1 Kings 7:11
New International Version
Above were high-grade stones, cut to size, and cedar beams.

New Living Translation
The blocks of high-quality stone used in the walls were also cut to measure, and cedar beams were also used.

English Standard Version
And above were costly stones, cut according to measurement, and cedar.

Berean Standard Bible
Above these were costly stones, cut to size, and cedar beams.

King James Bible
And above were costly stones, after the measures of hewed stones, and cedars.

New King James Version
And above were costly stones, hewn to size, and cedar wood.

New American Standard Bible
And above were valuable stones, cut according to measure, and cedar.

NASB 1995
And above were costly stones, stone cut according to measure, and cedar.

NASB 1977
And above were costly stones, stone cut according to measure, and cedar.

Legacy Standard Bible
And above were precious stones, stone cut according to measure, and cedar.

Amplified Bible
And above [the foundation] were expensive stones, stones cut according to measure, and cedar.

Christian Standard Bible
Above were also costly stones, cut to size, as well as cedar wood.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Above were also costly stones, cut to size, as well as cedar wood.

American Standard Version
And above were costly stones, even hewn stone, according to measure, and cedar-wood.

Contemporary English Version
The cedar beams and other stones that had been cut to size were on top of these foundation stones.

English Revised Version
And above were costly stones, even hewn stone, according to measure, and cedar wood.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Above [the foundation] were cedar beams and high-grade stone blocks, which had been cut to size.

Good News Translation
On top of them were other stones, cut to measure, and cedar beams.

International Standard Version
Above these were expensive stones cut according to specifications, and cedar.

Majority Standard Bible
Above these were costly stones, cut to size, and cedar beams.

NET Bible
Above the foundation the best stones, chiseled to the right size, were used along with cedar.

New Heart English Bible
Above were costly stones, even cut stone, according to measure, and cedar wood.

Webster's Bible Translation
And above were costly stones, after the measures of hewn stones, and cedars.

World English Bible
Above were costly stones, even cut stone, according to measure, and cedar wood.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and precious stones [are] above, according to the measures of hewn work, and cedar;

Young's Literal Translation
and above are precious stone, according to the measures of hewn work, and cedar;

Smith's Literal Translation
And from above precious stones according to the measure of the cuttings and the cedars.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And above there were costly stones, or equal measure, hewed; and, in like manner, planks of cedar:

Catholic Public Domain Version
And above these, there were precious stones, of equal measure, which had been cut in a manner similar to boards of cedar.

New American Bible
Above were fine stones hewn to size, and cedar wood.

New Revised Standard Version
There were costly stones above, cut to measure, and cedarwood.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And above were costly stones, after the measures of hewn stones, and cedars.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
From above were costly stones according to the measure of cut stones and cedars.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And above were costly stones, after the measure of hewn stones, and cedar-wood.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And above with costly stones, according to the measure of hewn stones, and with cedars.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Solomon Builds His Palace
10The foundations were laid with large, costly stones, some ten cubits long and some eight cubits long. 11Above these were high-grade stones, cut to size, and cedar beams. 12The great courtyard was surrounded by three rows of dressed stone and a row of trimmed cedar beams, as were the inner courtyard and portico of the house of the LORD.…

Cross References
1 Kings 6:36
Solomon built the inner courtyard with three rows of dressed stone and one row of trimmed cedar beams.

2 Chronicles 4:9-10
He made the courtyard of the priests and the large court with its doors, and he overlaid the doors with bronze. / He put the Sea on the south side, at the southeast corner.

2 Chronicles 3:9
The weight of the nails was fifty shekels of gold. He also overlaid the upper rooms with gold.

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.

1 Kings 5:17-18
And the king commanded them to quarry large, costly stones to lay the foundation of the temple with dressed stones. / So Solomon’s and Hiram’s builders, along with the Gebalites, quarried the stone and prepared the timber and stone for the construction of the temple.

2 Chronicles 3:6
He adorned the temple with precious stones for beauty, and its gold was from Parvaim.

1 Kings 6:36
Solomon built the inner courtyard with three rows of dressed stone and one row of trimmed cedar beams.

1 Kings 6:15-18
He lined the interior walls with cedar paneling from the floor of the temple to the ceiling, and he covered the floor with cypress boards. / He 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. / And the main hall in front of this room was forty cubits long. ...

2 Chronicles 3:3-4
The foundation that Solomon laid for the house of God was sixty cubits long and twenty cubits wide, according to the old standard. / The portico at the front, extending across the width of the temple, was twenty cubits long and twenty cubits high. He overlaid the inside with pure gold.

1 Kings 6:20-22
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. / So Solomon overlaid the inside of the temple with pure gold, and he extended gold chains across the front of the inner sanctuary, which was overlaid with gold. / So he overlaid with gold the whole interior of the temple, until everything was completely finished. He also overlaid with gold the entire altar that belonged to the inner sanctuary.

1 Kings 6:29-30
Then he carved the walls all around the temple, in both the inner and outer sanctuaries, with carved engravings of cherubim, palm trees, and open flowers. / And he overlaid the temple floor with gold in both the inner and outer sanctuaries.

1 Kings 6:31-32
For the entrance to the inner sanctuary, Solomon constructed doors of olive wood with five-sided doorposts. / The 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.

1 Kings 6:14
So Solomon built the temple and finished it.

1 Kings 6:9
So Solomon built the temple and finished it, roofing it with beams and planks of cedar.

1 Kings 6:5-6
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. / 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.


Treasury of Scripture

And above were costly stones, after the measures of hewed stones, and cedars.

Ephesians 2:20-22
And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; …

1 Peter 2:5
Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

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Beams Cedar Cedars Cedar-Wood Costly Cut Hewed Hewn High-Grade Highly Measure Measurement Measures Overhead Priced Size Stone Stones Wood Work
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1 Kings 7
1. The building of Solomon's house
2. Of the house of Lebanon
6. Of the porch of pillars
7. Of the porch of judgment
8. Of the house for Pharaoh's daughter
13. Hiram's work of the two pillars,
23. Of the molten sea
27. Of the ten bases
38. Of the ten lavers
40. and all the vessels














Above these were costly stones
The use of costly stones in the construction of Solomon's temple and palace signifies the grandeur and wealth of the kingdom during his reign. These stones were likely quarried from the region around Jerusalem, known for its high-quality limestone. The use of such materials reflects the importance of the structures being built, as they were meant to be lasting and impressive. In biblical symbolism, stones often represent strength and permanence, qualities attributed to God's eternal nature and His covenant with Israel. The costly stones also highlight the fulfillment of God's promise to David that his son would build a house for the Lord (2 Samuel 7:13).

cut to size
The precision in cutting the stones to size indicates the advanced craftsmanship and engineering skills present during Solomon's time. This meticulous work ensured that the stones fit perfectly together, contributing to the stability and beauty of the structure. The phrase "cut to size" can also be seen as a metaphor for God's work in shaping His people, as seen in passages like Isaiah 64:8, where God is described as the potter and His people as the clay. This reflects the idea of divine preparation and purpose.

and cedar beams
Cedar wood was highly prized in the ancient Near East for its durability, fragrance, and resistance to decay and insects. The cedar beams used in Solomon's construction projects were imported from Lebanon, as mentioned in 1 Kings 5:6, where Solomon made a treaty with Hiram, king of Tyre, to supply the wood. This trade relationship underscores the political alliances and economic prosperity of Solomon's reign. Cedar is also associated with majesty and beauty in the Bible, as seen in Psalm 92:12, where the righteous are compared to the cedars of Lebanon. The use of cedar beams in the temple and palace construction can be seen as a type of Christ, who is described as the cornerstone and foundation of the Church (Ephesians 2:20), providing strength and support to His people.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Solomon
The king of Israel who commissioned the building of the temple and his palace. His reign is marked by wisdom and prosperity.

2. Temple of Solomon
A significant structure in Jerusalem, representing God's presence among His people. It was a place of worship and sacrifice.

3. Cedar Wood
A valuable and durable material used in ancient construction, symbolizing strength and longevity.

4. High-Grade Stones
Carefully selected and crafted stones, representing the quality and care in the construction of the temple.

5. Jerusalem
The city where the temple was built, serving as the spiritual and political center of Israel.
Teaching Points
The Importance of Quality in Worship
Just as Solomon used high-grade materials for the temple, our worship and service to God should be of the highest quality, reflecting our reverence and love for Him.

Symbolism of Materials
The use of cedar and stone in the temple construction symbolizes strength, durability, and beauty. In our spiritual lives, we should seek to build with materials that endure, such as faith, hope, and love.

God's Dwelling Place
The temple was a physical representation of God's presence. Today, believers are the temple of the Holy Spirit, called to live lives that honor and reflect God's holiness.

Continuity of God's Plan
The construction of the temple is part of God's unfolding plan of redemption, pointing forward to Christ and the establishment of the church as His spiritual temple.Verse 11. - And above [i.e., upon the foundation stones just described] were costly stones, after the measures of hewed stones [It is implied here that the stones of the superstructure were less than those of the foundation. It is also implied that the former were more carefully smoothed and. faced than the latter] and cedars. [Heb. cedar.]

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Above these
וּמִלְמַ֗עְלָה (ū·mil·ma‘·lāh)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-m, Preposition-l | Adverb | third person feminine singular
Strong's 4605: The upper part, with prefix upward, above, overhead, from the top

were high-grade
יְקָר֛וֹת (yə·qā·rō·wṯ)
Adjective - feminine plural
Strong's 3368: Precious, rare, splendid, weighty

stones,
אֲבָנִ֧ים (’ă·ḇā·nîm)
Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 68: A stone

cut
גָּזִ֖ית (gā·zîṯ)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 1496: Something cut, dressed stone

to size,
כְּמִדּ֥וֹת (kə·mid·dō·wṯ)
Preposition-k | Noun - feminine plural construct
Strong's 4060: Extension, height, breadth, a measure, a portion, a vestment, tribute

and cedar beams.
וָאָֽרֶז׃ (wā·’ā·rez)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 730: A cedar tree


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OT History: 1 Kings 7:11 Above were costly stones even cut stone (1Ki iKi i Ki 1 Kg 1kg)
1 Kings 7:10
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