1 Kings 6:17
1 Kings 6:17 in Multiple Translations
And the main hall in front of this room was forty cubits long.
And the house, that is, the temple before it, was forty cubits long.
And the house, that is, the temple before the oracle, was forty cubits long.
And the house, that is, the Temple, in front of the holy place was forty cubits long.
The main Temple in front of this room measured forty cubits long.
But the house, that is, the Temple before it, was fourtie cubites long.
And forty by the cubit was the house, it [is] the temple before [it].
In front of the temple sanctuary was forty cubits long.
And the house, that is , the temple before it, was forty cubits long .
And the temple itself before the doors of the oracle was forty cubits long.
In front of the Very Holy Place there was a room that was 60 feet long.
Berean Amplified Bible — 1 Kings 6:17
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
1 Kings 6:17 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
וְ/אַרְבָּעִ֥ים
בָּ/אַמָּ֖ה
הָיָ֣ה
הַ/בָּ֑יִת
ה֖וּא
הַ/הֵיכָ֥ל
לִ/פְנָֽ/י
וְ/אַרְבָּעִ֥ים
ʼarbâʻîym
H705
forty
Conj | Adj
בָּ/אַמָּ֖ה
ʼammâh
H520
cubit
Prep | N-fs
הָיָ֣ה
hâyâh
H1961
to be
V-Qal-Perf-3ms
הַ/בָּ֑יִת
bayith
H1004
place
Art | N-ms
ה֖וּא
hûwʼ
H1931
he/she/it
Pron
הַ/הֵיכָ֥ל
hêykâl
H1964
temple
Art | N-ms
לִ/פְנָֽ/י
liphnay
H3942
before
Prep | N-mp | Suff
Hebrew Word Study
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Hebrew Word Reference — 1 Kings 6:17
וְ/אַרְבָּעִ֥ים
ʼarbâʻîym
H705
"forty"
Conj | Adj
The number forty is what this Hebrew word represents, often used in the Bible to mark significant periods of time, like the 40 days of rain in Genesis or the 40 years of Israel's wilderness journey.
Definition: forty
Usage: Occurs in 123 OT verses. KJV: -forty. See also: Genesis 5:13; Judges 13:1; Psalms 95:10.
בָּ/אַמָּ֖ה
ʼammâh
H520
"cubit"
Prep | N-fs
A cubit is a unit of measurement, about the length of a forearm, used in the Bible to describe the size of objects like the Ark of the Covenant in Exodus. It is also used to describe a foundation or a door-base.
Definition: cubit-a measure of distance (the forearm), roughly 18 in (. 5m). There are several cubits used in the OT, the cubit of a man or common cubit (De 3:11), the legal cubit or cubit of the sanctuary (Eze 40:5) plus others. See a Bible Dictionary for a complete treatment. Aramaic equivalent: am.mah (אַמָּה "cubit" H0521)
Usage: Occurs in 132 OT verses. KJV: cubit, [phrase] hundred (by exchange for H3967 (מֵאָה)), measure, post. See also: Genesis 6:15; 2 Chronicles 3:3; Isaiah 6:4.
הָיָ֣ה
hâyâh
H1961
"to be"
V-Qal-Perf-3ms
The Hebrew word for to be means to exist or come into being. It is used to describe something that happens or comes to pass, like in Genesis where God creates the world.
Definition: 1) to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out 1a) (Qal) 1a1) --- 1a1a) to happen, fall out, occur, take place, come about, come to pass 1a1b) to come about, come to pass 1a2) to come into being, become 1a2a) to arise, appear, come 1a2b) to become 1a2b1) to become 1a2b2) to become like 1a2b3) to be instituted, be established 1a3) to be 1a3a) to exist, be in existence 1a3b) to abide, remain, continue (with word of place or time) 1a3c) to stand, lie, be in, be at, be situated (with word of locality) 1a3d) to accompany, be with 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to occur, come to pass, be done, be brought about 1b2) to be done, be finished, be gone
Usage: Occurs in 3131 OT verses. KJV: beacon, [idiom] altogether, be(-come), accomplished, committed, like), break, cause, come (to pass), do, faint, fall, [phrase] follow, happen, [idiom] have, last, pertain, quit (one-) self, require, [idiom] use. See also: Genesis 1:2; Genesis 17:4; Genesis 36:11.
הַ/בָּ֑יִת
bayith
H1004
"place"
Art | N-ms
The Hebrew word for house refers to a dwelling place, including a family home, temple, or even the human body. It appears in various contexts, such as the temple in Jerusalem or the household of a family. In the Bible, it is often used to describe a place of worship or a family's living space.
Definition: nm place, origin, between
Usage: Occurs in 1712 OT verses. KJV: court, daughter, door, [phrase] dungeon, family, [phrase] forth of, [idiom] great as would contain, hangings, home(born), (winter) house(-hold), inside(-ward), palace, place, [phrase] prison, [phrase] steward, [phrase] tablet, temple, web, [phrase] within(-out). See also: Genesis 6:14; Exodus 8:5; Numbers 1:45.
ה֖וּא
hûwʼ
H1931
"he/she/it"
Pron
This word is a pronoun meaning 'he', 'she', or 'it', used to refer to a person or thing. It is used in the Bible to emphasize a subject or make it clear who is being talked about.
Definition: pron 3p s 1) he, she, it 1a) himself (with emphasis) 1b) resuming subj with emphasis 1c) (with minimum emphasis following predicate) 1d) (anticipating subj) 1e) (emphasising predicate) 1f) that, it (neuter) demons pron 2) that (with article)
Usage: Occurs in 1693 OT verses. KJV: he, as for her, him(-self), it, the same, she (herself), such, that (...it), these, they, this, those, which (is), who. See also: Genesis 2:11; Genesis 32:19; Exodus 21:3.
הַ/הֵיכָ֥ל
hêykâl
H1964
"temple"
Art | N-ms
The Hebrew word for a large public building like a palace or temple, used to describe God's temple in Jerusalem. It appears in the Bible to talk about the temple as God's palace. In the Bible, it is translated as 'palace' or 'temple'.
Definition: : temple 1) palace, temple, nave, sanctuary 1a) palace 1b) temple (palace of God as king) 1c) hall, nave (of Ezekiel's temple) 1d) temple (of heavenly temple)
Usage: Occurs in 76 OT verses. KJV: palace, temple. See also: 1 Samuel 1:9; Psalms 138:2; Psalms 5:8.
לִ/פְנָֽ/י
liphnay
H3942
"before"
Prep | N-mp | Suff
This word means before, describing a location or time. It is used to indicate something happens prior to something else, and is translated as before in the KJV.
Definition: before, to the face of A grammatical form of pa.neh (פָּנֶה ": face" H6440)
Usage: Occurs in 1 OT verses. KJV: before. See also: 1 Kings 6:17.
Study Notes — 1 Kings 6:17
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- 1 Kings 6:17 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on 1 Kings 6:17
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 1 Kings 6:17
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on 1 Kings 6:17
- Trapp's Commentary on 1 Kings 6:17
- Ellicott's Commentary on 1 Kings 6:17
- Cambridge Bible on 1 Kings 6:17
- Whedon's Commentary on 1 Kings 6:17
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.
18The cedar paneling inside the temple was carved with gourds and open flowers. Everything was cedar; not a stone could be seen. 19Solomon also prepared the inner sanctuary within the temple to set the ark of the covenant of the LORD there.1 Kings 6:17 Summary
The main hall in the temple was a special room where the priests would worship and serve God. It was forty cubits long, which is a big room, and it was right in front of the Most Holy Place, where the Ark of the Covenant was kept (1 Kings 6:16-19). This room was important because it was where the priests would offer sacrifices and prayers to God, just like we pray to God today (Psalm 100:4). By understanding the purpose of the main hall, we can learn more about God's desire for us to worship and connect with Him in a dedicated and meaningful way.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the significance of the main hall in the temple?
The main hall, also known as the Holy Place, was a crucial part of the temple where the priests would perform their duties, as described in Exodus 26:33-34 and 1 Kings 6:17. It was a space where the priests would offer sacrifices and prayers on behalf of the people.
How does the size of the main hall compare to the Most Holy Place?
The main hall, being forty cubits long, was larger than the Most Holy Place, which was twenty cubits long, as mentioned in 1 Kings 6:16. This size difference highlights the distinct purposes of these two areas within the temple.
What can we learn from the measurements and dimensions in the Bible?
The precise measurements in the Bible, such as those found in 1 Kings 6:17, demonstrate God's attention to detail and His desire for order and perfection, as seen in Exodus 25:9 and Hebrews 8:5.
How does the temple's design reflect God's character?
The temple's design, including the main hall, reflects God's holiness, beauty, and order, as described in Psalm 96:6 and Isaiah 66:1-2. It also highlights the importance of worship and the need for a dedicated space to honor God.
Reflection Questions
- What does the main hall represent in my life, and how can I create a space for worship and connection with God?
- How can I apply the principle of attention to detail, as seen in the temple's construction, to my own life and relationship with God?
- In what ways can I honor God's holiness and beauty in my daily life, just as the temple was designed to do?
- What can I learn from the distinction between the main hall and the Most Holy Place, and how can I apply this to my understanding of God's presence in my life?
Gill's Exposition on 1 Kings 6:17
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
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 1 Kings 6:17
And the house, that is, the temple before it, was forty cubits long. The house, that is, the temple before it, was forty cubits long - from east to west; i:e., from the porch to the oracle.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on 1 Kings 6:17
The house, i.e. the holy place. That is, the temple: this is added to restrain the signification of the word house, which otherwise notes the whole building. Before it, i.e. before the oracle. Or, as it is in the Hebrew, before my face, i.e. before the place of my presence. Or it may be said to be before God, because he being pleased to describe himself as sitting upon the cherubim, hath his face towards this house, where he beholds the services of his people. So this part of the house, distinct from the most holy, hath its harmonious proportions also. The length 40, to the height 30, is sesquiterian, or 4 to 3 (which is that of a fourth in music); the length to the breadth, 40 to 20, as 2 to 1; the height to the breadth, 30 to 20, as 3 to 2.
Trapp's Commentary on 1 Kings 6:17
1 Kings 6:17 And the house, that [is], the temple before it, was forty cubits [long].Ver. 17. The temple.] That is, The holy place; whither none but the priests might come.
Ellicott's Commentary on 1 Kings 6:17
(16, 17) These verses describe the division of the Temple, by a partition from floor to ceiling of cedar wood, into “the Oracle,” or Holy of Holies, occupying twenty cubits of the length, and the rest of the house, exclusive of the porch, occupying forty cubits. The cedar panelling was carved throughout with (see margin) “gourds and open flowers,” probably festooned, as usual in ancient architecture. In all this the influence of the Tyrian architects was probably felt.
Cambridge Bible on 1 Kings 6:17
17. And the house] Here signifying the holy place, which was in front of the oracle. The word which in this verse is rendered ‘before it’ is an adjective, and this form is found only here. It qualifies the noun ‘Temple,’ and signifies ‘that which is in front,’ viz. of the oracle.
Whedon's Commentary on 1 Kings 6:17
17. The house, that is, the temple before it — The temple before the most holy place; the anterior part of the main building after partitioning off twenty cubits from the hinder end for the holy of holies.