Bible Strands
1 Kings 7:11
Above these were costly stones, cut to size, and cedar beams.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The narrator details the construction sequence of Solomon’s temple, recording the materials placed directly above the foundational blocks. This description follows the laying of the massive foundation stones and precedes the account of the temple’s outer walls and courtyards.
The words — The Hebrew יְקָר֛וֹת (ye.ka.Rot) literally means "costly" or "precious," while גָּזִ֖ית (ga.Zit) specifies "hewn" or "cut to size." These terms highlight the deliberate preparation and high value assigned to the structural components.
The thread — The layered construction of dressed stone and cedar reappears in the description of the temple courts and portico in 1 Kings 7:12. The New Testament later adapts this architectural imagery to describe the spiritual house built on Christ in Ephesians 2:20 and 1 Peter 2:5.
Why it lands — The text requires acknowledgment that sacred work demands precise measurement and durable materials. It asks the reader to evaluate the structural integrity and deliberate preparation behind any project designated for divine service.
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 above were costly stones, after the measures of hewed stones, and cedars.
Cross-references
- Ephesians 2:20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the cornerstone.
- 1 Peter 2:5 you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.