1 Kings 6:20

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.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Solomon oversees the completion of the temple's inner sanctuary to house the ark of the covenant. The verse records the exact measurements and gold covering applied to this chamber during the building project.

The words — הַדְּבִיר (ha-debir) = the innermost room; עֶשְׂרִים אַמָּה ('esrim amah) = twenty cubits.

The thread — The chamber's cubic dimensions contrast with the temple's overall rectangular shape in 1 Kings 6:2, while the gold overlay and cedar altar echo the sacred furnishings detailed in Exodus 30:1 and the broader temple finishing in 1 Kings 6:22.

Why it lands — The text states the sanctuary's equal length, width, and height, followed by the application of pure gold to its interior and cedar altar. Readers must note the precise architectural symmetry and the material consecration before considering theological implications.

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

וְלִפְנֵ֣יve./li/f.Neiand/ <to>/ before הַדְּבִ֡ירha./de.Virthe/ innermost room עֶשְׂרִים֩'es.Rim[was] twenty אַמָּ֨ה'a.Mahcubit[s]אֹ֜רֶךְ'O.rekhlength וְעֶשְׂרִ֧יםve./'es.Rimand/ [was] twenty אַמָּ֣ה'a.Mahcubit[s]רֹ֗חַבRo.chavbreadth וְעֶשְׂרִ֤יםve./'es.Rimand/ [was] twenty אַמָּה֙'a.Mahcubit[s]קֽוֹמָת֔וֹko.ma.T/oheight/ its וַיְצַפֵּ֖הוּva/y.tza.Pe./huand/ he overlaid/ it זָהָ֣בza.Havgold סָג֑וּרsa.Gurgold plate וַיְצַ֥ףva/y.Tzafand/ he overlaid מִזְבֵּ֖חַmiz.Be.achan altar אָֽרֶז׃'A.rezcedar

King James Version

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.

Cross-references

Exodus 30:1 “You are also to make an altar of acacia wood for the burning of incense.
1 Kings 6:2 The house that King Solomon built for the LORD was sixty cubits long, twenty cubits wide, and thirty cubits high.
1 Kings 6:22 So he overlaid with gold the whole interior of the temple, until everything was completely finished. He also overlaid with gold the entire altar that belonged to the inner sanctuary.
1 Kings 7:48 Solomon also made all the furnishings for the house of the LORD: the golden altar; the golden table on which was placed the Bread of the Presence;