And the greater house he cieled with fir tree, which he overlaid with fine gold, and set thereon palm trees and chains.

2 CHRONICLES 3:5KJV
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2 Chronicles 3:5 (KJV)

What does 2 Chronicles 3:5 mean?

2 Chronicles 3:5 describes how Solomon finished the larger room of the temple, the building in Jerusalem set apart for worship. The wood covering, fine gold, and designs show the care and costly materials used to prepare the room.

The “greater house” was the main room of the temple, distinct from the inner room mentioned in the next verse. “Cieled” is an old word for covering a surface; here the covering was wood. The palm trees and chains were decorative designs placed on the gold-covered surfaces.

The Hebrew behind 2 Chronicles 3:5

  • “greater” — גָּדוֹל (gadol): This word can mean large or great. Here it helps identify the main room by its size in relation to the inner room.
  • “cieled” — חָפָה (ḥafah): This word carries the sense of covering or lining. The KJV word describes work on a surface, not necessarily work limited to the ceiling.
  • “fir” — בְּרוֹשׁ (berosh): This word refers to a kind of evergreen tree. The exact species is uncertain, though the KJV calls the wood “fir.”

Why 2 Chronicles 3:5 matters

  • The verse describes more than bare construction. The words “palm trees and chains” show that patterned decoration was part of the room’s finish.
  • The larger room belonged to a carefully arranged building. The “greater house” in verse 5 is followed by the inner room in verse 6, helping the reader distinguish the spaces as the description continues.

Where else these words appear

“chains” Hebrew H8333 · used in 5 verses

  • Exodus 28:14 And two chains of pure gold at the ends; of wreathen work shalt thou make them, and fasten the wreathen chains to the ouches.
  • Exodus 39:15 And they made upon the breastplate chains at the ends, of wreathen work of pure gold.
  • 1 Kings 7:17 And nets of checker work, and wreaths of chain work, for the chapiters which were upon the top of the pillars; seven for the one chapiter, and seven for the other chapiter.

“cieled” Hebrew H2645 · used in 10 verses

  • 2 Samuel 15:30 And David went up by the ascent of mount Olivet, and wept as he went up, and had his head covered, and he went barefoot: and all the people that was with him covered every man his head, and they went up, weeping as they went up.
  • 2 Chronicles 3:9 And the weight of the nails was fifty shekels of gold. And he overlaid the upper chambers with gold.
  • Psalms 68:13 Though ye have lien among the pots, yet shall ye be as the wings of a dove covered with silver, and her feathers with yellow gold.

“trees” Hebrew H8561 · used in 16 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 40:22 And their windows, and their arches, and their palm trees, were after the measure of the gate that looketh toward the east; and they went up unto it by seven steps; and the arches thereof were before them.
  • Ezekiel 41:18 And it was made with cherubims and palm trees, so that a palm tree was between a cherub and a cherub; and every cherub had two faces;

“fir” Hebrew H1265 · used in 20 verses

  • 2 Samuel 6:5 And David and all the house of Israel played before the LORD on all manner of instruments made of fir wood, even on harps, and on psalteries, and on timbrels, and on cornets, and on cymbals.
  • 2 Kings 19:23 By thy messengers thou hast reproached the Lord, and hast said, With the multitude of my chariots I am come up to the height of the mountains, to the sides of Lebanon, and will cut down the tall cedar trees thereof, and the choice fir trees thereof: and I will enter into the lodgings of his borders, and into the forest of his Carmel.
  • Isaiah 55:13 Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree: and it shall be to the LORD for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.