2 Chronicles 3:3 kjv
Now these are the things wherein Solomon was instructed for the building of the house of God. The length by cubits after the first measure was threescore cubits, and the breadth twenty cubits.
2 Chronicles 3:3 nkjv
This is the foundation which Solomon laid for building the house of God: The length was sixty cubits (by cubits according to the former measure) and the width twenty cubits.
2 Chronicles 3:3 niv
The foundation Solomon laid for building the temple of God was sixty cubits long and twenty cubits wide (using the cubit of the old standard).
2 Chronicles 3:3 esv
These are Solomon's measurements for building the house of God: the length, in cubits of the old standard, was sixty cubits, and the breadth twenty cubits.
2 Chronicles 3:3 nlt
These are the dimensions Solomon used for the foundation of the Temple of God (using the old standard of measurement). It was 90 feet long and 30 feet wide.
2 Chronicles 3 3 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Kgs 6:2 | The house which King Solomon built for the Lord, its length was sixty cubits, its width twenty, and its height thirty cubits. | Parallel dimensions of the Temple's main hall. |
| 1 Kgs 6:3 | The portico in front of the nave of the house was twenty cubits long…and ten cubits deep… | Further dimensions of Temple components. |
| Exo 25:9 | According to all that I show you, the pattern of the tabernacle and the pattern of all its furniture, so you shall make it. | God's specific instruction for dwelling pattern. |
| Exo 27:1 | You shall make the altar of acacia wood, five cubits long and five cubits wide... | Precise dimensions for Tabernacle furnishings. |
| Num 3:38 | And those who were to camp before the tabernacle on the east, before the tent of meeting toward the sunrise, were Moses and Aaron and his sons… | Arrangement according to divine instruction. |
| 1 Chron 28:11-12 | Then David gave to Solomon his son the plan of the porch of the temple, its buildings, its storerooms, its upper rooms, its inner rooms, and the room for the mercy seat…and the plan of all that he had by the Spirit… | Divine origin of Temple plans. |
| 1 Chron 22:7-8 | David said to Solomon, “My son, it was in my heart to build a house to the name of the Lord my God. But the word of the Lord came to me, saying, ‘You have shed much blood…’” | David's desire and Solomon's charge to build. |
| Pss 78:69 | He built His sanctuary like the high heavens, like the earth which He has founded forever. | Divine and stable construction of sanctuary. |
| Pss 132:3-5 | …nor will I let my eyelids slumber, until I find a place for the Lord, a dwelling place for the Mighty One of Jacob.” | David's vow to find/build a dwelling for God. |
| Isa 28:16 | Therefore thus says the Lord God, “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a tested stone, a costly cornerstone for the foundation, firmly placed… | God as the ultimate layer of foundation. |
| Eze 40:5 | And behold, there was a wall on the outside of the temple all around…and the cubit was a cubit and a handbreadth. | Definition of cubit for sacred measurement. |
| Zec 2:1-2 | Then I raised my eyes and looked, and behold, a man with a measuring line in his hand. So I said, “Where are you going?” And he said to me, “To measure Jerusalem, to see what is its width and what is its length.” | Divine measurement of sacred places. |
| Hag 1:8 | Go up to the mountains and bring wood and build the temple, that I may take pleasure in it and be glorified,” says the Lord. | Importance of building God's house. |
| Jn 2:19-21 | Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” But He was speaking of the temple of His body. | Christ as the new Temple. |
| Acts 7:47-49 | But Solomon built for Him a house. However, the Most High does not dwell in houses made by human hands… | Limitation of physical Temple for God's presence. |
| 1 Cor 3:9-10 | For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building. According to the grace of God which was given to me, like a skillful master builder I laid a foundation… | Believers as God's building; apostolic foundation. |
| 1 Cor 3:16 | Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? | Believers as spiritual temple. |
| Eph 2:19-22 | So then you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the cornerstone. | Spiritual temple, Christ as cornerstone. |
| Heb 8:5 | They serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things, just as Moses was warned by God when he was about to erect the tabernacle; for, “See,” He says, “that you make all things according to the pattern which was shown to you on the mountain.” | Earthly sanctuary reflecting heavenly pattern. |
| Rev 21:16-17 | The city is laid out as a square, and its length is as great as its width… He measured its wall, one hundred and forty-four cubits… | Dimensions of New Jerusalem, divine order. |
2 Chronicles 3 verses
2 Chronicles 3 3 Meaning
This verse details the fundamental dimensions of the main sanctuary of God's house, the Temple in Jerusalem, as constructed by King Solomon. It specifies that the primary structure, referred to as the "house of God," measured sixty cubits in length and twenty cubits in breadth. The phrase "after the first measure" emphasizes that these dimensions adhered to an original, established, and authoritative standard, likely a sacred or royal cubit, underscoring precision and divine compliance in its construction.
2 Chronicles 3 3 Context
2 Chronicles 3:3 initiates the detailed account of Solomon's construction of the Temple, located on Mount Moriah in Jerusalem (v. 1). Following David's earnest desire to build a permanent dwelling for God and divine approval for Solomon to undertake this task, this chapter describes the commencement of the actual building process. The preceding chapters establish David's preparations, material gathering, and instructions to Solomon for the Temple's construction, emphasizing its significance as a center for worship and God's dwelling among His people. The Chronicler provides meticulous details to highlight the Temple's grandeur, its adherence to divinely prescribed patterns, and its pivotal role in Israel's relationship with Yahweh, legitimizing the southern kingdom's (Judah) spiritual continuity after the division of the monarchy. The emphasis on specific measurements aligns with the biblical tradition of detailed blueprints for sacred spaces, reflecting divine order and holiness.
2 Chronicles 3 3 Word analysis
Now these are the foundations which Solomon laid:
- foundations (Hebrew: hus'deu from the root yasad) – This word literally means "were founded" or "were laid." While often translated as the physical structures upon which the building rests, here in 2 Chronicles 3:3, it refers to the dimensions of the ground plan for the central sanctuary that Solomon established. It points to the underlying standard and setup, rather than just the physical base layers.
- Solomon laid – Solomon is the key human agent here, chosen by God to execute the Temple's construction. This highlights his obedient role in carrying out the divine commission that originated with his father, David. He followed established principles.
- for the building of the house of God – "House of God" (Hebrew: bet ha'elohim) explicitly identifies the structure as dedicated to Yahweh, distinguishing it from ordinary buildings and emphasizing its sacred purpose as a place for God's presence and worship. This reinforces its religious significance over its architectural feat.
The length by cubits after the first measure was sixty cubits, and the breadth twenty cubits.
- length… breadth – These are fundamental spatial dimensions, giving the core footprint of the main sanctuary.
- by cubits (Hebrew: ba'amôt) – The standard unit of measurement in ancient Israel. A cubit (Hebrew: ammah) was generally the distance from the elbow to the tip of the middle finger, roughly 18 inches (or varying between 17.5 to 20.6 inches). The Chronicler details precise numerical dimensions to demonstrate careful, intentional adherence to a specific design.
- after the first measure (Hebrew: ba'middah ha'ri'shonah) – This is a crucial phrase. It implies a specific, authoritative, and original standard of cubit was used, distinguishing it from other possible measures (e.g., common cubits, later Babylonian cubits, or Ezekiel's longer cubit). This "first measure" likely refers to the older, standard sacred or royal cubit, which was probably slightly longer than a common cubit (e.g., a six-handbreadth cubit, possibly around 20.6 inches or 52.3 cm). Its inclusion signifies fidelity to the authentic and perhaps divinely sanctioned specifications, akin to the measurements for the Tabernacle (Exo 25-27). This underscores meticulous obedience to divine pattern, rather than employing any convenient contemporary measurement.
- sixty cubits (approx. 90-100 feet/27-31 meters) – Refers to the internal length of the hekal or nave (Holy Place), excluding the porch and inner sanctuary (Most Holy Place/Holy of Holies), though these would be part of the larger overall structure described in 1 Kings 6:2.
- twenty cubits (approx. 30-33 feet/9-10 meters) – Refers to the internal breadth of the main sanctuary building.
Words-Group Analysis:
- "these are the foundations which Solomon laid": This phrase attributes the establishment of the structural basis directly to Solomon, implying his obedience to divine blueprint. The "foundations" are not just the physical sub-structure but also the initial fixed plan or established dimensions from which the entire Temple complex would rise.
- "for the building of the house of God": This highlights the exclusive purpose and sacred dedication of the construction. It wasn't merely a palace or a public edifice, but specifically God's dwelling place, making its meticulous construction a spiritual act.
- "The length by cubits after the first measure was sixty cubits, and the breadth twenty cubits": This comprehensive phrase sets out the precise internal measurements for the core building (the hekal) according to an ancient, authoritative standard. The emphasis on "the first measure" reinforces a theme common in Chronicles: adhering to traditional, legitimate, and divinely sanctioned practices. It points to a continuation of God's patterns, seen in the Tabernacle's specific dimensions.
2 Chronicles 3 3 Bonus section
The Chronicler’s detailed mention of the dimensions immediately after stating the Temple’s location on Mount Moriah (2 Chron 3:1) underscores the precise fulfillment of the divine mandate. Mount Moriah, later associated with Abraham's near-sacrifice of Isaac (Gen 22), imbues the Temple site with profound theological significance as a place of divine provision and covenant. The measurements of 60 x 20 cubits (length x breadth) are often understood as applying to the internal dimensions of the main Holy Place (the hekal). While 1 Kings 6:2 mentions a height of 30 cubits, the Chronicler, though concise here, often adds details about chambers or specific furnishings in later verses. The dimensions for this first Temple laid a physical pattern for subsequent structures, influencing perceptions of sacred architecture and emphasizing that the construction of God's house was an act of worship itself, demanding careful adherence to sacred standards.
2 Chronicles 3 3 Commentary
2 Chronicles 3:3 sets forth the foundational dimensions of the main sanctuary building within Solomon's Temple. This precise detailing emphasizes two key aspects: obedience and order. Solomon built the Temple according to exact specifications, signified by the reference to "the first measure," which denotes a standard or sacred cubit, highlighting his adherence to an established, authoritative, and possibly divinely communicated plan. This was not a spontaneous construction but a carefully executed project reflecting divine instruction, reminiscent of the meticulous instructions for the Tabernacle. The dimensions of sixty by twenty cubits describe the nave or holy place, setting the scale for God's dwelling place on earth. The act of laying these precise foundations speaks to the covenantal faithfulness of Solomon in completing David's desire for a permanent sanctuary, ensuring its form was fitting for the glory and worship of Yahweh. The physical precision underscores the spiritual truth that God’s dwelling is holy, orderly, and purposefully established according to His will.