1 Kings 10:20

Twelve lions stood on the six steps, one at either end of each step. Nothing like this had ever been made for any kingdom.

Berean Standard Bible

Follow its threads on the canvas →

Study note

Setting — The narrator describes Solomon’s throne to the queen of Sheba during her visit to Jerusalem, continuing the architectural inventory begun in 1 Kings 10:19.

The words — אֲרָיִים ('a.ra.Yim) translates literally to "lions," and שֵׁשׁ (shesh) means "six," specifying that twelve lion figures stood on the six steps.

The thread — Lion imagery appears in Genesis 49:9 and Numbers 24:9 to symbolize royal authority and untamed power, while Numbers 23:24 uses the same motif to depict unstoppable force.

Why it lands — The text demands recognition of the throne’s unprecedented craftsmanship before any theological inference about divine wisdom or royal power is drawn.

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

וּשְׁנֵ֧יםu./she.Neimand/ two [plus]עָשָׂ֣ר'a.Sarten אֲרָיִ֗ים'a.ra.Yimlions עֹמְדִ֥ים'o.me.Dim[were] standing שָׁ֛םshamthere עַל־'al-on שֵׁ֥שׁshesh[the] six הַֽמַּעֲל֖וֹתha./ma.'a.Lotthe/ steps מִזֶּ֣הmi./Zehfrom/ this וּמִזֶּ֑הu./mi./Zehand/ from/ this לֹֽא־lo'-not נַעֲשָׂ֥הna.'a.Sahit had been made כֵ֖ןkhenthus לְכָל־le./kholfor/ all מַמְלָכֽוֹת׃mam.la.Khotkingdoms

King James Version

And twelve lions stood there on the one side and on the other upon the six steps: there was not the like made in any kingdom.

Cross-references

Genesis 49:9 Judah is a young lion—my son, you return from the prey. Like a lion he crouches and lies down; like a lioness, who dares to rouse him?
Numbers 24:9 He crouches, he lies down like a lion, like a lioness—who dares to rouse him? Blessed are those who bless you and cursed are those who curse you.”
Numbers 23:24 Behold, the people rise like a lioness; they rouse themselves like a lion, not resting until they devour their prey and drink the blood of the slain.”
Revelation 5:5 Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed to open the scroll and its seven seals.”