1 Kings 7:11 — Word Study
WLCוּמִלְמַ֗עְלָה אֲבָנִ֧ים יְקָר֛וֹת כְּמִדּ֥וֹת גָּזִ֖ית וָאָֽרֶז׃
BSAAbove thesemaʻal [higher, over] were costlyyâqâr stonesʼeben [hewn] cutgâzîyth [dressed, shaped] to sizemiddâh [measure, proportion] and cedar beamsʼerez [strong, durable, timber, wood]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| וּמִלְמַ֗עְלָה | and [were] from to above | Conjunction, preposition, preposition |
| אֲבָנִ֧ים | stones | Noun common, feminine plural absolute |
| יְקָר֛וֹת | costly | Adj |
| כְּמִדּ֥וֹת | according to measurements of | Preposition, noun common feminine plural construct |
| גָּזִ֖ית | hewn [stone] | Noun common, feminine singular absolute |
| וָאָֽרֶז׃ | and cedar | Conjunction, noun common masculine singular absolute |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | Above these were high-grade stones, cut to size, and cedar beams. |
| KJV | And above were costly stones, after the measures of hewed stones, and cedars. |
| ASV | And above were costly stones, even hewn stone, according to measure, and cedar-wood. |
| YLT | and above [are] precious stone, according to the measures of hewn work, and cedar; |
| WEB | Above were costly stones, even cut stone, according to measure, and cedar wood. |
| BBE | Overhead were highly priced stones cut to measure, and cedar-wood. |
Where they part company is יְקָר֛וֹת — see How Translations Differ.
The main clause introduces the primary subject, with additional phrases providing details about the materials and their characteristics.
7 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — 1 Kings 7:11
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — The Construction of Solomon's Templegenerated
1 Kings 7:11 describes the materials used in the construction above the temple's foundations, emphasizing the quality and craftsmanship involved in building Solomon's temple. The verse follows a description of the foundation stones and sets the stage for the grandeur of the temple, which is further illustrated in the following verses, including the surrounding courtyards and additional architectural details.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ephesians 2:20–22 | built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the cornerstone. |
| 2 | 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. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 2 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — יְקָר֛וֹת, ye.ka.Rotgenerated
The word יְקָר (*yaqar*) refers to something that is precious or costly, indicating high value. It is an adjective used to describe the stones as not just ordinary but of significant worth, suggesting that the temple was built with care and attention to quality.
This word is built from a root that implies value, and its use here highlights the importance of the materials in the context of the temple's construction, aligning with the biblical theme of offering the best to God.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The finite verb is implied in the structure, with the main clause describing the subject: אֲבָנִ֧ים יְקָר֛וֹת, high-grade stones. The sentence is constructed with a series of phrases that elaborate on the subject, including prepositional phrases that specify the characteristics of the stones and the beams.
The word order emphasizes the stones first, suggesting their prominence in the construction, followed by the description of the cedar beams, which adds to the overall quality of the materials.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint uses the Greek word τιμίοις to translate יְקָר֛וֹת, indicating preciousness. This choice aligns with the Hebrew meaning but also suggests a broader interpretation of value beyond mere cost.
The translation choices in the Septuagint reflect an understanding of the materials' significance in both a physical and spiritual context, similar to their importance in the Hebrew text.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
1 Kings 7:11 describes the materials used above the temple's foundations, highlighting high-grade stones that were cut to size and cedar beams. This emphasizes the quality and craftsmanship in the construction of Solomon's temple.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
It refers to stones that are not only functional but also valuable and aesthetically pleasing, indicating the care taken in the temple's construction.
Cedar is known for its strength and durability, making it an ideal choice for building materials, particularly in significant structures like the temple.
Using high-quality materials reflects the importance of the temple as a place of worship and honor to God.
This verse highlights the meticulous attention to detail and the value placed on the temple's construction, setting the stage for its significance in Israel's history.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- What does the choice of materials in the temple's construction say about our offerings to God today?
- How can we apply the principle of valuing quality in our own lives and contributions?
- In what ways does the description of the temple's materials inspire us to appreciate the sacred spaces in our communities?
- What lessons can we learn from the craftsmanship involved in building the temple?
Commentators on this verse — 7 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on 1 Kings 7:11 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleAnd above were costly stones,.... Above the foundation, from thence to the top of the buildings; the whole walls were made of such right up to the ceiling: after the measure of hewed stones; which,
Read John Gill on 1 Kings 7 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryAnd above were costly stones, after the measures of hewed stones, and cedars. No JFB commentary on this verse.
Read Robert Jamieson on 1 Kings 7 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleAbove, i.e. in the roof or upper part; for this is opposed to the foundation. Costly stones and cedars, intermixed here the one, and there the other.
Read Matthew Poole on 1 Kings 7 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments1 Kings 7:11 And above [were] costly stones, after the measures of hewed stones, and cedars.Ver. 11. And above were costly stones.] Above ground, as well as under.
Read John Trapp on 1 Kings 7 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(8-11) The residence of the king, and the separate palace for the queen, distinct from the apartments of the inferior wives and concubines, are not described; except that they lay “within the porch,” that is, in the rear in another court, and were of “like work.” This is further explained by saying that they had costly stones of great size in the foundation, and stones above, hewn and sawn from top to bottom, carefully finished on the outside towards the great court, as well as on the inside, and were in all cases roofed with cedar. Josephus tells us that the inner court was adorned with trees and fountains, and had colonnades round it; and gives an enthusiastic description of the internal…
Read Charles John Ellicott on 1 Kings 7 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges11. And above] i.e. The courses which lay upon the foundations. after the measures of hewed stones] Render (as in 9) hewn stone according to measure. and cedars] The noun is singular. It refers not to any beams that formed part of the wall, but to the cedar facings with which the interior stone work in many places was covered. R.V. cedar-wood.
Read Cambridge on 1 Kings 7 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible11. And above — In the upper parts of the buildings.
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on 1 Kings 7 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
Above these were high-grade stones, cut to size, and cedar beams.
Above were costly stones, even cut stone, according to measure, and cedar wood.
Above these were costly stones, cut to size, and cedar beams.
Above the foundation the best stones, chiseled to the right size, were used along with cedar.
Tyndale line
And above were costly stones, after the measures of hewed stones, and cedars.
And above were costly stones, even hewn stone, according to measure, and cedar-wood.
And above were costly stones, even hewn stone, according to measure, and cedar wood.
And above were costly stones, after the measures of hewn stones, and cedars.
Aboue also were costly stones, squared by rule, and boardes of cedar.
Strictly literal
And above were costly stones, hewn stones, according to the measures, and cedar.
and above [are] precious stone, according to the measures of hewn work, and cedar;
and precious stones [are] above, according to the measures of hewn work, and cedar;
And above were heavy stones, hewn after a fixed measure, and cedars.
Above were costly hewn stones precisely cut to size, and cedar beams.
From the Latin
And above there were costly stones, or equal measure, hewed; and, in like manner, planks of cedar:
Simplified
On these were placed top-quality stones, cut to size, along with cedar timber.
Overhead were highly priced stones cut to measure, and cedar-wood.
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint largely agree on the wording of this verse, with five out of six words matched. The Septuagint's word order and articles differ, but the core meaning remains consistent across both texts.
וּמִלְמַ֗עְלָה אֲבָנִ֧ים יְקָר֛וֹת כְּמִדּ֥וֹת גָּזִ֖ית וָאָֽרֶז׃
5 of the 6 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in 1 Kings 7:11
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
מַ֫עַל (ma'al) refers to the concept of being above or upward. It is primarily used as a noun meaning 'higher part' but appears adverbially and prepositionally in phrases indicating positions such as 'above' or 'on higher ground.' The word is built from a root meaning 'to go up' and is found in various contexts in the Old Testament.
מַ֫עַל 140 subst., higher part, only in adv. and prep. phrases, above, upward
base
H4605 מַ֫עַל subst., higher part, only in adv. and prep. phrases, above, upward
4605 ma`al mah'al
from 5927; properly, the upper part, used only adverbially
with prefix upward, above, overhead, from the top, etc.:--
above, exceeding(-ly), forward, on (X very) high, over,
up(-on, -ward), very.
see HEBREW for 05927
מַ֫עַל (ma.al) — above.
subst
1) higher part, upper part
adv
1a) above
prep
1b) on the top of, above, on higher ground than
with locative
1c) upwards, higher, above
Conj | Prep | Prep | Adv | Suff — Conjunction · preposition · preposition · suffixHC/R/R/Acbsa/Sd
The Hebrew word אֶ֫בֶן (*eben*) means 'stone' and encompasses various types, including common stones, precious stones, and stones used as weights or tools. It can also refer to metaphorical uses, such as a hardened heart or sinking in water. The entries highlight its physical and symbolic significance, with no notable disagreements among lexicons.
אֶ֫בֶן 274 n.f. stone
in natural state
stone, as material
precious stone, gen. with modifying word
stone containing metal, = ore
a weight, as orig. stone
plummet
objects like stone
in sim. (mostly poet.) of sinking in water
In topogr. terms
base
H68 אֶ֫בֶן stone . in natural state
. stone, as material
. precious stone, gen. with modifying word
. stone containing metal, = ore
. a weight, as orig. stone
. plummet
. objects like stone
. in sim. (mostly poet.) of sinking in water
. In topogr. terms
68 'eben eh'-ben
from the root of 1129 through the meaning to build; a
stone:--+ carbuncle, + mason, + plummet, (chalk-, hail-,
head-, sling-)stone(-ny), (divers) weight(-s).
see HEBREW for 01129
אֶ֫בֶן (e.ven) — stone.
: stone
1) stone (large or small)
1a) common stone (in natural state)
1b) stone, as material
1b1) of tablets
1b2) marble, hewn stones
1c) precious stones, stones of fire
1d) stones containing metal (ore), tool for work or weapon
1e) weight
1f) plummet (stones of destruction) also made of metal
1g) stonelike objects, eg hailstones, stony heart, ice
1h) sacred object, as memorial Samuel set up to mark where God helped Israel to defeat the Philistines
1i) (simile)
1i1) sinking in water, motionlessness
1i2) strength, firmness, solidity
1i3) commonness
1j) (metaph)
1j1) petrified with terror
1j2) perverse, hard heart
אֶ֫בֶן (e.ven) — stone: weight.
: weight
1) stone (large or small)
1a) common stone (in natural state)
1b) stone, as material
1b1) of tablets
1b2) marble, hewn stones
1c) precious stones, stones of fire
1d) stones containing metal (ore), tool for work or weapon
N-fp — Noun common · feminine plural absoluteHNcfpa
Besides the ordinary uses to which stones were applied, we may mention that large stones were set up to commemorate any remarkable event. (Genesis 28:18; 35:14; 31:45; Joshua 4:9; 1 Samuel 7:12) Such stones were occasionally consecrated By anointing. (Genesis 28:18) Heaps of stones were piled up on various occasions, as in token of a treaty, (Genesis 31:47) or over the grave of some notorious offender. (Joshua 7:26; 8:29; 2 Samuel 18:17) The "white stone" noticed in (
יָקָר (yaqar) means precious, rare, or splendid, and can refer to something valuable or weighty. It encompasses meanings like costly, excellent, and glorious, often used to describe precious stones or jewels. The word is built from a root that implies value, and it appears in contexts highlighting worth or reputation.
יָקָר adj. precious, rare, splendid, weighty
base
H3368 יָקָר precious, rare, splendid, weighty
3368 yaqar yaw-kawr'
from 3365; valuable (obj. or subj.): -brightness, clear,
costly, excellent, fat, honourable women, precious,
reputation.
see HEBREW for 03365
יָקָר (ya.qar) — precious.
1) valuable, prized, weighty, precious, rare, splendid
1a) precious
1a1) costly
1a2) precious, highly valued
1a3) precious stones or jewels
1b) rare
1c) glorious, splendid
1d) weighty, influential
Adj — AdjHAafpa
מִדָּה (middah) is a feminine noun meaning measure or measurement, encompassing concepts like stature, size, and garment. It can also refer to tribute, as noted in Nehemiah 5:4. The word is derived from a root that implies extension in height or breadth, indicating its use in various contexts related to measurement.
ref
H4060a מִדָּה measure, measurement, stature, size, garment H4060b מִדָּה tribute
4060 middah mid-daw'
feminine of 4055; properly, extension, i.e. height or
breadth; also a measure (including its standard); hence a
portion (as measured) or a vestment; specifically, tribute (as
measured):--garment, measure(-ing, meteyard, piece, size,
(great) stature, tribute, wide.
see HEBREW for 04055
מִדָּה (mid.dah) — measure.
1) measure, measurement, stature, size, garment
1a) measure, act of measurement
1b) measurement, size
1c) measured portion, extent
1d) garment
מִדָּה (mid.dah) — tribute.
(BDB) tribute
Aramaic equivalent: mid.dah (מִנְדָּה "tribute" H4061)
מִדָּה (mid.dah) — `great stature`.
A man living at the time of United Monarchy, first mentioned at 2Sa.21.20;
son of: Rapha (H7497A);
brother of: Goliath (H1555), Ishbi-benob (H3430), Saph (H5593), Lahmi (H3902)
§ (BDB) tribute
Prep | N-fp — Preposition · noun common feminine plural constructHR/Ncfpc
ov:
(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.
OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]
1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.
I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.
For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.
It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.
Lamentations 3:1.
The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.
Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.
That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.
Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…
The Hebrew word גָּזִית (*gaziyth*) refers to something that is cut or hewn, specifically dressed stone. It is derived from the root meaning to cut, and its usage is primarily associated with stonework.
גָּזִית n.f. a cutting, hewing
base
H1496 גָּזִית cutting, hewing
1496 gaziyth gaw-zeeth'
from 1491; something cut, i.e. dressed stone:--hewed, hewn
stone, wrought.
see HEBREW for 01491
גָּזִית (ga.zit) — cutting.
a cutting, hewing
N-fs — Noun common · feminine singular absoluteHNcfsa
Stone
Stones were commonly used for buildings, also as memorials of important events (Gen. 28:18; Josh. 24:26, 27; 1 Sam. 7:12, etc.). They were gathered out of cultivated fields (Isa. 5:2; comp. 2 Kings 3:19). This word is also used figuratively of believers (1 Pet. 2:4, 5), and of the Messiah (Ps. 118:22; Isa. 28:16; Matt. 21:42; Acts 4:11, etc.). In…
The allusion in Re 2:17 may be to the practice at the Olympic games of giving the successful competitor a white stone, inscribed with his name and the value of his prize; or to the mode of balloting with black and white stones on the question of the acquittal of an accused person, or his admission to certain privileges; if the stones deposited in the urn by the judges were all white, the decision was favorable. In early ages, flint-stone knives were in common use, instead of steel, Ex 4:25 Jos 5:2.
It was also customary to raise a heap or mound of stones in commemoration of any remarkable event, Ge 31:46 Jos 4:5-7 7:26 8:29…
The Hebrew word אֶ֫רֶז (*erez*) means 'cedar' and refers to the cedar tree, its timber, and its use in building and purification. It is derived from a root indicating the tenacity of its roots. The entries consistently highlight its significance in construction and ritual practices.
אֶ֫רֶז n.m. cedar
cedar-tree
cedar-timber, cedar-wood for building
cedar-wood used in purification
base
H730 אֶ֫רֶז cedar
730 'erez eh-rez'
from 729; a cedar tree (from the tenacity of its
roots):--cedar (tree).
see HEBREW for 0729
אֶ֫רֶז (e.rez) — cedar.
1) cedar
1a) cedar tree
1b) cedar timber, cedar wood (in building)
1c) cedar wood (in purifications)
Conj | N-ms — Conjunction · noun common masculine singular absoluteHC/Ncmsa
se'-dar, se'-der ('erez, from Hebrew root meaning "to be firm"; kedros): The 'erez was in almost all the Old Testament references the true cedar, Cedrus libani, but the name may have been applied in a loose way to allied trees, such as junipers and pines. In Nu 24:6--"as cedar-trees beside the waters"--the reference must, as is most probable, be purely poetical (see ALOES) or the 'arazim must signify some other kind of tree which flourishes beside water.
1. Cedar for Ritual Cleansing:
Cedar is twice mentioned as a substance for ritual cleansing. In Le 14:4 the cleansed leper was sprinkled with the blood of a "clean bird" into which had been put "cedar- wood, and scarlet, and hyssop." In Nu 19:6 "cedar-wood, and hyssop, and…
Cedar
(Heb. e’rez, Gr. kedros, Lat. cedrus), a tree very frequently mentioned in Scripture. It was stately (Ezek. 31:3-5), long-branched (Ps. 80:10; 92:12; Ezek. 31:6-9), odoriferous (Cant. 4:11; Hos. 14:6), durable, and therefore much used for boards, pillars, and ceilings (1 Kings 6:9, 10; 7:2; Jer. 22:14), for masts (Ezek. 27:5), and for carved images (Isa. 44:14).
The Hebrew word erez , invariably rendered "cedar" by the Authorized Version, stands for that tree in most of the passages where the word occurs. While the word is sometimes used in a wider sense, (Leviticus 14:6) for evergreen cone-bearing trees, generally the cedar of Lebanon (Cedrus libani) is intended. (1 Kings 7:2; 10:27; Psalms 92:12; Solomon 5:15; Isaiah 2:13; Ezekiel 31:3-6) The wood is of a reddish color, of bitter taste and aromatic odor, offensive to insects, and very durable. The cedar is a type of the Christian, being evergreen, beautiful, aromatic, wide spreading, slow growing, long lived, and having many uses. As far as is at present known, the cedar of…
A noble evergreen-tree greatly celebrated in the Scriptures, Ps 92:12 Eze 31:3-6. These trees are remarkably thick and tall; some among them are from thirty-five to forty feet in girth, and ninety feet in height. The cedar-tree shoots out branches at ten of twelve feet from the ground, large and almost horizontal; its leaves are an inch long, slender and straight, growing in tufts. The tree bears a small cone, like that of the pine. This celebrated tree is not peculiar to mount Lebanon, but grows also upon mounts Amanus and Taurus in Asia Minor, and in other parts of the Levant, but does not elsewhere reach the size and height of those on Lebanon. It has also been cultivated in the gardens of Europe; two venerable individuals of this species exist at Chiswick in England; and…