And the cedar of the house within was carved with knops and open flowers: all was cedar; there was no stone seen.

1 KINGS 6:18KJV
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1 Kings 6:18 (KJV)

What does 1 Kings 6:18 mean?

1 Kings 6:18 describes how the inside walls of Solomon’s temple were completely covered with cedar wood, which was beautifully carved with decorations like rounded shapes (“knops”) and open flowers. No stone was visible inside the temple because everything was overlaid with this carved cedar.

This verse is part of the account where the writer details the construction of the temple in Jerusalem during King Solomon’s reign. The focus here is on the craftsmanship and beauty of the temple’s interior, emphasizing that every visible surface was made of ornately carved cedar, hiding the stone structure underneath. This highlights the care and resources invested in making the temple a special and impressive place.

The Hebrew behind 1 Kings 6:18

  • בָּרוֹשׁ (’erez, transliterated as "cedar"): This word refers to the cedar wood used throughout the temple’s interior. Cedar was valued for its durability and pleasant scent, and its use here shows the temple’s richness.
  • מִקְלָעוֹת (miqla‘ot, transliterated as "carved"): This word points to the detailed craftsmanship, meaning the cedar was not plain but artistically worked.
  • פְּקָעִים (peqa‘im, transliterated as "knops"): This term refers to rounded ornamental shapes, often understood as buds or knobs, adding texture and beauty to the woodwork.
  • פְּתוּחִים (petuchim, transliterated as "open"): This describes the flowers as being open or in bloom, suggesting lively, detailed carvings rather than simple outlines.
  • פְּרָחִים (perachim, transliterated as "flowers"): This word means flowers, reinforcing the idea that the carvings were meant to look like blossoming plants, symbolizing life and beauty.

Why 1 Kings 6:18 matters

  • 1 Kings 6:18 clarifies that the temple’s interior was not just functional but was meant to be visually stunning, with every surface carefully designed and decorated.
  • The verse shows that the temple was set apart from ordinary buildings, with no stone visible, only the rich appearance and scent of carved cedar, reflecting the importance of the place.
  • This detail connects to the wider passage by illustrating the lengths to which Solomon and his builders went to honor God with the best materials and artistry available.

Where else these words appear

“knops” Hebrew H6497 · used in 2 verses

  • 1 Kings 7:24 And under the brim of it round about there were knops compassing it, ten in a cubit, compassing the sea round about: the knops were cast in two rows, when it was cast.

“carved” Hebrew H4734 · used in 4 verses

  • 1 Kings 6:29 And he carved all the walls of the house round about with carved figures of cherubims and palm trees and open flowers, within and without.
  • 1 Kings 6:32 The two doors also were of olive tree; and he carved upon them carvings of cherubims and palm trees and open flowers, and overlaid them with gold, and spread gold upon the cherubims, and upon the palm trees.
  • 1 Kings 7:31 And the mouth of it within the chapiter and above was a cubit: but the mouth thereof was round after the work of the base, a cubit and an half: and also upon the mouth of it were gravings with their borders, foursquare, not round.

“open” Hebrew H6362 · used in 7 verses

  • 1 Samuel 19:10 And Saul sought to smite David even to the wall with the javelin; but he slipped away out of Saul's presence, and he smote the javelin into the wall: and David fled, and escaped that night.
  • 1 Kings 6:32 The two doors also were of olive tree; and he carved upon them carvings of cherubims and palm trees and open flowers, and overlaid them with gold, and spread gold upon the cherubims, and upon the palm trees.
  • 1 Chronicles 9:33 And these are the singers, chief of the fathers of the Levites, who remaining in the chambers were free: for they were employed in that work day and night.

“within” Hebrew H6441 · used in 13 verses

  • Leviticus 10:18 Behold, the blood of it was not brought in within the holy place: ye should indeed have eaten it in the holy place, as I commanded.
  • 1 Kings 6:30 And the floor of the house he overlaid with gold, within and without.
  • 2 Chronicles 29:18 Then they went in to Hezekiah the king, and said, We have cleansed all the house of the LORD, and the altar of burnt offering, with all the vessels thereof, and the shewbread table, with all the vessels thereof.