2 Chronicles 3:10-13 Meaning: The Carved Cherubim of the Temple
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Meaning in one sentence
What does the rare Hebrew word for 'carved work' tell us?
Context
Solomon's temple was built on Mount Moriah, the very place where Abraham had offered Isaac. The most holy place, the inner sanctuary, was a cube twenty cubits wide. Into that space Solomon placed two enormous cherubim made of olive wood and overlaid with gold. Unlike the cherubim Moses made for the tabernacle, small figures fixed to the mercy seat and looking toward it, these stood upright on the floor, wings outstretched from wall to wall. Their faces looked not at the ark but toward the main room. The Chronicler describes them with a rare Hebrew word that scholars still puzzle over. What these figures meant to Israel is woven into the details: the gold, the measurements, the posture. They were not decoration. They marked the boundary between earth and the dwelling place of God.
Key Words
Two Hebrew words anchor this passage. The first is the one translated "image work" or "carved work", tsa'atsu'im. It appears only here in the Old Testament. Commentators have connected it to an Arabic root meaning "to form" or "to shape." It suggests something molded or sculpted, not simply chiseled. So these cherubim were extraordinary works of art, perhaps cast in metal or carved from wood with great skill.
The second pair of words describes their posture: "standing on their feet" (omedim) and "faces toward the house" (ufeneyhem labayit). Omedim means standing firm, not kneeling or hovering. They are planted like sentries on duty. And their faces are toward the main hall, not inward toward each other or the ark. The Cambridge Bible notes that the cherubim looked out "as though to protect the Holiest Place from violation." These are not passive statues. They are alert, facing the worshiper who approaches the veil.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians have read these cherubim in different ways. Protestant commentators like Barnes point out that their posture differs from the cherubim on the ark of the covenant, which faced each other and looked down at the mercy seat. Here they stand upright and look outward, like guardians watching over the entrance. Matthew Henry saw them as representations of the angels who attend the Divine Majesty. The Geneva Bible calls them "wrought like children," though the Hebrew is uncertain. Catholic and Orthodox readers have seen in them a foreshadowing of the heavenly worship described in Revelation, with angelic beings surrounding God's throne. What unites these views is the recognition that these figures speak of the holiness of God: He is not to be approached carelessly, yet He has provided a place of atonement.
A common misunderstanding
A common mistake is to assume that these cherubim are the same ones Moses made for the tabernacle. In fact, they are entirely different. Moses' cherubim were small, made of hammered gold, and fixed to the mercy seat on top of the ark. Their wings covered the seat and their faces looked toward each other. Solomon's cherubim were colossal, twenty cubits of wingspan from wall to wall, and stood on the floor. They faced the main room, not the ark. The Chronicler is describing new furnishings for a new temple, not the originals brought from the wilderness.
Living This Out
This passage asks you to consider how you approach God. The cherubim guard the boundary of His holiness. They are a reminder that He is not safe or small. But because of Christ, that boundary has become an invitation. The veil that separated the most holy place was torn. You can enter with confidence, not carelessly, but boldly. This week, when you pray or sit in worship, remember the gold, the wings, the standing figures. They say: this is holy ground. But also remember that the One who sits above the cherubim has made a way for you to come in.
Main takeaway: God's holiness is guarded by angelic beings, yet through Christ we are invited to draw near.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
God told Solomon to put two big angel statues in the temple. They had gold wings that touched the walls! These angels stood up tall and looked at the people. They reminded everyone that God is very special and holy.
For ages 9, 12
In the most holy part of the temple, Solomon placed two large cherubim made of wood covered in gold. Their wings stretched the whole width of the room, about ten metres from tip to tip. Unlike the small cherubim on the ark that looked down at the mercy seat, these stood on their feet and faced the main room. They acted like guards, reminding everyone that God's presence is holy and not to be entered carelessly. But today, because Jesus died for us, we can come to God freely.
Questions People Ask
What does 'cherubim' mean in the Bible?
Cherubim are angelic beings that appear throughout Scripture as guardians of God's holiness. In the temple, they were depicted as winged figures that stood guard over the most holy place. They first appear in Genesis guarding the way to the Tree of Life.
Why did the cherubim in Solomon's temple face the main room instead of the ark?
The Cambridge Bible commentary suggests they faced outward to protect the most holy place from anyone advancing through the temple. Unlike the cherubim on the ark that looked toward the mercy seat, these stood sentinel over the entrance.
What is the meaning of the rare Hebrew word translated 'image work'?
The word is tsa'atsu'im, which appears only here in the Old Testament. Scholars connect it to an Arabic root meaning 'to form' or 'to shape,' suggesting the cherubim were sculpted or cast with special artistry.
How do the cherubim in 2 Chronicles compare to those in Exodus?
The cherubim Moses made were small, hammered in gold, and fixed to the mercy seat on top of the ark. They faced each other and looked down. Solomon's cherubim were much larger, made of olive wood overlaid with gold, standing on the floor, and facing outward.
For pastors & researchers
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