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 6:29KJV
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1 Kings 6:29 (KJV)

What does 1 Kings 6:29 mean?

1 Kings 6:29 describes the decoration of Solomon’s temple, the building set apart for worship in Jerusalem. Its walls were covered with carved images of heavenly creatures and plant life. The work extended throughout the temple’s inner and outer rooms.

The verse follows the description of two large cherubim in the inner room. Here, the carved figures form part of the walls themselves. The narrator credits Solomon with the work, while the surrounding account also identifies the workers who built the temple.

The Hebrew behind 1 Kings 6:29

  • “cherubims” — כְּרוּבִים (keruvim): The word names heavenly creatures associated with God’s presence. The verse places their carved figures among trees and flowers on the temple walls.
  • “open” — פְּטוּרִים (peturim): The word is often understood to describe blossoms opening or in bloom. The phrase “open flowers” pictures flowers in bloom among the carvings.

Why 1 Kings 6:29 matters

  • The decoration was not confined to the most secluded room. “Within and without” refers to the inner and outer parts of the temple building, rather than necessarily to its outside walls.
  • The carved wall designs were part of a larger decorative scheme. Verse 32 places cherubim, palm trees, and open flowers on the doors as well.
  • The walls also received a gold covering. Verse 30 describes gold on the floor, and verse 35 describes gold fitted over the carvings on the doors, helping readers picture the detailed interior.

Where else these words appear

“figures” Hebrew H4734 · used in 4 verses

  • 1 Kings 6:18 And the cedar of the house within was carved with knops and open flowers: all was cedar; there was no stone seen.
  • 1 Kings 6:32 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.

“about” Hebrew H4524 · used in 5 verses

  • 2 Kings 23:5 And he put down the idolatrous priests, whom the kings of Judah had ordained to burn incense in the high places in the cities of Judah, and in the places round about Jerusalem; them also that burned incense unto Baal, to the sun, and to the moon, and to the planets, and to all the host of heaven.
  • Job 37:12 And it is turned round about by his counsels: that they may do whatsoever he commandeth them upon the face of the world in the earth.
  • Psalms 140:9 As for the head of those that compass me about, let the mischief of their own lips cover them.

“carved” Hebrew H7049 · used in 7 verses

  • Judges 20:16 Among all this people there were seven hundred chosen men lefthanded; every one could sling stones at an hair breadth, and not miss.
  • 1 Samuel 25:29 Yet a man is risen to pursue thee, and to seek thy soul: but the soul of my lord shall be bound in the bundle of life with the LORD thy God; and the souls of thine enemies, them shall he sling out, as out of the middle of a sling.
  • 1 Kings 6:35 And he carved thereon cherubims and palm trees and open flowers: and covered them with gold fitted upon the carved work.

“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.