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1 Kings 6:18

Old Testament Historical ASV (1901)

What does 1 Kings 6:18 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And there was cedar on the house within, carved with knops and open flowers: all was cedar; there was no stone seen.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And there was cedar on the house within, carved with knops and open flowers: all was cedar; there was no stone seen.
1 Kings 6:18 — American Standard Version

Context — 1 Kings 6

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
15And he built the walls of the house within with boards of cedar: from the floor of the house unto the walls of the ceiling, he covered them on the inside with wood; and he covered the floor of the house with boards of fir.
16And he built twenty cubits on the hinder part of the house with boards of cedar from the floor unto the walls [of the ceiling]: he built [them] for it within, for an oracle, even for the most holy place.
17And the house, that is, the temple before [the oracle], was forty cubits [long].
18And there was cedar on the house within, carved with knops and open flowers: all was cedar; there was no stone seen.
19And he prepared an oracle in the midst of the house within, to set there the ark of the covenant of Jehovah.
20And within the oracle was [a space of] twenty cubits in length, and twenty cubits in breadth, and twenty cubits in the height thereof; and he overlaid it with pure gold: and he covered the altar with cedar.
21So Solomon overlaid the house within with pure gold: and he drew chains of gold across before the oracle; and he overlaid it with gold.
← 1 Kings 6:171 Kings 6:19 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And the cedar of the house within, etc.] With which the inside of the place was lined: [was] carved with knops; of an oval form; so the Targum says, they had the appearance of eggs; and Ben Gersom likewise, that they were in the form of eggs: and open flowers; not in the figure of buds, but flowers blown, and open, as lilies and others; so the Targum: all [was] cedar; the wainscotting of the house, the sides of it at least, if not the floor, and the carved work of it; and this was done, that the gold might be laid upon it, which could not be done on stone as on wood: and all was so covered, that there was no stone seen; of which the outward walls were built: all this denotes the inward…”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Knops and open flowers - Rather, “gourds and opening flower-buds.” Imitations of the vegetable world are among the earliest of architectural ornaments. They abound in the architecture of Egypt and Persia. In that of Assyria they occur more sparingly. return to 'Top of Page'”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Cedar - Cedar is here named, not to exclude all other wood, but stone only; as the following words shew. 3 Kings (1 Kings) 6:19”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“knops: or, gourds, Pekaim, "artificial knops," in the shape of colocynths, or wild gourds, as the word denotes (see note on Kg2 4:39); the full-blown flowers of which must have been very ornamental. open flowers: or, openings of flowers, Kg1 6:18 3 Kings (1 Kings) 6:19”
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Related study paths

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Sources and verification