New International Version
1 Kings 6:7
7In building the temple, only blocks dressed at the quarry were used, and no hammer, chisel or any other iron tool was heard at the temple site while it was being built.
1 Kings 6:7 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And the house, when it was in building, was built of stone made ready before it was brought thither: so that there was neither hammer nor axe nor any tool of iron heard in the house, while it was in building.
- English Standard Version (ESV)When the house was built, it was with stone prepared at the quarry, so that neither hammer nor axe nor any tool of iron was heard in the house while it was being built.
- New King James Version (NKJV)And the temple, when it was being built, was built with stone finished at the quarry, so that no hammer or chisel or any iron tool was heard in the temple while it was being built.
- New Living Translation (NLT)The stones used in the construction of the Temple were finished at the quarry, so there was no sound of hammer, ax, or any other iron tool at the building site.
Context of 1 Kings 6:7
5Against the walls of the main hall and inner sanctuary he built a structure around the building, in which there were side rooms. 6The lowest floor was five cubits wide, the middle floor six cubits and the third floor seven. He made offset ledges around the outside of the temple so that nothing would be inserted into the temple walls. In building the temple, only blocks dressed at the quarry were used, and no hammer, chisel or any other iron tool was heard at the temple site while it was being built. 8The entrance to the lowest floor was on the south side of the temple; a stairway led up to the middle level and from there to the third. 9So he built the temple and completed it, roofing it with beams and cedar planks.
Read all of 1 Kings 61 Kings 6:7 word by word
וְהַבַּ֙יִת֙ בְּהִבָּ֣נֹת֔וֹ אֶֽבֶן־שְׁלֵמָ֥ה מַסָּ֖ע נִבְנָ֑ה וּמַקָּב֤וֹת וְהַגַּרְזֶן֙ כָּל־כְּלִ֣י בַרְזֶ֔ל לֹֽא־נִשְׁמַ֥ע בַּבַּ֖יִת בְּהִבָּנֹתֽוֹ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And the houseבַּ֫יִתbayith · house: homeH1004
- when it was in buildingבָּנָהbânâh · to buildH1129
- of stoneאֶ֫בֶן'eben · stoneH68
- made readyשָׁלֵםshâlêm · completeH8003
- before it was broughtמַסָּעmassâ‛ · quarryH4551
- thither: so that there was neither hammerמַקָּבָהmaqqâbâh · hammerH4717
- nor axeגַּרְזֶןgarzen · axeH1631
- any toolכְּלִיkelîy · article/utensilH3627
- of ironבַּרְזֶלbarzel · ironH1270
- heardשָׁמַעshâma‛ · to hear: hearH8085
Cross-references for 1 Kings 6:7
- 1 Kings 5:17At the king’s command they removed from the quarry large blocks of high-grade stone to provide a foundation of dressed stone for the temple.
- Deuteronomy 27:5Build there an altar to the Lord your God, an altar of stones. Do not use any iron tool on them.
- Proverbs 24:27Put your outdoor work in order and get your fields ready; after that, build your house.
- Romans 9:23What if he did this to make the riches of his glory known to the objects of his mercy, whom he prepared in advance for glory—
- 2 Corinthians 5:5Now the one who has fashioned us for this very purpose is God, who has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.
- Colossians 1:12and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light.
- 1 Peter 2:5you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
- Isaiah 42:2He will not shout or cry out, or raise his voice in the streets.
- Acts 9:31Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace and was strengthened. Living in the fear of the Lord and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers.
- James 1:20because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.
- James 3:17But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.
Commentaries on 1 Kings 6:7
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 7The house - was built of stone - It appears that every stone was hewn and squared, and its place in the building ascertained, before it came to Jerusalem: the timbers were fitted in like manner. This greatly lessened the trouble and expense of carriage. On this account, that all was prepared at Mount Lebanon, there was neither hammer, axe, nor any tool of iron heard in the building; nothing except mallets to drive the tenons into the mortises, and drive…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 7The spirit of the command (marginal references), was followed. Thus the fabric rose without noise.Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-38The construction of the Temple and palace complex, along with the temple's dedication celebration, are key events in the 1 Kings account of Solomon's time. The temple, built to honor God, was Israel's most important building. Therefore, the writer of 1 Kings documented its construction details thoroughly.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 77. there was neither hammer nor axe nor any tool of iron heard in the house while it was in building--A subterranean quarry has been very recently discovered near Jerusalem, where the temple stones are supposed to have been hewn. There is unequivocal evidence in this quarry that the stones were dressed there; for there are blocks very similar in size, as well as of the same kind of stone, as those found in the ancient remains. Thence, probably, they would…Read the comment
Topics related to 1 Kings 6:7
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on 1 Kings 6
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
New International Version — © NIV® 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 Biblica
Commentaries