1 Kings 6:27 And he placed the cherubim inside the innermost room of the temple. Since their wings were spread out, the wing of the first cherub touched one wall, while the wing of the second cherub touched the other wall, and in the middle of the room their wingtips touched.

◄ 1 Kings 6:27 ►

New International Version
He placed the cherubim inside the innermost room of the temple, with their wings spread out. The wing of one cherub touched one wall, while the wing of the other touched the other wall, and their wings touched each other in the middle of the room.

New Living Translation
He placed them side by side in the inner sanctuary of the Temple. Their outspread wings reached from wall to wall, while their inner wings touched at the center of the room.

English Standard Version
He put the cherubim in the innermost part of the house. And the wings of the cherubim were spread out so that a wing of one touched the one wall, and a wing of the other cherub touched the other wall; their other wings touched each other in the middle of the house.

Berean Standard Bible
And he placed the cherubim inside the innermost room of the temple. Since their wings were spread out, the wing of the first cherub touched one wall, while the wing of the second cherub touched the other wall, and in the middle of the room their wingtips touched.

King James Bible
And he set the cherubims within the inner house: and they stretched forth the wings of the cherubims, so that the wing of the one touched the one wall, and the wing of the other cherub touched the other wall; and their wings touched one another in the midst of the house.

New King James Version
Then he set the cherubim inside the inner room; and they stretched out the wings of the cherubim so that the wing of the one touched one wall, and the wing of the other cherub touched the other wall. And their wings touched each other in the middle of the room.

New American Standard Bible
He placed the cherubim in the midst of the inner house, and the wings of the cherubim spread out so that the wing of the one was touching the one wall, and the wing of the other cherub was touching the other wall. And their wings were touching end to end in the center of the house.

NASB 1995
He placed the cherubim in the midst of the inner house, and the wings of the cherubim were spread out, so that the wing of the one was touching the one wall, and the wing of the other cherub was touching the other wall. So their wings were touching each other in the center of the house.

NASB 1977
And he placed the cherubim in the midst of the inner house, and the wings of the cherubim were spread out, so that the wing of the one was touching the one wall, and the wing of the other cherub was touching the other wall. So their wings were touching each other in the center of the house.

Legacy Standard Bible
And he put the cherubim in the midst of the inner house, and the wings of the cherubim were spread out, so that the wing of the one was touching the one wall, and the wing of the other cherub was touching the other wall. And their wings were touching each other in the center of the house.

Amplified Bible
He put the cherubim [above the ark] inside the innermost room of the house, and their wings were spread out so that the wing of the one touched one wall, and the wing of the other cherub was touching the other wall; and their inner wings were touching each other in the middle of the house.

Christian Standard Bible
Then he put the cherubim inside the inner temple. Since their wings were spread out, the first one’s wing touched one wall while the second cherub’s wing touched the other wall, and in the middle of the temple their wings were touching wing to wing.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Then he put the cherubim inside the inner temple. Since their wings were spread out, the first one’s wing touched one wall while the second cherub’s wing touched the other wall, and in the middle of the temple their wings were touching wing to wing.

American Standard Version
And he set the cherubim within the inner house; and the wings of the cherubim were stretched forth, so that the wing of the one touched the one wall, and the wing of the other cherub touched the other wall; and their wings touched one another in the midst of the house.

Contemporary English Version
Solomon put them next to each other in the most holy place. Their wings were spread out and reached across the room.

English Revised Version
And he set the cherubim within the inner house: and the wings of the cherubim were stretched forth, so that the wing of the one touched the one wall, and the wing of the other cherub touched the other wall; and their wings touched one another in the midst of the house.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Solomon put the angels in the inner room of the temple. The wings of the angels extended so that the wing of one of the angels touched the one wall, and the wing of the other touched the other wall. Their remaining wings touched each other in the center of the room.

Good News Translation
They were placed side by side in the Most Holy Place, so that two of their outstretched wings touched each other in the middle of the room, and the other two wings touched the walls.

International Standard Version
Solomon placed the cherubim in the middle of the inner sanctuary, with their wings spread in such a way that the wing of one was touching the one wall and the opposite wing of the other cherub was touching the opposite wall. Furthermore, their wings in the center of the wall were touching each other wing-to-wing.

Majority Standard Bible
And he placed the cherubim inside the innermost room of the temple. Since their wings were spread out, the wing of the first cherub touched one wall, while the wing of the second cherub touched the other wall, and in the middle of the room their wingtips touched.

NET Bible
He put the cherubs in the inner sanctuary of the temple. Their wings were spread out. One of the first cherub's wings touched one wall and one of the other cherub's wings touched the opposite wall. The first cherub's other wing touched the second cherub's other wing in the middle of the room.

New Heart English Bible
He set the cherubim within the inner house; and the wings of the cherubim were stretched forth, so that the wing of the one touched the one wall, and the wing of the other cherub touched the other wall; and their wings touched one another in the midst of the house.

Webster's Bible Translation
And he set the cherubim within the inner house: and they stretched forth the wings of the cherubim, so that the wing of the one touched the one wall, and the wing of the other cherub touched the other wall; and their wings touched one another in the midst of the house.

World English Bible
He set the cherubim within the inner house. The wings of the cherubim were stretched out, so that the wing of the one touched the one wall and the wing of the other cherub touched the other wall; and their wings touched one another in the middle of the house.

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
and he sets the cherubim in the midst of the inner house, and they spread out the wings of the cherubim, and a wing of the first comes against the wall, and a wing of the second cherub is coming against the second wall, and their wings [stretched] into the midst of the house, coming wing against wing;

Young's Literal Translation
and he setteth the cherubs in the midst of the inner house, and they spread out the wings of the cherubs, and a wing of the one cometh against the wall, and a wing of the second cherub is coming against the second wall, and their wings are unto the midst of the house, coming wing against wing;

Smith's Literal Translation
And he will give the cherubims in the midst of the house within: and the cherubims will expand the wings, and the wing of the one will touch upon the wall, and the wing of the second cherub touched upon the second wall; and their wings touched wing to wing to the middle of the house.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
And he set the cherubims in the midst of the inner temple: and the cherubims stretched forth their wings, and the wing of the one touched one wall, and the wing of the other cherub touched the other wall: and the other wings in the midst of the temple touched one another.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And he stationed the cherubim in the middle of the inner temple. And the cherubim extended their wings, and the wing of the one was touching the wall, and the wing of the second cherub was touching the other wall. But the other wings, in the middle of the temple, were touching each another.

New American Bible
He placed the cherubim in the inmost part of the house; the wings of the cherubim were spread wide, so that one wing of the first touched the side wall and the wing of the second touched the other wall; the wings pointing to the middle of the room touched each other.

New Revised Standard Version
He put the cherubim in the innermost part of the house; the wings of the cherubim were spread out so that a wing of one was touching the one wall, and a wing of the other cherub was touching the other wall; their other wings toward the center of the house were touching wing to wing.

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
And he set the cherubim within the inner house; and the wings of the cherubim were stretched forth so that the wing of one touched the one wall, and the wing of the other cherub touched the other wall; and their wings touched each other in the middle of the house.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And he made the Cherubim within the inner house and the wings of the Cherubim spread out and touched the wing of one on the wall and the wing of the other Cherub touched on the other wall, and their wings which were in the midst of the house joined one another.

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
And he set the cherubim within the inner house; and the wings of the cherubim were stretched forth, so that the wing of the one touched the one wall, and the wing of the other cherub touched the other wall; and their wings touched one another in the midst of the house.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And both the cherubs were in the midst of the innermost part of the house; and they spread out their wings, and one wing touched the wall, and the wing of the other cherub touched the other wall; and their wings in the midst of the house touched each other.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

The Cherubim
…26and the height of each cherub was ten cubits. 27And he placed the cherubim inside the innermost room of the temple. Since their wings were spread out, the wing of the first cherub touched one wall, while the wing of the second cherub touched the other wall, and in the middle of the room their wingtips touched. 28He also overlaid the cherubim with gold.…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

2 Chronicles 3:10-13
In the Most Holy Place he made two cherubim of sculptured work, and he overlaid them with gold. / The total wingspan of the cherubim was twenty cubits. One wing of the first cherub was five cubits long and touched the wall of the temple, and its other wing was five cubits long and touched the wing of the other cherub. / The wing of the second cherub also measured five cubits and touched the wall of the temple, while its other wing measured five cubits and touched the wing of the first cherub. ...

Exodus 25:18-20
Make two cherubim of hammered gold at the ends of the mercy seat, / one cherub on one end and one on the other, all made from one piece of gold. / And the cherubim are to have wings that spread upward, overshadowing the mercy seat. The cherubim are to face each other, looking toward the mercy seat.

Ezekiel 41:18-20
were alternating carved cherubim and palm trees. Each cherub had two faces: / the face of a man was toward the palm tree on one side, and the face of a young lion was toward the palm tree on the other side. They were carved all the way around the temple. / Cherubim and palm trees were carved on the wall of the outer sanctuary from the floor to the space above the entrance.

Hebrews 9:5
Above the ark were the cherubim of glory, overshadowing the mercy seat. But we cannot discuss these things in detail now.

Exodus 37:7-9
He made two cherubim of hammered gold at the ends of the mercy seat, / one cherub on one end and one on the other, all made from one piece of gold. / And the cherubim had wings that spread upward, overshadowing the mercy seat. The cherubim faced each other, looking toward the mercy seat.

2 Chronicles 5:7-8
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.

Isaiah 6:2
Above Him stood seraphim, each having six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying.

Revelation 4:6-8
And before the throne was something like a sea of glass, as clear as crystal. In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures, covered with eyes in front and back. / The first living creature was like a lion, the second like a calf, the third had a face like a man, and the fourth was like an eagle in flight. / And each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around and within. Day and night they never stop saying: “Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!”

Exodus 26:1
“You are to construct the tabernacle itself with ten curtains of finely spun linen, each with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and cherubim skillfully worked into them.

1 Kings 8:6-7
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.

Psalm 80:1
For the choirmaster. To the tune of “The Lilies of the Covenant.” A Psalm of Asaph. Hear us, O Shepherd of Israel, who leads Joseph like a flock; You who sit enthroned between the cherubim, shine forth

Exodus 36:8
All the skilled craftsmen among the workmen made the ten curtains for the tabernacle. They were made of finely spun linen, as well as blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, with cherubim skillfully worked into them.

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 26:31
Make a veil of blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and finely spun linen, with cherubim skillfully worked into it.

Ezekiel 10:1-2
And I looked and saw above the expanse, above the heads of the cherubim, the likeness of a throne of sapphire. / And the LORD said to the man clothed in linen, “Go inside the wheelwork beneath the cherubim. Fill your hands with burning coals from among the cherubim and scatter them over the city.” And as I watched, he went in.

Treasury of Scripture

And he set the cherubim within the inner house: and they stretched forth the wings of the cherubim, so that the wing of the one touched the one wall, and the wing of the other cherub touched the other wall; and their wings touched one another in the middle of the house.

Exodus 25:20
And the cherubims shall stretch forth their wings on high, covering the mercy seat with their wings, and their faces shall look one to another; toward the mercy seat shall the faces of the cherubims be.

Exodus 37:9
And the cherubims spread out their wings on high, and covered with their wings over the mercy seat, with their faces one to another; even to the mercy seatward were the faces of the cherubims.

2 Chronicles 3:11
And the wings of the cherubims were twenty cubits long: one wing of the one cherub was five cubits, reaching to the wall of the house: and the other wing was likewise five cubits, reaching to the wing of the other cherub.

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Center Cherub Cherubim Forth House Inner Innermost Inside Middle Midst Part Placed Room Spread Stretched Touched Touching Wall Wing Wings Within

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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

Berean Study Bible

He placed the cherubim
The act of placing the cherubim signifies the intentionality and divine order in the construction of the temple. The cherubim, often associated with the presence of God, are symbolic of His holiness and majesty. In Hebrew, "cherubim" (כְּרוּבִים) are celestial beings that serve as guardians of sacred spaces, reminiscent of their role in guarding the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:24). Their placement in the inner sanctuary underscores the sanctity and divine protection of this sacred space.

inside the inner sanctuary
The "inner sanctuary," also known as the Holy of Holies, was the most sacred part of the temple, where the presence of God was believed to dwell. In Hebrew, this is referred to as the "Debir" (דְּבִיר), a place set apart for the Ark of the Covenant. The inner sanctuary's exclusivity and holiness reflect the separation between God and man, a theme prevalent throughout the Old Testament, highlighting the need for reverence and purity when approaching God.

Since their wings were spread out
The spreading of the cherubim's wings symbolizes protection and the encompassing presence of God. In ancient Near Eastern iconography, wings often represented speed and divine intervention. The imagery of spread wings conveys a sense of readiness and the omnipresence of God, who covers and protects His people.

the wing of one cherub touched one wall
This detail emphasizes the grandeur and scale of the cherubim, as well as the meticulous design of the temple. The touching of the wall signifies the cherubim's role in connecting the divine with the earthly realm. It also illustrates the idea of God's presence filling the entire space, leaving no part untouched by His glory.

while the wing of the other touched the other wall
The symmetry in the description of the cherubim's wings touching opposite walls highlights the balance and harmony in God's creation. It serves as a reminder of God's order and perfection, as well as His ability to bridge gaps and bring unity.

and their wings touched one another in the middle of the room
The touching of the wings in the center of the room symbolizes unity and completeness. It represents the meeting point of divine presence, where heaven and earth converge. This central touching point can be seen as a foreshadowing of Christ, who serves as the mediator between God and humanity, bringing reconciliation and peace.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 27. - And he set the cherubims within the inner house: and they stretched forth the wings of the cherubims [The marg. reading, the cherubim stretched forth their wings, is altogether inadmissible], so that the wing of the one touched the one wall, and the wing of the other cherub touched the other wan, and their wings touched one another in the midst of the house. [In 2 Chronicles 3:10 we are told that the cherubim were of "image work" (the meaning of the Hebrews word is unknown). We also learn that they "stood on their feet" and, unlike the cherubim of the tabernacle, which faced each other (Exodus 27:9), faced the throne, i.e., the cedar partition, and the east. The object of this arrangement probably was to enable the wings to be stretched out across the sanctuary. In the tabernacle the wings were "spread out on high" (Exodus 25:20; Exodus 27:9). In both cases the ark and mercy seat were placed under the overshadowing wings (ch. 8:6). There would be a clear space of eight or nine cubits between the bodies of the cherubim, and the ark only measured 2.5 cubits (Exodus 25:10) in length and 1.5 cubits in breadth. Unlike Ezekiel's cherubim (Ezekiel chs. 1, 10; cf. Revelation 4:7), these had apparently but one face. The cherub was not a simple, but a complex being, having no unalterable and fixed form. See Bahr, Symbolik, 1. pp. 313, 314; Dict. Bib. vol. 1. pp. 301-303.]

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

And he placed
וַיִּתֵּ֨ן (way·yit·tên)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5414: To give, put, set

the cherubim
הַכְּרוּבִ֜ים (hak·kə·rū·ḇîm)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 3742: Probably an order of angelic beings

inside
בְּת֣וֹךְ ׀ (bə·ṯō·wḵ)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 8432: A bisection, the centre

the innermost room
הַפְּנִימִ֗י (hap·pə·nî·mî)
Article | Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 6442: Interior

of the temple.
הַבַּ֣יִת (hab·ba·yiṯ)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1004: A house

Since their
הַכְּרֻבִים֒ (hak·kə·ru·ḇîm)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 3742: Probably an order of angelic beings

wings
כַּנְפֵ֣י (kan·p̄ê)
Noun - feminine plural construct
Strong's 3671: An edge, extremity, a wing, a flap, a quarter, a pinnacle

were spread out,
וַֽיִּפְרְשׂוּ֮ (way·yip̄·rə·śū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 6566: To break apart, disperse

the wing
כְּנַף־ (kə·nap̄-)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 3671: An edge, extremity, a wing, a flap, a quarter, a pinnacle

of the first [cherub]
הָֽאֶחָד֙ (hā·’e·ḥāḏ)
Article | Number - masculine singular
Strong's 259: United, one, first

touched
וַתִּגַּ֤ע (wat·tig·ga‘)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 5060: To touch, lay the hand upon, to reach, violently, to strike

one wall,
בַּקִּ֔יר (baq·qîr)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7023: A wall

while the wing
וּכְנַף֙ (ū·ḵə·nap̄)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 3671: An edge, extremity, a wing, a flap, a quarter, a pinnacle

of the second
הַשֵּׁנִ֔י (haš·šê·nî)
Article | Number - ordinal masculine singular
Strong's 8145: Second (an ordinal number)

cherub
הַכְּר֣וּב (hak·kə·rūḇ)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3742: Probably an order of angelic beings

touched
נֹגַ֖עַת (nō·ḡa·‘aṯ)
Verb - Qal - Participle - feminine singular
Strong's 5060: To touch, lay the hand upon, to reach, violently, to strike

the other
הַשֵּׁנִ֑י (haš·šê·nî)
Article | Number - ordinal masculine singular
Strong's 8145: Second (an ordinal number)

wall,
בַּקִּ֣יר (baq·qîr)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7023: A wall

and in
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

the middle
תּ֣וֹךְ (tō·wḵ)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 8432: A bisection, the centre

of the room
הַבַּ֔יִת (hab·ba·yiṯ)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1004: A house

their wingtips
וְכַנְפֵיהֶם֙ (wə·ḵan·p̄ê·hem)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine plural construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 3671: An edge, extremity, a wing, a flap, a quarter, a pinnacle

touched.
נֹגְעֹ֖ת (nō·ḡə·‘ōṯ)
Verb - Qal - Participle - feminine plural
Strong's 5060: To touch, lay the hand upon, to reach, violently, to strike

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OT History: 1 Kings 6:27 He set the cherubim within the inner (1Ki iKi i Ki 1 Kg 1kg)