1 Kings 6:26 kjv
The height of the one cherub was ten cubits, and so was it of the other cherub.
1 Kings 6:26 nkjv
The height of one cherub was ten cubits, and so was the other cherub.
1 Kings 6:26 niv
The height of each cherub was ten cubits.
1 Kings 6:26 esv
The height of one cherub was ten cubits, and so was that of the other cherub.
1 Kings 6:26 nlt
each was 15 feet tall.
1 Kings 6 26 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 3:24 | After he drove out the man, he placed on the east side of the Garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword... | Cherubim as guardians of God's presence |
| Exod 25:18 | Make two cherubim of hammered gold... at the ends of the mercy seat. | Original cherubim on the Ark |
| Exod 25:40 | See that you make them according to the pattern shown you on the mountain. | Divine pattern for sacred objects |
| Num 7:89 | Moses went into the tent of meeting to speak with the LORD... he heard the voice speaking... from between the two cherubim... | God speaks from between the cherubim |
| 1 Sam 4:4 | ...the ark of the covenant of the LORD of hosts, who is enthroned on the cherubim. | God's enthronement on cherubim |
| 2 Sam 6:2 | ...the ark of God, which is called by the Name, the name of the LORD of hosts who sits enthroned on the cherubim. | Reiterates God enthroned |
| 1 Kgs 6:23 | In the inner sanctuary he made two cherubim of olive wood, each ten cubits high. | Immediate preceding verse; begins description |
| 1 Kgs 8:6-7 | The priests brought the ark of the covenant of the LORD to its place... under the wings of the cherubim. | Ark placed beneath the Temple cherubim |
| 1 Chr 28:18 | The gold for the chariot of the cherubim that spread their wings and covered the ark of the covenant... | Divine design for the Temple cherubim |
| Ps 18:10 | He rode on a cherub and flew; he soared on the wings of the wind. | Cherubim as carriers of divine movement |
| Ps 80:1 | Hear us, O Shepherd of Israel, you who lead Joseph like a flock; you who sit enthroned between the cherubim... | God as enthroned over His people |
| Ps 99:1 | The LORD reigns; let the peoples tremble! He dwells between the cherubim; let the earth quake! | God's sovereignty and holiness |
| Ezek 1:4-28 | From it came the likeness of four living creatures... This was the appearance of the living creatures: they had a human likeness... This was the appearance of the cherubim. | Prophetic vision describing cherubim |
| Ezek 10:1-22 | The cherubim lifted their wings and mounted up from the earth... This was the living creature that I saw underneath the God of Israel by the Chebar canal; and I knew that they were cherubim. | Vision of cherubim and God's glory departing |
| Heb 9:3-5 | Behind the second curtain was a tabernacle called the Most Holy Place... Above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. | Cherubim in the Holy of Holies; heavenly type |
| Rev 4:6-9 | And around the throne, four living creatures, full of eyes in front and behind: ...And day and night they never cease to say, “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty...” | Heavenly beings worshipping God's throne |
| Exod 26:15 | You shall make frames for the tabernacle of acacia wood, upright. | Tabernacle framework (size specification) |
| Exod 36:8 | All the gifted artisans among the workers made the tabernacle with ten curtains... | Fulfillment of detailed divine instruction |
| 1 Kgs 6:2 | The house that King Solomon built for the LORD was sixty cubits long, twenty cubits wide, and thirty cubits high. | Overall Temple dimensions |
| 1 Kgs 6:20 | The inner sanctuary was twenty cubits long, twenty cubits wide, and twenty cubits high... | Dimensions of the Most Holy Place |
| 2 Chr 3:10 | In the Most Holy Place he made two cherubim of carved wood and overlaid them with gold. | Parallel account of Temple cherubim |
1 Kings 6 verses
1 Kings 6 26 Meaning
1 Kings 6:26 specifies the dimensions of one of the two massive cherubim fashioned by Solomon for the inner sanctuary (Most Holy Place) of the Temple. It states that each cherub stood ten cubits high. This precise measurement highlights the grandeur, monumental scale, and meticulous design of these symbolic figures, which were central to the Temple's representation of God's presence and holiness. The identical height of the two cherubim emphasizes their symmetry and balanced role in defining the sacred space.
1 Kings 6 26 Context
1 Kings chapter 6 details the construction of Solomon's Temple, specifically describing its dimensions, materials, and various interior features. Verse 26 is part of a sequence of verses (1 Kings 6:14-36) dedicated to the precise ornamentation and furnishing of the Temple, with particular attention given to the inner sanctuary, the Most Holy Place (also known as the Debir or Holy of Holies). This sanctuary was to house the Ark of the Covenant and was considered the most sacred space, representing the very dwelling place of the LORD. The description of these enormous cherubim, their size and their placement alongside the Ark, emphasizes their critical symbolic role in defining and safeguarding God's holy presence within the Temple.
1 Kings 6 26 Word analysis
- The one cherub: (
הַכְּרוּב הָאֶחָד- hakkeruv ha'echad). Refers to one of a pair of celestial beings. In biblical literature, cherubim are often depicted as guardians of God's holy presence and throne (Gen 3:24; Ezek 1; Rev 4). They are not gods themselves but serve as powerful symbolic figures that mark the sacred, reinforce God's majesty, and underscore His transcendence. - was ten cubits high: (
עֶשֶׂר אַמּוֹת קוֹמַת- `eser ammot qomat). "Ten cubits" (עֶשֶׂר אַמּוֹת) denotes a considerable height, approximately 15 feet (4.5 meters), highlighting the immense scale of these figures within the inner sanctuary. This grand scale creates a sense of awe and emphasizes the absolute separation and holiness of the divine presence they guard. The use of "cubit" (אַמָּה- ammah) indicates a standard ancient Israelite unit of measure. "High" (קוֹמַת) specifically refers to their vertical dimension. - and so was the other cherub: (
וְכֵן הַכְּרוּב הַשֵּׁנִי- v'chen hakkeruv hasheni). The phraseוְכֵן(v'chen) means "and thus" or "likewise," indicating that the second cherub was an exact replica in size and form. This identical nature stresses symmetry, completeness, and deliberate design, further contributing to the majesty and order of the divine dwelling place. The pair of cherubim served to define the exact space above the Ark where God was understood to dwell.
1 Kings 6 26 Bonus section
The massive size of these Temple cherubim (10 cubits high) is significantly larger than the cherubim described on the Ark of the Covenant (Exod 25:18-20), which were of hammered gold and integrated with the mercy seat. These larger Temple cherubim, likely made of olive wood and overlaid with gold (as mentioned in 1 Kgs 6:23), physically overshadowed the Ark, extending their wings over it (1 Kgs 8:7) and functionally serving as an impressive and visual representation of God's expanded "chariot throne" within His earthly sanctuary. They symbolized both the glory of God and the formidable boundary around His absolute holiness, indicating that direct approach was strictly limited to authorized persons (the High Priest, only once a year on the Day of Atonement).
1 Kings 6 26 Commentary
1 Kings 6:26 provides a concise yet powerful detail about the colossal cherubim guarding the Holy of Holies. These weren't merely decorative elements but theological statements about God's presence, holiness, and the ordered nature of His dwelling. Their impressive size reinforced the idea of divine transcendence and authority, distinguishing God's abode from any human sanctuary. While similar guardian figures existed in other ancient Near Eastern temples, these Israelite cherubim were never worshipped but always pointed beyond themselves to YHWH, the one true God, enthroned above them. Their uniform size also speaks to the meticulousness of the Temple's construction, which, according to biblical narratives, followed precise divine blueprints given by the Spirit. This adherence to divine specification emphasizes God's demand for order and sanctity in worship, creating an atmosphere of reverence and awe in the innermost sanctum where His glory resided.