Bible Strands
1 Kings 6:23
In the inner sanctuary he made two cherubim, each ten cubits high, out of olive wood.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The narrator describes Solomon’s builders placing materials in the inner sanctuary during the temple’s construction sequence.
The words — כְרוּבִים (khe.ru.Vim) means cherubim, and עֲצֵי־שָׁמֶן ('a.tzei-sha.men) translates to wood of olive.
The thread — Cherubim first appear in Genesis 3:24 guarding Eden, and Exodus 25:18 and Exodus 37:7 command their placement on the mercy seat, contrasting with this wooden, ten-cubit scale.
Why it lands — The text records a specific architectural detail that requires the reader to track the shift from gold to olive wood and note the exact measurements without adding theological commentary.
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
King James Version
And within the oracle he made two cherubims of olive tree, each ten cubits high.
Cross-references
- Exodus 37:7 He made two cherubim of hammered gold at the ends of the mercy seat,
- Genesis 3:24 So He drove out the man and stationed cherubim on the east side of the Garden of Eden, along with a whirling sword of flame to guard the way to the tree of life.
- Exodus 25:18 Make two cherubim of hammered gold at the ends of the mercy seat,
- 2 Chronicles 3:10 In the Most Holy Place he made two cherubim of sculptured work, and he overlaid them with gold.
- Psalms 18:10 He mounted a cherub and flew; He soared on the wings of the wind.
- Psalms 80:1 For the choirmaster. To the tune of “The Lilies of the Covenant.” A Psalm of Asaph. Hear us, O Shepherd of Israel, who leads Joseph like a flock; You who sit enthroned between the cherubim, shine forth
- Isaiah 37:16 “O LORD of Hosts, God of Israel, enthroned above the cherubim, You alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth. You made the heavens and the earth.
- Ezekiel 10:2 And the LORD said to the man clothed in linen, “Go inside the wheelwork beneath the cherubim. Fill your hands with burning coals from among the cherubim and scatter them over the city.” And as I watched, he went in.
- Hebrews 1:14 Are not the angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?
- 1 Peter 1:12 It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves, but you, when they foretold the things now announced by those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things.