1 Kings 6 24

1 Kings 6:24 kjv

And five cubits was the one wing of the cherub, and five cubits the other wing of the cherub: from the uttermost part of the one wing unto the uttermost part of the other were ten cubits.

1 Kings 6:24 nkjv

One wing of the cherub was five cubits, and the other wing of the cherub five cubits: ten cubits from the tip of one wing to the tip of the other.

1 Kings 6:24 niv

One wing of the first cherub was five cubits long, and the other wing five cubits?ten cubits from wing tip to wing tip.

1 Kings 6:24 esv

Five cubits was the length of one wing of the cherub, and five cubits the length of the other wing of the cherub; it was ten cubits from the tip of one wing to the tip of the other.

1 Kings 6:24 nlt

The wingspan of each of the cherubim was 15 feet, each wing being 7 1?2 feet long.

1 Kings 6 verses

1 Kings 6 24 Meaning

1 Kings 6:24 details the precise dimensions of the two large cherubim fashioned for the Most Holy Place (Debir) of Solomon's Temple. It specifies that each of the four wings (two per cherub) was five cubits long, resulting in a combined wingspan of ten cubits for each cherub from wingtip to wingtip. These figures underscore the monumental scale and meticulous design of the temple's most sacred artifacts, reflecting divine instruction and significance.

1 Kings 6 24 Context

1 Kings chapter 6 provides a meticulous description of the construction of Solomon's Temple, fulfilling the mandate for a dwelling place for God's Name given to David (2 Sam 7:13). Verses 14-22 describe the completion of the inner sanctuary, known as the Debir or Most Holy Place, where the Ark of the Covenant would reside. Verses 23-28 specifically detail the creation and placement of two monumental cherubim within this innermost shrine. These were carved figures, overlaid with gold, towering ten cubits high (v. 26), whose massive outstretched wings spanned the entire breadth of the inner sanctuary. Verse 24 focuses on the precise measurement of their individual and combined wing dimensions, underscoring the divine particularity and the symbolic representation of God's awesome, enthroned presence. The temple, built during a time of national prosperity and relative peace under Solomon's reign, became the central place of worship and the tangible symbol of God's covenant with Israel. Its detailed design, particularly in its holiest part, directly countered pagan beliefs that their deities resided in arbitrarily built temples; Israel's God resided in a divinely ordained and designed sanctuary.

1 Kings 6 24 Word analysis

• and: Connects this detailed dimension to the preceding general description of the cherubim (1 Kgs 6:23).
• five cubits: (Hebrew: חָמֵשׁ אַמָּה, chamesh 'ammah) – A precise measurement. The cubit was an ancient unit of length, roughly equivalent to the distance from the elbow to the tip of the middle finger, approximately 18-21 inches (45-53 cm). The consistency and specificity of the measurements emphasize accuracy, reflecting divine precision and order in the temple's construction. "Five" is a number often associated with divine grace or human responsibility in biblical numerology, though here it functions purely as a measured unit.
• was the one wing: Refers to a single wing of one of the cherubim. This particularization highlights the careful attention paid to each component.
• of the cherub: (Hebrew: הַכְּרוּב, ha-keruv) – Refers to a celestial, angelic being. Cherubim are typically depicted in Scripture as guardians (Gen 3:24), attendants of God's throne (Ezek 10), and manifestations of God's glory (Exod 25:20-22). In the Temple, these sculpted cherubim represented the heavenly guardians of God's sacred presence within the Most Holy Place. Their presence signifies the profound holiness of the Debir.
• and five cubits the other wing of the cherub: Reinforces the perfect symmetry of each cherub's wings, implying divine balance and order in the design.
• from the uttermost part of the one wing unto the uttermost part of the other: Provides clarity that the measurement of "ten cubits" refers to the total span across the cherub, not just the sum of two separate wing measurements that might imply a gap. It defines the absolute extent.
• were ten cubits: (Hebrew: עֶשֶׂר אַמּוֹת, 'eser 'ammot) – The combined total span of the wings for a single cherub. The number "ten" is often associated with completion, divine order, or a full count (e.g., Ten Commandments). Here, it signifies the full, imposing scale of each cherub.
• words-group: "five cubits was the one wing... and five cubits the other wing of the cherub": This repetition and precise articulation emphasize the meticulous design and perfect symmetry of each individual cherub's structure, reflecting divine craftsmanship and a holistic, ordered creation.
• words-group: "from the uttermost part of the one wing unto the uttermost part of the other were ten cubits": This clarifies and confirms the overall wingspan, leaving no ambiguity about how the measurement of ten cubits was derived, further highlighting the deliberate and exact nature of the construction process under divine instruction.

1 Kings 6 24 Bonus section

• The scale of these cherubim (ten cubits tall, with ten-cubit wingspans) significantly exceeds the smaller cherubim integrated into the mercy seat of the Tabernacle (Exod 25:18-20), reflecting the Temple's grander scale and increased national emphasis. While the Tabernacle cherubim were formed out of the gold of the mercy seat itself, Solomon's cherubim were standalone carved figures.
• The placement of their inner wings meeting directly above the Ark of the Covenant (1 Kgs 6:27) created a physical and symbolic canopy or throne for the invisible presence of the Lord, reminiscent of the celestial throne described in visions like Ezekiel's.
• These carved representations were not objects of worship themselves, but aids to worship, directing attention to the awesome and majestic presence of the invisible God enthroned above them, where His Shekinah glory would occasionally manifest.

1 Kings 6 24 Commentary

1 Kings 6:24 provides a specific detail about the colossal cherubim positioned in the Most Holy Place. These golden, olive wood figures were not mere decorations but profound theological symbols. Their precisely measured five-cubit wings, totaling a ten-cubit span, emphasized their enormous scale and perfectly symmetrical design. These dimensions highlight that the Most Holy Place, measuring twenty cubits in width (1 Kgs 6:20), would be entirely filled by the combined twenty-cubit wingspan of both cherubim when their inner wings touched (1 Kgs 6:27), creating a grand canopy over the Ark of the Covenant. This massive presence underscored the sacredness and awesome power associated with God's dwelling. The precise dimensions point to the fact that the temple's construction was not arbitrary but followed divine blueprint, symbolizing a divine realm of order and perfection, contrasted with chaotic human endeavors. The cherubim's role was to signify and guard the holiness of God's dwelling, acting as celestial sentinels of the Divine presence, reflecting their eternal function around God's throne in heaven.