Keraia
1 Kings 6

1 Kings 6:20

The Temple’s Interior · 1 Kings 6:14–22
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Translations

Modern
The inner sanctuary was twenty cubits long, twenty cubits wide, and twenty cubits high. He overlaid the inside with pure gold, and he also overlaid the altar of cedar.
Traditional
And the oracle in the forepart was twenty cubits in length, and twenty cubits in breadth, and twenty cubits in the height thereof: and he overlaid it with pure gold; and so covered the altar which was of cedar.
Literal
And before the face of the inner sanctuary was twenty cubits long, and twenty cubits wide, and twenty cubits high. And He overlaid it with pure gold, and he overlaid the altar of cedar.
Latin
Porro oraculum habebat viginti cubitos longitudinis, et viginti cubitos latitudinis, et viginti cubitos altitudinis: et operuit illud atque vestivit auro purissimo: sed et altare vestivit cedro.

Original

Hebrew
English
The inner sanctuary was twenty cubits long, twenty cubits wide, and twenty cubits high. He overlaid the inside with pure gold, and he also overlaid the altar of cedar.

Notes

1 Kings 6:19–22

  • The inner sanctuary of the temple, following the tabernacle's design, was covered inside with solid gold. A curtain (2 Chronicles 3:14) and gold chains separated it from the main room. Like the Most Holy Place in the tabernacle, the inner sanctuary was a perfect cube. It held the ark of the covenant of the LORD, symbolizing God's presence. The place of atonement was on top of the ark (Exodus 25:17), where the high priest sprinkled sacrificial blood each year to atone for the Israelites (Leviticus 16:1–19).

  • The altar for the Most Holy Place was in the main room, where priests burned incense daily (Exodus 30:34–38; 37:25–29). The altar was made of cedar and covered with gold.

  • Like the inner sanctuary, the main room was also fully covered with gold, reminding priests of God's presence. The main room contained ten golden lampstands, ten tables (2 Chronicles 4:7–8), and other furnishings (1 Kings 7:48–50).

1 Kings 6:14–35

The focus shifts to the inside of the temple. Although the temple site is not mentioned here, the Chronicler identified it as the former threshing floor of Araunah (1 Chronicles 21:18–25; 2 Chronicles 3:1). This site is traditionally believed to be Mount Moriah (Genesis 22:2). Solomon’s Temple was in the northeastern corner of Jerusalem, now known as the "old city." This is the area now associated with the Dome of the Rock.

1 Kings 6:1–8:66

The construction of the Temple and palace complex, along with the temple's dedication celebration, are key events in the 1 Kings account of Solomon's time. The temple, built to honor God, was Israel's most important building. Therefore, the writer of 1 Kings documented its construction details thoroughly.

Theme notes and profiles

Solomon Ancient Law Codes Solomon’s Wisdom

Events

Parallels

2 Chronicles 3:5–9

Glossary

Altar Archaeology and the Bible Calendars (Ancient and Modern) Goldsmith Incense Kings, Books of First and Second Minerals and Metals Temple Zif Ziv

Topics

Altar of Incense in Solomon's Temple Gold used in the Arts: Overlaying With Holy of Holies was Called The: Oracle Temple: Solomon's: Description of Temple: Solomon's: The Altar of Incense, and Its Furniture Temple: Solomon's: The Oracle (Holy of Holies) in the First Temple: The Oracle or Most Holy Place was Twenty Cubits Every Way