And in the eleventh year, in the month Bul, which is the eighth month, was the house finished throughout all the parts thereof, and according to all the fashion of it. So was he seven years in building it.
1 KINGS 6:38KJVWhat does 1 Kings 6:38 mean?
1 Kings 6:38 states that Solomon’s temple was completed in the eleventh year of his reign, in the month called Bul (the eighth month), and that it took seven years to build the house according to its full design. The verse marks the end of the temple’s construction, emphasizing the time and care taken to finish every part as planned.
The writer of 1 Kings is describing the completion of Solomon’s temple in Jerusalem, providing a specific date and highlighting that the work followed the intended design. The verse serves as a historical record, showing the dedication and resources invested in building the temple, which was a central place of worship for Israel.
The Hebrew behind 1 Kings 6:38
- בּוּל (Bul, transliterated "Bul"): This is the name of the eighth month in the ancient Hebrew calendar, roughly corresponding to October–November. Mentioning "Bul" gives a precise time marker for when the temple was finished.
- כָּלָה (kalah, transliterated "finished"): This word means to bring something to completion or fulfillment. Its use here stresses that the temple was not just built, but fully completed in every detail.
- מִשְׁפָּט (mishpat, transliterated "fashion"): Often translated as "judgment" or "ordinance," here it refers to the prescribed plan or design. This highlights that the temple was built exactly as intended, not just structurally but according to all specifications.
Why 1 Kings 6:38 matters
- The verse clarifies that the temple’s construction was a lengthy and careful process, taking seven years, which shows the importance placed on this project in Israel’s history.
- By mentioning the specific month and year, the verse helps anchor the event in real time, connecting the temple’s completion to Solomon’s reign and to the broader timeline of Israel.
- The emphasis on finishing "according to all the fashion of it" points to the faithfulness in following God’s instructions, which is a recurring theme in the surrounding chapters about the temple’s construction.