2 Chronicles 3 12

2 Chronicles 3:12 kjv

And one wing of the other cherub was five cubits, reaching to the wall of the house: and the other wing was five cubits also, joining to the wing of the other cherub.

2 Chronicles 3:12 nkjv

one wing of the other cherub was five cubits, touching the wall of the room, and the other wing also was five cubits, touching the wing of the other cherub.

2 Chronicles 3:12 niv

Similarly one wing of the second cherub was five cubits long and touched the other temple wall, and its other wing, also five cubits long, touched the wing of the first cherub.

2 Chronicles 3:12 esv

and of this cherub, one wing, of five cubits, touched the wall of the house, and the other wing, also of five cubits, was joined to the wing of the first cherub.

2 Chronicles 3:12 nlt

In the same way, the second figure had one wing 7 1?2 feet long that touched the opposite wall. The other wing, also 7 1?2 feet long, touched the wing of the first figure.

2 Chronicles 3 verses

2 Chronicles 3 12 Meaning

2 Chronicles 3:12 describes the dimensions and placement of the second of two large cherubim crafted for the Most Holy Place within Solomon's Temple. This cherub was 20 cubits long, spanning the entire width of the inner sanctuary, reaching from one wall to the center. Its wings were specifically five cubits long, meeting the corresponding wing of the first cherub at the very center of the chamber, directly over the Ark of the Covenant. This detailed description emphasizes the grand scale, precise construction, and symbolic significance of these guardian figures surrounding God's earthly throne.

2 Chronicles 3 12 Context

This verse is situated within the narrative of Solomon's construction of the Temple in Jerusalem, specifically focusing on the internal elements of the Most Holy Place, also known as the Debir or inner sanctuary (1 Kgs 6:16). This chamber was the most sacred area of the Temple, intended to house the Ark of the Covenant, representing God's throne and covenant presence among His people. The Temple was designed according to divine pattern (1 Chr 28:11-19), embodying the sacred space where heaven and earth would meet.

The two cherubim described in 2 Chronicles 3:10-13, and particularly the second one in verse 12, were not the small cherubim directly on the Ark's mercy seat (Ex 25:18-20), but massive, stand-alone figures. Each stood ten cubits (approx. 15-17 feet) high and had wings that stretched out a total of ten cubits from tip to tip (5 cubits for each wing as per verse 11 and 12 combined meaning they had 2 wings each which extended). The Holy of Holies was 20 cubits (approx. 30-35 feet) wide (1 Kgs 6:20), and these two colossal cherubim were strategically placed so their outer wings touched the walls of the chamber, and their inner wings met in the exact center, forming a majestic canopy directly above the Ark of the Covenant. This intricate detail underscored the reverence and holiness of God's dwelling place, differentiating Yahweh's presence from pagan deities often housed in unadorned structures.

2 Chronicles 3 12 Word analysis

• The other cherub: The Hebrew word is keruv (כְּרוּב), plural keruvim. These are heavenly, winged beings mentioned throughout the Bible as guardians of sacred spaces (Gen 3:24), attendants of God's throne (Ps 18:10), or figures depicted in holy structures like the Tabernacle and Temple. These two cherubim were distinct from the two smaller cherubim affixed to the Ark of the Covenant's mercy seat. They symbolize the unapproachable holiness and awesome majesty of God, as well as acting as sentinels of the divine presence within the innermost sanctuary. Their construction signifies obedience to divine pattern and the physical manifestation of heavenly realities.

• was twenty cubits long: The measurement unit is ammah (אַמָּה), or cubit, which typically ranged from 18 to 21 inches (45-53 cm). Twenty cubits, therefore, means approximately 30-35 feet (9.1-10.7 meters). This length indicates the massive scale of these cherubim, demonstrating their monumental presence in the Most Holy Place. Each cherub (as described in 1 Kings 6:23 and 2 Chr 3:11) was ten cubits high and had wings that each spanned five cubits, meaning each cherub's total wingspan was ten cubits. This verse specifies one cherub's entire span, "reaching to the wall," making its length (including wingspan from outer tip to the meeting point in center) 10 cubits long from one end of its wings to another. As the Most Holy Place was 20 cubits wide (1 Kings 6:20), these two cherubim together spanned the entire width of the room, with their outer wings touching the walls and their inner wings touching each other. The dimension signifies the immense glory of God and the vastness of the space His presence required.

• reaching to the wall of the house on the other side: The phrase "wall of the house" refers specifically to qir habayit (קִיר הַבַּיִת), indicating the inner wall of the Most Holy Place (Debir). This highlights the precision of their placement and that these immense figures precisely filled the consecrated space. Their wings spread from wall to center, encompassing the Ark.

• and its wings were five cubits long: The Hebrew kenafayw (כְּנָפָיו) refers to its wings. Each individual wing measured five cubits. Since there were two cherubim with wings meeting in the center, and each cherub's wings were ten cubits tip to tip, the "five cubits long" refers to one wing (half of its total span). This detail reinforces the meticulous design and perfect symmetry within the sacred space.

• reaching to the other cherub: This indicates the point where the inner wings of the two cherubim met in the absolute center of the Holy of Holies. Their wings created a sort of "tent" or canopy over the Ark of the Covenant (1 Kgs 8:7), signifying God's protection and majestic presence over His covenant with Israel. This precisely orchestrated arrangement served as a constant visual reminder of God's enthronement and immediate sovereignty over His people, manifest at this pivotal location.

2 Chronicles 3 12 Bonus section

The monumental cherubim in Solomon's Temple, described here, were far larger than any cultic figures known in the ancient Near East, contrasting sharply with the smaller, often humanoid idols of pagan deities. This emphasizes that these cherubim were not objects of worship, but representations of attendants to the glorious God, underscoring the Israelite unique monotheism. Their scale reinforces the infinite grandeur of the God they served. Moreover, these cherubim evoke the imagery of a divine chariot or throne (1 Chr 28:18), hinting at God's dynamic sovereignty, contrasting with fixed, powerless idols. The Temple's precise dimensions, including the cherubim's fit within the Holy of Holies, reflect God's divine pattern given to David (1 Chr 28:11-19) and implemented by Solomon, symbolizing God's meticulous care in dwelling among His people.

2 Chronicles 3 12 Commentary

2 Chronicles 3:12 provides an important detail regarding the colossal cherubim fashioned for the Most Holy Place of Solomon's Temple. These monumental figures, distinct from the smaller cherubim on the Ark itself, were central to visually defining the space of God's unique presence. Their immense size, spanning the entire 20-cubit width of the sanctuary with wings touching walls and meeting centrally over the Ark, communicated an overwhelming sense of divine majesty, transcendence, and protection. Far from being mere decorations, these cherubim served as silent, imposing guardians of the divine throne, marking the boundary of human access to God's most holy presence and conveying the profound awe inspired by Yahweh, the God of Israel. Their meticulous dimensions underscore the divine origin and precise execution of the Temple plan.