1 Kings 6:17
New International Version
The main hall in front of this room was forty cubits long.

New Living Translation
The main room of the Temple, outside the Most Holy Place, was 60 feet long.

English Standard Version
The house, that is, the nave in front of the inner sanctuary, was forty cubits long.

Berean Standard Bible
And the main hall in front of this room was forty cubits long.

King James Bible
And the house, that is, the temple before it, was forty cubits long.

New King James Version
And in front of it the temple sanctuary was forty cubits long.

New American Standard Bible
The house, that is, the main room in front of the inner sanctuary, was forty cubits long.

NASB 1995
The house, that is, the nave in front of the inner sanctuary, was forty cubits long.

NASB 1977
And the house, that is, the nave in front of the inner sanctuary, was forty cubits long.

Legacy Standard Bible
And the house, that is, the nave in front of the inner sanctuary, was forty cubits long.

Amplified Bible
The [rest of the] house, that is, the temple in front of the Holy of Holies, was forty cubits long.

Christian Standard Bible
The temple, that is, the sanctuary in front of the most holy place, was sixty feet long.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The temple, that is, the sanctuary in front of the most holy place, was 60 feet long.

American Standard Version
And the house, that is, the temple before the oracle, was forty cubits long.

Contemporary English Version
The temple's main room was 18 meters long, and it was in front of the most holy place.

English Revised Version
And the house, that is, the temple before the oracle, was forty cubits long.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The 60-foot-long room at the front of the temple served as the main hall.

Good News Translation
The room in front of the Most Holy Place was 60 feet long.

International Standard Version
The rest of the main nave in the front was 40 cubits long.

Majority Standard Bible
And the main hall in front of this room was forty cubits long.

NET Bible
The main hall in front of the inner sanctuary was 60 feet long.

New Heart English Bible
In front of the temple sanctuary was sixty-eight feet and eleven inches.

Webster's Bible Translation
And the house, that is, the temple before it, was forty cubits long.

World English Bible
In front of the temple sanctuary was forty cubits long.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And [this area of] the house was forty by the cubit; it [is the area of] the temple before My face.

Young's Literal Translation
And forty by the cubit was the house, it is the temple before it.

Smith's Literal Translation
And forty by the cubit was the house; it the temple before.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And the temple itself before the doors of the oracle was forty cubits long.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And the temple itself, before the doors of the oracle, was forty cubits.

New American Bible
The house was forty cubits long, that is, the nave, the part in front.

New Revised Standard Version
The house, that is, the nave in front of the inner sanctuary, was forty cubits long.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And the house, that is, the inner sanctuary, was forty cubits long.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
The house was forty cubits, that is, the inner temple.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And the house, that is, the temple before [the Sanctuary], was forty cubits long.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And the temple was forty cubits in extent,

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Temple's Interior
16He partitioned off the twenty cubits at the rear of the temple with cedar boards from floor to ceiling to form within the temple an inner sanctuary, the Most Holy Place. 17 And the main hall in front of this room was forty cubits long. 18The cedar paneling inside the temple was carved with gourds and open flowers. Everything was cedar; not a stone could be seen.…

Cross References
2 Chronicles 3:5-7
He paneled the main room with cypress, which he overlaid with fine gold and decorated with palm trees and chains. / He adorned the temple with precious stones for beauty, and its gold was from Parvaim. / He overlaid its beams, thresholds, walls, and doors with gold, and he carved cherubim on the walls.

Exodus 26:33-34
And hang the veil from the clasps and place the ark of the Testimony behind the veil. So the veil will separate the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place. / Put the mercy seat on the ark of the Testimony in the Most Holy Place.

1 Kings 8:6-8
Then the priests brought the ark of the covenant of the LORD to its place in the inner sanctuary of the temple, the Most Holy Place, beneath the wings of the cherubim. / For the cherubim spread their wings over the place of the ark and overshadowed the ark and its poles. / The poles extended far enough that their ends were visible from the Holy Place in front of the inner sanctuary, but not from outside the Holy Place; and they are there to this day.

2 Chronicles 5:7-9
Then the priests brought the ark of the covenant of the LORD to its place in the inner sanctuary of the temple, the Most Holy Place, beneath the wings of the cherubim. / For the cherubim spread their wings over the place of the ark and overshadowed the ark and its poles. / The poles of the ark extended far enough that their ends were visible from in front of the inner sanctuary, but not from outside the Holy Place; and they are there to this day.

Hebrews 9:2-5
A tabernacle was prepared. In its first room were the lampstand, the table, and the consecrated bread. This was called the Holy Place. / Behind the second curtain was a room called the Most Holy Place, / containing the golden altar of incense and the gold-covered ark of the covenant. Inside the ark were the gold jar of manna, Aaron’s staff that had budded, and the stone tablets of the covenant. ...

Exodus 25:8-9
And they are to make a sanctuary for Me, so that I may dwell among them. / You must make the tabernacle and design all its furnishings according to the pattern I show you.

1 Kings 7:48-50
Solomon also made all the furnishings for the house of the LORD: the golden altar; the golden table on which was placed the Bread of the Presence; / the lampstands of pure gold in front of the inner sanctuary, five on the right side and five on the left; the gold flowers, lamps, and tongs; / the pure gold basins, wick trimmers, sprinkling bowls, ladles, and censers; and the gold hinges for the doors of the inner temple (that is, the Most Holy Place) as well as for the doors of the main hall of the temple.

2 Chronicles 4:19-22
Solomon also made all the furnishings for the house of God: the golden altar; the tables on which was placed the Bread of the Presence; / the lampstands of pure gold and their lamps, to burn in front of the inner sanctuary as prescribed; / the flowers, lamps, and tongs of gold—of purest gold; ...

Exodus 40:20-21
Moses took the Testimony and placed it in the ark, attaching the poles to the ark; and he set the mercy seat atop the ark. / Then he brought the ark into the tabernacle, put up the veil for the screen, and shielded off the ark of the Testimony, just as the LORD had commanded him.

1 Kings 8:10-11
And when the priests came out of the Holy Place, the cloud filled the house of the LORD / so that the priests could not stand there to minister because of the cloud. For the glory of the LORD filled the house of the LORD.

2 Chronicles 7:1-2
When Solomon had finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the LORD filled the temple. / The priests were unable to enter the house of the LORD, because the glory of the LORD had filled it.

Ezekiel 41:1-4
Then the man brought me into the outer sanctuary and measured the side pillars to be six cubits wide on each side. / The width of the entrance was ten cubits, and the sides of the entrance were five cubits on each side. He also measured the length of the outer sanctuary to be forty cubits, and the width to be twenty cubits. / And he went into the inner sanctuary and measured the side pillars at the entrance to be two cubits wide. The entrance was six cubits wide, and the walls on each side were seven cubits wide. ...

Revelation 11:19
Then the temple of God in heaven was opened, and the ark of His covenant appeared in His temple. And there were flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake, and a great hailstorm.

Exodus 36:33-34
He made the central crossbar to run through the center of the frames, from one end to the other. / And he overlaid the frames with gold and made gold rings to hold the crossbars. He also overlaid the crossbars with gold.

1 Kings 6:19-20
Solomon also prepared the inner sanctuary within the temple to set the ark of the covenant of the LORD there. / The inner sanctuary was twenty cubits long, twenty cubits wide, and twenty cubits high. He overlaid the inside with pure gold, and he also overlaid the altar of cedar.


Treasury of Scripture

And the house, that is, the temple before it, was forty cubits long.

Jump to Previous
Cubit Cubits Forty Front Hall Holy House Inner Main Nave Oracle Room Sanctuary Temple
Jump to Next
Cubit Cubits Forty Front Hall Holy House Inner Main Nave Oracle Room Sanctuary Temple
1 Kings 6
1. The building of Solomon's temple
5. The chambers thereof
11. God's promise unto it
15. The ceiling and adorning of it
23. The cherubim
31. The doors
36. The court
37. The time of building it














And the main hall
The main hall, also known as the "nave" or "hekal," was a significant part of Solomon's Temple, serving as the central area for worship and religious activities. This hall was a place where priests conducted rituals and where the Israelites could gather for worship. The design of the temple, including the main hall, was inspired by the tabernacle, which was a portable sanctuary used by the Israelites during their wilderness journey. The main hall's construction reflects the transition from a temporary to a permanent place of worship, symbolizing stability and the establishment of God's presence among His people.

in front of this room
"This room" refers to the inner sanctuary or the Holy of Holies, which was the most sacred part of the temple. The Holy of Holies housed the Ark of the Covenant and was separated from the main hall by a veil. Only the high priest could enter the Holy of Holies, and only once a year on the Day of Atonement. The positioning of the main hall in front of the Holy of Holies signifies the progression from the outer courts to the inner sanctum, representing the journey towards God's presence. This layout is reminiscent of the tabernacle's structure and foreshadows the access to God made possible through Jesus Christ, who is described as our high priest in the New Testament.

was forty cubits long
A cubit is an ancient measurement roughly equivalent to 18 inches or 45 centimeters. Therefore, the main hall was approximately 60 feet or 18 meters long. The use of specific measurements in the temple's construction highlights the order and precision that God desired in His dwelling place. The number forty often appears in the Bible, symbolizing periods of testing, trial, or preparation, such as the forty years the Israelites spent in the wilderness. The length of the main hall may also reflect the grandeur and majesty of the temple, emphasizing its importance as a place of worship and a symbol of God's covenant with Israel.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Solomon
The king of Israel who was responsible for building the temple. His reign is marked by wisdom and prosperity, and the construction of the temple is one of his most significant achievements.

2. The Temple
The temple in Jerusalem, also known as Solomon's Temple, was the first temple built for the worship of Yahweh. It served as the central place of worship for the Israelites.

3. The Inner Sanctuary (Holy of Holies)
The most sacred part of the temple, where the Ark of the Covenant was kept. It symbolized God's presence among His people.

4. The Main Hall (Nave)
The larger room in front of the inner sanctuary, used for various temple rituals and activities. It was a place of gathering and worship.

5. Jerusalem
The city where the temple was built, serving as the political and spiritual center of Israel.
Teaching Points
The Importance of Worship
The temple's construction emphasizes the centrality of worship in the life of God's people. Worship should be a priority in our lives, reflecting our reverence and devotion to God.

God's Presence
The inner sanctuary symbolizes God's presence among His people. As believers, we are called to be aware of and cherish God's presence in our lives.

Attention to Detail
The specific dimensions and design of the temple highlight the importance of attention to detail in our service to God. We should strive for excellence in all we do for Him.

Legacy of Faith
Solomon's temple was a lasting legacy of faith and obedience. We are encouraged to consider the legacy we are building through our faith and actions.

Symbolism and Fulfillment
The temple foreshadows the coming of Christ, who is the ultimate fulfillment of God's promise to dwell with His people. We are reminded of the greater reality of Christ's presence in our lives.Verse 17. - And the house, that is, the temple before it [or, the anterior temple. The portion of the structure before the oracle is sometimes called, as here, "the house;" sometimes (as in ver, 5) "the temple; sometimes (as in ver. 4) "the temple of the house;" or, as here again, "the front temple," לִפְנַי is supposed to be an adjective formed from לִפְנֵי. Thenius, however, supposes that דְּבִיר (oracle) has fallen out of the text. Our author now describes the division of the building into holy and most holy place] was forty cubits long.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
And the main hall
הַהֵיכָ֥ל (ha·hê·ḵāl)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1964: A large public building, palace, temple

in front of [this room]
לִפְנָֽי׃ (lip̄·nāy)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 6440: The face

was
הָיָ֣ה (hā·yāh)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

forty
וְאַרְבָּעִ֥ים (wə·’ar·bā·‘îm)
Conjunctive waw | Number - common plural
Strong's 705: Forty

cubits [long].
בָּאַמָּ֖ה (bā·’am·māh)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 520: A mother, a cubit, a door-base


Links
1 Kings 6:17 NIV
1 Kings 6:17 NLT
1 Kings 6:17 ESV
1 Kings 6:17 NASB
1 Kings 6:17 KJV

1 Kings 6:17 BibleApps.com
1 Kings 6:17 Biblia Paralela
1 Kings 6:17 Chinese Bible
1 Kings 6:17 French Bible
1 Kings 6:17 Catholic Bible

OT History: 1 Kings 6:17 The house that is the temple before (1Ki iKi i Ki 1 Kg 1kg)
1 Kings 6:16
Top of Page
Top of Page