II Chronicles 3:10-13 · Bible study
2 Chronicles 3:10-13 Commentary: The Cherubim in Solomon’s Temple
Hebrew · 8 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Explore the rare Hebrew word צעצעים and how Solomon’s two colossal cherubim guarded the Most Holy Place, differing from Moses’ cherubim.
Research Summary
- Meaning: The cherubim are sculpted angelic guardians overlaid with gold, symbolizing God’s holy presence.
- Key words: צעצעים (carved work), כנף (wing), פנים (face), עמד (stand), קדש קדשים (Most Holy Place).
- Main debate: The precise meaning of the rare term צעצעים and the significance of the inward-facing orientation vs. the tabernacle cherubim.
- Theological theme: God’s holiness requires protective guardians, yet He invites worship through the veil.
- Best use: Illustrating the care and reverence due to God’s presence; expounding temple symbolism and angelic ministry.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
10In the Most Holy Place he made two cherubim of sculptured work, and he overlaid them with gold.
11The total wingspan of the cherubim was twenty cubits. One wing of the first cherub was five cubits long and touched the wall of the temple, and its other wing was five cubits long and touched the wing of the other cherub.
12The wing of the second cherub also measured five cubits and touched the wall of the temple, while its other wing measured five cubits and touched the wing of the first cherub.
13So the total wingspan of these cherubim was twenty cubits. They stood on their feet, facing the main room.
WEB World English Bible 2000
10In the most holy place he made two cherubim by carving, and they overlaid them with gold.
11The wings of the cherubim were twenty cubits long: the wing of the one was five cubits, reaching to the wall of the house; and the other wing was five cubits, reaching to the wing of the other cherub.
12The wing of the other cherub was five cubits, reaching to the wall of the house; and the other wing was five cubits, joining to the wing of the other cherub.
13The wings of these cherubim spread themselves out twenty cubits. They stood on their feet, and their faces were toward the house.
KJV King James Version 1769
10And in the most holy house he made two cherubims of image work, and overlaid them with gold.
11And the wings of the cherubims were twenty cubits long: one wing of the one cherub was five cubits, reaching to the wall of the house: and the other wing was likewise five cubits, reaching to the wing of the other cherub.
12And one wing of the other cherub was five cubits, reaching to the wall of the house: and the other wing was five cubits also, joining to the wing of the other cherub.
13The wings of these cherubims spread themselves forth twenty cubits: and they stood on their feet, and their faces were inward.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
10And in the most holy house he made two cherubim of image work; and they overlaid them with gold.
11And the wings of the cherubim were twenty cubits long: the wing of the one cherub was five cubits, reaching to the wall of the house; and the other wing was likewise five cubits, reaching to the wing of the other cherub.
12And the wing of the other cherub was five cubits, reaching to the wall of the house; and the other wing was five cubits also, joining to the wing of the other cherub.
13The wings of these cherubim spread themselves forth twenty cubits: and they stood on their feet, and their faces were toward the house.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
10And he maketh in the most holy house two cherubs, image work, and he overlayeth them with gold;
11as to the wings of the cherubs, their length is twenty cubits, the wing of the one is five cubits, touching the wall of the house, and the other wing is five cubits, touching the wing of the other cherub.
12And the wing of the other cherub is five cubits touching the wall of the house, and the other wing is five cubits, adhering to the wing of the other cherub.
13The wings of these cherubs are spreading forth twenty cubits, and they are standing on their feet and their faces are inward.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
10And in the house of the most holy place he made two cherubim of image work, and they overlaid them with gold.
11And the wings of the cherubim were twenty cubits long: one wing of five cubits touched the wall of the house; and the other wing of five cubits touched the wing of the other cherub.
12And the wing of the other cherub of five cubits touched the wall of the house; and the other wing was five cubits joining the wing of the other cherub.
13The wings of these cherubim spread forth were twenty cubits; and they stood on their feet, and their faces were toward the house.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
10He made also in the house of the holy of holies two cherubims of image work: and he overlaid them with gold.
11The wings of the cherubims were extended twenty cubits, so that one wing was five cubits long, and reached to the wall of the house: and the other was also five cubits long, and reached to the wing of the other cherub.
12In like manner the wing of the other cherub, was five cubits long, and reached to the wall: and his other wing was five cubits long, and touched the wing of the other cherub.
13So the wings of the two cherubims were spread forth, and were extended twenty cubits: and they stood upright on their feet, and their faces were turned toward the house without.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · II Chronicles 3:10
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators largely agree that these two cherubim were sculpted figures, as the rare Hebrew term צעצעים (tsa'atsu'im) indicates carved or image work (Keil & Delitzsch; Barnes). They stood upright on their feet within the Most Holy Place, their wings spanning the full twenty-cubit width of the inner sanctuary. Unlike the tabernacle cherubim that faced each other and the mercy seat (Exodus 25:20), these cherubim had their faces turned “toward the house”, the holy place. Barnes describes them as sentinels guarding the ark; the Cambridge Bible sees them protecting the holiest place from intrusion. The figures were made of olive wood overlaid with gold, following the pattern of 1 Kings 6:23,28. Their posture and orientation emphasize their role as attendants of the divine throne, not as stationary ornaments.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- Sculpted/carved work: Keil & Delitzsch and most modern translations derive צעצעים from an Arabic root meaning 'to form,' supporting 'carved work.'
- Image work/moveable work: The KJV margin notes 'moveable work' as a possible rendering, though Barnes states the word has no clear Hebrew derivation and this reading is uncertain.
What is clear: The cherubim were large standing figures overlaid with gold, serving as guardians in the Most Holy Place, with wings spanning the full width of the room.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning of צעצעים (image work) | The word describes some kind of crafted or sculpted work, hence 'carved work' or 'image work.' | Some traditions (following the margin of the KJV) read 'moveable work,' suggesting the cherubim were not fixed; most modern scholars derive the term from an Arabic root meaning 'to form' and translate it as 'sculptured work.' |
| Orientation of faces | Both tabernacle and temple cherubim faced the ark or the Most Holy Place, directing attention to God. | Mosaic cherubim faced each other and the mercy seat (Exodus 25:20); Solomon’s cherubim faced 'the house' (the holy place). Barnes sees them as sentinels looking out; Cambridge interprets this as protecting the Most Holy Place from intrusion. |
| Posture and stance | The chronicler explicitly states they stood on their feet, upright. | Whether this is a contrast to the crouching or covering posture of the tabernacle cherubim, and what that symbolizes, rest vs. watchfulness, permanence vs. mobility. |
| Material and construction | Both sets of cherubim were overlaid with gold and represented angelic beings. | The first set was of hammered gold (Exodus 25:18); Solomon’s were made of olive wood overlaid with gold (1 Kings 6:23,28). Some see this as a concession to permanence and scale, others as a decline from the purity of the original. |
Historical & Cultural Context
The temple Solomon built on Mount Moriah (2 Chronicles 3:1) housed a Most Holy Place that was a perfect cube of twenty cubits (verse 8). The two cherubim described here both replaced and augmented the smaller cherubim on the ark that Moses had constructed for the tabernacle. Where those were made of hammered gold and crouched over the mercy seat (Exodus 25:18,20), Solomon’s cherubim were colossal, each stood ten cubits high (1 Kings 6:26) and their outspread wings reached from wall to wall, covering the entire width of the inner sanctuary.
The Hebrew word for “image work,” צעצעים, is what linguists call a hapax legomenon, it appears only here in the Old Testament. Barnes notes that it has no clear Hebrew derivation; modern scholars trace it to an Arabic root meaning “to form” or “to shape,” confirming that the cherubim were sculpted figures. The LXX translates the phrase as “work of wood,” suggesting even ancient translators struggled with the term.
The cherubim’s standing posture and inward-facing gaze reflect common Ancient Near Eastern iconography. The Cambridge Bible compares them to the winged bulls of Assyria that guarded palace and temple entrances. Josephus admitted that by his day the exact shape of the cherubim was unknown, but tradition consistently viewed them as angelic beings who attended the divine presence.
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note no significant textual variants for this passage. The main textual difficulty is the hapax legomenon צעצעים in verse 10, whose exact form and meaning must be inferred from cognate languages and context. The LXX reads ἔργον ἐκ ξύλων (“work of wood”), possibly reflecting a different Vorlage or an interpretive paraphrase. The Cambridge Bible notes that both the meaning and the reading of the phrase are doubtful, but the overall sense is clear enough.
Reception History
Throughout church history, these cherubim have been interpreted primarily as angelic guardians of the divine presence. Early Jewish tradition (Josephus) admitted the original form was lost. Patristic and medieval commentators saw them as symbols of the cherubim that attend God’s throne, often connecting them to the seraphim of Isaiah 6. Reformation writers such as Matthew Henry emphasized that the cherubim represent “the angels who attend the Divine Majesty” and stand as sentinels of his holiness. In modern times, the passage has been used to explore the temple’s role as a type of heaven, with the cherubim pointing to the realities of angelic worship and God’s unapproachable light.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- The Presence of God Requires Preparation. The detailed craftsmanship of the cherubim shows that approaching God demands our best. Solomon spared no expense, gold, olive wood, skilled sculptors.
- The Guardians of Holiness. Like sentinels, the cherubim stood watch over the ark. Their presence reminds us that God’s holiness is both inviting and dangerous.
- The Direction of Worship. Their faces turned inward toward the house signal that all worship is directed toward God. They point away from themselves and toward the One who dwells between the cherubim.
Five-point outline
- Size and Scale: Twenty cubits of outspread wings, God’s glory fills the space.
- Material: Overlaid with gold, the value God places on His dwelling.
- Posture: Standing, not crouching, alert and ready, not resting.
- Wings: Outstretched, touching both walls and each other, covering and protecting, symbolizing shelter.
- Gaze: Inward toward the house, all attention focused on the divine presence.
Illustration hooks
- A security guard at a museum stands watch over a priceless artifact, never looking away. The cherubim guard the holiest object in Israel.
- The wings of a mother bird sheltering her young (Psalm 91:4). The outstretched wings of the cherubim remind us of God’s protective care.
- A wedding arch frames the couple, the cherubim frame the place where God meets His people.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Why did Solomon need to make new cherubim if the ark already had them?
- What does the direction of their faces teach us about how to approach God?
- How should angelic beings influence our worship today?
Leading a Discussion
These verses describe a key feature of the temple: two colossal cherubim in the Most Holy Place. Their size, posture, and gaze communicate something essential about God’s holiness and how His people draw near. As you work through the passage, notice what the Chronicler chooses to emphasize.
Discussion questions
- What do you observe about these cherubim? List as many details as you can from the passage.
- How do these cherubim differ from the ones Moses made for the tabernacle (Exodus 25:18-20)?
- Why do you think the Chronicler includes such precise measurements? What effect does that have on the reader?
- The rare word צעצעים likely means “carved work” or “sculpture.” What does that tell us about the origin and purpose of the figures?
- In what ways do the cherubim point to God’s holiness, and His desire to dwell among His people?
- How does the posture of the cherubim (standing, facing the house) shape your understanding of their role as guardians?
- How might this passage inform the way we approach worship in our own setting, with reverence, attention, and expectancy?
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)
| Exodus 25:18 | You shall make two cherubim of hammered gold. You shall make them at the two ends of the mercy seat. |
| I Kings 6:23 | In the inner sanctuary he made two cherubim of olive wood, each ten cubits high. |
| I Kings 6:28 | He overlaid the cherubim with gold. |
| Exodus 25:20 | The cherubim shall spread out their wings upward, covering the mercy seat with their wings, with their faces toward one another. The faces of the cherubim shall be toward the mercy seat. |
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
7 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes highlights a rare Hebrew word for the cherubim's workmanship, likely meaning "carved work." He then draws a contrast: Moses' cherubim faced each other over the mercy seat, but Solomon's stood upright like sentinels, looking outward from the sanctuary into the larger chamber.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The commentator describes the cherubim as standing upright on their feet, resembling the winged bulls of Assyrian sculpture rather than crouching or rearing. Their wings extended across the full width of the house, and they faced inward toward the house, positioned to guard the Holiest Place from intrusion.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva note emphasizes that these cherubim stood upright on their feet with faces turned inward, not hovering or bowing. Their outstretched wings spanned twenty cubits, each wing reaching five cubits to the wall and five cubits to the other cherub, forming a continuous golden canopy over the ark.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB explains that the temple pillars’ reported height of thirty-six cubits refers to both pillars cast together in the mold, not each individually. Each pillar was seventeen and a half cubits tall, with the half cubit taken by the capital or base. The cherubim were colossal olive-wood figures overlaid with gold, their wings spanning ten cubits and their faces turned inward toward the holy place.
Keil & Delitzsch OT Commentary Protestant 1876
Keil and Delitzsch observe that the cherubim stood upright, facing the holy place rather than each other, unlike the cherubim on the mercy seat. Their outstretched wings measured twenty cubits total, spanning the full width of the most holy place from wall to wall.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry notes that when Solomon enlarged the most holy place, two large cherubim were added by divine appointment so the space would not look bare and unfurnished. These new cherubim, representing angels attending God, filled what would otherwise have been an empty room.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley distinguishes the cherubim here as moveable images, not fixed to the mercy seat like the Mosaic ones. Their posture suggests motion, representing angels who constantly attend on God. The word "inward" he takes as facing toward the most holy place.