He overlaid the beams, thresholds, walls, and doors throughout the Temple with gold, and he carved figures of cherubim on the walls.
Parallel translations
- WEB He also overlaid the house, the beams, the thresholds, its walls, and its doors with gold; and engraved cherubim on the walls.
- KJV He overlaid also the house, the beams, the posts, and the walls thereof, and the doors thereof, with gold; and graved cherubims on the walls.
- BSB He overlaid its beams, thresholds, walls, and doors with gold, and he carved cherubim on the walls.
- NKJV He also overlaid the house—the beams and doorposts, its walls and doors—with gold; and he carved cherubim on the walls.
- NASB He also overlaid the house with gold—the beams, the thresholds, and its walls and doors; and he carved cherubim on the walls.
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
Solomon overlays the beams, thresholds, walls, and doors with gold and engraves cherubim on the walls. The whole structure is gilded and adorned with angelic figures.
Overview
The pervasive gold and the engraved cherubim mark the temple as a holy space recalling God's heavenly throne. Cherubim signify God's guarded, glorious presence, as at Eden's gate and over the ark. The imagery declares that worshipers draw near to the holy God enthroned among his people.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 5
- 1 Kgs 6:20–22Within the inner sanctuary was twenty cubits in length, and twenty cubits in width, and twenty cubits in its height; and he overlaid it with pure gold; and he covered the altar with cedar.
- Ezek 7:20As for the beauty of his ornament, he set it in majesty; but they made the images of their abominations and their detestable things therein. Therefore I have made it to them as an unclean thing.
- Exod 26:29You shall overlay the boards with gold, and make their rings of gold for places for the bars: and you shall overlay the bars with gold.
- 1 Kgs 6:29–35He carved all the walls of the house around with carved figures of cherubim, palm trees, and open flowers, inside and outside.
- Exod 26:1“Moreover you shall make the tabernacle with ten curtains; of fine twined linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet, with cherubim. The work of the skillful workman you shall make them.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
Temple, priesthood, and the repeated need for a faithful king who seeks the LORD all point past every imperfect reign to the King and Temple who finally and fully dwell with God's people.
How 2 Chronicles 3:7 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.