King James Version

What Does 1 Kings 6:1 Mean?

1 Kings 6:1 in the King James Version says “And it came to pass in the four hundred and eightieth year after the children of Israel were come out of the land of Egy...” — study this verse from 1 Kings chapter 6 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“And it came to pass in the four hundred and eightieth year after the children of Israel were come out of the land of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon's reign over Israel, in the month Zif, which is the second month, that he began to build the house of the LORD. began: Heb. built”

1 Kings 6:1 · KJV

Context

1

And it came to pass in the four hundred and eightieth year after the children of Israel were come out of the land of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon's reign over Israel, in the month Zif, which is the second month, that he began to build the house of the LORD. began: Heb. built

2

And the house which king Solomon built for the LORD, the length thereof was threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof twenty cubits, and the height thereof thirty cubits.

3

And the porch before the temple of the house, twenty cubits was the length thereof, according to the breadth of the house; and ten cubits was the breadth thereof before the house.

Read 1 Kings 6 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
And it came to pass in the four hundred and eightieth year after the children of Israel were come out of the land of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon's reign over Israel, in the month Zif, which is the second month, that he began to build the house of the LORD.

This verse contributes to the broader narrative of construction of the temple, within the book's focus on Solomon's wisdom, temple building, and tragic apostasy. The temple represents God's dwelling among His people and foreshadows Christ as Immanuel ('God with us').

The Hebrew text reveals nuances important for understanding this passage's contribution to 1 Kings' theological message about kingship, covenant, and faithfulness to Yahweh. This verse demonstrates the consequences when God's people—especially their leaders—either follow or forsake the covenant established at Sinai.

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

First Kings was written during or after the Babylonian exile (6th century BCE), reflecting on the monarchy period (10th-9th centuries BCE) to explain why the kingdoms fell. Solomon's reign (c. 970-930 BCE) represented Israel's golden age of peace and prosperity.

Ancient Near Eastern kingship ideology viewed kings as divine representatives responsible for maintaining cosmic order through right worship. Archaeological discoveries from sites like Megiddo, Hazor, and Samaria confirm the historical reliability of 1 Kings' descriptions of building projects and administrative structures.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does the temple as God's dwelling place help us understand Christ's incarnation and the church as God's temple today?
  2. What does Solomon's prayer and dedication teach about approaching God in worship and prayer?
  3. How does this verse point toward or prepare for the coming of Christ and His eternal kingdom?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 25 words
וַיְהִ֣י1 of 25
H1961

to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)

בִשְׁמוֹנִ֣ים2 of 25

“and eightieth”

H8084

eighty, also eightieth

בַּשָּׁנָ֨ה3 of 25

“year”

H8141

a year (as a revolution of time)

וְאַרְבַּ֣ע4 of 25

“And it came to pass in the four”

H702

four

מֵא֣וֹת5 of 25

“hundred”

H3967

a hundred; also as a multiplicative and a fraction

בַּשָּׁנָ֨ה6 of 25

“year”

H8141

a year (as a revolution of time)

לְצֵ֣את7 of 25

“were come out”

H3318

to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim

בְּנֵֽי8 of 25

“after the children”

H1121

a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or

יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל9 of 25

“of Israel”

H3478

he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity

מֵאֶֽרֶץ10 of 25

“of the land”

H776

the earth (at large, or partitively a land)

מִצְרַיִם֩11 of 25

“of Egypt”

H4714

mitsrajim, i.e., upper and lower egypt

בַּשָּׁנָ֨ה12 of 25

“year”

H8141

a year (as a revolution of time)

הָֽרְבִיעִ֜ית13 of 25

“in the fourth”

H7243

fourth; also (fractionally) a fourth

הַחֹ֣דֶשׁ14 of 25

“in the month”

H2320

the new moon; by implication, a month

זִ֗ו15 of 25

“Zif”

H2099

ziv (corresponding to ijar or may)

ה֚וּא16 of 25
H1931

he (she or it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also (intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demo

הַחֹ֣דֶשׁ17 of 25

“in the month”

H2320

the new moon; by implication, a month

הַשֵּׁנִ֔י18 of 25

“which is the second”

H8145

properly, double, i.e., second; also adverbially, again

לִמְלֹ֥ךְ19 of 25

“reign”

H4427

to reign; hence (by implication) to take counsel

שְׁלֹמֹ֖ה20 of 25

“of Solomon's”

H8010

shelomah, david's successor

עַל21 of 25
H5921

above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications

יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל22 of 25

“of Israel”

H3478

he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity

וַיִּ֥בֶן23 of 25

“that he began to build”

H1129

to build (literally and figuratively)

הַבַּ֖יִת24 of 25

“the house”

H1004

a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)

לַֽיהוָֽה׃25 of 25

“of the LORD”

H3068

(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of 1 Kings. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

1 Kings 6:1 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to 1 Kings 6:1 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

2 Chronicles 3:1-2Acts 7:471 Kings 6:371 Peter 2:51 Chronicles 29:19Hebrews 11:10

Places in This Verse

EgyptRegion · Modern: Ain Shams · 30.13°N, 31.31°E658 verses across 33 books
View all places in 1 Kings 6 →

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