I Kings 6:23 · Bible study
1 Kings 6:23 Commentary: Olive-Wood Cherubim in the Holy of Holies
Hebrew · 6 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Study the two olive-wood cherubim in Solomon's temple. Their size and material contrast with the tabernacle cherubim, pointing to God's presence and glory.
Research Summary
- Meaning: Two colossal cherubim of olive wood in the Holy of Holies, symbolizing God's throne and guardian presence.
- Key words: cherubim (H3742), innermost room (H1687), olive wood (H6086+8081), height (H6967), ten (H6235).
- Main debate: The precise form and symbolism of the cherubim (angelic beings, two Testaments, or two witnesses).
- Theological theme: God's holy and glorious presence dwelling permanently among His people.
- Best use: Preaching on the temple as a picture of divine glory and the access to God through Christ.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
In the inner sanctuary he made two cherubim, each ten cubits high, out of olive wood.
WEB World English Bible 2000
In the inner sanctuary he made two cherubim of olive wood, each ten cubits high.
KJV King James Version 1769
And within the oracle he made two cherubims of olive tree, each ten cubits high.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
And in the oracle he made two cherubim of olive-wood, each ten cubits high.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
And he maketh within the oracle two cherubs, of the oil-tree, ten cubits is their height;
Darby Darby Bible 1890
And he made in the oracle two cherubim of olive-wood, ten cubits high;
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
And he made in the oracle two cherubims of olive tree, of ten cubits in height.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Hizo también en el oráculo dos querubines de madera de oliva, cada uno de altura de diez codos.
Fez também no compartimento interno dois querubins de madeira de oliva, cada um de altura de dez côvados.
Il fit dans le sanctuaire deux chérubins de bois d’ olivier sauvage, ayant dix coudées de hauteur.
Er machte auch im Chor zwei Cherubim, zehn Ellen hoch, von Ölbaumholz.
In de aanspraakplaats nu maakte hij twee cherubs van olieachtig hout; elks hoogte was tien ellen.
E fece nel santuario due cherubini di legno d’ulivo, dell’altezza di dieci cubiti ciascuno.
Uczynił też w świątnicy najświętszej dwa Cherubiny z drzewa oliwnego; dziesięć łokci wzwyż był każdy z nich.
И сделал в давире двух херувимов из масличного дерева, вышиною в десять локтей.
他用橄欖 木 做 兩個 基路伯，各高 十 肘，安在內殿。
In the inmost room he made two winged beings of olive-wood, ten cubits high;
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · I Kings 6:23
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators agree that the two cherubim in Solomon's temple follow the pattern of the tabernacle (Exodus 25:18-22) but on a much larger scale and with significant differences. Barnes observes that Moses' cherubim were entirely of gold, whereas these, being far larger, were carved from olive wood and overlaid with gold. The Cambridge Bible notes that cherubim represent “holy and heavenly forms” whose chief office is to serve as a chariot for Jehovah (Psalm 18:10). Gill expands the symbolism, seeing them as emblems of angels, or of the two witnesses in Revelation, or even, following Dr. Lightfoot, of the two Testaments. The wings of each cherub extended five cubits, so that their combined span of twenty cubits touched both walls and one another in the center (1 Kings 6:24, 27). This arrangement, unlike the tabernacle where cherubim faced downward toward the mercy seat, has them looking outward toward the great chamber (Barnes). The olive wood itself, likely wild olive (Barnes), and the ten-cubit height (half the height of the Holy of Holies), together reinforce the temple's purpose as a permanent, glorious dwelling for God's presence.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- Angelic guardians of God's throne: Genesis 3:24; Exodus 25:18-22; Psalm 18:10
- Symbols of the two Testaments: Dr. Lightfoot, as cited by Gill
- Types of the two witnesses: Gill's reference to Revelation 11:3
What is clear: The two cherubim were towering figures (ten cubits high) placed in the Holy of Holies, symbolizing the majestic, holy presence of God enthroned among His people.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Material and Construction | Both the tabernacle and temple cherubim were made to express God's presence and glory. | The tabernacle used solid gold; the temple used olive wood overlaid with gold. Some see this as a practical necessity (size) while others find theological meaning in the use of created wood, perhaps pointing to permanence or accessibility. |
| Orientation of Faces and Wings | Cherubim stood within the Holy of Holies with outstretched wings. | In the tabernacle the cherubim faced one another and bent toward the mercy seat; in the temple they faced outward toward the great chamber (Barnes, 2 Chronicles 3:13). Debate exists over why this change was made, whether to emphasize God's outward-facing presence or for architectural reasons. |
| Symbolic Interpretation of Cherubim | They represent angelic beings attending God's throne. | Some see them specifically as guardians (Genesis 3:24), others as the chariot of God (Psalm 18:10). Gill records interpretations identifying them as the two witnesses of Revelation (11:3) or the two Testaments (following Dr. Lightfoot). |
Historical & Cultural Context
Solomon’s temple was built as a permanent replacement for the mobile tabernacle. The Holy of Holies formed a perfect cube, twenty cubits on each side (1 Kings 6:20). Into this space Solomon placed two cherubim carved from olive wood, each ten cubits high. Olive wood (likely wild olive, per Barnes) was a strong, durable material, not as precious as the pure gold of the tabernacle cherubim (Exodus 25:18). Yet these figures were overlaid with gold, blending wood and precious metal in a way that balanced grandeur with practicality for their immense size.
Cherubim appear throughout Scripture as guardians of sacred space. They first guarded the way to the tree of life in Eden (Genesis 3:24). Above the ark of the covenant, two golden cherubim faced one another, their wings overshadowing the mercy seat, where God promised to meet His people (Exodus 25:22). In Solomon’s temple the cherubim served a similar role but with a notable change: their wings stretched to the full width of the room (twenty cubits), touching both walls and each other (1 Kings 6:27). Their faces, according to 2 Chronicles 3:13, looked outward toward the main hall rather than toward the ark. This orientation may have emphasized that the glory of God, now dwelling in a permanent house, was turned toward the people.
The verb form va/i.Ya.'as ("and he made") places this act within the larger work of temple-building, a seven-year project of careful obedience to divine instructions. The cherubim were not merely decorative; they were theological statements. They symbolized the enthroned presence of the God of Israel, who rides upon the cherubim (Psalm 18:10) and who had chosen to dwell in the midst of His people.
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note no significant textual variants for 1 Kings 6:23. The Hebrew text is stable across manuscripts. The LXX may render the verse slightly differently, but no variants of interpretive consequence are recorded in the supplied commentaries.
Reception History
Josephus (Antiquities 8.3.3) noted that the exact shape of the cherubim was unknown even in his day, a point echoed by Ellicott. Early Christian writers often saw the cherubim as symbols of the angelic host attending God. During the Reformation, commentators like Matthew Henry and John Gill interpreted the figures typologically: for Gill, they could represent the two anointed witnesses of Revelation; for Dr. Lightfoot, they prefigured the Old and New Testaments. The Cambridge Bible and Barnes focus on their role as guardians and as the chariot of God. The olive wood material and the immense scale continue to prompt reflection on God's glorious and accessible presence.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- God’s presence is awesome and fills His house. The cherubim stood ten cubits high, half the height of the sanctuary. Their outstretched wings spanned the entire width. This scale overwhelmed the worshiper with a sense of God’s majesty and glory.
- God’s presence is guarded but accessible. Cherubim first appear as guardians of Eden, blocking the way. In the temple they still guard the Holy of Holies, yet their outward-facing posture hints at the invitation that would come through Christ, the true meeting place between God and humanity.
- God’s presence takes permanent root among His people. The shift from mobile tabernacle to fixed temple, and from small golden cherubim to large wood-and-gold figures, shows a God who desires to settle, to be known, and to dwell.
Five-point outline
- Material: Olive wood overlaid with gold, created not perishable nor purely divine, but a union showing that God works through what He has made.
- Size: Ten cubits high, half the height of the Most Holy Place, suggesting the cherubim are subordinate to God’s glory yet integral to its display.
- Wings: Each wing five cubits, together spanning twenty cubits, touching walls and each other, symbolizing that God’s presence fills every part of His dwelling.
- Placement: Within the inner sanctuary, the most restricted space, highlighting the holiness and separation of God, yet the temple itself is a house of prayer for all nations.
- Overlay: Pure gold covering the wood, reflecting the value and beauty of the heavenly reality that the earthly temple foreshadowed.
Illustration hooks
- A child visiting a great cathedral, standing at the center and looking up at colossal carved angels. The scale makes him feel small, but the beauty draws him closer.
- Waiting in a grand courtroom with high ceilings and tall doors. The furniture is massive and ornate. You sense you are entering a place where decisions carry weight, but the judge’s bench is elevated, not hidden.
- An old oak tree in a village square, its branches spreading wide enough to shelter dozens. Children play under it while elders sit in its shade. The tree is both a landmark and a meeting place.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Why weren’t the cherubim made of solid gold like the ones in the tabernacle?
- What do these towering figures say about how we approach a holy God?
- If the temple was so glorious, why do we no longer build such structures? What has changed?
Leading a Discussion
This passage describes a single detail in the building of Solomon’s temple: two huge cherubim carved from olive wood and placed in the innermost room. Compare them with the golden cherubim of the tabernacle. What do the differences tell us about God’s unfolding plan to dwell with His people? Discuss how size, material, and posture shape our understanding of who God is and how He meets us.
Discussion questions
- Observation: What do we learn about the cherubim from verses 23-27? List their material, height, and wing measurements.
- Observation: How do these cherubim compare with the cherubim described in Exodus 25:18-22 and 37:7-9? Note at least three differences.
- Interpretation: Why do you think the cherubim were carved from olive wood rather than solid gold? What might the choice of material signify?
- Interpretation: In the tabernacle, the cherubim faced each other and the mercy seat. In the temple they faced outward (2 Chronicles 3:13). What could this change in orientation suggest about God’s relationship with His people?
- Interpretation: The wings of the cherubim touched both walls and each other. How does this physical arrangement reinforce the idea of God’s presence filling the temple?
- Application: Hebrews 4:16 invites us to “draw near with boldness to the throne of grace.” How does the image of the cherubim in the Holy of Holies help you appreciate the access we have through Christ?
- Application: Solomon’s temple was a place of beauty and grandeur. In what ways can our gatherings today reflect the same reverence for God’s presence without replicating the physical structure?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Genesis 3:24 | So he drove out the man; and he placed cherubim at the east of the garden of Eden, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to guard the way to the tree of life. |
| Exodus 25:18 | You shall make two cherubim of hammered gold. You shall make them at the two ends of the mercy seat. |
| Exodus 25:22 | There I will meet with you, and I will tell you from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim which are on the ark of the covenant, all that I command you for the children of Israel. |
| Exodus 37:7 | He made two cherubim of gold. He made them of beaten work, at the two ends of the mercy seat: |
| Exodus 37:9 | The cherubim spread out their wings above, covering the mercy seat with their wings, with their faces toward one another. The faces of the cherubim were toward the mercy seat. |
| II Chronicles 3:10 | In the most holy place he made two cherubim by carving, and they overlaid them with gold. |
| II Chronicles 3:13 | The wings of these cherubim spread themselves out twenty cubits. They stood on their feet, and their faces were toward the house. |
| Psalms 18:10 | He rode on a cherub, and flew. Yes, he soared on the wings of the wind. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
6 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes highlights the deliberate differences between Moses' cherubim and Solomon's. The later ones were larger, made of olive wood overlaid with gold, with wings fully extended across the sanctuary. Unlike Moses' cherubim, which faced inward toward the mercy seat, these looked outward toward the great chamber.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The Cambridge Bible commentary identifies the cherubim as winged figures representing holy heavenly forms. Their chief role throughout Scripture is serving as a chariot for God, which explains why they were placed in the Most Holy Place where the divine presence manifested itself. God is therefore frequently described as dwelling or sitting upon the cherubim.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
And within the oracle he made two Cherubims of oliue tree, ten cubites hie.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill highlights that Solomon's cherubim were distinct from Moses'—larger, made of olive wood, and standing on the floor. He reads them as symbols, possibly of the two witnesses from Revelation or, following Lightfoot, of the Old and New Testaments spanning creation to judgment.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange insists the temple was not a symbol of the kingdom of God or the theocracy, as some hold, but a representation of heaven itself. The cube-shaped holy of holies, the gold overlaying, and the carvings of cherubim, palms, and flowers all point to the dwelling place of the holy God.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry emphasizes that the total covering of cedar and gold, with no stone visible, symbolizes the inward spiritual glory of the church, hidden from worldly eyes. The cherubim, with wings touching both walls and each other, represent the perfect unity of all believers in heaven and earth gathered around God's presence.