I Kings 6:34-35 · Bible study
1 Kings 6:34-35 Commentary: The Folding Doors and Gold Overlay
Hebrew · 6 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Why were Solomon's temple doors built with folding leaves? The carving and gold overlay reveal a combination of function and symbolic beauty.
Research Summary
- Meaning: The temple doors were made with folding leaves for practical access, carved with cherubim, palm trees, and flowers, and overlaid with gold that was smoothed over the carving.
- Key words: Folding (H1550 gəlilim, revolving, pivoting); fitted (H3474 yashar, made level, smoothed); overlaid (H6823 tsaphah, to plate or cover).
- Main debate: The wood type: cypress (WEB, BSB, Darby) vs. fir (KJV, ASV, YLT). Commentators note the Hebrew bərosh can refer to any of several conifers.
- Theological theme: Beauty and order in God’s dwelling place. The folding doors combine welcome with majesty; the carvings evoke Eden and the heavenly throne.
- Best use: Illustrating how practical craftsmanship serves worship; studying the temple as a place of designed encounter with God.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
34The two doors were made of cypress wood, and each had two folding panels.
35He carved into them cherubim, palm trees, and open flowers; and he overlaid them with gold, hammered evenly over the carvings.
WEB World English Bible 2000
34and two doors of cypress wood. The two leaves of the one door were folding, and the two leaves of the other door were folding.
35He carved cherubim, palm trees, and open flowers; and he overlaid them with gold fitted on the engraved work.
KJV King James Version 1769
34And the two doors were of fir tree: the two leaves of the one door were folding, and the two leaves of the other door were folding.
35And he carved thereon cherubims and palm trees and open flowers: and covered them with gold fitted upon the carved work.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
34and two doors of fir-wood: the two leaves of the one door were folding, and the two leaves of the other door were folding.
35And he carved thereon cherubim and palm-trees and open flowers; and he overlaid them with gold fitted upon the graven work.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
34And the two doors are of fir-tree, the two sides of the one door are revolving, and the two hangings of the second door are revolving.
35And he hath carved cherubs, and palms, and openings of flowers, and overlaid with straightened gold the graved work.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
34And the two folding-doors were of cypress-wood: the two leaves of the one door were folding, and the two leaves of the other door were folding.
35And he carved on them cherubim, and palm-trees, and half-open flowers; and overlaid them with gold fitted on the carved work.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
34And two doors of fir tree, one of each side: and each door was double, and so opened with folding leaves.
35And he carved cherubims, and palm trees, and carved work standing very much out: and he overlaid all with golden plates in square work by rule.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · I Kings 6:34
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators agree the doors described in verses 34-35 were constructed with folding leaves for practical access. Barnes notes they folded back like shutters using hinges, so the whole door did not need to be opened on every occasion. Cambridge adds that each door had two sections that could double back, allowing a quarter of the door to swing open when only a small entrance was needed, a sensible design for heavy wood-and-gold leaves. The carving of cherubim, palm trees, and open flowers repeated the same decorative vocabulary used on the inner sanctuary doors (v.32). As for the gold overlay, Cambridge and Gill both argue that the Hebrew phrasing indicates gold was fitted upon the carved work itself, hammered smooth over the raised figures, rather than covering the entire door surface. This integration of function with artistry is what the passage is designed to convey: beauty met utility in the house of Yahweh.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Low
What is clear: The doors had two folding leaves each, were carved with cherubim, palm trees, and open flowers, and were overlaid with gold that was made smooth over the carved work.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Wood identification | The doors were made from a coniferous tree, likely imported from Lebanon (cf. 1 Kings 5:8). | The Hebrew <em>bərosh</em> is translated as 'fir' (KJV, ASV) or 'cypress' (WEB, BSB, Darby). The exact species is uncertain; some suggest juniper. |
| Folding mechanism | The doors were constructed so that they could open partially without swinging the whole leaf. | Whether the leaves were hinged to pivot (Barne’s 'shutters') or revolved on central pins (the literal meaning of <em>gəlilim</em>). |
| Gold overlay coverage | Gold was applied to the carved areas, covering the cherubim, palm trees, and flowers. | Cambridge argues only the embossed parts were gilded, not the whole surface; Gill suggests plates were fitted to the dimensions of the carvings but allows for full coverage of the carved work. |
Historical & Cultural Context
These doors form part of the entrance to the main hall (the Holy Place) of Solomon’s temple, completed during a seven-year construction project (v.38). The narrative in 1 Kings 6 proceeds from the inner sanctuary outward: olive-wood doors for the Most Holy Place (v.31-32), then doorposts for the nave (v.33), then the two doors themselves (v.34-35). The wood is identified as bərosh, cypress, fir, or juniper, a less costly timber than the cedar Hiram supplied from Lebanon (1 Ki 5:8-9), but still durable and suitable for carving. The folding leaves were a practical response to the weight of the doors; with gold overlay added, a single-piece door would have been difficult to manage. The motifs (cherubim, palm trees, open flowers) are not decorative whimsy. Cherubim appear throughout the temple as guardians of sacred space (cf. the golden cherubim in v.23-28 and on the curtain in Exodus 26:1). Palm trees are associated with righteousness and fruitfulness (Psalm 92:12). The combination recalls Eden imagery, where cherubim prevented re-entry to the garden (Genesis 3:24). The gold overlay was not merely gilding; the Hebrew yashar (made smooth, v.35) means the gold was hammered level with the carved contours, producing a continuous, gleaming surface that unified the two materials.
Textual Notes
The supplied commentaries and translations note no significant textual variant for verses 34-35. Differences between translations (e.g., 'fir' vs 'cypress'; 'folding' vs 'revolving') reflect lexical choices in rendering the Hebrew bərosh and gəlilim, not disagreement about the underlying text. The Masoretic Text is stable here.
Reception History
Throughout church history, the temple doors have been read as part of the larger typology of the sanctuary. Early Christian exegetes, following the Epistle to the Hebrews, saw the temple as a shadow of heavenly realities; the folding doors were sometimes interpreted as the dual nature of Christ (human and divine) opening the way to God. Reformation-era commentators such as Matthew Henry focused on the literal historical meaning, drawing practical lessons about ordered worship and God’s provision of skilled craftsmen. In modern scholarship, the emphasis has shifted to comparative ancient Near Eastern architecture and the temple’s role as a royal sanctuary, with the doors understood as functional symbols of the king’s, and God’s, presence.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- Function shaped by love of beauty. The folding leaves made the door usable; the carvings and gold made it glorious. God’s house was both practical and magnificent.
- The vocabulary of presence. Cherubim, palm trees, and flowers spoke of Eden, of heaven, of life. The entrance itself reminded every worshiper of the God who meets His people.
- Gold on carved work. The overlay did not erase the carving, it enhanced it. When God covers a life with His worth, the original design is not hidden but honoured.
Five-point outline
- Wood from the forest, gold from the furnace. Ordinary materials were transformed into sacred furniture.
- Folding leaves. A design of welcome: access in manageable steps, not one imposing barrier.
- Cherubim. Reminders of the holy guardianship that surrounds the throne.
- Palm trees and flowers. Creation’s beauty stamped on the threshold.
- Fitted gold. Priceless covering that follows the shape of what lies beneath.
Illustration hooks
- A pocket door that slides out of sight, these doors folded back partway, making the entrance adaptable.
- An art museum’s massive entryway, designed to be imposing yet accessible, merging security with welcome.
- Repairing a carved wooden picture frame; the new gold leaf is pressed into every groove until the design stands out unified.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Why did the temple doors need to fold? Wouldn’t a single slab work?
- Was the gold only on the carvings, or everywhere?
- Why did the craftsmen use cypress/fir instead of cedar for the doors?
Leading a Discussion
This passage records a small but deliberate architectural choice in the temple, folding doors covered with carved symbols and gold. It invites us to consider how function and beauty meet in worship.
Discussion questions
- What catches your attention first in these two verses, the folding mechanism, the carving, or the gold?
- Barnes and the Cambridge Bible both note the practical advantage of folding leaves: the heavy doors did not need to open fully on every occasion. How does a detail like that shape your view of the temple’s purpose?
- The cherubim, palm trees, and open flowers also appear on the walls and the inner doors (v.29, 32). Why do you think the same imagery is repeated at the entrance?
- The word for “folding” in v.34 literally means “revolving” or “pivoting” (H1550 gəlilim). How does the original language help you picture the movement of these doors?
- Gold “fitted upon the carved work” (v.35) suggests the precious metal was pressed into every groove. In what ways might God “overlay” a life without erasing its God-given shape?
- Read Ezekiel 41:23-25 where a similar door design appears in the prophet’s vision. How does comparing the two passages deepen your understanding of the temple as a pattern?
- If this entrance was designed to make access easier while still conveying holiness, what might that say about how God invites us into His presence today?
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)
| I Kings 5:8 | Hiram sent to Solomon, saying, “I have heard the message which you have sent to me. I will do all your desire concerning timber of cedar, and concerning cypress timber. |
| Ezekiel 41:23 | The temple and the sanctuary had two doors. |
| Ezekiel 41:25 | There were made on them, on the doors of the nave, cherubim and palm trees, like those made on the walls. There was a threshold of wood on the face of the porch outside. |
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
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What the Commentators Say
6 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes notes that the doors were actually made of juniper, not fir, and each door had two folding parts that swung back like shutters on hinges. Because the doors were heavy, this design allowed people to open only one leaf at a time rather than the whole door.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The commentator explains that the temple doors were made in four folding sections, so each leaf could be doubled back separately, allowing a smaller opening if needed. The gold overlay was applied only to the carved and embossed parts of the woodwork, not the entire door surface.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva Notes draw attention to the craftsmanship of the temple doors: each door had two folding leaves that were rounded, made of fir wood, and carved with cherubim, palm trees, and flowers. The carvings were then overlaid with gold, emphasizing the lavish detail and symbolic artistry in Solomon's temple.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill notes that the temple doors were made of fir, not olive like the posts, and were designed as folding leaves to create a wider passage. The carvings of cherubim, palm trees, and open flowers were then covered with gold plates carefully fitted to match the dimensions of each carved figure.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange insists the temple is not a symbol of the kingdom of God but a dwelling-place of Jehovah, an earthly pattern of heaven itself. He argues that its design, especially the cube-shaped Holy of Holies and the use of numbers three and ten, signifies God's presence and holiness, not theocracy.
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.