Twelve lions stood there on the one side and on the other on the six steps. Nothing like it was made in any kingdom.
Parallel translations
- KJV And twelve lions stood there on the one side and on the other upon the six steps: there was not the like made in any kingdom.
- BSB Twelve lions stood on the six steps, one at either end of each step. Nothing like this had ever been made for any kingdom.
- NKJV Twelve lions stood there, one on each side of the six steps; nothing like this had been made for any other kingdom.
- NASB Twelve lions were standing there on the six steps on the one side and on the other; nothing like it was made for any other kingdom.
- NLT There were also twelve other lions, one standing on each end of the six steps. No other throne in all the world could be compared with it!
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Twelve lions stood on the six steps, a throne unmatched in any kingdom. It emphasizes the unique splendor of Solomon's reign.
Overview
The twelve lions, perhaps echoing the twelve tribes of Israel, framed a throne so magnificent that no other kingdom possessed its equal. This uniqueness highlights the extraordinary blessing God placed on Solomon. Such unrivaled glory was a sign and a shadow, pointing beyond itself to the surpassing and eternal majesty of the kingdom of the Messiah.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 4
- Num 24:9He couched, he lay down as a lion, as a lioness; who shall rouse him up? Everyone who blesses you is blessed. Everyone who curses you is cursed.”
- Gen 49:9Judah is a lion’s cub. From the prey, my son, you have gone up. He stooped down, he crouched as a lion, as a lioness. Who will rouse him up?
- Rev 5:5One of the elders said to me, “Don’t weep. Behold, the Lion who is of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome; he who opens the book and its seven seals.”
- Num 23:24Behold, the people rises up as a lioness. As a lion he lifts himself up. He shall not lie down until he eats of the prey, and drinks the blood of the slain.”
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Solomon's glory, wisdom, and temple where God's presence dwells are a shadow of the greater Son of David — 'one greater than Solomon is here' — and of the true Temple, Christ himself.
How 1 Kings 10:20 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.