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 6:38KJV
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1 Kings 6:38 (KJV)

What 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.

Where else these words appear

“month” Hebrew H3391 · used in 13 verses

  • Exodus 2:2 And the woman conceived, and bare a son: and when she saw him that he was a goodly child, she hid him three months.
  • 1 Kings 8:2 And all the men of Israel assembled themselves unto king Solomon at the feast in the month Ethanim, which is the seventh month.
  • Job 29:2 Oh that I were as in months past, as in the days when God preserved me;

“eighth” Hebrew H8066 · used in 27 verses

  • Exodus 22:30 Likewise shalt thou do with thine oxen, and with thy sheep: seven days it shall be with his dam; on the eighth day thou shalt give it me.
  • Leviticus 23:36 Seven days ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD: on the eighth day shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD: it is a solemn assembly; and ye shall do no servile work therein.
  • 1 Chronicles 12:12 Johanan the eighth, Elzabad the ninth,