The wings of these cherubims spread themselves forth twenty cubits: and they stood on their feet, and their faces were inward.

2 CHRONICLES 3:13KJV
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2 Chronicles 3:13 (KJV)

What does 2 Chronicles 3:13 mean?

2 Chronicles 3:13 describes how the wings of the cherubim in Solomon’s temple stretched out a total of twenty cubits, with the cherubim standing upright on their feet and facing inward. This verse gives specific details about the arrangement and size of these angelic figures in the inner sanctuary.

The writer is describing the construction of the Most Holy Place in Solomon’s temple, focusing on the large golden cherubim that stood there. The details about their wingspan and posture show the grandeur and careful design of the temple’s most sacred space, emphasizing how the cherubim faced toward the center, likely toward the Ark of the Covenant.

The Hebrew behind 2 Chronicles 3:13

  • כְּנָפַ֣יִם (k'nafayim, “wings”): This word refers to the outstretched wings of the cherubim, highlighting their impressive size and the way they filled the space.
  • כְּרוּבִים (keruvim, “cherubims”): This term points to the specific type of angelic beings described here, which in the temple context are not small but massive, decorative figures.
  • פְּנֵיהֶ֖ם (p'neihem, “faces”): The word for “faces” is plural, showing that each cherub had more than one face or that there were multiple cherubim, all oriented inward.
  • לַבָּֽיִת (labayit, “inward” or “toward the house”): This word is often understood as “toward the inside” or “toward the center,” indicating the cherubim were facing each other or the Ark, not outward toward the people.

Why 2 Chronicles 3:13 matters

  • This verse clears up the scale and arrangement of the cherubim, showing they were not small decorations but enormous figures central to the Most Holy Place.
  • The detail that the cherubim faced inward emphasizes the focus on the Ark of the Covenant, the symbolic throne of God, rather than on those outside the sanctuary.
  • By describing the cherubim’s posture and orientation, the verse highlights the careful, reverent design of the temple’s holiest space, connecting to the broader theme of God’s presence among His people.