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2 Chronicles 3:7 — Word Study

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WLCוַיְחַ֨ף אֶת־ הַבַּ֜יִת הַקֹּר֧וֹת הַסִּפִּ֛ים וְקִֽירוֹתָ֥יו וְדַלְתוֹתָ֖יו זָהָ֑ב וּפִתַּ֥ח כְּרוּבִ֖ים עַל־ הַקִּירֽוֹת׃ ס

BSAHe overlaidchâphâh [covered with gold leaf] [its]bayith beamsqôwrâh [rafters, support structures] thresholdsçaph [door sills, entrances] wallsqîyr [barriers, dividers] and doorsdeleth [gates, entrances] with goldzâhâb [a valuable, brilliant metal] and he carvedpâthach [engraved, cut into] cherubimkᵉrûwb [angelic beings, heavenly guardians] onʻal the wallsqîyr [the surfaces, the partitions]

Word
Listen & take away2 Chronicles 3
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 7 is in this chapter.
Hebrew ↓ Download MP3 The Masoretic text of this chapter, read aloud. Read by Abraham Shmuelof, courtesy of Audio Scriptures International. Chapter divisions by the Academy of Ancient Languages..
Say the word Each Hebrew word carries its transliteration (ha.ki.Rot) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
2 Chronicles 3:7quick helps
In a sentenceThe verse describes how the temple was adorned with gold and cherubim.
Who is speakingThe author, likely Solomon, detailing the construction of the temple.
Where we areIn the context of the temple's construction, specifically the interior decoration.
The hard wordחָפָה
Take awayThe temple was lavishly decorated, signifying its importance.
4 commentators on this verse Jamieson, Trapp, Ellicott, Cambridge & more — read them › clause verbחָפָה The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
How rare are these words?in the Old Testament

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 — 2 Chronicles 3:7

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 the Templegenerated

6He adorned the temple with precious stones for beauty, and its gold was from Parvaim.
7He overlaid its beams, thresholds, walls, and doors with gold, and he carved cherubim on the walls.
8Then he made the Most Holy Place; its length corresponded to the width of the temple—twenty cubits long and twenty cubits wide. And he overlaid the inside with six hundred talents of fine gold.
9The weight of the nails was fifty shekels of gold. He also overlaid the upper area with gold.

2 Chronicles 3:7 describes the elaborate process of decorating the temple, emphasizing the use of gold and cherubim to enhance its beauty and sanctity. This reflects the importance of the temple as a dwelling place for God among His people, similar to the detailed instructions given in Exodus 26:29 and 1 Kings 6:20-22.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Exodus 26:29Overlay the frames with gold and make gold rings to hold the crossbars. Also overlay the crossbars with gold.
21 Kings 6:20–22The inner sanctuary was twenty cubits long, twenty cubits wide, and twenty cubits high. He overlaid the inside with pure gold, and he also overlaid the altar of cedar.
3Ezekiel 7:20His beautiful ornaments they transformed into pride and used them to fashion their vile images and detestable idols. Therefore I will make these into something unclean for them.
4Exodus 26:1“You are to construct the tabernacle itself with ten curtains of finely spun linen, each with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and cherubim skillfully worked into them.
51 Kings 6:35He carved into them cherubim, palm trees, and open flowers; and he overlaid them with gold, hammered evenly over the carvings.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 5 references, hung on the phrase they belong to

graved cherubimsExodus 26:1 1 Kings 6:35

The Key Word חָפָה, vay.Chafgenerated

The verb חָפָה (chaphah) means 'to cover' and is used here in the Piel form, indicating an intensive action of overlaying. It conveys the idea of encasing or protecting, which is fitting for the temple's sacred context.

This word appears multiple times in the Old Testament, often in relation to coverings, such as the tabernacle's construction in Exodus 26:14. Its use here signifies not just a physical covering but also a spiritual significance in beautifying the house of 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 main verb is חָפָה, he overlaid, which governs the entire clause. It is followed by several noun phrases that describe what was overlaid: the beams, thresholds, walls, and doors.

The structure of the sentence emphasizes the action of overlaying, with multiple objects receiving this action, indicating the extensive decoration of the temple.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates חָפָה with ἐξρύσωσεν, which means 'to overlay' or 'to cover'. This choice reflects a direct correspondence to the Hebrew meaning, maintaining the emphasis on the act of covering.

This translation indicates a consistent understanding of the significance of the temple's adornment, aligning with the Hebrew text's intent.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

2 Chronicles 3:7 tells us that the temple was beautifully decorated with gold on its beams, thresholds, walls, and doors. Cherubim were also carved into the walls, highlighting the temple's significance as a holy place.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean that he overlaid the beams and walls with gold?

This signifies the temple's beauty and sanctity, as gold represents value and divinity.

Why are cherubim mentioned in this context?

Cherubim are angelic beings that symbolize God's presence and protection, enhancing the temple's sacred atmosphere.

What is the significance of using gold in the temple?

Gold is a precious metal that signifies wealth and glory, appropriate for a place dedicated to God.

How does this verse relate to the overall theme of the temple?

It emphasizes the importance of the temple as a dwelling place for God, reflecting His glory and the reverence of His people.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. In what ways do I see beauty and value in my own spiritual life, similar to the gold in the temple?
  2. How can I incorporate symbols of faith, like cherubim, into my understanding of God's presence?
  3. What does the act of covering something with gold symbolize in my relationship with God?
  4. How can I create a sacred space in my life that reflects the glory of God?

Commentators on this verse — 4 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on 2 Chronicles 3:7 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

He overlaid also the house, the beams, the posts, and the walls thereof, and the doors thereof, with gold; and graved cherubims on the walls. No JFB commentary on this verse.

Read Robert Jamieson on 2 Chronicles 3 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

2 Chronicles 3:7 He overlaid also the house, the beams, the posts, and the walls thereof, and the doors thereof, with gold; and graved cherubims on the walls.Ver. 7. He overlaid also the house.] All the inside of it. Let us spare for no cost, ut aureos et argenteos animos, hoc est, variis virtutibus excultos habeamus. Gold and silver will perish, though they be tried in the fire; so will not true grace: it will one day be glory. And graved cherubims.] See 1 Kings 6:23. Angels are present in the assemblies of God’ s people. Lavat.

Read John Trapp on 2 Chronicles 3 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(7) He overlaid also the house.—And he covered (2 Chronicles 3:5) the chamber—that is, the great chamber or Holy Place. (See 1 Kings 6:21-23.) The beams.—Of the roof. The posts.—The thresholds (Isaiah 6:4). And graved cherubims on the walls.—See 1 Kings 6:29, which gives a fuller account of the mural decorations. Cherubims.—Cherubim, or cherubs (Psalms 18:10). Cherubim is the Hebrew plural, for which we have the Chaldee (Aramaic) form “cherubin” in the Te Deum. Shakspeare has:— “The roof of the chamber With golden cherubins is fretted.” Cymbeline, 2:4. Why Reuss calls this sketch of the porch and nave “confused” is hardly evident.

Read Charles John Ellicott on 2 Chronicles 3 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

7. the posts] R.V. the thresholds. cherubims] Under what form these mysterious beings were represented in the Temple is not known. It has been said that the winged bull of the Assyrian sculptures was sometimes called kirubu in Assyrian. If this be true, then cherub is perhaps a word borrowed from the Assyrian, and the cherubs in the Temple may have had the form of winged bulls. But nothing is certainly known on this subject. The graving of the cherubim was not necessarily a breach of the Second Commandment, for they were not put up to “bow down to” or to “serve.”

Read Cambridge on 2 Chronicles 3 →

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

BSBBerean Standard Bible2020

He overlaid its beams, thresholds, walls, and doors with gold, and he carved cherubim on the walls.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

He also overlaid the house, the beams, the thresholds, its walls, and its doors with gold, and engraved cherubim on the walls.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

He overlaid its beams, thresholds, walls, and doors with gold, and he carved cherubim on the walls.

NETBNew English Translation2006

He overlaid the temple’s rafters, thresholds, walls and doors with gold; he carved decorative cherubim on the walls.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

He overlaid also the house, the beams, the posts, and the walls thereof, and the doors thereof, with gold; and graved cherubims on the walls.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

He overlaid also the house, the beams, the thresholds, and the walls thereof, and the doors thereof, with gold; and graved cherubim on the walls.

RVARevised Version, American1894

He overlaid also the house, the beams, the thresholds, and the walls thereof, and the doors thereof, with gold; and graved cherubim on the walls.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

He overlaid also the house, the beams, the posts, and the walls of it, and the doors of it, with gold; and engraved cherubim on the walls.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

The house, I say, the beames, postes, and walles thereof and the doores thereof ouerlayde he with gold, and graued Cherubims vpon the walles.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

And he covered the house, the beams, the threshold, and its walls, and its doors with gold, and engraved cherubim on the walls.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

and he covereth the house, the beams, the thresholds, and its walls, and its doors, with gold, and hath graved cherubs on the walls.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

and he covers the house, the beams, the thresholds, and its walls, and its doors, with gold, and has engraved cherubim on the walls.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

And he covered the house, the beams, the sills, and its walls, and its doors, with gold: and he engraved cherubim on the walls.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

He also overlaid its beams, thresholds, walls, and doors with gold; he carved cherubs on its walls.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

And the gold of the plates with which he overlaid the house, and the beams thereof, and the posts, and the walls, and the doors was of the finest: and he graved cherubims on the walls.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

He covered the beams, thresholds, walls, and doors of the Temple with gold, and he carved cherubim on the walls.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

All the house was plated with gold, the supports, the steps, the walls and the doors; and the walls were ornamented with designs of winged ones.

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.

וַandclauseverbיְחַ֨ףhe.overlaidnoun phrase · objectאֶת(et)noun phrasenoun phraseהַtheבַּ֜יִתhousenoun phrasenoun phraseהַtheקֹּר֧וֹתbeamsnoun phraseהַtheסִּפִּ֛יםthresholdsוְandnoun phraseקִֽירוֹתָ֥יwallsוitsוְandnoun phraseדַלְתוֹתָ֖יdoorsוitsadverbialזָהָ֑בgoldוּandclauseverbפִתַּ֥חhe.engravedobjectכְּרוּבִ֖יםcherubimprepositional phrase · prepositionalעַלonnoun phraseהַtheקִּירֽוֹתwalls

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 agree closely in their wording, with 11 of the 12 words matching. This suggests a strong consistency in the tradition of the text, with minor variations in word order.

Masoretic TextLeningrad Codex, c. AD 1008 — the text this page is built on

וַיְחַ֨ף אֶת־ הַבַּ֜יִת הַקֹּר֧וֹת הַסִּפִּ֛ים וְקִֽירוֹתָ֥יו וְדַלְתוֹתָ֖יו זָהָ֑ב וּפִתַּ֥ח כְּרוּבִ֖ים עַל־ הַקִּירֽוֹת׃ ס

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
וַיְחַ֨ףἐξρύσωσενהַבַּ֜יִתοἶκονהַקֹּר֧וֹתτοὺςהַסִּפִּ֛יםτοὺςוְקִֽירוֹתָ֥יוὀροφώματαוְדַלְתוֹתָ֖יוθυρώματαזָהָ֑בξρυσίῳוּפִתַּ֥חἔγλυψενכְּרוּבִ֖יםξερουβινעַל־ἐπὶהַקִּירֽוֹת׃ סτοίξων

11 of the 12 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.

2 Chronicles 3:7חָפָהand he overand he overlaidחָפָהאֵתthe object the object markאֵתבֵּיתthe housethe houseבֵּיתקוֹרָהthe beamsthe beamsקוֹרָהסַףthe threshothe thresholdsסַףקִירand walls iand walls itsקִירדָּלand doors iand doors itsדָּלזָהָבgoldgoldזָהָבפָּתַחand he engrand he engravedפָּתַחכְּרוּבcherubimcherubimכְּרוּבעַלononעַלקִירthe wallsthe wallsקִירקוּרto digto digקוּרבָּנָהto buildto buildבָּנָהאוֹתsign: mirasign: miraculouאוֹתספףstand at ostand at or guaספףדָּלָהto draw (uto draw (up/outדָּלָהחָפָאto do secrto do secretlyחָפָאחָפַףto shieldto shieldחָפַףעַלheightheightעַלשָׁתַןto urinateto urinateשָׁתַןחָתַרto digto digחָתַרבְּרוֹשׁcypresscypressבְּרוֹשׁמִגְרָשׁpasturepastureמִגְרָשׁאוֹצָרtreasuretreasureאוֹצָרנָפַלto fall: fto fall: fallנָפַלשָׁםtherethereשָׁםמְזוּזָהdoorpostdoorpostמְזוּזָהשָׁמַרto keep: oto keep: obeyשָׁמַרבְּרִיחַbarbarבְּרִיחַ
meets it a little oftener than chancemeets it far oftener than chancebuilt from the same roottwo words of the verse share ita word of this versea related word

Lexicons — every word in 2 Chronicles 3:7

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.

and he overlaid the object marker the house the beams the thresholds and walls its and doors its gold and he engraved cherubim on the walls
וַיְחַ֨ףvay.Chaf and he overlaid H2645 Verb · Piel · sequential imperfect third person masculine singular
12× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To cover something, like a roof or a secret, is what this word means in the original Hebrew. It appears in Exodus 26:14, describing the covering of the tabernacle. This concept is also seen in 1 Kings 7:3.
Amplified meaning
covered with gold leaf
Tyndale gloss
to cover
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

חָפָה (chaphah) is a Hebrew verb meaning to cover. It has different forms, including Qal (to cover), Niphal (to be covered), and Piel (to overlay). The word suggests a range of meanings related to protection and encasement, as seen in its use for covering heads or materials.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[חָפָה] vb. cover

Qal cover the head

Niph. on material

Pi. (late) overlay

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2645 חָפָה

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2645 chaphah khaw-faw'

a primitive root (compare 2644, 2653); to cover; by

implication, to veil, to encase, protect:--ceil, cover,

overlay.

see HEBREW for 02644

see HEBREW for 02653

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

חָפָה (cha.phah) — to cover.

1) to cover, overlay, wainscotted, covered with boards or panelling

1a) (Qal) to cover

1b)(Niphal) to be covered

1c) (Piel) to cover, overlay

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Piel-ConsecImperf-3ms — Verb · Piel · sequential imperfect third person masculine singular
Hc/Vpw3ms
and he overlaid the object marker the house the beams the thresholds and walls its and doors its gold and he engraved cherubim on the walls
אֶת־'et- the object marker H853 Particle
10,946× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the original Hebrew, this word points out the object of a verb or preposition, like 'namely' or 'even'. It appears in many books, including Genesis and Exodus. It's not directly translated in English, but helps clarify the meaning of sentences.
Tyndale gloss
[Obj.]
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אֵת (eth) is primarily a grammatical marker in Hebrew, indicating the definite direct object of a verb. It is not translated into English and typically precedes nouns that are definite. The word is derived from a demonstrative sense of entity, related to the Hebrew word for 'self.' Its Aramaic equivalent is יָת (yat).

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H853 אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

853 'eth ayth

apparent contracted from 226 in the demonstrative sense of

entity; properly, self (but generally used to point out more

definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or

namely):--(as such unrepresented in English).

see HEBREW for 0226

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֵת (et) — [Obj.].

sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative

Aramaic equivalent: yat (יָת "whom" H3487)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HTo — Particle
HTo
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and he overlaid the object marker the house the beams the thresholds and walls its and doors its gold and he engraved cherubim on the walls
הַבַּ֜יִתha.Ba.yit the house H1004 Particle · noun common masculine singular absolute
2,049× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
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.
Tyndale gloss
place
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word בַּיִת (*bayith*) means 'house' and encompasses a wide range of meanings, including dwelling, family, and place. It can refer to physical structures, such as homes and temples, as well as metaphorical uses like the body or household affairs. The word is built from the root related to 'between' and appears in various contexts throughout the Old Testament.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

בֵּית fem. of בַּיִן, בֵּין prep. between

base

בַּ֫יִת 2034 n.m. house

house

place

receptacle

of house as containing a family

household, family (592 t.)

house, including household affairs

lit. housewards, hence metaph. inwards

מִבַּיִת

adv. on the inside

prep. within

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1004a בֵּית fem. of בַּיִן, בֵּין prep. between H1004b בַּ֫יִת house

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1004 bayith bah'-yith

probably from 1129 abbreviated; a house (in the greatest

variation of applications, especially family, etc.):--court,

daughter, door, + dungeon, family, + forth of, X great as

would contain, hangings, home(born), (winter)house(-hold),

inside(-ward), palace, place, + prison, + steward, + tablet,

temple, web, + within(-out).

see HEBREW for 01129

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

בֵּית (bet) — place.

nm

place, origin, between

בַּ֫יִת (ba.yit) — house: home.

: home/temple/building

nm

1) house

1a) house, dwelling habitation

1b) shelter or abode of animals

1c) human bodies (fig.)

1d) of Sheol

1e) of abode of light and darkness

1f) of land of Ephraim

2) place

3) receptacle

4) home, house as containing a family

5) household, family

5a) those belonging to the same household

5b) family of descendants, descendants as organized body

6) household affairs

7) inwards (metaph.)

8) (TWOT) temple

adv

9) on the inside

prep

10) within

בַּ֫יִת (ba.yit) — Beth-(ashbea).

nm

This name is used for a house, habitation

Combined with ash.be.a (אַשְׁבֵּעַ "Ashbea" H0791)

בַּ֫יִת (ba.yit) — Beth (Haggan).

nm

This name is used for a house, habitation

Combined with hag (גַּן "Haggan" H1588)

בַּ֫יִת (ba.yit) — Beth-(togarmah).

nm

This name is used for a house, habitation

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Art | N-ms — Particle · noun common masculine singular absolute
HTd/Ncmsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

hous (bayith; oikos, in classical Greek generally "an estate," oikia, oikema (literally, "habitation"), in Ac 12:1, "prison"):

I. CAVE DWELLINGS

II. STONE-BUILT AND MUD/BRICK-BUILT HOUSES

1. Details of Plan and Construction

(1) Corner-Stone

(2) Floor

(3) Gutter

(4) Door

(5) Hinge

(6) Lock and Key

(7) Threshold

(8) Hearth

(9) Window

(10) Roof

2. Houses of More than One Story

(1) Upper Chambers and Stairs

(2) Palaces and Castles

3. Internal Appearance

III. OTHER MEANINGS

LITERATURE

I. Cave Dwellings.

The earliest permanent habitations of the prehistoric inhabitants of Palestine were the natural caves which abound throughout the country. As the people increased and grouped themselves into communities, these abodes were supplemented by systems of artificial caves which, in some cases, developed into extensive burrowings of many adjoining compartments, having…

Easton's Bible Dictionary

House

Till their sojourn in Egypt the Hebrews dwelt in tents. They then for the first time inhabited cities (Gen. 47:3; Ex. 12:7; Heb. 11:9). From the earliest times the Assyrians and the Canaanites were builders of cities. The Hebrews after the Conquest took possession of the captured cities, and seem to have followed the methods of building that had been pursued by the Canaanites. Reference is made to the stone (1 Kings 7:9; Isa. 9:10) and marble (1 Chr. 29:2) used in building, and to the internal wood-work of the houses (

The houses of the rural poor in Egypt, as well as in most parts of Syria, Arabia and Persia, are generally mere huts of mud or sunburnt bricks. In some parts of Palestine and Arabia stone is used, and in certain districts caves in the rocks are used as dwellings. (Amos 5:11) The houses are usually of one story only, viz., the ground floor, and often contain only one apartment. Sometimes a small court for the cattle is attached; and in some cases the cattle are housed in the same building, or the live in a raised platform, and, the cattle round them on the ground. (1 Samuel 28:24) The windows are small apertures high up in the walls, sometimes grated with wood. The roofs are commonly but not always flat, and are usually formed of plaster of mud and straw laid upon boughs or…

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

Is often put for dwelling, residence; and hence the temple, and even the tabernacle, are called the house of God.

The universal mode of building houses in the East, is in the form of a hollow square, with an open court or yard in the center; which is thus entirely shut in by the walls of the house around it. Into this court all the windows open, there being usually no windows towards the street. Some houses of large size require several courts, and these usually communicate with each other. These courts are commonly paved; and in many large houses parts of them are planted with shrubs and trees, Ps 84:3 128:3; they have also, when possible, a fountain in them, often with a jet d’ eau, 2Sa 17:18. It is customary in many houses to extend an awning over the whole court in hot…

The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and he overlaid the object marker the house the beams the thresholds and walls its and doors its gold and he engraved cherubim on the walls
הַקֹּר֧וֹתha.ko.Rot the beams H6982 Particle · noun common feminine plural absolute
5× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A beam or rafter in a building, forming the frame of a roof, as seen in the construction of houses in ancient Israel.
Amplified meaning
rafters, support structures
Tyndale gloss
beam
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

קוֹרָה (qowrah) refers to a rafter or beam, typically understood as something that fits into or supports another structure. The term is derived from a root meaning to meet or fit together, and it implies a connection to roofing. The entries consistently emphasize its use in construction contexts.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

קוֹרָה n.f. rafter, beam (prop. a thing meeting, fitting into, another)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6982 קוֹרָה rafter, beam (prop. a thing meeting, fitting into, another)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6982 qowrah ko-raw'

or qorah {ko-raw'}; from 6979; a rafter (forming trenches as

it were); by implication, a roof:--beam, roof.

see HEBREW for 06979

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

קוֹרָה (qo.rah) — beam.

rafter, beam

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Art | N-fp — Particle · noun common feminine plural absolute
HTd/Ncfpa
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and he overlaid the object marker the house the beams the thresholds and walls its and doors its gold and he engraved cherubim on the walls
הַסִּפִּ֛יםha.si.Pim the thresholds H5592 Particle · noun common masculine plural absolute
32× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word refers to a threshold, like a door sill, or a container for holding liquids. It can also mean a gate or post. The KJV translates it as threshold or bason.
Amplified meaning
door sills, entrances
Tyndale gloss
basin
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

סַף (saph) refers to both a basin or goblet and a threshold or sill. It is derived from a root meaning to contain, indicating its use for holding liquids or marking a boundary. The entries highlight its dual meanings, with Brown-Driver-Briggs and Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon both emphasizing its applications in physical structures and vessels.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

סַף n.m. basin, goblet

base

סַף 24 n.m. threshhold, sill

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5592a סַף basin, goblet H5592b סַף threshhold, sill

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5592 caph saf

from 5605, in its original sense of containing; a vestibule

(as a limit); also a dish (for holding blood or

wine):--bason, bowl, cup, door (post), gate, post, threshold.

see HEBREW for 05605

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

סַף (saph) — basin.

1) a spreading out, basin, goblet, bowl

1a) basin, goblet

סַף (saph) — threshold.

1) threshold, sill

1a) threshold, sill, door-keeper

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Art | N-mp — Particle · noun common masculine plural absolute
HTd/Ncmpa
and he overlaid the object marker the house the beams the thresholds and walls its and doors its gold and he engraved cherubim on the walls
וְקִֽירוֹתָ֥יוve.ki.ro.Tav and walls its H7023 Conjunction · noun common feminine plural construct · suffix
75× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, this word means a wall, often referring to the walls of houses, chambers, or even the altar. It is used to describe structures built for protection or division. The KJV translates it as wall or side.
Amplified meaning
barriers, dividers
Tyndale gloss
wall
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

קִיר (qir) means 'wall' and can refer to the walls of a house, chamber, or altar sides. It is derived from a root that is not clearly defined. The word appears in contexts such as Isaiah 22:5, where it is used to describe a wall.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

קִיר 74 n.m. wall (√ unknown)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7023 קִיר wall (√ unknown)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7023 qiyr keer

or qir (Isa. 22:5) {keer}; or (feminine) qiyrah {kee-raw'};

from 6979; a wall (as built in a trench):--+ mason, side,

town, X very, wall.

see HEBREW for 06979

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

קִיר (qir) — wall.

1) wall, side

1a) wall (of house or chamber)

1b) the sides (of the altar)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | N-mp | Suff — Conjunction · noun common feminine plural construct · suffix
HC/Ncfpc/Sp3ms
and he overlaid the object marker the house the beams the thresholds and walls its and doors its gold and he engraved cherubim on the walls
וְדַלְתוֹתָ֖יוve.dal.to.Tav and doors its H1817 Conjunction · noun common feminine plural construct · suffix
88× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A door is something that swings, like the valve of a door or gate. In the Bible, doors can represent entrance or access, as seen in Psalm 141:3 where David asks God to set a door on his lips.
Amplified meaning
gates, entrances
Tyndale gloss
door
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

דָּל (dal), דָּלָה (da.lah), and דֶּ֫לֶת (de.let) all refer to a 'door' or 'gate' in Hebrew. The entries indicate various uses, including literal doors and figurative meanings, such as a door of a chamber or even metaphorical doors in poetry. Notably, dal is mentioned in Psalm 141:3.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[דָּל] n.[m.] door only fig.: ψ 141:3.

ref

[דָּלָה] n.f. door, Is 26:20 fig., door of chamber in which people (personified) hides

ref

דֶּ֫לֶת n.f. door

door of house

door of room

gates of city

in other senses

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1817a דָּל door H1817b דָּלָה door H1817c דֶּ֫לֶת door

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1817 deleth deh'-leth

from 1802; something swinging, i.e. the valve of a

door:--door (two-leaved), gate, leaf, lid. (In Psa. 141:3,

dal, irreg.).

see HEBREW for 01802

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

דָּל (dal) — door.

door (fig.)

דָּלָה (da.lah) — door.

door (fig., door of chamber in which people (personified) hide)

דֶּ֫לֶת (de.let) — door.

1) door, gate

1a) a door

1b) a gate

1c) (fig.)

1c1) of chest lid

1c2) of crocodile jaws

1c3) of doors of the heavens

1c4) of an easily-accessible woman

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | N-fp | Suff — Conjunction · noun common feminine plural construct · suffix
HC/Ncfpc/Sp3ms
and he overlaid the object marker the house the beams the thresholds and walls its and doors its gold and he engraved cherubim on the walls
זָהָ֑בza.Hav gold H2091 Noun common · masculine singular absolute
389× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Gold is a valuable metal, also used to describe something yellow or brilliant, like oil or a clear sky. It is often mentioned in the Bible as a precious resource.
Amplified meaning
a valuable, brilliant metal
Tyndale gloss
gold
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

זָהָב (zahab) means gold and is derived from an unused root that conveys the idea of shimmering. It encompasses various aspects of gold, including its value as a precious metal, its use as a measure of weight, and its figurative brilliance. The term appears in contexts related to wealth, merchandise, and gifts.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

זָהָב 385 n.m. gold

= gold-ore, gold in raw state

gold as wealth

gold as spoil of war

gold as merchandise

gold as costly gift

gold as material

gold described by its source

gold defined by var. adj. and pts.

as measure of weight and value

= golden oil, from colour

often named with

the chief vbs. used

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2091 זָהָב gold

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2091 zahab zaw-hawb'

from an unused root meaning to shimmer; gold, figuratively,

something gold-colored (i.e. yellow), as oil, a clear sky:--

gold(-en), fair weather.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

זָהָב (za.hav) — gold.

1) gold

1a) as precious metal

1b) as a measure of weight

1c) of brilliance, splendour (fig.)

Aramaic equivalent: de.hav (דְּהַב "gold" H1722)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absolute
HNcmsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

gold (zahabh; chrusos):

1. Terms:

No metal has been more frequently mentioned in Old Testament writings than gold, and none has had more terms applied to it. Among these terms the one most used is zahabh. The Arabic equivalent, dhahab, is still the common name for gold throughout Palestine, Syria and Egypt. With zahabh frequently occur other words which, translated, mean "pure" (Ex 25:11), "refined" (1Ch 28:18), "finest" (1Ki 10:18), "beaten" (1Ki 10:17), "Ophir" (Ps 45:9).

Other terms occurring are: paz, "fine gold" (Job 28:17;

Gold

(1.) Heb. zahab, so called from its yellow colour (Ex. 25:11; 1 Chr. 28:18; 2 Chr. 3:5).

(2.) Heb. segor, from its compactness, or as being enclosed or treasured up; thus precious or “fine gold” (1 Kings 6:20; 7:49).

(3.) Heb. paz, native or pure gold (Job 28:17; Ps. 19:10; 21:3, etc.).

(4.) Heb. betzer, “ore of gold or silver” as dug out of the mine (Job 36:19, where it means simply riches).

Smith's Bible Dictionary

Gold was known from the very earliest times. (Genesis 2:11) It was at first used chiefly for ornaments, etc. (Genesis 24:22) Coined money was not known to the ancients till a comparatively late period; and on the Egyptian tombs gold is represented as being weighed in rings for commercial purposes. Comp. (Genesis 43:21) Gold was extremely abundant in ancient times, (1 Chronicles 22:14; 2 Chronicles 1:15; 9:9; Daniel 3:1; Nahum 2:9) but this did not depreciate its value, because of the enormous quantities consumed by…

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

A well-known valuable metal, found in many parts of the world, and obtained anciently in Ophir, Job 28:16; Parvaim, 2Ch 3:6; Sheba, and Raamah, Eze 27:22. Job alludes to gold in various forms, Job 22:24 28:15-19. Abraham was rich in it, and female ornaments were early made of it, Ge 13:2 24:22,35. It is spoken of throughout Scripture; and the use of it among and ancient Hebrews, in its native and mixed state, and for the same purposes as at present, was very common. The Ark of the Covenant was overlaid with pure gold; the mercy seat, the vessels and utensils belonging to the tabernacle, and those also of the house of…

and he overlaid the object marker the house the beams the thresholds and walls its and doors its gold and he engraved cherubim on the walls
וּפִתַּ֥חu.fi.Tach and he engraved H6605 Verb · Piel · sequential perfect third person masculine singular
144× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This verb means to engrave or carve, and is used in Exodus to describe the intricate carvings on the furniture of the tabernacle.
Amplified meaning
engraved, cut into
Tyndale gloss
to open
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

פָּתַח (pathach) is a Hebrew verb meaning 'to open' and can refer to various actions such as opening doors, loosening restraints, or engraving. It has different forms, including Qal (to open), Niphal (to be opened), and Piel (to engrave). The entries highlight its literal and figurative uses, but there is some overlap in meaning regarding its applications in opening and engraving.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

פָּתַח vb. open

Qal open sack

Niph. be opened

Pi. be opened

free, i.e. ungird, camels

loosen (and remove) sack-cloth

open gates, doors

Hithp. loosen thee the fetters of thy neck

base

[פָּתַח] vb. Pi. engrave

Pu. stones engraved with the engravings of a signet.

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6605a פָּתַח open .open sack

. be opened

. be opened . free, i.e. ungird, camels

. loosen (and remove) sack-cloth

. open gates, doors

. loosen thee the fetters of thy neck

H6605b פָּתַח Pi. engrave

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6605 pathach paw-thakh'

a primitive root; to open wide (literally or figuratively);

specifically, to loosen, begin, plough, carve:--appear, break

forth, draw (out), let go free, (en-)grave(-n), loose (self),

(be, be set) open(-ing), put off, ungird, unstop, have vent.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

פָּתַח (pa.tach) — to open.

1) to open

1a) (Qal) to open

1b) (Niphal) to be opened, be let loose, be thrown open

1c) (Piel)

1c1) to free

1c2) to loosen

1c3) to open, open oneself

1d) (Hithpael) to loose oneself

Aramaic equivalent: pe.tach (פְּתַח "to open" H6606)

פָּתַח (pa.tach) — to engrave.

1) to carve, engrave

1a) (Piel) to engrave

1b) (Pual) to be engraved

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Piel-Perf-3ms — Verb · Piel · sequential perfect third person masculine singular
Hc/Vpq3ms
and he overlaid the object marker the house the beams the thresholds and walls its and doors its gold and he engraved cherubim on the walls
כְּרוּבִ֖יםke.ru.Vim cherubim H3742 Noun common · masculine plural absolute
91× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A cherub is an angelic being in the Bible, often depicted as guarding important places like Eden or God's throne. They're also shown as images on the Ark of the Covenant. The KJV translates this word as cherub or cherubims.
Amplified meaning
angelic beings, heavenly guardians
Tyndale gloss
cherub
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

כְּרוּב (kerub) refers to a cherub, an angelic being associated with guarding the Garden of Eden, flanking God's throne, and appearing as an image over the Ark of the Covenant. The term is of uncertain derivation and is used in both singular and plural forms (cherubim). Various texts, including Ezekiel, describe their roles and appearances.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כְּרוּב 91 n.m. cherub

the living chariot of the theophanic God

as guards of the garden of Eden

as the throne of Yahweh Sabaoth

P gives an account

K and Ch describe the cherubim of the temple

Ezekiel describes the cherubim

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3742 כְּרוּב cherub

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3742 kruwb ker-oob'

of uncertain derivation; a cherub or imaginary

figure:--cherub, (plural) cherubims.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

כְּרוּב (ke.ruv) — cherub.

1) cherub, cherubim (pl)

1a) an angelic being

1a1) as guardians of Eden

1a2) as flanking God's throne

1a3) as an image form hovering over the Ark of the Covenant

1a4) as the chariot of Jehovah (fig.)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-mp — Noun common · masculine plural absolute
HNcmpa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Nave's Topical Bible

→ Eastward of the garden of Eden Ge 3:24

→ In the tabernacle Ex 25:18-20; 37:7-9

→ The ark of the covenant rested beneath the wings of 1Ki 8:6,7; 2Ch 5:7,8; Heb 9:5

→ Figures of, embroidered

On the walls of the tabernacle Ex 26:1; 36:8

And on the curtain Ex 26:31; 36:35

→ In the temple 1Ki 6:23-29; 2Ch 3:10-13

→ Figures of

On the curtain 2Ch 3:14

Torrey's New Topical Textbook

- Form and appearance of

Eze 1:5-11,13,14

- Animated by the Spirit of God

Eze 1:12,20

- Engaged in accomplishing the purposes of God

Eze 1:15,21; 10:9-11,16,17

- The glory of God exhibited upon

Eze 1:22,26-28; 10:4,18,20

- Sound of their wings was as the voice of God

Eze 1:24; 10:5

- Placed at the entrance of Eden

Ge 3:24

- OF GOLD

. Formed out of, and at each end of the mercy seat

Ex 25:18-20

. Placed over the ark of the covenant

Thompson Chain Reference topics

(1) Angelic

Ge 3:24; Eze 10:5,20; 11:22

(2) Images of

Ex 25:18; 37:9; Nu 7:89; 1Sa 4:4; 1Ki 6:35; 2Ch 3:11

and he overlaid the object marker the house the beams the thresholds and walls its and doors its gold and he engraved cherubim on the walls
עַל־'al- on H5921 Preposition
5,774× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means on or above something, like a physical object or a situation. It can also imply a sense of responsibility or accountability, as in being on behalf of someone.
Tyndale gloss
upon
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word עַל (*al*) is a preposition meaning 'upon' and encompasses a wide range of meanings, including 'on account of,' 'beside,' 'above,' and 'against.' It can indicate physical placement, emotional burdens, or duties imposed on a person. The entries also note its use in idiomatic expressions and with verbs of motion. There is a mention of its function as a conjunction in certain contexts.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כִּי עַל כֵּן forasmuch as

base

עַל, עָ֑ל

subst. height

As prep. upon, and hence on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against

Upon, of the substratum upon which an object in any way rests, or on which an action is performed

of clothing, etc., which any one wears

With verbs of covering or protecting, even though the cover or veil be not over or above the thing covered, but around or before it

Of what rests heavily upon a person, or is a burden to him

Of a duty, payment, care, etc., imposed upon a person, or devolving on him

על is used idiom. to give pathos to the expression of an emotion, by emphasizing the person who is its subject, and who, as it were, feels it acting upon him

חָיָה עַל to live upon (as upon a foundation or support)

Read the full entry →
Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5921a עַל, עָ֑ל . As prep. upon, and hence on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against . Upon, of the substratum upon which an object in any way rests, or on which an action is performed . — . of clothing, etc., which any one wears

. With verbs of covering or protecting, even though the cover or veil be not over or above the thing covered, but around or before it

. Of what rests heavily upon a person, or is a burden to him

. Of a duty, payment, care, etc., imposed upon a person, or devolving on him

. על is used idiom. to give pathos to the expression of an emotion, by emphasizing the person who is its subject, and who, as it were, feels it acting upon him

. חָיָה עַל to live upon (as upon a foundation or support)

Read the full entry →
Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5921 `al al

properly, the same as 5920 used as a preposition (in the

singular or plural often with prefix, or as conjunction with a

particle following); above, over, upon, or against (yet always

in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great

variety of applications (as follow):--above, according

to(-ly), after, (as) against, among, and, X as, at, because

of, beside (the rest of), between, beyond the time, X both

and, by (reason of), X had the charge of, concerning for, in

(that), (forth, out) of, (from) (off), (up-)on, over, than,

through(-out), to, touching, X with.

see HEBREW for 05920

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עַל (al) — upon.

prep

1) upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against

1a) upon, on the ground of, on the basis of, on account of, because of, therefore, on behalf of, for the sake of, for, with, in spite of, notwithstanding, concerning, in the matter of, as regards

1b) above, beyond, over (of excess)

1c) above, over (of elevation or pre-eminence)

1d) upon, to, over to, unto, in addition to, together with, with (of addition)

1e) over (of suspension or extension)

1f) by, adjoining, next, at, over, around (of contiguity or proximity)

1g) down upon, upon, on, from, up upon, up to, towards, over towards, to, against (with verbs of motion)

1h) to (as a dative)

[כִּי] עַל [כֵּן] ([ki] al [ken]) — as.

conj

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep — Preposition
HR
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Easton's Bible Dictionary

On

Light; the sun, (Gen. 41:45, 50), the great seat of sun-worship, called also Bethshemesh (Jer. 43:13) and Aven (Ezek. 30:17), stood on the east bank of the Nile, a few miles north of Memphis, and near Cairo, in the north-east. The Vulgate and the LXX. Versions have “Heliopolis” (“city of the sun”) instead of On in Genesis and of Aven in Ezekiel. The “city of destruction” Isaiah speaks of (19:18, marg. “of Heres;” Heb. ‘Ir-ha-heres, which some MSS. read Ir-ha-heres, i.e., “city of the sun”) may be the name given to On, the prophecy being that the time will come when that city which was known as the “city of the sun-god” shall become the “city of destruction” of the sun-god, i.e., when idolatry shall cease, and the worship…

Smith's Bible Dictionary

(abode or city of the sun), a town of lower Egypt, called BETH-SHEMESH in (Jeremiah 43:13) On is better known under its Greek name Heliopolis. It was situated on the east side of the Pelusiac branch of the Nile, just below the point of the Delta, and about twenty miles northeast of Memphis. The chief object of worship at Heliopolis was the sun, whose temple, described by Strabo, is now only represented by the single beautiful obelisk, of red granite so feet 2 inches high above the pedestal which has stood for more than 4000 years, having been erected by Usirtesen, the second king of the twelfth dynasty. Heliopolis was anciently famous for its learning, and Eudoxus and Plato studied under its priests. The first mention of this place in the Bible is in the history of Joseph, to whom we read Pharaoh gave "to wife Asenath the daughter…

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

See HELIOPOLIS.

Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary

pain; force; iniquity

The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and he overlaid the object marker the house the beams the thresholds and walls its and doors its gold and he engraved cherubim on the walls
הַקִּירֽוֹת׃ סha.ki.Rot the walls H7023 Particle · noun common feminine plural absolute
75× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, this word means a wall, often referring to the walls of houses, chambers, or even the altar. It is used to describe structures built for protection or division. The KJV translates it as wall or side.
Amplified meaning
the surfaces, the partitions
Tyndale gloss
wall
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

קִיר (qir) means 'wall' and can refer to the walls of a house, chamber, or altar sides. It is derived from a root that is not clearly defined. The word appears in contexts such as Isaiah 22:5, where it is used to describe a wall.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

קִיר 74 n.m. wall (√ unknown)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7023 קִיר wall (√ unknown)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7023 qiyr keer

or qir (Isa. 22:5) {keer}; or (feminine) qiyrah {kee-raw'};

from 6979; a wall (as built in a trench):--+ mason, side,

town, X very, wall.

see HEBREW for 06979

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

קִיר (qir) — wall.

1) wall, side

1a) wall (of house or chamber)

1b) the sides (of the altar)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Art | N-mp — Particle · noun common feminine plural absolute
HTd/Ncfpa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Smith's Bible Dictionary

Only a few points need be noticed. The practice common in Palestine of carrying foundations down to the solid rock, as in the case of the temple, with structures intended to be permanent. (Luke 6:48) A feature of some parts of Solomon’s buildings, as described by Josephus, corresponds remarkably to the method adopted at Nineveh of incrusting or veneering a wall of brick or stone with slabs of a more costly material, as marble or alabaster. Another use of walls in Palestine is to support mountain roads Or terraces formed on the sides of hills for purposes of cultivation. The "path of the vineyards," (Numbers 22:24) is a pathway through vineyards, with walls on each side.

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

The walls of dwellings in the East were of very different materials, from mere clay, or clay and pebbles, to durable hewn stone. See the latter part of the article HOUSE. As to the city walls, see BABYLON, CITY, and JERUSALEM.

The accompanying cut shows a portion of the western wall of the sacred area, Haram-es-Sherif, at Jerusalem. The huge stones in its lower part are believed by the Jews, and with good reason, to have formed a part of the substructions of their ancient temple, and to be near the site of the Holy of Holies. Hence they assemble here every Friday, and more or less on other days, to weep and wail with every token of the sorest grief, and to pray for the coming of the Messiah. In former years they had to pay a large price for this melancholy privilege. A little beyond this spot, towards the south, is the fragment of an immense arch of forty-one feet span, one of five or…

Torrey's New Topical Textbook

- Designed for separation

Eze 43:8; Eph 2:14

- Designed for defence

1Sa 25:16

- MENTIONED IN SCRIPTURE

. Of cities

Nu 13:28

. Of temples

1Ch 29:4; Isa 56:5

. Of houses

1Sa 18:11

. Of vineyards

Nu 22:24; Pr 24:31

- Frequently made of stone and wood together

Ezr 5:8; Hab 2:11

Sources on this page. Lexicons and dictionaries imported from the CrossWire SWORD modules — Abbott-Smith, Strong's, Dodson, the Intermediate Liddell-Scott-Jones, Robinson and Packard, Webster and Cawdrey. Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament (Harper, 1889 — Grimm’s Wilke’s Clavis Novi Testamenti, translated, revised and enlarged by Joseph Henry Thayer) is public domain and is set here from the Internet Archive page scan greekenglishlex00grim; it is uncorrected OCR, marked as such on the entry itself, and the Strong’s numbers — which Thayer’s own edition does not carry — were matched by lemma against the other modules on this page. Trench’s Synonyms of the New Testament (Macmillan, 1880) and Moulton and Milligan’s Vocabulary of the Greek Testament (Hodder & Stoughton, 1930, which entered the United States public domain on 1 January 2026) are set from Internet Archive page scans synonymsofnewtes00treniala and vocabularyofgree00mouluoft, and are likewise uncorrected OCR matched to Strong’s numbers by lemma. Trench treats a group of words at once, so the same essay stands on the page of each word it compares. The Mounce Concise Greek-English Dictionary is © 1993 and is used here by permission for non-commercial use, www.teknia.com/greek-dictionary. The full Liddell-Scott-Jones and the Hebrew word data (TAHOT) come from STEPBible.org, CC BY 4.0. Brown-Driver-Briggs is the OpenScriptures digitisation, public domain. Syntax analysis is the Nestle 1904 Lowfat treebank (biblicalhumanities.org); the concordance and morphology are built from the tagged Nestle 1904 text. Septuagint occurrences use the Open Scriptures Septuagint lemma index, derived from CCAT (University of Pennsylvania) and the Rahlfs 1935 dataset by Eliran Wong, CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 — used here on a non-commercial ministry site. Greek of Josephus and Barnabas from the Perseus Digital Library, CC BY-SA 4.0. Commentaries and the Ante-Nicene Fathers are public-domain texts hosted on this site. Everyday Greek from the Duke Databank of Documentary Papyri, CC BY 3.0, with dates and provenance from the Heidelberger Gesamtverzeichnis. Philo and the Apostolic Fathers from Open Greek and Latin (First1KGreek), CC BY-SA 4.0. The apparatus and the fifth Greek column are the SBL Greek New Testament, © 2010 SBL and Logos Bible Software, CC BY 4.0. The Latin is the Clementine Vulgate (public domain); the Syriac New Testament is the ETCBC edition (MIT licence). The Hebrew behind the Greek is computed here from the Septuagint index and TAHOT, not taken from any aligned edition. The translation spread and the per-word edition marks come from the Translators Amalgamated Greek NT (STEPBible, CC BY 4.0); clause roles from the Nestle 1904 Lowfat treebank (CC BY-SA 4.0); place identifications and their confidence from OpenBible.info Bible Geocoding (CC BY 4.0), with map tiles © OpenStreetMap contributors. Gospel parallels are computed here from shared uncommon vocabulary, not taken from any printed harmony. Cross references are the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge and the subject headings are Nave’s Topical Bible, both public domain. Works under Creative Commons licences are used unchanged apart from markup removal.

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