1 Kings 8:7 kjv
For the cherubim spread forth their two wings over the place of the ark, and the cherubim covered the ark and the staves thereof above.
1 Kings 8:7 nkjv
For the cherubim spread their two wings over the place of the ark, and the cherubim overshadowed the ark and its poles.
1 Kings 8:7 niv
The cherubim spread their wings over the place of the ark and overshadowed the ark and its carrying poles.
1 Kings 8:7 esv
For the cherubim spread out their wings over the place of the ark, so that the cherubim overshadowed the ark and its poles.
1 Kings 8:7 nlt
The cherubim spread their wings over the Ark, forming a canopy over the Ark and its carrying poles.
1 Kings 8 7 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Exod 25:18-20 | "And you shall make two cherubim of gold... The cherubim shall have their wings spread upward, overshadowing..." | Design of cherubim on the mercy seat. |
| Exod 37:7-9 | "He made two cherubim of gold... cherubim spreading out their wings above, overshadowing..." | Bezalel's craftsmanship for the tabernacle. |
| Num 7:89 | "When Moses went into the tent of meeting... he heard the voice speaking to him from above the mercy seat..." | God speaking from between the cherubim. |
| 1 Kgs 6:23-28 | "In the inner sanctuary he made two cherubim of olive wood... Their wings spread out twenty cubits..." | Solomon's temple cherubim, their size. |
| 2 Chr 3:10-13 | "In the most holy room he made two cherubim... stretched forth over the length of the Most Holy Place." | Parallel account in Chronicles, their covering. |
| Ps 80:1 | "O Shepherd of Israel, give ear; you who lead Joseph like a flock; you who are enthroned upon the cherubim, shine forth!" | God's sovereignty enthroned above the cherubim. |
| Ps 99:1 | "The Lord reigns; let the peoples tremble! He dwells between the cherubim; let the earth be moved!" | God's rule associated with His dwelling place. |
| Isa 37:16 | "O Lord of hosts, God of Israel, enthroned above the cherubim, you are the God, you alone..." | Hezekiah's prayer, reiterating God's unique reign. |
| Ezek 1:4-28 | "As I looked, behold, a storm wind... with them were what looked like four living creatures..." | Ezekiel's vision of cherubim carrying God's throne. |
| Ezek 10:1-22 | "And I looked, and behold, on the expanse above the heads of the cherubim there appeared... a throne..." | Further detailed vision of cherubim. |
| Gen 3:24 | "He drove out the man, and at the east of the garden of Eden he placed the cherubim..." | Cherubim as guardians of holy space/God's presence. |
| Exod 25:10-22 | Detailed instructions for building the Ark of the Covenant. | Purpose and design of the Ark. |
| Lev 16:2 | "Tell Aaron your brother not to come at any time into the Holy Place inside the veil before the mercy seat..." | Ark's location in the most sacred space. |
| Num 4:5 | "When the camp is to set out, Aaron and his sons shall go in and take down the veil of the screen..." | Handling the Ark during journeys. |
| Josh 3:6 | "And Joshua said to the priests, “Take up the ark of the covenant and pass on before the people.”" | Ark leading Israel into the Promised Land. |
| 2 Sam 6:2-9 | Uzzah's death for touching the Ark illustrates its extreme sacredness. | Ark's holiness and boundary. |
| 1 Chr 15:1-2 | "David built houses for himself... he prepared a place for the ark of God and pitched a tent for it." | David's desire for a permanent place for the Ark. |
| Ps 132:8 | "Arise, O Lord, and go to your resting place, you and the ark of your might." | Prayer for God's permanent dwelling in the Ark. |
| Exod 25:14-15 | "You shall put the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark to carry the ark by them." | Instructions for the poles of the Ark. |
| Exod 26:33-34 | "You shall hang the veil... so that the veil will separate the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place." | Ark's location behind the veil in the Tabernacle. |
| 1 Kgs 6:19 | "He prepared the inner sanctuary in the house, to set there the ark of the covenant of the Lord." | Temple's inner sanctum purpose for the Ark. |
| 1 Kgs 8:10-11 | "When the priests came out of the Holy Place, a cloud filled the house of the Lord... the glory of the Lord." | God's glory filling the Temple upon dedication. |
| Heb 9:3-5 | "Behind the second curtain was a tent called the Most Holy Place, having the golden altar of incense and the ark..." | New Testament description of the Ark in the Tabernacle. |
1 Kings 8 verses
1 Kings 8 7 Meaning
This verse describes the precise arrangement of the two large cherubim crafted by Solomon in the Most Holy Place. Their outstretched wings enveloped and shielded the Ark of the Covenant and its carrying poles, signifying the Ark's extreme sacredness and its status as the locus of God's dwelling and presence, under divine guardianship and reverence within the newly consecrated Temple. This imagery reinforces the awe-inspiring nature of the Holy of Holies and the divine protection surrounding the divine throne-room.
1 Kings 8 7 Context
1 Kings Chapter 8 details the culmination of King Solomon's greatest achievement: the dedication of the magnificent Temple in Jerusalem. This dedication occurs during the Feast of Booths, symbolizing a joyful celebration and a covenant renewal. Verses 1-9 specifically describe the solemn procession of the Ark of the Covenant from the City of David to its permanent resting place in the Temple's Most Holy Place (Debir, or Holy of Holies). This act officially installs God's presence at the heart of the national worship, establishing Jerusalem as the spiritual capital. Verse 7 fits into this sequence, focusing on the meticulous and sacred final arrangement of the Ark within its consecrated chamber, positioned between the wings of the immense cherubim. Historically, this event signifies the fulfillment of David's longing and a new era for Israel's worship, transitioning from the portable tabernacle to a fixed dwelling for God's presence.
1 Kings 8 7 Word analysis
- For (כִּי, kî): Connective particle, often translated as "for" or "because," providing a causal or explanatory link to the preceding verses which describe the priests placing the Ark. It clarifies how the Ark was situated.
- the cherubim (הַכְּרֻבִים, hak·kərûḇîm): Refers to the two colossal cherubim carved from olive wood, overlaid with gold, which Solomon had fashioned and placed within the Most Holy Place (1 Kgs 6:23-28). These are distinct from the smaller cherubim on the mercy seat itself. They symbolize heavenly guardians, attending to God's presence, and creating a sense of sacred awe. Their presence emphasizes the holiness and inaccessibility of the Ark.
- spread forth (פָּרְשׂוּ, pā·rəśū): From the verb פָּרַשׂ (paraś), meaning "to spread out," "to stretch forth." It denotes a deliberate, outstretched posture. Here, it indicates their wings were extended wide, creating an overarching canopy.
- their two wings (שְׁתֵּי כְנָפַיִם, šə·tê kə·nā·p̄a·yim): Literally "two wings." This emphasizes the breadth and reach of these monumental cherubim, highlighting their purpose to encompass the sacred space of the Ark.
- over (עַל, ‘al): "Upon," "over," indicating direct covering or position above.
- the place of the ark (מְקוֹם הָאָרוֹן, mə·qōm hā·’ā·rōn): Refers to the specific, designated spot within the Most Holy Place where the Ark was intended to rest. This underscores the precise, divinely ordained nature of the Temple's arrangements.
- and the cherubim covered (וַיָּסֹכּוּ הַכְּרֻבִים, way·yā·sōk·kū hak·kə·ru·ḇîm): The verb סָכַךְ (sāḵaḵ) means "to cover," "to overshadow," "to protect." This term implies an act of sheltering or providing shade. It highlights the protective role of the cherubim over the Ark, safeguarding its sanctity.
- the ark (הָאָרוֹן, hā·’ā·rōn): The Ark of the Covenant, the most sacred object in Israel, containing the tablets of the Law, Aaron's rod, and a pot of manna. It represented the divine presence, covenant faithfulness, and served as the footstool of God.
- and the staves thereof (וְאֶת־בַּדָּיו, wə·’eṯ-bad·dāw): Refers to the carrying poles of the Ark, specifically designed to remain permanently in its rings, never to be removed (Exod 25:15). Their presence indicates that even these practical elements, connected to the Ark's history and purpose, were to be honored and covered by divine protection.
- above (מִלְמַעְלָה, mil·ma‘·lāh): "From above," signifying the upper vantage point from which the cherubim provided their covering, emphasizing their imposing height and overarching posture.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
"For the cherubim spread forth their two wings over the place of the ark": This phrase establishes the physical setup. It clarifies that the massive golden cherubim, emblematic of divine presence and guardianship, deliberately positioned their vast wings to extend above the very spot reserved for the Ark. This acts as a symbolic enclosure, marking the Ark as uniquely sacred and within a protected, hallowed domain. The action underscores intentionality in fulfilling the sacred architecture's purpose.
"and the cherubim covered the ark and the staves thereof above": This re-emphasizes the cherubim's role. The term "covered" suggests more than mere presence; it implies a literal and symbolic act of overshadowing and shielding. The explicit mention of "the ark and the staves thereof" shows the comprehensive nature of this divine protection, extending even to the carrying poles that traditionally were not to be removed, signifying the permanent resting place of the Ark. This imagery evokes the tabernacle's mercy seat where smaller cherubim's wings overshadowed it, now grandly replicated on a larger, more permanent scale.
1 Kings 8 7 Bonus section
The massive cherubim fashioned by Solomon, whose wingspan spanned the entire breadth of the Most Holy Place, were a significant departure in scale from the smaller cherubim originally wrought into the lid of the mercy seat (Exod 25:18-20). While the mercy seat cherubim directly overlooked the atonement cover, Solomon's larger cherubim extended their wings to cover the Ark's resting place and the entire Ark from above. This augmentation in size and placement amplified the visual declaration of God's omnipresent majesty and His absolute protection over His dwelling place. In Ancient Near Eastern contexts, winged creatures often guarded the entrances to temples or the thrones of kings. However, Israel's cherubim were unique; they did not merely guard an entrance but specifically overshadowed the place of God's direct presence, never depicted as objects of worship themselves, but perpetually facing the mercy seat (Exod 25:20) as if in adoration and service. This subtle polemic implicitly countered the surrounding cultures where divine figures or semi-divine beings were worshiped; here, the cherubim pointed to God, rather than being divine in themselves.
1 Kings 8 7 Commentary
1 Kings 8:7 provides a vivid, concise image of the final positioning of the Ark of the Covenant in Solomon's Temple. It underscores the profound sanctity of the Ark by detailing how the colossal cherubim, permanent fixtures of the Most Holy Place, stretched their wings over it, effectively creating a divine canopy. This act of "covering" signifies divine protection, reverence, and perhaps concealment, shielding the holiest object from unauthorized sight, even within the most sacred chamber. It visually reinforces the concept of the Ark as the earthly footstool of Yahweh's unseen throne, making His dwelling palpable through symbols of glory and guardianship. The specific mention of the "staves" being covered highlights the enduring significance of even the functional components of the Ark, which according to Mosaic law, were to remain perpetually attached. This detail emphasizes the permanence of the Ark's new, static home, contrasting with its portable nature during the wilderness wanderings, and that it remains ever ready, yet settled, for God's interaction with His people.