) and their constant association with God’s presence, suggesting a role as symbolic guardians of the divine throne room.
- of olive wood: The Hebrew term etz shemen (עֵץ שֶׁמֶן) literally means "tree of oil," signifying the olive tree. Olive wood is dense, durable, and well-suited for carving. Symbolically, the olive tree is deeply rooted in Israelite culture, representing richness, prosperity, fruitfulness (Ps 52:8), and endurance. More significantly, olive oil was essential for anointing (priests, kings), for lamps in the sanctuary (Exod 27:20), and for offerings, symbolizing consecration and the divine presence. The use of this particular wood imbues the cherubim with added sacred significance.
- each ten cubits high: A cubit (ammah, אָמָּה) typically ranged from 18 to 21 inches (approximately 45 to 53 centimeters). Thus, ten cubits would translate to approximately 15 to 17.5 feet (about 4.5 to 5.3 meters). This colossal height means they filled a significant portion of the Most Holy Place, which was twenty cubits high (1 Kgs 6:20), indicating their imposing presence within the inner sanctuary. Their massive scale underscores the grandeur, permanence, and overwhelming sacredness of the space, distinguishing them sharply from earlier representations and amplifying their symbolic power. Their size emphasized the holiness and divine majesty that these celestial figures guarded.
1 Kings 6 23 Bonus section
The design of these Temple cherubim is a clear example of God’s instructions shaping human craftsmanship. While they shared the guardian role with the cherubim on the Ark and at Eden, their immense, standing form marked a unique development in God’s progressive revelation concerning His physical presence among His people. The "Devir" (inner sanctuary) was also specifically linked to the place from which God "speaks," suggesting a divine oracle that would issue forth from His dwelling place between these monumental figures. The symbolic interplay between the smaller cherubim directly on the Ark's mercy seat (God's footstool) and these larger, overshadowing cherubim suggests a multi-layered representation of God's immediate nearness (on the Ark) and His expansive, majestic sovereignty (overshadowing the entire sacred space). The material of olive wood further ties into the priestly and royal aspects of the Temple service, signifying consecration and the ongoing presence of the Holy Spirit's anointing in later typological interpretations.
1 Kings 6 23 Commentary
This verse provides a vivid detail of Solomon's magnificent Temple, specifically focusing on the sacred interior. The construction of two grand cherubim in the Holy of Holies was not merely artistic embellishment but a profound theological statement. These towering figures, crafted from sacred olive wood, were visual markers of the supreme sanctity and awesome transcendence of God’s dwelling place. Their imposing size overshadowed the Ark of the Covenant, located beneath their wings, establishing the entire innermost sanctuary as the very throne room of the Almighty. They continued the motif of cherubim associated with God's glory and presence from Eden to the Tabernacle, now brought to a permanent and glorious realization in Jerusalem. This design reinforced the concept of a holy God requiring holy mediation and a designated sacred space, preparing the hearts of the people to understand the ultimate mediation brought through the Messiah.