1 Kings 7:3
New International Version
It was roofed with cedar above the beams that rested on the columns—forty-five beams, fifteen to a row.

New Living Translation
The hall had a cedar roof. Above the beams on the pillars were forty-five side rooms, arranged in three tiers of fifteen each.

English Standard Version
And it was covered with cedar above the chambers that were on the forty-five pillars, fifteen in each row.

Berean Standard Bible
The house was roofed with cedar above the beams that rested on the pillars—forty-five beams, fifteen per row.

King James Bible
And it was covered with cedar above upon the beams, that lay on forty five pillars, fifteen in a row.

New King James Version
And it was paneled with cedar above the beams that were on forty-five pillars, fifteen to a row.

New American Standard Bible
And it was paneled with cedar above the side chambers which were on the forty-five pillars, fifteen in each row.

NASB 1995
It was paneled with cedar above the side chambers which were on the 45 pillars, 15 in each row.

NASB 1977
And it was paneled with cedar above the side chambers which were on the 45 pillars, 15 in each row.

Legacy Standard Bible
And it was paneled with cedar above the side chambers which were on the 45 pillars, 15 in each row.

Amplified Bible
And it was covered with cedar [as a roof] on the supporting beams that were upon the forty-five pillars, fifteen in each row.

Christian Standard Bible
It was paneled above with cedar at the top of the chambers that rested on forty-five pillars, fifteen per row.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
It was paneled above with cedar at the top of the chambers that rested on 45 pillars, 15 per row.

American Standard Version
And it was covered with cedar above over the forty and five beams, that were upon the pillars; fifteen in a row.

English Revised Version
And it was covered with cedar above over the forty and five beams, that were upon the pillars; fifteen in a row.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The hall was covered with cedar above the side rooms, which were supported by 45 pillars

International Standard Version
There were 45 pillars paneled with cedar above the side chambers, with rows of fifteen pillars,

Majority Standard Bible
The house was roofed with cedar above the beams that rested on the pillars—forty-five beams, fifteen per row.

NET Bible
The roof above the beams supported by the pillars was also made of cedar; there were forty-five beams, fifteen per row.

New Heart English Bible
It was covered with cedar above atop the beams which were on the pillars, and the pillars numbered forty-five; fifteen in a row.

Webster's Bible Translation
And it was covered with cedar above upon the beams, that lay on forty-five pillars, fifteen in a row.

World English Bible
It was covered with cedar above over the forty-five beams that were on the pillars, fifteen in a row.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and [it is] covered with cedar above, on the sides that [are] on the forty-five pillars, fifteen in the row.

Young's Literal Translation
and it is covered with cedar above, on the sides that are on the forty and five pillars, fifteen in the row.

Smith's Literal Translation
And it was covered with cedar from above upon the ribs which were upon the forty and five pillars, fifteen to the row.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And he covered the whole vault with boards of cedar, and it was held up with five and forty pillars. And one row had fifteen pillars,

Catholic Public Domain Version
And he clothed the entire vaulted room with panels of cedar. And it was supported by forty-five columns. Now one row held fifteen columns,

New American Bible
Moreover, it had a ceiling of cedar above the rafters resting on the columns; these rafters numbered forty-five, fifteen to a row.

New Revised Standard Version
It was roofed with cedar on the forty-five rafters, fifteen in each row, which were on the pillars.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And it was covered with cedar above upon beams that lay upon forty-five pillars, fifteen in a row.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And he covered them with cedar from above, over the saplings that were upon the pillars, forty and five cubits, fifteen per row.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And it was covered with cedar above upon the side-chambers, that lay on forty and five pillars, fifteen in a row.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And he formed the house with chambers above on the sides of the pillars, and the number of the pillars was each row forty and five,

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Solomon Builds His Palace
2He built the House of the Forest of Lebanon a hundred cubits long, fifty cubits wide, and thirty cubits high, with four rows of cedar pillars supporting the cedar beams. 3The house was roofed with cedar above the beams that rested on the pillars— forty-five beams, fifteen per row. 4There were three rows of high windows facing one another in three tiers.…

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.

1 Kings 6:9-10
So Solomon built the temple and finished it, roofing it with beams and planks of cedar. / He built chambers all along the temple, each five cubits high and attached to the temple with beams of cedar.

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 4:1-5
He made a bronze altar twenty cubits long, twenty cubits wide, and ten cubits high. / He also made the Sea of cast metal. It was circular in shape, measuring ten cubits from rim to rim, five cubits in height, and thirty cubits in circumference. / Below the rim, figures of oxen encircled it, ten per cubit all the way around the Sea, cast in two rows as a part of the Sea. ...

Exodus 26:15-30
You are to construct upright frames of acacia wood for the tabernacle. / Each frame is to be ten cubits long and a cubit and a half wide. / Two tenons must be connected to each other for each frame. Make all the frames of the tabernacle in this way. ...

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

1 Kings 6:2
The house that King Solomon built for the LORD was sixty cubits long, twenty cubits wide, and thirty cubits high.

2 Chronicles 3:8-9
Then he made the Most Holy Place; its length corresponded to the width of the temple—twenty cubits long and twenty cubits wide. And he overlaid the inside with six hundred talents of fine gold. / The weight of the nails was fifty shekels of gold. He also overlaid the upper rooms with gold.

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.

2 Chronicles 3:11-13
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. / So the total wingspan of these cherubim was twenty cubits. They stood on their feet, facing the main room.

1 Kings 6:23-28
In the inner sanctuary he made two cherubim, each ten cubits high, out of olive wood. / One wing of the first cherub was five cubits long, and the other wing was five cubits long as well. So the full wingspan was ten cubits. / The second cherub also measured ten cubits; both cherubim had the same size and shape, ...

2 Chronicles 3:14
He made the veil of blue, purple, and crimson yarn and fine linen, with cherubim woven into it.

1 Kings 6:31-35
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. / In the same way he made four-sided doorposts of olive wood for the sanctuary entrance. ...

2 Chronicles 3:10
In the Most Holy Place he made two cherubim of sculptured work, and he overlaid them with gold.


Treasury of Scripture

And it was covered with cedar above on the beams, that lay on forty five pillars, fifteen in a row.

beams [heb] ribs

1 Kings 6:5
And against the wall of the house he built chambers round about, against the walls of the house round about, both of the temple and of the oracle: and he made chambers round about:

Jump to Previous
Beams Cedar Chambers Covered Fifteen Five Forty Forty-Five Lay Paneled Pillars Rested Roofed Row Side Side-Chambers Supports
Jump to Next
Beams Cedar Chambers Covered Fifteen Five Forty Forty-Five Lay Paneled Pillars Rested Roofed Row Side Side-Chambers Supports
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














The house
This phrase refers to the "House of the Forest of Lebanon," a significant structure built by King Solomon. The Hebrew word for "house" is "בַּיִת" (bayit), which can denote a dwelling place or temple. In this context, it signifies a grand and majestic building, reflecting Solomon's wealth and the kingdom's prosperity. The "house" symbolizes stability and the establishment of God's promises to Israel through Solomon's reign.

was roofed with cedar
Cedar wood, known in Hebrew as "אֶרֶז" (erez), was highly valued in ancient times for its durability, fragrance, and resistance to decay. The use of cedar for roofing indicates the opulence and quality of the construction. Cedar was imported from Lebanon, highlighting the international relationships and trade agreements Solomon established. Spiritually, cedar represents strength and longevity, qualities that are desirable in the life of a believer.

above the beams
The Hebrew word for "beams" is "קָרוֹת" (qarot), which refers to the structural supports of the building. These beams were essential for the stability and integrity of the house. In a spiritual sense, beams can symbolize the foundational truths of faith that support and uphold a believer's life. Just as the beams were necessary for the physical structure, so are the doctrines and teachings of Scripture vital for spiritual growth and stability.

that rested on forty-five pillars
The number "forty-five" is significant in biblical numerology, often associated with trial, testing, and divine order. The Hebrew word for "pillars" is "עַמּוּדִים" (ammudim), which can also mean columns or supports. These pillars were not only functional but also decorative, showcasing the grandeur of Solomon's construction. In a spiritual context, pillars can represent the strength and support provided by God's promises and the community of faith.

fifteen per row
The arrangement of "fifteen per row" suggests a well-organized and symmetrical design, reflecting the order and precision of God's creation. The number fifteen in Hebrew thought can symbolize rest and deliverance, as it is the sum of seven (completion) and eight (new beginnings). This arrangement underscores the balance and harmony that should characterize the life of a believer, rooted in the peace and deliverance found in Christ.

Verse 3. - And it was covered [or roofed] with cedar above [cf. 6:9, 15] upon the beams [צְלָעות lit., ribs, the word used in 1 Kings 6:5 of the side chambers, and in 1 Kings 6:34 (in the masculine) of the leaves of the doors], that lay on forty-five pillars, fifteen in a row. [Rawlinson, al. are much exercised to reconcile this statement with that of ver. 2, which speaks of four rows, But the explanation is very simple, viz., that the "forty-five, fifteen in a row" does not refer to the pillars but to the side chambers or compartments (A.V., "beams"). The description is so very loose and general that positive statements are out of place, but the meaning certainly appears to be this, that there was a roofing of cedar over the side chambers (which rested upon the pillars mentioned in ver. 2) forty-five in number, fifteen in a row. It is true the Masoretic punctuation is against this view. It is also clear that the LXX. understood the numbers forty-five and fifteen to refer to the pillars, for they have essayed to cut the knot by reading three rows instead of "four rows," in ver. 2. Similarly the Arab. in ver. 3 reads sixty instead of forty-five; obviously another desperate attempt to solve the difficulty by a corruption of the text. But the solution suggested above is so simple and natural that we can hardly be wrong in adopting it. Bahr says positively that forty-five pillars could not have supported a structure 100 cubits by 50 cubits, "nor could the building have been named ' forest of Lebanon' from forty-five scattered pillars." It would follow hence, that there were side chambers only on three sides of the building, as was the case in the temple. And if (as has been inferred from vers. 4, 5) a three-storied structure is here described; if, that is to say, the forty-five chambers were divided fifteen to a tier or story, it is highly probable that they would be distributed six to each long side and three to the rear (Bahr). This arrangement - a court surrounded by a colonnade and galleries - is still found in the East; as all travellers know. And in its favour it may be said that it is such as to have been suggested by the plan of the temple. The ground plan is the same, with this difference, that a courtyard occupies the place of the temple proper.]

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
[The house] was roofed
וְסָפֻ֣ן (wə·sā·p̄un)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - masculine singular
Strong's 5603: To hide by covering, to roof, wainscot, to reserve

with cedar
בָּאֶ֗רֶז (bā·’e·rez)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 730: A cedar tree

above
מִמַּ֙עַל֙ (mim·ma·‘al)
Preposition-m | Adverb
Strong's 4605: The upper part, with prefix upward, above, overhead, from the top

the beams
הַצְּלָעֹת֙ (haṣ·ṣə·lā·‘ōṯ)
Article | Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 6763: A rib, a side, a, timber, plank

that
אֲשֶׁ֣ר (’ă·šer)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

rested on
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

the pillars—
הָֽעַמּוּדִ֔ים (hā·‘am·mū·ḏîm)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 5982: A column, a stand, platform

forty-five [beams],
אַרְבָּעִ֖ים (’ar·bā·‘îm)
Number - common plural
Strong's 705: Forty

fifteen
חֲמִשָּׁ֥ה (ḥă·miš·šāh)
Number - masculine singular
Strong's 2568: Five

per row.
הַטּֽוּר׃ (haṭ·ṭūr)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2905: A row, a wall


Links
1 Kings 7:3 NIV
1 Kings 7:3 NLT
1 Kings 7:3 ESV
1 Kings 7:3 NASB
1 Kings 7:3 KJV

1 Kings 7:3 BibleApps.com
1 Kings 7:3 Biblia Paralela
1 Kings 7:3 Chinese Bible
1 Kings 7:3 French Bible
1 Kings 7:3 Catholic Bible

OT History: 1 Kings 7:3 It was covered with cedar above over (1Ki iKi i Ki 1 Kg 1kg)
1 Kings 7:2
Top of Page
Top of Page