1 Kings 6:16

Verse

He partitioned off the twenty cubits at the rear of the temple with cedar boards from floor to ceiling to form within the temple an inner sanctuary, the Most Holy Place.

American Standard Version (1901)

And he built twenty cubits on the hinder part of the house with boards of cedar from the floor unto the walls of the ceiling: he built them for it within, for an oracle, even for the most holy place.

Bible in Basic English

And at the back of the house a further space of twenty cubits was shut in with boards of cedar-wood, for the inmost room.

Free Bible Version

He sectioned off twenty cubits at the rear of the Temple with boards of cedar from floor to ceiling, making an inner sanctuary as the Most Holy Place.

Geneva Bible 1599

And he built twentie cubites in the sides of the house with boards of cedar, from the floore to the walles, and he prepared a place within it for the oracle, euen the most holy place.

King James (Authorized) Version

And he built twenty cubits on the sides of the house, both the floor and the walls with boards of cedar: he even built them for it within, even for the oracle, even for the most holy place.

Translation for Translators

Inside the back part of the temple they built an inner room, called the Very Holy Place. It was 30 feet long. All the walls of this room were lined with cedar boards.

Unlocked Literal Bible

He built twenty cubits onto the rear of the house with boards of cedar from the floor to the ceiling. He built this room to be the inner room, the most holy place.

Noah Webster Bible

And he built twenty cubits on the sides of the house, both the floor and the walls with boards of cedar: he even built them for it within, even for the oracle, even for the most holy place .

World English Bible

He built twenty cubits of the back part of the house with boards of cedar from the floor to the ceiling. He built this within, for an inner sanctuary, even for the most holy place.

Young's Literal Translation

And he buildeth the twenty cubits on the sides of the house with ribs of cedar, from the floor unto the walls; and he buildeth for it within, for the oracle, for the holy of holies.

Context

The Temple’s Interior

¹⁵He lined the interior walls with cedar paneling from the floor of the temple to the ceiling, and he covered the floor with cypress boards. ¹⁶He partitioned off the twenty cubits at the rear of the temple with cedar boards from floor to ceiling to form within the temple an inner sanctuary, the Most Holy Place. ¹⁷And the main hall in front of this room was forty cubits long.

Summary

In this verse, we see that King Solomon built the Temple, and he did not use any hammer, chisel, or any iron tool at the site. This signifies the reverence and holiness of the place being constructed for the worship of God. The silence of the construction process reflects the solemnity and care with which the Temple was built, emphasizing the importance of honoring God's dwelling place. It also symbolizes the peace and harmony that should surround the worship of the Lord, highlighting the meticulous attention given to creating a sacred space for God's presence.

Commentary

John Gill

John Gill Bible Commentary

And the house, that is, the temple before it,.... The holy place, which was before the of holies: was forty cubits long; and which, with the most holy place, being twenty cubits, as in the preceding verse, made the length of the whole house sixty cubits, as in Kg1 6:2.