Bible Strands

2 Chronicles 3:11

The total wingspan of the cherubim was twenty cubits. One wing of the first cherub was five cubits long and touched the wall of the temple, and its other wing was five cubits long and touched the wing of the other cherub.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The Chronicler records Solomon’s artisans constructing the Most Holy Place, specifying the exact dimensions of the gold-plated cherubim placed inside.

The words — כַּנְפֵי (khan.Fei) = wings, and עֶשְׂרִים ('es.Rim) = twenty, together stating the combined measurement of the cherubim’s outstretched wings.

The thread — The same structural description appears in 1 Kings 6:23-28 and is echoed in the surrounding verses 2 Chronicles 3:10 and 3:12.

Why it lands — The text states a precise architectural measurement before any theological inference is drawn. A reader must note the exact spatial arrangement of the wings before considering their symbolic function.

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

וְכַנְפֵי֙ve./khan.Feiand/ [the] wings ofהַכְּרוּבִ֔יםha./ke.ru.Vimthe/ cherubimאָרְכָּ֖ם'a.re.Ka/mlength/ theirאַמּ֣וֹת'a.Mot[was] cubitsעֶשְׂרִ֑ים'es.Rimtwentyכְּנַ֨ףke.Naf[the] wing ofהָאֶחָ֜דha./'e.Chadthe/ one [cherub]לְאַמּ֣וֹתle./'a.Motto/ cubitsחָמֵ֗שׁcha.Meshfiveמַגַּ֙עַת֙ma.Ga.'at[was] touchingלְקִ֣ירle./Kir<to>/ [the] wall ofהַבַּ֔יִתha./Ba.yitthe/ houseוְהַכָּנָ֤ףve./ha./ka.Nafand/ the/ wingהָאַחֶ֙רֶת֙ha./'a.Che.ret<the>/ otherאַמּ֣וֹת'a.Motcubitsחָמֵ֔שׁcha.Meshfiveמַגִּ֕יעַma.Gi.a'[was] touchingלִכְנַ֖ףli/kh.Naf<to>/ [the] wing ofהַכְּר֥וּבha./ke.Ruvthe/ cherubהָאַחֵֽר׃ha./'a.Cher<the>/ other

King James Version

And the wings of the cherubims were twenty cubits long: one wing of the one cherub was five cubits, reaching to the wall of the house: and the other wing was likewise five cubits, reaching to the wing of the other cherub.