And the capitals atop the pillars in the portico were shaped like lilies, four cubits high.
Parallel translations
- WEB The capitals that were on the top of the pillars in the porch were of lily work, four cubits.
- KJV And the chapiters that were upon the top of the pillars were of lily work in the porch, four cubits.
- NKJV The capitals which were on top of the pillars in the hall were in the shape of lilies, four cubits.
- NASB The capitals which were on the tops of the pillars in the porch were of lily design, four cubits.
- NLT The capitals on the columns inside the entry room were shaped like water lilies, and they were six feet tall.
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
The capitals atop the porch pillars were shaped with lily work, four cubits high. Floral beauty crowned the columns.
Overview
The lily design recalls the floral and garden imagery found throughout the temple, evoking life, beauty, and a restored paradise. Such motifs pointed worshipers beyond mere architecture to the flourishing presence of God among His people. The temple's beauty was meant to lift hearts toward the One it was built to honor.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 3
- 1 Kgs 6:18The cedar paneling inside the temple was carved with gourds and open flowers. Everything was cedar; not a stone could be seen.
- 1 Kgs 7:22And the tops of the pillars were shaped like lilies. So the work of the pillars was completed.
- 1 Kgs 6:32–35The double doors were made of olive wood, and he carved into them cherubim, palm trees, and open flowers and overlaid the cherubim and palm trees with hammered gold.
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 7:19 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.