1 Kings 5:17 And the king commanded them to quarry large, costly stones to lay the foundation of the temple with dressed stones.

◄ 1 Kings 5:17 ►

New International Version
At 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.

New Living Translation
At the king’s command, they quarried large blocks of high-quality stone and shaped them to make the foundation of the Temple.

English Standard Version
At the king’s command they quarried out great, costly stones in order to lay the foundation of the house with dressed stones.

Berean Standard Bible
And the king commanded them to quarry large, costly stones to lay the foundation of the temple with dressed stones.

King James Bible
And the king commanded, and they brought great stones, costly stones, and hewed stones, to lay the foundation of the house.

New King James Version
And the king commanded them to quarry large stones, costly stones, and hewn stones, to lay the foundation of the temple.

New American Standard Bible
Then the king issued orders, and they quarried large stones, valuable stones, to lay the foundation of the house with cut stones.

NASB 1995
Then the king commanded, and they quarried great stones, costly stones, to lay the foundation of the house with cut stones.

NASB 1977
Then the king commanded, and they quarried great stones, costly stones, to lay the foundation of the house with cut stones.

Legacy Standard Bible
Then the king commanded, and they quarried great stones, precious stones, to lay the foundation of the house with cut stones.

Amplified Bible
The king gave orders, and they quarried great stones, valuable stones, to lay the foundation of the house (temple) with cut stones.

Christian Standard Bible
The king commanded them to quarry large, costly stones to lay the foundation of the temple with dressed stones.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The king commanded them to quarry large, costly stones to lay the foundation of the temple with dressed stones.

American Standard Version
And the king commanded, and they hewed out great stones, costly stones, to lay the foundation of the house with wrought stone.

Contemporary English Version
He ordered the workers to cut and shape large blocks of good stone for the foundation of the temple.

English Revised Version
And the king commanded, and they hewed out great stones, costly stones, to lay the foundation of the house with wrought stone.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The king commanded them to quarry large, expensive blocks of stone in order to provide a foundation of cut stone for the temple.

Good News Translation
At King Solomon's command they cut fine large stones for the foundation of the Temple.

International Standard Version
The king specified that large, expensive stones be quarried so the foundation of the Temple could be laid with cut stones.

Majority Standard Bible
And the king commanded them to quarry large, costly stones to lay the foundation of the temple with dressed stones.

NET Bible
By royal order they supplied large valuable stones in order to build the temple's foundation with chiseled stone.

New Heart English Bible
The king commanded, and they cut out great stones, costly stones, to lay the foundation of the house with worked stone.

Webster's Bible Translation
And the king commanded, and they brought great stones, costly stones, and hewed stones, to lay the foundation of the house.

World English Bible
The king commanded, and they cut out large stones, costly stones, to lay the foundation of the house with worked stone.

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
And the king commands, and they bring great stones, precious stones, [and] hewn stones, to lay the foundation of the house;

Young's Literal Translation
And the king commandeth, and they bring great stones, precious stone, to lay the foundation of the house, hewn stones;

Smith's Literal Translation
The king will command and they will remove great stones, precious stones; to set the house, cut stones.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
And the king commanded, that they should bring great stones, costly stones, for the foundation of the temple, and should square them:

Catholic Public Domain Version
And the king ordered them to bring great stones, precious stones, for the foundation of the temple, and to square them.

New American Bible
By order of the king, fine, large blocks of stone were quarried to give the house a foundation of hewn stone.

New Revised Standard Version
At the king’s command, they quarried out great, costly stones in order to lay the foundation of the house with dressed stones.

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
And the king commanded and they brought great stones, costly stones, and hewed stones to complete the house.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And the King commanded and they picked up stones, great precious stones to complete the house with cut stones.

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
And the king commanded, and they quarried great stones, costly stones, to lay the foundation of the house with hewn stone.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

Solomon's Workmen and Laborers
…16not including his 3,300 foremen who supervised the workers. 17And the king commanded them to quarry large, costly stones to lay the foundation of the temple with dressed stones. 18So Solomon’s and Hiram’s builders, along with the Gebalites, quarried the stone and prepared the timber and stone for the construction of the temple.…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

1 Chronicles 22:2
So David gave orders to gather the foreigners in the land of Israel, from whom he appointed stonecutters to prepare finished stones for building the house of God.

2 Chronicles 2:2
So he conscripted 70,000 porters, 80,000 stonecutters in the mountains, and 3,600 supervisors.

2 Chronicles 2:18
Solomon made 70,000 of them porters, 80,000 stonecutters in the mountains, and 3,600 supervisors.

1 Kings 6:7
The temple was constructed using finished stones cut at the quarry, so that no hammer or chisel or any other iron tool was heard in the temple while it was being built.

1 Kings 7:9-12
All these buildings were constructed with costly stones, cut to size and trimmed with saws inside and out from the foundation to the eaves, and from the outside to the great courtyard. / The foundations were laid with large, costly stones, some ten cubits long and some eight cubits long. / Above these were costly stones, cut to size, and cedar beams. ...

Exodus 20:25
Now if you make an altar of stones for Me, you must not build it with stones shaped by tools; for if you use a chisel on it, you will defile it.

2 Samuel 5:11
Now Hiram king of Tyre sent envoys to David, along with cedar logs, carpenters, and stonemasons, and they built a palace for David.

1 Chronicles 14:1
Now Hiram king of Tyre sent envoys to David, along with cedar logs, stonemasons, and carpenters, to build a palace for him.

Isaiah 28:16
So this is what the Lord GOD says: “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation; the one who believes will never be shaken.

Ezekiel 27:5
They constructed all your planking with cypress from Senir. They took a cedar from Lebanon to make a mast for you.

Matthew 21:42
Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: ‘The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. This is from the Lord, and it is marvelous in our eyes’?

Mark 12:10
Have you never read this Scripture: ‘The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.

Luke 20:17
But Jesus looked directly at them and said, “Then what is the meaning of that which is written: ‘The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone’?

Acts 4:11
This Jesus is ‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.’

Ephesians 2:20
built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the cornerstone.

Treasury of Scripture

And the king commanded, and they brought great stones, costly stones, and hewed stones, to lay the foundation of the house.

costly stones

1 Kings 6:7
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.

1 Kings 7:9
All these were of costly stones, according to the measures of hewed stones, sawed with saws, within and without, even from the foundation unto the coping, and so on the outside toward the great court.

1 Chronicles 22:2
And David commanded to gather together the strangers that were in the land of Israel; and he set masons to hew wrought stones to build the house of God.

Jump to Previous

Base Blocks Command Commanded Commandeth Costly Cut Dressed Foundation Great Hewed Hewn High House King's Lay Order Orders Precious Price Provide Quality Quarried Quarry Removed Squared Stone Stones Worked Wrought

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1 Kings 5

1. Hiram, sending to congratulate Solomon, is desired to furnish him with timber
7. Hiram, blessing God for Solomon, furnishes him with trees.
13. The number of Solomon's workmen and laborers

Berean Study Bible

At the king’s command
This phrase underscores the authority and initiative of King Solomon, who was divinely appointed to build the temple. The Hebrew word for "command" (צָוָה, tsavah) implies a directive that carries both authority and purpose. Solomon's command reflects his obedience to God's will, as the construction of the temple was a fulfillment of the promise made to his father, David. This highlights the importance of leadership that aligns with divine purposes, a principle that resonates throughout Scripture.

they quarried
The act of quarrying involves extracting stone from the earth, a labor-intensive process that required skill and precision. The Hebrew root for "quarried" (חָצַב, chatsav) suggests cutting or hewing, indicating the careful selection and preparation of materials. This reflects the meticulous care that God desires in the building of His dwelling place, symbolizing the spiritual preparation required in the hearts of believers as they become living stones in God's spiritual house (1 Peter 2:5).

large, costly stones
The use of "large, costly stones" signifies the grandeur and significance of the temple. These stones were not only physically substantial but also valuable, indicating the investment and sacrifice involved in worship. The Hebrew word for "costly" (יָקָר, yaqar) conveys the idea of something precious or esteemed. This reflects the biblical principle that worship should be offered with the best of what we have, as God is worthy of our utmost devotion and resources.

to lay the foundation
The foundation is critical to any structure, providing stability and support. In Hebrew, the word for "foundation" (יָסַד, yasad) implies establishing or founding something securely. This foundation was not only physical but also spiritual, as the temple was to be the dwelling place of God's presence among His people. It serves as a reminder that our lives must be built on the firm foundation of Christ, the cornerstone of our faith (Ephesians 2:20).

of the temple
The temple, in Hebrew (בַּיִת, bayith), was the central place of worship for Israel, symbolizing God's presence and covenant with His people. It was a place of sacrifice, prayer, and divine encounter. The construction of the temple was a pivotal moment in Israel's history, representing a shift from the temporary tabernacle to a permanent dwelling for God. This foreshadows the New Testament revelation of believers as the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19).

with dressed stones
"Dressed stones" refers to stones that have been carefully shaped and smoothed for construction. The Hebrew word (גָּזִית, gazith) indicates stones that have been prepared and refined. This meticulous preparation reflects the sanctification process in the life of a believer, where God shapes and molds us to fit perfectly into His divine plan. It also emphasizes the beauty and order that God desires in His dwelling place, both in the physical temple and in the hearts of His people.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(17) Great stones.--The stones, so emphatically described as "great stones, costly stones, and hewed stones," were necessary, not so much for "the foundation" of the Temple itself, which was small, but for the substructure of the area, formed into a square on the irregular summit of Mount Moriah. In this substructure vast stones are still to be seen, and are referred by many authorities to the age of Solomon. The labour of transport must have been enormous, especially as all were worked beforehand. (See 1Kings 6:7.)

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 17. - And the king commanded and they brought [or cut out, quarried (Gesen.), as in Ecclesiastes 10:9; see also ch. 6:7 (Heb.) ] great stones, costly [precious, not heavy, as Thenius. Cf. Psalm 36:8; Psalm 45:9; Esther 1:4 in the Heb.], stones and [omit and. The hewed stones were the great and costly stones] hewed stones [or squared (Isaiah 9:10; cf. 1 Kings 6:36; 1 Kings 7:9; 1 Kings 11:12). We learn from 1 Kings 7:10 that the stones of the foundation of the palace were squared to 8 cubits and 10 cubits] to lay the foundation of the house. [Some of these great squared stones, we can hardly doubt, are found in situ at the present day. The stones at the south-east angle of the walls of the Haram (Mosque of Omar) are "unquestionably of Jewish masonry" (Porter, Handbook, p. 115). "One is 23 2:9 in. long; whilst others vary from 17 to 20 feet in length. Five courses of them are nearly entire" (ib.) As Herod, in rebuilding the edifice, would seem to have had nothing to do with the foundations, we may safely connect these huge blocks with the time of Solomon. It is also probable that some at least of the square pillars, ranged in fifteen rows, and measuring five feet each side, which form the foundations of the Mosque El Aksa, and the supports of the area of the Haram, are of the same date and origin (cf. Ewald, Hist. Israel, 3:233). Porter holds that they are "coeval with the oldest part of the external walls." Many of them, the writer observed, were monoliths. The extensive vaults which they enclose are unquestionably "the subterranean vaults of the temple area" mentioned by Josephus (B.J. 5:3. 1), and the "cavati sub terra montes" of Tacitus. It may be added here that the recent explorations in Jerusalem have brought to light many evidences of Phoenician handiwork.]

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

And the king
הַמֶּ֡לֶךְ (ham·me·leḵ)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4428: A king

commanded them
וַיְצַ֣ו (way·ṣaw)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6680: To lay charge (upon), give charge (to), command, order

to quarry
וַיַּסִּעוּ֩ (way·yas·si·‘ū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 5265: To pull up, the tent-pins, start on a, journey

large,
גְּדֹל֜וֹת (gə·ḏō·lō·wṯ)
Adjective - feminine plural
Strong's 1419: Great, older, insolent

costly
יְקָר֛וֹת (yə·qā·rō·wṯ)
Adjective - feminine plural
Strong's 3368: Precious, rare, splendid, weighty

stones
אֲבָנִ֨ים (’ă·ḇā·nîm)
Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 68: A stone

to lay the foundation
לְיַסֵּ֥ד (lə·yas·sêḏ)
Preposition-l | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct
Strong's 3245: To set, to found, to sit down together, settle, consult

of the temple
הַבָּ֖יִת (hab·bā·yiṯ)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1004: A house

with dressed
גָזִֽית׃ (ḡā·zîṯ)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 1496: Something cut, dressed stone

stones.
אֲבָנִ֧ים (’ă·ḇā·nîm)
Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 68: A stone

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OT History: 1 Kings 5:17 The king commanded and they cut out (1Ki iKi i Ki 1 Kg 1kg)