1 Kings 6:31

Study note

Setting — The narrator describes Solomon’s construction of the temple, detailing the architectural specifications for the inner sanctuary during the building phase.

The words — דְּבִ֔יר (de.Vir) translates literally to “innermost room,” designating the Holy of Holies, while עֲצֵי־שָׁ֑מֶן ('a.tzei-sha.men) specifies “olive wood,” the material used for the entrance doors.

The thread — The restricted entrance anticipates New Testament passages that present Christ as the exclusive access to God, as seen in Hebrews 10:19, John 10:9, and John 14:6.

Why it lands — The text records Solomon constructing a physical barrier to the inner sanctuary before interpreters draw theological conclusions about access to God. The passage requires readers to recognize that the temple’s architectural boundaries function as typological markers pointing to the necessity of a designated entry point.

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.