King James Version

What Does 1 Kings 6:20 Mean?

1 Kings 6:20 in the King James Version says “And the oracle in the forepart was twenty cubits in length, and twenty cubits in breadth, and twenty cubits in the heigh...” — study this verse from 1 Kings chapter 6 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“And the oracle in the forepart was twenty cubits in length, and twenty cubits in breadth, and twenty cubits in the height thereof: and he overlaid it with pure gold; and so covered the altar which was of cedar. pure: Heb. shut up”

1 Kings 6:20 · KJV

Context

18

And the cedar of the house within was carved with knops and open flowers: all was cedar; there was no stone seen. knops: or, gourds open: Heb. openings of

19

And the oracle he prepared in the house within, to set there the ark of the covenant of the LORD.

20

And the oracle in the forepart was twenty cubits in length, and twenty cubits in breadth, and twenty cubits in the height thereof: and he overlaid it with pure gold; and so covered the altar which was of cedar. pure: Heb. shut up

21

So Solomon overlaid the house within with pure gold: and he made a partition by the chains of gold before the oracle; and he overlaid it with gold.

22

And the whole house he overlaid with gold, until he had finished all the house: also the whole altar that was by the oracle he overlaid with gold.

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Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
And the oracle in the forepart was twenty cubits in length, and twenty cubits in breadth, and twenty cubits in the height thereof: and he overlaid it with pure gold; and so covered the altar which was of cedar.

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 sacrificial system points forward to Christ's ultimate sacrifice, fulfilling all temple offerings (Hebrews 10:1-18).

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 · 17 words
וְלִפְנֵ֣י1 of 17

“in the forepart”

H6440

the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi

הַדְּבִ֡יר2 of 17

“And the oracle”

H1687

the shrine or innermost part of the sanctuary

וְעֶשְׂרִ֤ים3 of 17

“and twenty”

H6242

twenty; also (ordinal) twentieth

אַמָּה֙4 of 17

“cubits”

H520

properly, a mother (i.e., unit of measure, or the fore-arm (below the elbow), i.e., a cubit; also a door-base (as a bond of the entrance)

אֹ֜רֶךְ5 of 17

“in length”

H753

length

וְעֶשְׂרִ֤ים6 of 17

“and twenty”

H6242

twenty; also (ordinal) twentieth

אַמָּה֙7 of 17

“cubits”

H520

properly, a mother (i.e., unit of measure, or the fore-arm (below the elbow), i.e., a cubit; also a door-base (as a bond of the entrance)

רֹ֗חַב8 of 17

“in breadth”

H7341

width (literally or figuratively)

וְעֶשְׂרִ֤ים9 of 17

“and twenty”

H6242

twenty; also (ordinal) twentieth

אַמָּה֙10 of 17

“cubits”

H520

properly, a mother (i.e., unit of measure, or the fore-arm (below the elbow), i.e., a cubit; also a door-base (as a bond of the entrance)

קֽוֹמָת֔וֹ11 of 17

“in the height”

H6967

height

וַיְצַ֥ף12 of 17

“and so covered”

H6823

to sheet over (especially with metal)

זָהָ֣ב13 of 17

“gold”

H2091

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

סָג֑וּר14 of 17

“it with pure”

H5462

to shut up; figuratively, to surrender

וַיְצַ֥ף15 of 17

“and so covered”

H6823

to sheet over (especially with metal)

מִזְבֵּ֖חַ16 of 17

“the altar”

H4196

an altar

אָֽרֶז׃17 of 17

“which was of cedar”

H730

a cedar tree (from the tenacity of its roots)

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 6:20 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 6:20 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

1 Kings 7:48Exodus 30:1-31 Kings 6:2-31 Kings 6:22

Test Your Knowledge

1 Kings 6 QuizTest your knowledge of this chapter1 Kings Book QuizComprehensive quiz for the entire book

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