1 Kings 10:19

The throne had six steps, and its back had a rounded top. There were armrests on both sides of the seat, with a lion standing beside each armrest.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The narrator describes Solomon’s throne to the reader during the Queen of Sheba’s visit, immediately after detailing the gold-overlaid ivory seat.

The words — מַעֲל֣וֹת (ma.'a.Lot) specifies the "steps" ascending to the seat, while עָגֹ֤ל ('a.Gol) defines the backrest as "round" or rounded.

The thread — The six-step structure and lion motifs reappear in the parallel account of 2 Chronicles 9:18 and inform the temple’s cherubim-carved architecture in 1 Kings 6:29.

Why it lands — The text demands recognition of deliberate craftsmanship and royal authority, requiring the reader to note the physical layout before drawing theological or historical conclusions.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

שֵׁ֧שׁsheshsix מַעֲל֣וֹתma.'a.Lotsteps לַכִּסֵּ֗הla./ki.Seh[belonged] to the/ throne וְרֹאשׁ־ve./rosh-and/ a top עָגֹ֤ל'a.Golround לַכִּסֵּה֙la./ki.Seh[belonged] to the/ throne מֵאַֽחֲרָ֔יוme./'a.cha.Ra/v<from>/ behind/ it וְיָדֹ֛תve./ya.Dotand/ hands מִזֶּ֥הmi./Zehfrom/ this וּמִזֶּ֖הu./mi./Zehand/ from/ this אֶל־'el-[were] to מְק֣וֹםme.Kom[the] place of הַשָּׁ֑בֶתha./Sha.vetthe/ sitting וּשְׁנַ֣יִםu./she.Na.yimand/ two אֲרָי֔וֹת'a.ra.Yotlions עֹמְדִ֖ים'o.me.Dim[were] standing אֵ֥צֶל'E.tzelbeside הַיָּדֽוֹת׃hai./ya.Dotthe/ hands

King James Version

The throne had six steps, and the top of the throne was round behind: and there were stays on either side on the place of the seat, and two lions stood beside the stays.