1 Kings 7 8

1 Kings 7:8 kjv

And his house where he dwelt had another court within the porch, which was of the like work. Solomon made also an house for Pharaoh's daughter, whom he had taken to wife, like unto this porch.

1 Kings 7:8 nkjv

And the house where he dwelt had another court inside the hall, of like workmanship. Solomon also made a house like this hall for Pharaoh's daughter, whom he had taken as wife.

1 Kings 7:8 niv

And the palace in which he was to live, set farther back, was similar in design. Solomon also made a palace like this hall for Pharaoh's daughter, whom he had married.

1 Kings 7:8 esv

His own house where he was to dwell, in the other court back of the hall, was of like workmanship. Solomon also made a house like this hall for Pharaoh's daughter whom he had taken in marriage.

1 Kings 7:8 nlt

Solomon's living quarters surrounded a courtyard behind this hall, and they were constructed the same way. He also built similar living quarters for Pharaoh's daughter, whom he had married.

1 Kings 7 verses

1 Kings 7 8 Meaning

1 Kings 7:8 describes two specific royal constructions within Solomon's vast palace complex in Jerusalem. It states that Solomon's personal dwelling house, including a particular court near a porch or hall, was constructed with the same magnificent craftsmanship and materials as the larger, public royal buildings, such as the House of the Forest of Lebanon and the Hall of Pillars. The verse further specifies that Solomon also built a separate house for his chief foreign wife, Pharaoh's daughter, and this residence was likewise designed with grandeur, similar to one of the impressive porticoes within the palace complex. This verse highlights the extensive nature and opulence of Solomon's personal and private architectural endeavors, paralleling the scale of his public works.

1 Kings 7 8 Context

1 Kings Chapter 7 primarily describes the elaborate construction of King Solomon's royal palace complex, which spanned thirteen years—a period significantly longer than the seven years taken to build the Temple of the Lord. The verses preceding 1 Kings 7:8 detail various parts of this complex, including the grand House of the Forest of Lebanon (7:2-5), the Hall of Pillars (7:6), and the Hall of Judgment or Throne Room (7:7). Verse 8 serves as a conclusion to this architectural survey, focusing on Solomon's private living quarters and a separate residence for his primary foreign wife.

Historically, grand palace construction was a hallmark of powerful kings in the ancient Near East, serving as a display of wealth, might, and dominion. Solomon's buildings fit this cultural expectation. His marriage to Pharaoh's daughter (1 Ki 3:1) was a significant political alliance, marking his prestige among nations. However, this verse, while describing splendor, subtly highlights Solomon's growing focus on personal luxury and foreign alliances, setting a stage for later accounts of his spiritual decline due to his many foreign wives and their idols (1 Ki 11). The establishment of a separate dwelling for Pharaoh's daughter also aligns with Egyptian customs regarding royalty and cleanliness, but importantly for the biblical narrative, it ensures her separation from the "holy" City of David (as noted in 2 Chr 8:11), preserving, for a time, some purity near the Temple.

1 Kings 7 8 Word analysis

• And his house where he dwelt (וּבֵיתוֹ אֲשֶׁר יֵשֵׁב, uveyto asher yeshev): This specifies Solomon's personal residence within the larger royal complex. The phrase emphasizes it as his place of actual habitation, distinct from the halls for public functions or the women's quarters. It highlights his lavish personal accommodations.
• the other court (וְהַחָצֵר הָאַחֶרֶת, vehatser ha'achērét): This refers to an additional or separate courtyard, suggesting multiple courts within the royal complex. It denotes a private or semi-private open space, likely associated with Solomon's living quarters, providing light, air, and privacy.
• within the porch (לָאֻלָם, la'ulam, "towards the portico" or "facing the hall"): This specifies the location of the private court, indicating it was positioned in relation to a major ulam, which likely refers to the Hall of Pillars described earlier. This shows integrated design.
• was of like work (כַּמַּעֲשֶׂה הַהוּא, kamma‘aseh hahū’): Signifies that Solomon's personal residence and its court shared the same high-quality construction, materials (likely cedar, precious stones), and lavish architectural style as the grand public halls of the palace complex. This speaks to consistency in opulence.
• Solomon made also an house for Pharaoh's daughter (וּבַיִת עָשָׂה לְבַת פַּרְעֹה אֲשֶׁר לָקַח, ūvayiṯ ‘āśâ ləḇaṯ Par‘ōh ’ăšer lāqaḥ): Explicitly states a distinct dwelling was built for his principal foreign wife. "Made" (עָשָׂה, ‘āśâ) implies purposeful construction, reflecting her status and his commitment to the alliance.
• whom he had taken to wife: A parenthetical reminder of the significant diplomatic marriage that formed the basis for her presence and the construction of her house. It underscores the political implications of his actions.
• like unto this porch (כָּאֻלָם הַזֶּה, ka'ulam hazeh): This indicates the new house for Pharaoh's daughter was built in a style and possibly scale comparable to one of the major ulams (halls or porticoes) mentioned in the preceding verses. This suggests a grand and impressive structure in its own right, befitting a royal princess and queen.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "And his house where he dwelt... was of like work.": This segment emphasizes Solomon's personal investment in his own comfort and grandeur. The deliberate architectural similarity ("like work") to the public palace areas implies an unceasing commitment to luxury and a seamless integration of his private life into the broader display of royal power and wealth.
• "Solomon made also an house for Pharaoh's daughter... like unto this porch.": This phrase highlights the political dimension of Solomon's building projects and reign. The special provision for Pharaoh's daughter reflects her elevated status due to the key alliance with Egypt, emphasizing his vast resources and willingness to accommodate a foreign princess on a grand scale, even while divine law cautioned against such unions. The architectural reference ("like unto this porch") signifies that her house was not a simple dwelling but a significant royal residence.
• "his house where he dwelt" vs. "an house for Pharaoh's daughter": The detailing of two distinct primary residences—one for Solomon himself and another for his influential foreign wife—reveals a significant expansion of the royal domestic infrastructure, perhaps reflecting a blending of Judahite and foreign royal customs and further accentuating the king's abundant resources. The focus is less on functionality and more on splendor.

1 Kings 7 8 Bonus section

• Time Commitment Imbalance: The disparity in construction time—13 years for Solomon's palace complex versus 7 years for the Lord's Temple—is notable. This subtle contrast implicitly raises questions about Solomon's priorities, suggesting a greater personal investment in his earthly reign and comfort than in God's dwelling place.
• Political Statement: Building a separate, magnificent house for Pharaoh's daughter was more than an act of domestic provision; it was a potent symbol of international diplomacy, solidifying the alliance with Egypt. This showcased Solomon's wealth and power to a major regional superpower.
• Ritual Purity Implications: While not explicitly stated in 1 Kings 7:8, the book of 2 Chronicles (8:11) clarifies that Pharaoh's daughter's new house was specifically located outside "the city of David," which Solomon considered holy due to the Ark of the Covenant's presence there. This suggests an understanding of the necessity to keep foreign, non-clean elements separate from sacred Israelite ground, even for royalty.

1 Kings 7 8 Commentary

1 Kings 7:8 concludes the description of King Solomon's massive building program for his personal royal complex, showcasing his unparalleled wealth, architectural ambition, and sophisticated administrative capabilities. The explicit mention of his private dwelling being constructed with the same high standards and opulence as the public and ceremonial halls signifies a life of extreme luxury. The building of a separate, grand residence for Pharaoh's daughter underscores the significance of this diplomatic marriage, an alliance intended to bolster Israel's international standing. While politically advantageous, this act, along with subsequent intermarriages (1 Ki 11:1), directly violated Mosaic laws concerning foreign wives, laws given to protect Israel from idolatry. The emphasis on Solomon's own dwelling, which took thirteen years to build, compared to the seven years for the Temple, subtly signals a shifting priority from sacred devotion to personal aggrandizement. The structures represent Solomon's human achievement and glory, foreshadowing the eventual consequences of his choices that prioritize worldly splendor over the spiritual commands of the Lord.