1 kings 6:22 - He overlaid the whole house with gold, until all the house was finished. He also overlaid the whole altar that belonged to the inner sanctuary with gold.

Generated Verse: 1 kings 6:22

What does "1 kings 6:22" mean?


This verse from 1 Kings 6:22 describes the lavish decoration of Solomon's Temple with gold. Let's break it down:

"He overlaid the whole house with gold, until all the house was finished." This means Solomon had the entire interior of the Temple covered with gold. "Overlaid" means a thin layer of gold was applied over another material (likely wood, judging from other descriptions). The phrase "until all the house was finished" emphasizes the thoroughness of the gold application; it was a complete covering.

"He also overlaid the whole altar that belonged to the inner sanctuary with gold." The "inner sanctuary" refers to the Most Holy Place (also called the Holy of Holies), the innermost room of the Temple where the Ark of the Covenant was housed. The "altar" mentioned here is likely the altar of incense, which stood before the veil separating the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies. This altar was also completely covered in gold.

In essence, the verse signifies:

Wealth and grandeur: The sheer amount of gold used demonstrates the immense wealth of Solomon's kingdom and his dedication to building a magnificent Temple for God.
Holiness and sacredness: Gold, being a precious and untarnished metal, was used to signify the Temple's sacredness and its separation from the ordinary world. Gold's association with purity and divinity made it a fitting material for the House of God.
Symbolic importance: The gold likely symbolized the glory and majesty of God. The Temple was designed as a reflection of God's heavenly dwelling, and the gold contributed to that symbolic representation.
Completeness: The repeated emphasis on "the whole house" and "all the house" suggests that no expense was spared and that the Temple was completed according to God's instructions and Solomon's vision.

In summary, 1 Kings 6:22 highlights the opulence and spiritual significance of Solomon's Temple, emphasizing the immense value and reverence with which it was constructed.