1 Kings 6:6
New International Version
The lowest floor was five cubits wide, the middle floor six cubits and the third floor seven. He made offset ledges around the outside of the temple so that nothing would be inserted into the temple walls.

New Living Translation
The complex was three stories high, the bottom floor being 7 1 / 2 feet wide, the second floor 9 feet wide, and the top floor 10 1 / 2 feet wide. The rooms were connected to the walls of the Temple by beams resting on ledges built out from the wall. So the beams were not inserted into the walls themselves.

English Standard Version
The lowest story was five cubits broad, the middle one was six cubits broad, and the third was seven cubits broad. For around the outside of the house he made offsets on the wall in order that the supporting beams should not be inserted into the walls of the house.

Berean Standard Bible
The bottom floor was five cubits wide, the middle floor six cubits, and the third floor seven cubits. He also placed offset ledges around the outside of the temple, so that nothing would be inserted into its walls.

King James Bible
The nethermost chamber was five cubits broad, and the middle was six cubits broad, and the third was seven cubits broad: for without in the wall of the house he made narrowed rests round about, that the beams should not be fastened in the walls of the house.

New King James Version
The lowest chamber was five cubits wide, the middle was six cubits wide, and the third was seven cubits wide; for he made narrow ledges around the outside of the temple, so that the support beams would not be fastened into the walls of the temple.

New American Standard Bible
The lowest story was five cubits wide, the middle was six cubits wide, and the third was seven cubits wide; for on the outside he made offsets in the wall of the house all around so that the beams would not be inserted into the walls of the house.

NASB 1995
The lowest story was five cubits wide, and the middle was six cubits wide, and the third was seven cubits wide; for on the outside he made offsets in the wall of the house all around in order that the beams would not be inserted in the walls of the house.

NASB 1977
The lowest story was five cubits wide, and the middle was six cubits wide, and the third was seven cubits wide; for on the outside he made offsets in the wall of the house all around in order that the beams should not be inserted in the walls of the house.

Legacy Standard Bible
The lowest story was five cubits wide, and the middle was six cubits wide, and the third was seven cubits wide; for on the outside he made offsets in the wall of the house all around in order that the beams would not be inserted in the walls of the house.

Amplified Bible
The lowest story was five cubits wide, the middle was six cubits wide, and the third was seven cubits wide; for he made offsets (niches) in the walls all around on the outside of the house so that the supporting beams would not be inserted into the walls of the house.

Christian Standard Bible
The lowest chamber was 7 1 /2 feet wide, the middle was 9 feet wide, and the third was 10 1 /2 feet wide. He also provided offset ledges for the temple all around the outside so that nothing would be inserted into the temple walls.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The lowest chamber was 7 1/2 feet wide, the middle was nine feet wide, and the third was 10 1/2 feet wide. He also provided offset ledges for the temple all around the outside so that nothing would be inserted into the temple walls.

American Standard Version
The nethermost story was five cubits broad, and the middle was six cubits broad, and the third was seven cubits broad; for on the outside he made offsets in the wall of the house round about, that the beams should not have hold in the walls of the house.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And he made a lower circular corridor five cubits in its width, and a middle one six cubits in its width, and a third, seven cubits in its width, because a jutting out part was made for the house as a circle from outside that would shut the walls within walls.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
The under side was five cubits broad, and the middle part six, and the third was seven cubits broad; for he formed an interval to the house round about without the house, that they might not touch the walls of the house.

Douay-Rheims Bible
The floor that was underneath, was five cubits in breadth, and the middle floor was six cubits in breadth, and the third door was seven cubits in breadth. And he put beams in the house round about on the outside, that they might not be fastened in the walls of the temple.

English Revised Version
The nethermost story was five cubits broad, and the middle was six cubits broad, and the third was seven cubits broad: for on the outside he made rebatements in the wall of the house round about, that the beams should not have hold in the walls of the house.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The [interior of] the lowest story of the annex was 7 1/2 feet wide, the second story was 9 feet wide, and the third story was 10 1/2 feet wide. Solomon made ledges all around the temple so that this annex would not be fastened to the walls of the temple.

Good News Translation
Each room in the lowest story was 7� feet wide, in the middle story 9 feet wide, and in the top story 10� feet wide. The Temple wall on each floor was thinner than on the floor below, so that the rooms could rest on the wall without having their beams built into it.

International Standard Version
The lower structures were five cubits wide, the middle structures were six cubits wide and the third structures were seven cubits wide. Offsets were placed all around the Temple so that beams would not protrude through the walls of the Temple.

JPS Tanakh 1917
the nethermost story of the side-structure was five cubits broad, and the middle was six cubits broad, and the third was seven cubits broad; for on the outside he made rebatements in the wall of the house round about, that the beams should not have hold in the walls of the house.--

Literal Standard Version
The lowest couch, its breadth [is] five by the cubit; and the middle, its breadth [is] six by the cubit; and the third, its breadth [is] seven by the cubit, for he has put withdrawings of the house all around outside—not to lay hold on the walls of the house.

Majority Standard Bible
The bottom floor was five cubits wide, the middle floor six cubits, and the third floor seven cubits. He also placed offset ledges around the outside of the temple, so that nothing would be inserted into its walls.

New American Bible
The lowest story was five cubits wide, the middle one six cubits wide, the third seven cubits wide, because he put recesses along the outside of the house to avoid fastening anything into the walls of the house.

NET Bible
The bottom floor of the extension was seven and a half feet wide, the middle floor nine feet wide, and the third floor ten and a half feet wide. He made ledges on the temple's outer walls so the beams would not have to be inserted into the walls.

New Revised Standard Version
The lowest story was five cubits wide, the middle one was six cubits wide, and the third was seven cubits wide; for around the outside of the house he made offsets on the wall in order that the supporting beams should not be inserted into the walls of the house.

New Heart English Bible
The lowest story was eight feet and seven inches broad, and the middle was ten feet and four inches broad, and the third was twelve feet and one inch broad; for on the outside he made offsets in the wall of the house all around, that the beams should not have hold in the walls of the house.

Webster's Bible Translation
The nethermost chamber was five cubits broad, and the middle was six cubits broad, and the third was seven cubits broad: for without in the wall of the house he made narrowed rests round about, that the beams should not be fastened in the walls of the house.

World English Bible
The lowest floor was five cubits wide, and the middle was six cubits wide, and the third was seven cubits wide; for on the outside he made offsets in the wall of the house all around, that the beams should not be inserted into the walls of the house.

Young's Literal Translation
The lowest couch, five by the cubit is its breadth; and the middle, six by the cubit is its breadth; and the third, seven by the cubit is its breadth, for withdrawings he hath put to the house round about, without -- not to lay hold on the walls of the house.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Chambers
5Against the walls of the temple and the inner sanctuary, Solomon built a chambered structure around the temple, in which he constructed the side rooms. 6The bottom floor was five cubits wide, the middle floor six cubits, and the third floor seven cubits. He also placed offset ledges around the outside of the temple, so that nothing would be inserted into its walls. 7The temple was constructed using finished stones cut at the quarry, so that no hammer or chisel or any other iron tool was heard in the temple while it was being built.…

Cross References
1 Kings 6:5
Against the walls of the temple and the inner sanctuary, Solomon built a chambered structure around the temple, in which he constructed the side rooms.

1 Kings 6:7
The temple was constructed using finished stones cut at the quarry, so that no hammer or chisel or any other iron tool was heard in the temple while it was being built.

Ezekiel 41:6
The side rooms were arranged one above another in three levels of thirty rooms each. There were ledges all around the wall of the temple to serve as supports for the side rooms, so that the supports would not be fastened into the wall of the temple itself.


Treasury of Scripture

The nethermost chamber was five cubits broad, and the middle was six cubits broad, and the third was seven cubits broad: for without in the wall of the house he made narrowed rests round about, that the beams should not be fastened in the walls of the house.

narrowed rests.

Jump to Previous
Beams Broad Chamber Cubits Fastened Five Hold House Lowest Middle Nethermost Offsets Outside Rests Round Seven Side-Structure Six Story Third Wall Walls Wide
Jump to Next
Beams Broad Chamber Cubits Fastened Five Hold House Lowest Middle Nethermost Offsets Outside Rests Round Seven Side-Structure Six Story Third Wall Walls Wide
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














Verse 6. - The nethermost chamber [Heb. floor; cf. Ezekiel 41:6] was five cubits broad [It must be remembered that all the measurements are those of the interior], and the middle was six cubits broad, and the third was seven cubits broad: for [Explanation how these differences of size arose] without [i.e., on the outside] in the wall of [Heb. omits] the house [main building - nave, and chancel] he made [Heb. put] narrowed rests [marg. "narrowings or rebatements," The word מִגְרָעות means lessenings, deductions; Absatze, Gesen. (Thesaurus, 1:804), Bahr.

PICTURE OF CHAMBER The outside of the temple wall took the shape of three (or four) steps, and presented three ledges for the beams to rest upon. See below] round about [same word as in ver. 5. The recesses in the wall ran round the north, west, and south sides of the building; they were co-extensive, i.e., with the flats or side chambers], that the beams should not be fastened [Heb. that no fastening] into the walls of the house. [The meaning is perfectly clear, viz., that the timbers should not be let into the walls, ("they had not hold in the wall of the house," Ezekiel 41:6); but why this was forbidden is not quite so certain. According to Bahr, it was in order to preserve the great and costly stones of the temple intact; but others, with greater probability, hold that it was because it appeared unseemly to have the side chambers, which were for semi-secular purposes (cubicles, perhaps), made an actual part of the sacred edifice. Anyhow, it is clear that the beams rested on ledges made in the walls; but whether in the temple wall only, or in the outer wall of the side structure also, is uncertain. The preceding sketch will not only illustrate the difference, but will help the reader to understand the description preceding. In drawing (1) rebatements are showed only in the temple or inner wall, In (2) they are showed in both walls. In (1) the edifice is represented with a fiat; in (2) with a span roof. Keil decides in favour of the first arrangement (1), and Bahr says somewhat positively, "The outer wall of the structure had no rests." In fact, he suggests that the whole of this side building may have been of wood. It must be admitted that we do know that there were rebatements in the wall A, whereas nothing is said as to the outer wall B. It may also be reasonably alleged that the considerations of fitness and sacredness which forbade the insertion of the beams into the sanctuary wall would not apply to the outer wall, which was a part of the side structure only. Against this view, however, may be urged the extreme thickness of wall which this method of building would necessitate. For unless we suppose that the floor of the ground story rested on the rock, and so was quite detached from the building, we must suppose four rebatements, so that if the wall at the top were two cubits wide, it would be no less than six cubits (or nine feet) at the bottom. It is true that the walls of ancient buildings were of extraordinary thickness, but it must also be remembered that the temple was not fifty feet high. However, Ezekiel 41:9 suggests that the outside wall (B) may have been five cubits in thickness, and, if so, the inner wall would hardly be less. Fergusson, therefore, has some justification for putting each wall down as five cubits wide; but on the whole, perhaps, the plan represented in (1) appears the more probable. The historian here digresses for a moment to speak of the remarkable and, indeed, unprecedented way in which the temple was built, The stories were shaped and prepared beforehand in the quarry, so that there was nothing to do on their arrival in the temple area but to fit them into their place in the building.]

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
The bottom
הַתַּחְתֹּנָ֜ה (hat·taḥ·tō·nāh)
Article | Adjective - feminine singular
Strong's 8481: Lower, lowest

floor [was]
הַיָּצִ֨יעַ (hay·yā·ṣî·a‘)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3326: Spread, a bed, an extension, wing, lean-to

five
חָמֵ֧שׁ (ḥā·mêš)
Number - feminine singular
Strong's 2568: Five

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

wide,
רָחְבָּ֗הּ (rā·ḥə·bāh)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person feminine singular
Strong's 7341: Breadth, width

the middle floor
וְהַתִּֽיכֹנָה֙ (wə·hat·tî·ḵō·nāh)
Conjunctive waw, Article | Adjective - feminine singular
Strong's 8484: Central

six
שֵׁ֤שׁ (šêš)
Number - feminine singular
Strong's 8337: Six (a cardinal number)

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

and the third [floor]
וְהַ֨שְּׁלִישִׁ֔ית (wə·haš·šə·lî·šîṯ)
Conjunctive waw, Article | Number - ordinal feminine singular
Strong's 7992: Third, feminine a, third, a third, a third-story cell)

seven
שֶׁ֥בַע (še·ḇa‘)
Number - feminine singular
Strong's 7651: Seven, seven times, a week, an indefinite number

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

He also placed
נָתַ֨ן (nā·ṯan)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5414: To give, put, set

offset ledges
מִגְרָעוֹת֩ (miḡ·rā·‘ō·wṯ)
Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 4052: A ledge, offset

all around
סָבִיב֙ (sā·ḇîḇ)
Adverb
Strong's 5439: A circle, neighbour, environs, around

the outside
ח֔וּצָה (ḥū·ṣāh)
Noun - masculine singular | third person feminine singular
Strong's 2351: Separate by a, wall, outside, outdoors

of the temple,
לַבַּ֤יִת (lab·ba·yiṯ)
Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1004: A house

so that nothing
לְבִלְתִּ֖י (lə·ḇil·tî)
Preposition-l
Strong's 1115: A failure of, not, except, without, unless, besides, because not, until

would be inserted
אֲחֹ֥ז (’ă·ḥōz)
Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 270: To grasp, take hold, take possession

into [its]
הַבָּֽיִת׃ (hab·bā·yiṯ)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1004: A house

walls.
בְּקִֽירוֹת־ (bə·qî·rō·wṯ-)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 7023: A wall


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

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

OT History: 1 Kings 6:6 The nethermost story was five cubits broad (1Ki iKi i Ki 1 Kg 1kg)
1 Kings 6:5
Top of Page
Top of Page