1 Kings 7:10 kjv
And the foundation was of costly stones, even great stones, stones of ten cubits, and stones of eight cubits.
1 Kings 7:10 nkjv
The foundation was of costly stones, large stones, some ten cubits and some eight cubits.
1 Kings 7:10 niv
The foundations were laid with large stones of good quality, some measuring ten cubits and some eight.
1 Kings 7:10 esv
The foundation was of costly stones, huge stones, stones of eight and ten cubits.
1 Kings 7:10 nlt
Some of the huge foundation stones were 15 feet long, and some were 12 feet long.
1 Kings 7 10 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Ki 5:17 | "And the king commanded, and they brought great stones, costly stones..." | Solomon's use of massive stones for the Temple. |
| 1 Ki 6:7 | "And the house, when it was in building, was built of stone made ready..." | Stones precisely cut at the quarry. |
| 1 Ki 7:1 | "But Solomon was building his own house thirteen years, and he finished..." | Time taken for palace construction. |
| 2 Chr 2:9-10 | "And I will send to thee cedars, fir trees, and algum trees..." | Hiring skilled workers and obtaining materials. |
| 2 Chr 8:5-6 | "Also he built Bethhoron the upper, and Bethhoron the nether, fenced..." | Solomon's extensive building projects. |
| Ps 118:22 | "The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner." | Prophetic image of a rejected but essential stone. |
| Isa 28:16 | "Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone..." | God lays a sure, precious foundation. |
| Matt 7:24-27 | "Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine... built his house upon a rock..." | Importance of a strong, wise foundation. |
| Matt 21:42 | "Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders refused..." | Jesus applies Ps 118:22 to Himself. |
| Acts 4:11 | "This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become..." | Peter identifies Jesus as the rejected cornerstone. |
| Rom 9:33 | "As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence..." | Christ as a stumbling block to some. |
| 1 Cor 3:10-11 | "According to the grace of God which is given unto me... laid the foundation..." | Christ Jesus as the one true spiritual foundation. |
| Eph 2:20 | "And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself..." | The Church's foundation. |
| 1 Pet 2:6 | "Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion..." | God's precious cornerstone (Christ). |
| 1 Pet 2:7 | "Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient..." | Christ is precious to believers, a stumbling block to unbelievers. |
| Rev 21:14 | "And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names..." | Foundations of the New Jerusalem. |
| Ezra 3:10-11 | "And when the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the Lord..." | Laying of the second Temple's foundation. |
| Job 38:4-7 | "Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare..." | God's divine act of founding creation. |
| Ps 82:5 | "They know not, neither do they understand; they walk on in darkness: all the foundations..." | Moral/societal foundations shaking. |
| Prov 10:25 | "As the whirlwind passeth, so is the wicked no more: but the righteous is an everlasting foundation." | Righteousness as a lasting foundation. |
| Heb 11:10 | "For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God." | Abraham's search for an eternal city. |
| Jer 50:15 | "Shout against her round about: she hath given her hand: her foundations are fallen..." | Judgment and destruction of a city's stability. |
| Zec 4:9 | "The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands..." | Zerubbabel laying the temple foundation. |
| Gen 2:4 | "These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created..." | Implicitly speaks of God's original creation and order. |
| Heb 6:1-2 | "Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on..." | Foundations of Christian faith/doctrine. |
1 Kings 7 verses
1 Kings 7 10 Meaning
The verse describes the robust and magnificent foundation of Solomon's royal complex, specifically his "house of the forest of Lebanon," which was built with stones of extraordinary quality and immense size. These "costly stones" (Hebrew: אֲבָנִים יְקָרוֹת, avaním yeqarót) signify preciousness and value, while "great stones" (Hebrew: אֲבָנִים גְּדֹלוֹת, avaním gedolót) of ten and eight cubits (approximately 15 and 12 feet respectively) underscore their colossal dimensions and the prodigious engineering effort involved. This detail emphasizes the grandeur, stability, and enduring nature intended for Solomon's reign and structures, reflecting the king's power and the prosperity of his kingdom.
1 Kings 7 10 Context
1 Kings chapter 7 details the extensive construction projects undertaken by King Solomon following the completion of the Temple. While the Temple took seven years to build, Solomon's palace complex took thirteen years, indicating its even larger scale. This particular verse (1 Ki 7:10) specifically describes the foundation of a prominent part of this complex, "the house of the forest of Lebanon" (1 Ki 7:2-5), so named likely due to its extensive use of cedar columns, resembling a cedar forest. This grand structure served potentially as a throne hall, armory, or reception area. The preceding verse (1 Ki 7:9) establishes that the entire palace complex was built with costly, quarried stones. Verse 10 further elaborates on these foundation stones, emphasizing their immense size, highlighting the tremendous effort, skill, and resources dedicated to building a dwelling fitting for such a powerful and wealthy king, intended to signify stability and permanence.
1 Kings 7 10 Word analysis
And the foundation:
- "foundation" (Hebrew: יְסוֹד, yesod): Refers to the base or substructure upon which something is built. In biblical terms, yesod signifies the essential, fundamental, or established part of a structure or concept. Its solidity is paramount for durability.
was of costly stones,
- "costly stones" (Hebrew: אֲבָנִים יְקָרוֹת, avaním yeqarót):
- "stones" (avaním): Common word for stone.
- "costly" (yeqarót): Signifies something precious, valuable, rare, or honored. It indicates not merely financial expense but also high quality, exquisite finish, and inherent worth. These were not just any large stones but superior-grade material.
- "costly stones" (Hebrew: אֲבָנִים יְקָרוֹת, avaním yeqarót):
even great stones,
- "great stones" (Hebrew: אֲבָנִים גְּדֹלוֹת, avaním gedolót):
- "great" (gedolót): Emphasizes size and magnitude. These stones were notably large, a mark of engineering prowess in the ancient world. This phrase underscores the scale of the construction beyond mere costliness.
- "great stones" (Hebrew: אֲבָנִים גְּדֹלוֹת, avaním gedolót):
stones of ten cubits,
- "ten cubits": A cubit (Hebrew: אַמָּה, ammah) was an ancient unit of length, generally the distance from the elbow to the tip of the middle finger, approximately 18 inches (or 45 cm). Ten cubits would therefore be around 15 feet (4.5 meters). This is an enormous length for a single stone, showcasing immense difficulty in quarrying, transporting, and accurately placing.
and stones of eight cubits.
- "eight cubits": Similarly, around 12 feet (3.6 meters). These dimensions signify stones of monumental size, demonstrating the significant resources, highly skilled labor, and advanced planning employed in Solomon's royal building program. These details emphasize the physical robustness and awe-inspiring nature of the palace's very beginnings.
"costly stones, even great stones": This phrase combines the two key aspects: the material's inherent value/quality ("costly") and its physical impressiveness/scale ("great"). It highlights that no expense or effort was spared, marrying both aesthetic and structural superiority.
"stones of ten cubits, and stones of eight cubits": This specifies the size, making the description concrete and tangible. It provides a visual for the sheer scale and speaks volumes about the advanced capabilities of the laborers and engineers, likely supplied by Hiram from Tyre, known for their expertise (1 Ki 5). Such stones signify an intention for enduring strength and permanent establishment of the kingdom.
1 Kings 7 10 Bonus section
The phrase "house of the forest of Lebanon" refers to its construction materials, specifically cedar wood from Lebanon, rather than its location. It likely had massive pillars like trees in a forest. This detailed description of the foundation parallels that of the Temple (1 Ki 5:17), suggesting a consistency in the quality and methods of royal construction under Solomon. While the Bible emphasizes the Temple as central, the meticulous detailing of the palace here ensures that readers understand the full scope of Solomon's building accomplishments, demonstrating a kingdom blessed with immense resources and divine favor, albeit eventually critiqued for priorities. These colossal stones symbolize an intent for a lasting legacy and security.
1 Kings 7 10 Commentary
1 Kings 7:10 offers a glimpse into the lavish scale and meticulous craftsmanship that characterized Solomon's construction projects, particularly his palace complex. Unlike modern structures, ancient foundations were often visible and formed an integral part of the building's aesthetic and structural integrity. The detailed mention of "costly" and "great" stones, specifying their ten and eight cubit dimensions, emphasizes several critical points. First, it highlights the extraordinary wealth and power of Solomon, demonstrating his capacity to mobilize vast resources and labor. Second, it showcases the high level of engineering and masonry skills present in the era, particularly by Phoenician artisans known for their work. Third, such immense and carefully laid foundations were not just for practical stability but also for symbolic grandeur, intending to convey the enduring strength and permanence of Solomon's kingdom. The dedication to building with such secure foundations in mind mirrors spiritual truths about building one's life on an unshakeable base—the teachings of Christ and the foundation of God's truth.
- Example for practical usage: Just as Solomon built his structures on a firm, costly, and grand foundation, believers are called to build their faith and lives upon the secure, precious foundation of Christ (1 Cor 3:11, Eph 2:20), ensuring spiritual endurance through life's challenges (Matt 7:24-27).