1 Kings 6:35 kjv
And he carved thereon cherubim and palm trees and open flowers: and covered them with gold fitted upon the carved work.
1 Kings 6:35 nkjv
Then he carved cherubim, palm trees, and open flowers on them, and overlaid them with gold applied evenly on the carved work.
1 Kings 6:35 niv
He carved cherubim, palm trees and open flowers on them and overlaid them with gold hammered evenly over the carvings.
1 Kings 6:35 esv
On them he carved cherubim and palm trees and open flowers, and he overlaid them with gold evenly applied on the carved work.
1 Kings 6:35 nlt
These doors were decorated with carvings of cherubim, palm trees, and open flowers ? all overlaid evenly with gold.
1 Kings 6 35 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Exod 25:18-20 | “You shall make two cherubim of gold... spreading their wings above...” | Cherubim as divine attendants/guardians. |
| Exod 26:1 | “Moreover, you shall make the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine twisted linen and blue and purple and scarlet material, with cherubim skillfully worked into them.” | Tabernacle design mirroring heavenly patterns. |
| 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 holy places. |
| Ps 18:10 | “He rode on a cherub and flew; He swooped down on the wings of the wind.” | Cherubim associated with God's presence/mobility. |
| Isa 37:16 | “O Lord of hosts, God of Israel, enthroned above the cherubim...” | God's throne symbolically located between cherubim. |
| Ezek 10:1-22 | (Description of living creatures/cherubim associated with God's glory and chariot-throne). | Detailed visions of cherubim and divine glory. |
| 2 Chr 3:7 | “He also overlaid the house, its beams, its thresholds, its walls, and its doors with gold; and he carved cherubim on the walls.” | Direct parallel, confirming gold overlay and cherubim carvings. |
| Ezek 41:18-20 | “...it was carved with cherubim and palm trees. A palm tree was between cherub and cherub. Each cherub had two faces... and each cherub had two wings; the face of a man was toward the palm tree on one side, and the face of a young lion toward the palm tree on the other side. They were carved all around the house, from the floor to above the door.” | Ezekiel's Temple vision reiterates cherubim and palm tree motif. |
| Ps 92:12 | “The righteous flourish like the palm tree and grow like a cedar in Lebanon.” | Palm tree symbolizing flourishing righteousness. |
| Rev 7:9 | “...a great multitude... standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands...” | Palm branches symbolizing triumph and praise. |
| Exod 25:3, 11 | “These are the contributions... gold... overlaid the ark with pure gold...” | Gold's extensive use for God's holy objects and dwelling. |
| Exod 31:1-5 | “See, I have called by name Bezalel... filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, with intelligence, with knowledge, and with all craftsmanship, to devise artistic designs, to work in gold, silver, and bronze, in cutting stones... and in carving wood, to work in every craft.” | Divine enabling for craftsmanship dedicated to God's sanctuary. |
| Hag 2:8 | “The silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine, declares the Lord of hosts.” | God's ownership of all precious things, making the Temple's gold a dedication, not just wealth display. |
| Rev 21:18-21 | “The material of the wall was jasper; and the city was pure gold, like clear glass... The twelve gates were twelve pearls... The street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.” | Ultimate glorious, divine city made of pure gold, echoing Temple's holiness. |
| 1 Kin 7:29 | “And on the frames of the stands, between the uprights, were lions, oxen, and cherubim, and on the uprights was a pedestal above; and below the lions and oxen were wreaths of relief work.” | Cherubim in other Temple adornments. |
| Heb 9:5 | “Above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat...” | Cherubim associated with God's glory. |
| Isa 40:8 | “The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.” | Fading flowers contrasted with enduring Word; here, they represent beauty. |
| Ps 93:5 | “Your testimonies are very sure; holiness adorns Your house, O Lord, forevermore.” | Holiness is the key characteristic of God's house. |
| Exod 40:34 | “Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.” | God's presence filling the highly decorated Tabernacle/Temple. |
| 1 Pet 1:7 | “...so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” | Gold as a symbol of value and purity, connecting material wealth to spiritual purity. |
| Jn 2:19-21 | “Jesus answered them, ‘Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.’ The Jews then said, ‘It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will you raise it up in three days?’ But he was speaking about the temple of his body.” | Temple symbolism extending to Christ's body and believers. |
1 Kings 6 verses
1 Kings 6 35 Meaning
This verse meticulously details the intricate internal decoration of Solomon’s Temple, specifically describing the carved motifs on various surfaces. It states that these carvings depicted cherubim, palm trees, and blooming flowers, which were then completely covered and fitted with pure gold. This precise overlay meant the precious metal adhered perfectly to the detailed sculpted work, indicating immense value, beauty, and sanctity within God's dwelling place.
1 Kings 6 35 Context
First Kings chapter 6 provides a highly detailed account of the construction of Solomon's Temple, a pivotal project of his reign symbolizing God's dwelling among His people. The narrative describes the Temple's dimensions, materials, and internal craftsmanship with meticulous precision, highlighting its immense cost and sacred purpose. Verse 35 specifically details the decoration of the inner sanctuary, likely the doors and walls leading into the most holy place, or parts of the Holy Place itself. This verse follows descriptions of the outer and inner sanctuary (the Most Holy Place) and its cedar-lined interior (v. 29). The painstaking detail emphasizes that this was not just a grand edifice, but a house specifically designed and consecrated for the Almighty, embodying beauty, holiness, and the divine presence on earth.
1 Kings 6 35 Word analysis
- And he carved (וַיְפַתַּח, vaypāttaḥ): Derived from the root פָּתַח (pāthaḥ), meaning "to open," "engrave," "carve." This signifies skilled craftsmanship, suggesting not just superficial application but deep, intricate work that shaped the material itself. It speaks to human artistic endeavor applied to divine purpose.
- thereon: This refers to the surfaces being adorned, likely the inner walls and possibly the doors (compare v. 31-34 regarding the doors) of the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place. The precise location isn't specified in v.35, but context points to the highly sacred inner portions of the Temple.
- cherubims (כְּרוּבִים, kĕrûḇîm): These are winged angelic beings. In biblical theology, cherubim are frequently depicted as guardians of sacred space (Gen 3:24), attendants of God's throne (Ps 18:10), or manifestations of God's glory (Ezek 1, 10). Their presence in the Temple signified God's holy presence within the sanctuary, reminding those who entered that they were in a place where divine beings also ministered. Their recurring motif throughout the Tabernacle and Temple links these earthly structures to heavenly realities.
- and palm trees (וְתִמֹרוֹת, vətimorôt): Palm trees, particularly date palms, were symbols of righteousness, beauty, fertility, triumph, and vitality in the ancient Near East and biblical literature (Ps 92:12). Their inclusion likely symbolized flourishing life, spiritual prosperity, and divine blessing associated with God's dwelling place. They often appear with cherubim, possibly evoking a return to an Edenic garden state.
- and open flowers (וּפְטוּרֵי צִצִּים, ūfəṭûrê ṣiṣîm): This refers to "blossoming flowers" or "flowers with opening petals." Flowers symbolize beauty, delicate creation, growth, and the transient nature of life in some contexts (Isa 40:8), but here, in combination with palm trees, they emphasize the aesthetic perfection, natural beauty, and vivacity of God's sanctuary, reflecting His creative glory.
- and covered them (וְצִפָּה, vəṣipāh): From the root צָפָה (ṣāpāh), "to overlay" or "plate." This describes the process of meticulously covering the carved work. It signifies the addition of immense value and aesthetic splendor to the carved base.
- with gold (בְּזָהָב, bəzāhāḇ): Gold is the most precious metal mentioned extensively throughout Scripture, symbolizing divine purity, glory, majesty, and unparalleled worth. Its pervasive use in the Temple underscores its sacredness, God's inherent glory, and the extreme reverence given to His dwelling place. It wasn't merely decorative; it was symbolic of God's inherent value and His presence.
- fitted upon the carved work (עַל הַמַּחְקָה, ʿal hammakqah): The Hebrew maḥqaqah implies precise measurement or detailed incision, reinforcing that the gold was not simply painted on but was perfectly molded and affixed to the contours of the intricate carvings. This speaks to the meticulous detail, perfection, and skill employed, highlighting the extreme dedication and reverence for God in the Temple's construction.
- "carved thereon cherubims and palm trees and open flowers": This phrase describes the primary visual motifs of the Temple's interior. The combination of celestial guardians (cherubim) and elements of a lush garden (palm trees, flowers) transforms the Temple into a terrestrial representation of the Garden of Eden—a sacred space where humanity could dwell in harmony with God and celestial beings, guarded and fruitful. It also echoes the Tabernacle's decorations, continuing a divine pattern.
- "covered them with gold fitted upon the carved work": This part emphasizes the exceptional richness and divine glory imparted to the carved images. The gold wasn't simply laid over; it "fitted" the contours, demonstrating the unparalleled craftsmanship and the intentionality of God's design. This seamless overlay of pure gold upon such detailed sacred imagery elevates the Temple's spiritual significance, symbolizing divine presence and the perfection required in all things pertaining to God.
1 Kings 6 35 Bonus section
The recurrent motif of cherubim and palm trees throughout the Temple, from its walls to its doors (as seen in Ezek 41:18-20 detailing Ezekiel's visionary temple), is highly significant. It suggests a strong symbolic connection to the Garden of Eden. In Genesis, cherubim guard the way to the tree of life within Eden after the Fall (Gen 3:24). By incorporating these same elements, Solomon's Temple conceptually re-establishes a space of access to divine presence and the life-giving communion once enjoyed in Eden. It suggests the Temple functioned as a "new Eden," a restored paradisiacal environment where God dwelled among humanity. The exquisite gold, applied with such precision, further emphasized the 'otherworldly' beauty and sanctity of this space, transcending mere earthly craftsmanship to embody divine excellence.
1 Kings 6 35 Commentary
First Kings 6:35 offers a window into the extraordinary dedication and sacred symbolism inherent in Solomon’s Temple. The description is concise yet rich, highlighting the artistic elements of cherubim, palm trees, and flowers, all overlaid with perfectly fitted gold. This lavish decoration served not merely as opulence, but as profound theological statement. The cherubim represented God’s holy presence, guardianship, and perhaps the very spiritual realm that interwove with the physical sanctuary. Palm trees and open flowers evoked images of flourishing life, beauty, and the Edenic paradise, suggesting that the Temple was a place of restored communion, a microcosm of divine order and creation. The complete covering of gold signified ultimate value, purity, and the radiant glory of God Himself, while the meticulous fitting underscored the divine perfection required in all aspects of His house. The verse shows that every detail, however small, was consecrated and spoke of God’s majesty, worthiness, and the beauty of His holiness.