In the inner sanctuary he made two cherubim of olive wood, each ten cubits high.
Parallel translations
- KJV And within the oracle he made two cherubims of olive tree, each ten cubits high.
- BSB In the inner sanctuary he made two cherubim, each ten cubits high, out of olive wood.
- NKJV Inside the inner sanctuary he made two cherubim of olive wood, each ten cubits high.
- NASB And in the inner sanctuary he made two cherubim of olive wood, each ten cubits high.
- NLT He made two cherubim of wild olive wood, each 15 feet tall, and placed them in the inner sanctuary.
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
In the inner sanctuary Solomon made two cherubim of olive wood, each ten cubits tall. These great figures guarded the holy place.
Overview
The towering cherubim, distinct from the smaller ones on the ark, filled the Most Holy Place with their presence. Cherubim symbolize God's holy attendants and guardians of His presence, as at Eden's gate (Genesis 3:24). Their imposing form magnified the holiness and majesty of the God enthroned there.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 10
- Exod 37:7–9He made two cherubim of gold. He made them of beaten work, at the two ends of the mercy seat;
- Gen 3:24So he drove out the man; and he placed cherubim at the east of the garden of Eden, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to guard the way to the tree of life.
- Isa 37:16“Yahweh of Armies, the God of Israel, who is enthroned among the cherubim, you are the God, even you alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth.
- Ps 18:10He rode on a cherub, and flew. Yes, he soared on the wings of the wind.
- Exod 25:18–22You shall make two cherubim of hammered gold. You shall make them at the two ends of the mercy seat.
- 1 Pet 1:12To them it was revealed, that not to themselves, but to you, they ministered these things, which now have been announced to you through those who preached the Good News to you by the Holy Spirit sent out from heaven; which things angels desire to look into.
- Heb 1:14Aren’t they all serving spirits, sent out to do service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation?
- 2 Chr 3:10–13In the most holy place he made two cherubim by carving; and they overlaid them with gold.
- Ezek 10:2–22He spoke to the man clothed in linen, and said, “Go in between the whirling wheels, even under the cherub, and fill both your hands with coals of fire from between the cherubim, and scatter them over the city.” He went in as I watched.
- Ps 80:1For the Chief Musician. To the tune of “The Lilies of the Covenant.” A Psalm by Asaph. Hear us, Shepherd of Israel, you who lead Joseph like a flock, you who sit above the cherubim, shine out.
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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 6:23 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
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