And the floor of the house he overlaid with gold, within and without.

1 KINGS 6:30KJV
Know the Bible

1 Kings 6:30 (KJV)

What does 1 Kings 6:30 mean?

1 Kings 6:30 says that Solomon covered the entire floor of the temple with gold, both in the inner sanctuary and the outer areas. This detail highlights the extraordinary richness and care put into building the temple, showing that every part—even the floor—was made precious and beautiful.

In this verse, the writer is describing the construction of Solomon’s temple in Jerusalem, focusing on the lavish materials used. The “house” refers to the temple itself, and the gold overlay was not just for the walls or furniture but even for the floor, inside and out. This level of detail shows the importance placed on the temple as a place for worshiping God, meant to reflect honor and reverence.

The Hebrew behind 1 Kings 6:30

  • "floor" (רִצְפָּה, ritspah): This word refers to the surface people walked on. Covering the floor with gold, not just the walls or ceiling, emphasizes the totality of the temple’s splendor.
  • "overlaid" (צָפָה, tsaphah): This word means to cover or plate with a layer, in this case, gold. It suggests a careful, intentional process, not just a decorative touch.
  • "within" (פְּנִימָה, penimah) and "without" (חִיצוֹנָה, chitzonah): These words specify that the gold covering was applied to both the inner and outer parts of the temple floor, underlining that no area was left plain or ordinary.

Why 1 Kings 6:30 matters

  • This verse clears up any idea that only the most visible or sacred parts of the temple were made special; even the floor was treated with the highest honor.
  • The emphasis on gold throughout the temple connects to the wider passage, showing the temple as a unique and holy place, set apart from ordinary buildings.
  • Understanding the extent of the gold overlay helps readers appreciate the resources, dedication, and significance attached to the temple in Israel’s history.

Where else these words appear

“floor” Hebrew H7172 · used in 6 verses

  • Numbers 5:17 And the priest shall take holy water in an earthen vessel; and of the dust that is in the floor of the tabernacle the priest shall take, and put it into the water:
  • 1 Kings 6:15 And he built the walls of the house within with boards of cedar, both the floor of the house, and the walls of the cieling: and he covered them on the inside with wood, and covered the floor of the house with planks of fir.
  • 1 Kings 7:7 Then he made a porch for the throne where he might judge, even the porch of judgment: and it was covered with cedar from one side of the floor to the other.

“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 6:29 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.
  • 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.

“without” Hebrew H2435 · used in 24 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.
  • Ezekiel 40:17 Then brought he me into the outward court, and, lo, there were chambers, and a pavement made for the court round about: thirty chambers were upon the pavement.
  • Ezekiel 42:7 And the wall that was without over against the chambers, toward the utter court on the forepart of the chambers, the length thereof was fifty cubits.

“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 6:21 So Solomon overlaid the house within with pure gold: and he made a partition by the chains of gold before the oracle; and he overlaid it with gold.