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1 Kings 6:23-28

In the inner sanctuary he made two cherubim of olive wood, each ten cubits high. Five cubits was the one wing of the cherub, and five cubits the other wing of the cherub. From the tip of one wing to the tip of the other was ten cubits. The other cherub was ten cubits. Both the cherubim were of one measure and one form. One cherub was ten cubits high, and so was the other cherub. He set the cherubim within the inner house. The wings of the cherubim were stretched out, so that the wing of the one touched the one wall, and the wing of the other cherub touched the other wall; and their wings touched one another in the middle of the house. He overlaid the cherubim with gold.

World English Bible · Public Domain
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1 Kings 6:23-28 sits inside this longer paragraph.

So Solomon built the house, and finished it. He built the walls of the house within with boards of cedar: from the floor of the house to the walls of the ceiling, he covered them on the inside with wood; and he covered the floor of the house with cypress boards. He built twenty cubits on the back part of the house with boards of cedar from the floor to the ceiling. He built them for it within, for an inner sanctuary, even for the most holy place. In front of the temple sanctuary was forty cubits. There was cedar on the house within, carved with buds and open flowers. All was cedar. No stone was visible. He prepared an inner sanctuary in the middle of the house within, to set the ark of Yahweh’s covenant there. Within the inner sanctuary was twenty cubits in length, and twenty cubits in width, and twenty cubits in its height; and he overlaid it with pure gold; and he covered the altar with cedar. So Solomon overlaid the house within with pure gold. He drew chains of gold across before the inner sanctuary, and he overlaid it with gold. He overlaid the whole house with gold, until all the house was finished. He also overlaid the whole altar that belonged to the inner sanctuary with gold. In the inner sanctuary he made two cherubim of olive wood, each ten cubits high. Five cubits was the one wing of the cherub, and five cubits the other wing of the cherub. From the tip of one wing to the tip of the other was ten cubits. The other cherub was ten cubits. Both the cherubim were of one measure and one form. One cherub was ten cubits high, and so was the other cherub. He set the cherubim within the inner house. The wings of the cherubim were stretched out, so that the wing of the one touched the one wall, and the wing of the other cherub touched the other wall; and their wings touched one another in the middle of the house. He overlaid the cherubim with gold. He carved all the walls of the house around with carved figures of cherubim, palm trees, and open flowers, inside and outside. He overlaid the floor of the house with gold, inside and outside. For the entrance of the inner sanctuary, he made doors of olive wood. The lintel and door posts were a fifth part of the wall. So he made two doors of olive wood; and he carved on them carvings of cherubim, palm trees, and open flowers, and overlaid them with gold. He spread the gold on the cherubim and on the palm trees. He also did so for the entrance of the temple door posts of olive wood, out of a fourth part of the wall; and two doors of cypress wood. The two leaves of the one door were folding, and the two leaves of the other door were folding. He carved cherubim, palm trees, and open flowers; and he overlaid them with gold fitted on the engraved work. He built the inner court with three courses of cut stone and a course of cedar beams. The foundation of Yahweh’s house was laid in the fourth year, in the month Ziv. In the eleventh year, in the month Bul, which is the eighth month, the house was finished throughout all its parts, and according to all its specifications. So he spent seven years building it.

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Parallel Translations

  • WEB World English Bible

    In the inner sanctuary he made two cherubim of olive wood, each ten cubits high.

    Five cubits was the one wing of the cherub, and five cubits the other wing of the cherub. From the tip of one wing to the tip of the other was ten cubits.

    The other cherub was ten cubits. Both the cherubim were of one measure and one form.

    One cherub was ten cubits high, and so was the other cherub.

    He set the cherubim within the inner house. The wings of the cherubim were stretched out, so that the wing of the one touched the one wall, and the wing of the other cherub touched the other wall; and their wings touched one another in the middle of the house.

    He overlaid the cherubim with gold.

  • KJV King James Version

    And within the oracle he made two cherubims of olive tree, each ten cubits high.

    And five cubits was the one wing of the cherub, and five cubits the other wing of the cherub: from the uttermost part of the one wing unto the uttermost part of the other were ten cubits.

    And the other cherub was ten cubits: both the cherubims were of one measure and one size.

    The height of the one cherub was ten cubits, and so was it of the other cherub.

    And he set the cherubims within the inner house: and they stretched forth the wings of the cherubims, so that the wing of the one touched the one wall, and the wing of the other cherub touched the other wall; and their wings touched one another in the midst of the house.

    And he overlaid the cherubims with gold.

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  • JPS JPS Tanakh (1917)

    And in the Sanctuary he made two cherubim of olive-wood, each ten cubits high.

    And five cubits was the one wing of the cherub, and five cubits the other wing of the cherub; from the uttermost part of the one wing unto the uttermost part of the other were ten cubits.

    And the other cherub was ten cubits; both the cherubim were of one measure and one form.

    The height of the one cherub was ten cubits, and so was it of the other cherub.

    And he set the cherubim within the inner house; and the wings of the cherubim were stretched forth, so that the wing of the one touched the one wall, and the wing of the other cherub touched the other wall; and their wings touched one another in the midst of the house.

    And he overlaid the cherubim with gold.

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Cross-references (15)

  • Exodus 25:20 (v27) The cherubim shall spread out their wings upward, covering the mercy seat with their wings, with their faces toward one another. The faces…
  • Exodus 37:7-9 (v23) He made two cherubim of gold. He made them of beaten work, at the two ends of the mercy seat: one cherub at the one end, and one cherub at…
  • Exodus 37:9 (v27) The cherubim spread out their wings above, covering the mercy seat with their wings, with their faces toward one another. The faces of the…
  • 2 Chronicles 5:8 (v27) For the cherubim spread out their wings over the place of the ark, and the cherubim covered the ark and its poles above.
  • 1 Kings 8:7 (v27) For the cherubim spread their wings out over the place of the ark, and the cherubim covered the ark and its poles above.
Show all 15 cross-references
  • Genesis 3:24 (v23) So he drove out the man; and he placed cherubim at the east of the garden of Eden, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to guard the…
  • Exodus 25:18-22 (v23) You shall make two cherubim of hammered gold. You shall make them at the two ends of the mercy seat. Make one cherub at the one end, and…
  • 2 Chronicles 3:10-13 (v23) In the most holy place he made two cherubim by carving; and they overlaid them with gold. The wings of the cherubim were twenty cubits…
  • 2 Chronicles 3:11 (v27) The wings of the cherubim were twenty cubits long: the wing of the one was five cubits, reaching to the wall of the house; and the other…
  • Psalms 18:10 (v23) He rode on a cherub, and flew. Yes, he soared on the wings of the wind.
  • Psalms 80:1 (v23) Hear us, Shepherd of Israel, you who lead Joseph like a flock, you who sit above the cherubim, shine out.
  • Isaiah 37:16 (v23) “Yahweh of Armies, the God of Israel, who is enthroned among the cherubim, you are the God, even you alone, of all the kingdoms of the…
  • Ezekiel 10:2-22 (v23) He spoke to the man clothed in linen, and said, “Go in between the whirling wheels, even under the cherub, and fill both your hands with…
  • Hebrews 1:14 (v23) Aren’t they all serving spirits, sent out to do service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation?
  • 1 Peter 1:12 (v23) To them it was revealed, that they served not to themselves, but to you, in these things, which now have been announced to you through…

Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)

Explain this passage (17 sources)

Historical commentary, presented as a primary source — not an endorsement.

Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain On vv23, 28 Or, Pine tree

Or, Pine tree

Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.

John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain On vv23–28 1Ki 6:23 And within the oracle he made two…
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain On v23 Besides those two made by Moses, Exo 25:18, which…
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain On vv23–28 And five cubits was the one wing of the…
John Wesley 1765 · Public Domain On v23 Cherubim - Besides those two made by Moses, Exod.…
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain On v26 Verse 26. The height of the one cherub was…
Joseph Benson 1811 · Public Domain On vv23, 24, 27, 28 1Ki 6:23. Within the oracle he made two cherubims…
Albert Barnes 1834 · Public Domain On v23 Two cherubims - The pattern of the tabernacle was…
Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary 1859 · Public Domain On v23 Olive. Hebrew, "trees full of oil or resin," distinguished…
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain On vv23, 27 23. Made two cherubim — The cherubim were composite…
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain On vv23, 25, 27 23–30. Of the Cherubim within the oracle (2Ch_3:10-12)
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain On v23 (23) Cherubim.—These were copied from the Tabernacle, but apparently…
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain On vv23–28 And within the oracle The description now passes on…
The Expositor's Bible 1887 · Public Domain On v23 1Ki_6:23-30; 1Ki_8:6-11.
C. I. Scofield 1917 · Public Domain On v27 they stretched forth Or, the cherubim stretched forth their…
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On vv23, 27 Solomon made
Tyndale Open Study Notes 2022 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On v23 6:23-28 In the inner sanctuary were two cherubim (see…
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