1 Kings 7:1 kjv
But Solomon was building his own house thirteen years, and he finished all his house.
1 Kings 7:1 nkjv
But Solomon took thirteen years to build his own house; so he finished all his house.
1 Kings 7:1 niv
It took Solomon thirteen years, however, to complete the construction of his palace.
1 Kings 7:1 esv
Solomon was building his own house thirteen years, and he finished his entire house.
1 Kings 7:1 nlt
Solomon also built a palace for himself, and it took him thirteen years to complete the construction.
1 Kings 7 1 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Ki 6:38 | In the eleventh year... the temple was finished according to all its specifications... | Temple completed in 7 years |
| 1 Ki 9:10 | At the end of twenty years, in which Solomon had built the two houses, the house of the Lord and the king's house... | Total time for both houses |
| Deut 17:16-17 | The king must not acquire great numbers of horses... multiply wives... or greatly multiply silver and gold for himself. | Warnings against king's accumulation |
| 1 Ki 10:23-27 | King Solomon was greater in riches and wisdom than all the other kings... He made silver as common as stones. | Solomon's immense wealth & accumulation |
| Psa 127:1 | Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. | God's indispensable role in building |
| Ecc 2:4-11 | I undertook great projects: I built myself houses and planted vineyards... I acquired male and female slaves... | Solomon's grand works and their vanity |
| Isa 2:7 | Their land is full of silver and gold; there is no end to their treasures... Their land is full of horses; there is no end to their chariots. | Israel's excessive material wealth prophesied |
| Mic 6:8 | He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. | God's requirements over grand projects |
| Hag 1:4 | Is it time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, while this house lies in ruins? | Prioritizing one's dwelling over God's |
| Matt 6:33 | But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. | Prioritizing God's Kingdom |
| Luke 12:15 | Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions. | Warning against materialistic pursuits |
| Luke 12:20-21 | 'You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?' So is everyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God. | Parable of rich fool on material gain |
| John 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 true temple |
| 2 Cor 5:1 | For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. | Heavenly dwelling vs. earthly constructions |
| Heb 3:3-6 | For Jesus has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses—as much more glory as the builder of a house has more honor than the house itself. For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God. | Superiority of Christ (the builder) over built houses |
| Acts 7:48-50 | The Most High does not dwell in houses made by human hands... | God's transcendence over physical temples |
| Psa 132:3-5 | I will not enter my house or get into my bed... till I find a place for the Lord... a dwelling for the Mighty One of Jacob. | David's devotion to God's dwelling |
| Isa 66:1-2 | "Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool; what kind of house would you build for me, and what is the place of my rest?" | God's omnipotence and spiritual dwelling |
| 1 Tim 6:9-10 | But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare... For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. | Dangers of wealth acquisition |
| Prov 28:22 | A stingy person hurries after wealth and does not know that poverty will overtake him. | Caution against avarice |
1 Kings 7 verses
1 Kings 7 1 Meaning
This verse states that King Solomon continued building his personal palace complex for thirteen years, eventually bringing it to completion. It follows the narrative of the dedication of the Lord's Temple and explicitly highlights the significant time and effort dedicated to his own residence in contrast to the seven years spent on the House of the Lord.
1 Kings 7 1 Context
Chapter 7 verse 1 serves as a stark transition in the narrative of King Solomon's building projects. Chapters 5 and 6 detail the construction and completion of the First Temple in Jerusalem, taking seven years (1 Kings 6:38). Following this sacred undertaking, the text immediately shifts focus to Solomon's parallel project: building his own magnificent palace complex. Historically, the palace was not merely a private residence but the administrative heart of the kingdom, including the House of the Forest of Lebanon (a large armory and judgment hall), the Porch of Pillars, and the Hall of the Throne where justice was administered. This verse, therefore, implicitly sets up a comparison between the divine dwelling and the royal dwelling, introducing a subtle tension regarding priorities, as the construction of the palace took nearly twice as long as the Temple itself. This grand personal undertaking fits within the historical context of powerful ancient Near Eastern monarchs who sought to solidify their legacy through monumental architecture, yet in Israel, the king was ultimately subject to God.
1 Kings 7 1 Word analysis
- But Solomon: The Hebrew word וְשְׁלֹמֹה (vəšĕlōmōh) begins with the conjunction 'waw', which can mean 'and' but here functions as 'but' or 'however', signaling a contrast with the preceding account of the Temple's completion. This immediate juxtaposition is key.
- was building: The Hebrew בֹּנֶה (bōneh) is a present participle, indicating an ongoing or continuous action. It suggests that Solomon began building his house concurrently with, or soon after, the Temple, making it a continuous royal undertaking alongside the sacred. The continuous aspect emphasizes a prolonged period of focus.
- his own house: The phrase אֶת־בֵּיתוֹ (ʾeṯ-bêṯōw), "his house," is emphatic in its possession ("his own"). It refers to the elaborate palace complex, including not only his personal dwelling but also various associated administrative, governmental, and ceremonial buildings (1 Ki 7:2-12). This was a monumental personal project of unprecedented scale for an Israelite king.
- thirteen years: The Hebrew שְׁלֹשׁ עֶשְׂרֵה שָׁנָה (šālōš ʿeśrēh šānāh) is specific and exact. The number thirteen is a direct and pointed contrast to the seven years taken for the Temple (1 Ki 6:38). This significant discrepancy in building time immediately invites reflection on Solomon's priorities and the dedication of royal resources. It is almost twice as long.
- and he finished: The Hebrew וַיְכַל (vaykall), using a waw-consecutive perfect, denotes the completion of the action. This signifies the successful culmination of his personal building project.
- all his house: The Hebrew אֶת־כָּל־בֵּיתוֹ (ʾeṯ-kol-bêṯōw), emphasizes that the entire complex, including its various sections (e.g., the House of the Forest of Lebanon, the Porch of Pillars, the Hall of the Throne), was fully completed. The reiteration highlights the grand scale and thoroughness of his private constructions.
1 Kings 7 1 Bonus section
The total building period for both the Temple and Solomon's house is specified as twenty years in 1 Kings 9:10 (7 years for the Temple + 13 years for his house). This verse clarifies the cumulative timeframe, unequivocally stating that the king's house took significantly more time and perhaps attention. This contrast becomes a literary device highlighting a potential issue of priority even within an era of unprecedented peace and prosperity. Ancient Near Eastern kings often equated their grandeur with the power and favor of their gods, but the God of Israel called His king to humility and dependence (Deut 17:16-17). The scale of Solomon's personal construction, though initially enabled by divine blessing, subtly indicates a divergence from that ideal, leaning towards a human-centric rather than God-centric demonstration of power.
1 Kings 7 1 Commentary
1 Kings 7:1 strategically places the construction of Solomon's personal palace complex immediately after the completion and dedication of the Lord's Temple. This direct sequence, along with the precise mention of thirteen years (nearly double the seven years for the Temple), prompts a careful assessment of Solomon's reign. While the Temple's grandeur was a testament to God's glory and a fulfillment of David's longing, the emphasis on Solomon's personal dwelling points to a subtle, yet significant, shift in focus. This expenditure of vast resources and a longer period on his royal residence, even if necessary for governmental function, suggests a growing preoccupation with kingly power, prestige, and earthly security. This implicit contrast foreshadows the king's later moral and spiritual compromises (1 Ki 11), indicating that immense earthly prosperity and self-magnification, if not strictly held in submission to God, can slowly eclipse divine priorities and lead to spiritual decline.