And the oracle in the forepart was twenty cubits in length, and twenty cubits in breadth, and twenty cubits in the height thereof: and he overlaid it with pure gold; and so covered the altar which was of cedar.

1 KINGS 6:20KJV
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1 Kings 6:20 (KJV)

What does 1 Kings 6:20 mean?

1 Kings 6:20 describes the dimensions and decoration of the "oracle," or inner sanctuary, in Solomon’s temple: it was a perfect cube, each side measuring twenty cubits, and it was overlaid with pure gold, including the cedar altar inside. This verse highlights the careful design and lavish materials used for the most sacred part of the temple.

Here, the writer is giving a detailed account of how Solomon built the temple in Jerusalem, focusing on the innermost room where the Ark of the Covenant would be placed. The verse emphasizes both the symmetry of the space and the use of valuable materials, showing the importance and holiness of this central area in Israel’s worship.

The Hebrew behind 1 Kings 6:20

  • "oracle" (דְּבִיר, debir): This word refers to the innermost sanctuary, often called the "Most Holy Place" or "Holy of Holies," the most sacred space in the temple.
  • "overlaid" (צָפָה, tsaphah) and "covered" (צָפָה, tsaphah): The same Hebrew verb is used for both actions, stressing that both the room and the altar were completely covered in gold, not just decorated.
  • "pure" (סָגוּר, sagur): This word means "pure" or "refined," underlining that the gold used was of the highest quality, not mixed or impure.

Why 1 Kings 6:20 matters

  • This verse makes clear that the inner sanctuary was a perfect cube, which is unusual in ancient architecture and may symbolize completeness or perfection.
  • The focus on pure gold and precise measurements shows the extraordinary care and value placed on the worship space, setting it apart from ordinary buildings.
  • By describing the altar as made of cedar and also covered in gold, the verse highlights both the beauty and the sacredness of the materials used in Israel’s most important place of worship.

Where else these words appear

“oracle” Hebrew H1687 · used in 16 verses

  • 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:
  • 1 Kings 6:23 And within the oracle he made two cherubims of olive tree, each ten cubits high.
  • 2 Chronicles 3:16 And he made chains, as in the oracle, and put them on the heads of the pillars; and made an hundred pomegranates, and put them on the chains.

“overlaid” Hebrew H6823 · used in 39 verses

  • Exodus 25:11 And thou shalt overlay it with pure gold, within and without shalt thou overlay it, and shalt make upon it a crown of gold round about.
  • Exodus 36:36 And he made thereunto four pillars of shittim wood, and overlaid them with gold: their hooks were of gold; and he cast for them four sockets of silver.
  • 1 Kings 6:22 And the whole house he overlaid with gold, until he had finished all the house: also the whole altar that was by the oracle he overlaid with gold.

“height” Hebrew H6967 · used in 43 verses

  • Genesis 6:15 And this is the fashion which thou shalt make it of: The length of the ark shall be three hundred cubits, the breadth of it fifty cubits, and the height of it thirty cubits.
  • 1 Kings 6:10 And then he built chambers against all the house, five cubits high: and they rested on the house with timber of cedar.
  • 2 Chronicles 6:13 For Solomon had made a brasen scaffold, of five cubits long, and five cubits broad, and three cubits high, and had set it in the midst of the court: and upon it he stood, and kneeled down upon his knees before all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth his hands toward heaven,

“cedar” Hebrew H730 · used in 69 verses

  • Leviticus 14:4 Then shall the priest command to take for him that is to be cleansed two birds alive and clean, and cedar wood, and scarlet, and hyssop:
  • 1 Kings 7:3 And it was covered with cedar above upon the beams, that lay on forty five pillars, fifteen in a row.
  • Psalms 148:9 Mountains, and all hills; fruitful trees, and all cedars: