1 Kings 6:37 kjv
In the fourth year was the foundation of the house of the LORD laid, in the month Zif:
1 Kings 6:37 nkjv
In the fourth year the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid, in the month of Ziv.
1 Kings 6:37 niv
The foundation of the temple of the LORD was laid in the fourth year, in the month of Ziv.
1 Kings 6:37 esv
In the fourth year the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid, in the month of Ziv.
1 Kings 6:37 nlt
The foundation of the LORD's Temple was laid in midspring, in the month of Ziv, during the fourth year of Solomon's reign.
1 Kings 6 37 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Ki 6:1 | And it came to pass in the four hundred and eightieth year after the children of Israel were come out of the land of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon's reign... he began to build the house of the LORD. | Chronological context of the Temple's construction start. |
| 2 Chr 3:1 | Then Solomon began to build the house of the LORD at Jerusalem in mount Moriah, where the LORD appeared unto David his father... | Confirms the location and initiation of temple building by Solomon. |
| Ezr 3:10 | When the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the LORD... | Laying of the Second Temple's foundation after the exile. |
| Zec 4:9 | "The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also finish it..." | Emphasizes the significance of laying foundations for temple completion. |
| Ps 11:3 | If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do? | Highlights the importance and necessity of strong foundations. |
| Is 28:16 | Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: "Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation..." | Foreshadows Christ as the ultimate, secure spiritual foundation. |
| Jer 31:38-39 | "Behold, the days are coming," declares the LORD, "when the city shall be rebuilt for the LORD... and go out straight to the hill Gareb, and then turn to Goath. And the measuring line shall go out farther... " | Prophetic vision of Jerusalem's future rebuilding and expansion. |
| Hag 2:18 | "Consider now from this day forward, from the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, from the day that the foundation of the LORD's temple was laid..." | Reference to the rebuilding of the Second Temple's foundation. |
| Job 38:4-6 | "Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? ... who laid its cornerstone, when the morning stars sang together... " | God as the original creator, laying the cosmic foundations. |
| Heb 11:10 | For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God. | Spiritual foundations; God as the ultimate builder of an eternal city. |
| Rom 15:20 | Thus I make it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been named, lest I build on someone else's foundation... | Paul's principle of not building upon another's established foundation. |
| 1 Cor 3:10-11 | According to the grace of God given to me, like a skillful master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each builder choose carefully how he builds. For no one can lay any foundation other than that which is already laid, which is Jesus Christ. | Christ as the one indispensable foundation of the spiritual church. |
| Eph 2:19-20 | So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone. | Believers as a spiritual building founded on apostolic teaching and Christ. |
| Exo 25:8 | "And let them make me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them." | God's desire for a dwelling place (Tabernacle, precursor to the Temple). |
| Deut 12:5-7 | But you shall seek the place that the LORD your God will choose out of all your tribes to put his name and make his habitation there... and there you shall eat before the LORD your God and rejoice... | Command to establish a central place for worship. |
| Ps 127:1 | Unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. | God's indispensable role in any meaningful construction. |
| Zec 8:9 | "Thus says the LORD of hosts: 'Let your hands be strong, you who in these days hear these words from the mouth of the prophets, since the day that the foundation of the house of the LORD of hosts was laid, that the temple might be built.'" | Encouragement to rebuild based on the foundational work. |
| Jn 2:19-21 | Jesus answered them, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up." ... He was speaking about the temple of his body. | Christ's body as the new "temple," a spiritual reality fulfilling the physical one. |
| 1 Pet 2:4-6 | As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house... a chosen and precious cornerstone. | Believers as living stones forming a spiritual house with Christ as the cornerstone. |
| Is 44:28 | Who says of Cyrus, "He is my shepherd, and he shall fulfill all my purpose"; saying of Jerusalem, "She shall be built," and of the temple, "Your foundation shall be laid." | Prophecy of the Second Temple's foundation being laid through Cyrus. |
| Neh 1:3-4 | ...The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates are burned with fire." ... When I heard these words, I sat down and wept and mourned for days... and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven. | Lamentation over the destruction, anticipating rebuilding (foundations implied). |
1 Kings 6 verses
1 Kings 6 37 Meaning
In the fourth year of King Solomon's reign, in the ancient month of Ziv, the foundational elements for the house dedicated to the LORD were officially laid. This verse pinpoints the exact commencement of the construction of the First Temple in Jerusalem, emphasizing a precise and divinely ordained timeline for this pivotal undertaking. It signifies the formal initiation of God's physical dwelling place among His people.
1 Kings 6 37 Context
1 Kings Chapter 6 meticulously details the construction of Solomon's Temple, fulfilling God's promise to David (2 Sam 7) that his son would build a house for God. The verse falls early in the narrative, following the overall historical setting established in 1 Kings 6:1, which states that the construction began in the 480th year after the Exodus and the 4th year of Solomon's reign. Verse 37 specifically pinpoints the laying of the foundation, providing an exact chronological detail down to the month. This precision underscores the divine importance and providential timing of the project.
Historically, grand temple building projects were common in the ancient Near East, often signifying the power and glory of a king and his patron deity. However, unlike pagan temples dedicated to localized gods with their pantheons, Solomon's Temple was built for YHWH, the one true, universal God, reinforcing His singular sovereignty and rejecting the polytheistic practices prevalent among surrounding nations. The construction was not just a royal project but a fulfillment of a covenant promise, demonstrating God's continued presence and faithfulness to Israel.
1 Kings 6 37 Word analysis
In the fourth year (לְהַרְבַּע שָׁנָה - leharba' shanah):
- This phrase indicates precise dating, anchoring the event in the reign of King Solomon.
- The use of a specific regnal year points to the meticulous record-keeping and historical consciousness of the biblical narrative.
- It reinforces the significance of divine timing, aligning human endeavors with God's overarching plan, similar to how major biblical events are dated.
in the month Ziv (בְּיֶרַח זִו - b'yerach Ziv):
- Ziv means "brightness," "radiance," or "bloom" in Hebrew. It was the ancient Israelite name for the second month of the ecclesiastical year (corresponding to modern Iyyar, approximately April-May).
- This time of year, being spring, is characterized by abundant sunshine and blooming flowers, conducive to major construction projects before the peak summer heat or winter rains.
- The mention of an older Canaanite month name (Ziv) rather than a Babylonian one (Iyyar) suggests the antiquity of the text or a specific adherence to older Israelite customs at the time of writing. This month is mentioned only here and in 1 Kings 6:1.
- The 'month of brightness' can metaphorically link to the start of a glorious new era with God's house being built.
the foundation (יוּסַד - yusad):
- Derived from the verb יָסַד (yasad), meaning "to found," "to establish," or "to lay a foundation."
- The form here is a passive verb, implying that the foundation "was laid." This subtly emphasizes that while humans were the builders, the ultimate laying and establishment of God's house were under divine superintendence.
- A foundation is the crucial, hidden starting point of any building. Without a proper foundation, no structure can stand, emphasizing its absolute necessity and fundamental importance.
- This reflects the divine order: laying the foundation correctly before building the superstructure.
of the house (הַבַּיִת - habbayit):
- Refers specifically to "the House" with the definite article. In this context, it unequivocally denotes the Temple, the primary dwelling place established for the LORD.
- It differentiates it from any ordinary structure, elevating it to a singular, sacred edifice.
of the LORD (לַיהוָה - l'YHWH):
- This prepositional phrase makes explicit the sacred dedication of the building. It belongs to YHWH, the covenant name of God.
- This designation sharply contrasts it with pagan temples built for idols or false gods. It emphasizes monotheism and the exclusive worship of Israel's God, YHWH.
- The "house of the LORD" became the central focus of Israelite worship and a tangible symbol of God's covenant presence among His people, reinforcing His uniqueness and sovereignty against the polytheistic backdrop of the ancient world.
1 Kings 6 37 Bonus section
The laying of the foundation of the Temple signifies a critical step not only in physical construction but also in the theological development of Israel. Prior to this, God's dwelling was primarily the portable Tabernacle (Exo 40). The Temple marked a shift towards a more permanent and localized center for worship, a fixed point for national identity and religious life, emphasizing the settled nature of the Abrahamic covenant land promise. While the Tabernacle represented God journeying with His people, the Temple signified His permanent presence in the land of promise. The meticulous detail in this verse reflects the high regard the Israelites, and the inspired writer, held for this divine enterprise. It foreshadows the coming spiritual Temple of believers, where Christ is the sure foundation and corner-stone, and individual believers are living stones built into God's spiritual house (1 Pet 2:4-5; Eph 2:19-22).
1 Kings 6 37 Commentary
1 Kings 6:37 precisely marks the initiation of a monumental and divinely significant project: the construction of the First Temple. The detail provided – "in the fourth year, in the month Ziv" – underscores the precise, intentional, and divinely ordained timing for this sacred undertaking. The reference to Ziv, the month of brightness and new growth, aligns metaphorically with the glorious beginning of God's physical dwelling on Earth among His people.
The laying of the "foundation" is critical, symbolizing not just the beginning of construction, but the establishment of a lasting presence. Just as a physical building's stability depends entirely on its foundation, the spiritual edifice of God's presence in Israel was firmly rooted in divine instruction and covenant promise. This verse echoes broader biblical principles regarding the importance of strong foundations, both physical (Ezr 3:10) and spiritual (Is 28:16, 1 Cor 3:11, Eph 2:20). The Temple was the fulfillment of a long-held divine desire (Exo 25:8), a central place for the "Name of the LORD" (Deut 12:5) to dwell and be honored. It solidified the covenant relationship and served as a tangible sign of God's faithfulness and Israel's obedience. This verse sets the stage for the detailed descriptions of the Temple's grandeur, culminating in its completion (1 Ki 6:38), highlighting the precision and devotion with which God's house was to be built.