1 Kings 7:19
New International Version
The capitals on top of the pillars in the portico were in the shape of lilies, four cubits high.

New Living Translation
The capitals on the columns inside the entry room were shaped like water lilies, and they were six feet tall.

English Standard Version
Now the capitals that were on the tops of the pillars in the vestibule were of lily-work, four cubits.

Berean Standard Bible
And the capitals atop the pillars in the portico were shaped like lilies, four cubits high.

King James Bible
And the chapiters that were upon the top of the pillars were of lily work in the porch, four cubits.

New King James Version
The capitals which were on top of the pillars in the hall were in the shape of lilies, four cubits.

New American Standard Bible
The capitals which were on the tops of the pillars in the porch were of lily design, four cubits.

NASB 1995
The capitals which were on the top of the pillars in the porch were of lily design, four cubits.

NASB 1977
And the capitals which were on the top of the pillars in the porch were of lily design, four cubits.

Legacy Standard Bible
Now the capitals which were on the top of the pillars in the porch were of lily design, four cubits.

Amplified Bible
The capitals which were upon the top of the pillars in the porch were of lily work (design), four cubits.

Christian Standard Bible
And the capitals on top of the pillars in the portico were shaped like lilies, six feet high.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
And the capitals on top of the pillars in the portico were shaped like lilies, six feet high.

American Standard Version
And the capitals that were upon the top of the pillars in the porch were of lily-work, four cubits.

Contemporary English Version
The caps for the columns of the porch were almost two meters high and were shaped like lilies.

English Revised Version
And the chapiters that were upon the top of the pillars in the porch were of lily work, four cubits.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The capitals on top of the pillars in the entrance hall were lily-shaped. [Each] was six feet high.

Good News Translation
The capitals were shaped like lilies, 6 feet tall,

International Standard Version
The capitals on top of each pillar above the rounded latticework contained four cubits of lily designs,

Majority Standard Bible
And the capitals atop the pillars in the portico were shaped like lilies, four cubits high.

NET Bible
The tops of the two pillars in the porch were shaped like lilies and were six feet high.

New Heart English Bible
The capitals that were on the top of the pillars in the porch were of lily work, six feet and eleven inches.

Webster's Bible Translation
And the capitals that were upon the top of the pillars were of lily-work in the porch, four cubits.

World English Bible
The capitals that were on the top of the pillars in the porch were of lily work, four cubits.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And the chapiters that [are] on the top of the pillars [are] of lily-work in the porch, four cubits;

Young's Literal Translation
And the chapiters that are on the top of the pillars are of lily-work in the porch, four cubits;

Smith's Literal Translation
And the crowns which were upon the head of the, pillars of lily-work in the porch, four cubits.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And the chapiters that were upon the top of the pillars, were of lily work in the porch, of four cubits.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Now the heads that were at the top of the columns, in the portico of four cubits, had been fabricated with a work of lilies.

New American Bible
The capitals on top of the columns (in the porch) were made like lilies, four cubits high.

New Revised Standard Version
Now the capitals that were on the tops of the pillars in the vestibule were of lily-work, four cubits high.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And the capitals that were upon the top of the pillars were of lily work in the porch, four cubits.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And saplings that were upon the top of pillars, the work of lilies, and he made in the porch four cubits.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And the capitals that were upon the top of the pillars in the porch were of lily-work, four cubits.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And on the heads of the pillars he made lily-work against the porch, of four cubits,

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Work of Hiram
18Likewise, he made the pillars with two rows of pomegranates around each grating to cover each capital atop the pillars. 19And the capitals atop the pillars in the portico were shaped like lilies, four cubits high. 20On the capitals of both pillars, just above the rounded projection next to the network, were the two hundred pomegranates in rows encircling each capital.…

Cross References
2 Chronicles 4:12-13
the two pillars; the two bowl-shaped capitals atop the pillars; the two sets of network covering both bowls of the capitals atop the pillars; / the four hundred pomegranates for the two sets of network (two rows of pomegranates for each network covering both the bowl-shaped capitals atop the pillars);

Exodus 25:31-36
Then you are to make a lampstand of pure, hammered gold. It shall be made of one piece, including its base and shaft, its cups, and its buds and petals. / Six branches are to extend from the sides of the lampstand—three on one side and three on the other. / There are to be three cups shaped like almond blossoms on the first branch, each with buds and petals, three on the next branch, and the same for all six branches that extend from the lampstand. ...

1 Kings 6:18
The cedar paneling inside the temple was carved with gourds and open flowers. Everything was cedar; not a stone could be seen.

1 Kings 6:29
Then he carved the walls all around the temple, in both the inner and outer sanctuaries, with carved engravings of cherubim, palm trees, and open flowers.

1 Kings 6:32
The double doors were made of olive wood, and he carved into them cherubim, palm trees, and open flowers and overlaid the cherubim and palm trees with hammered gold.

1 Kings 6:35
He carved into them cherubim, palm trees, and open flowers, and he overlaid them with gold hammered evenly over the carvings.

2 Chronicles 3:5
He paneled the main room with cypress, which he overlaid with fine gold and decorated with palm trees and chains.

2 Chronicles 3:10
In the Most Holy Place he made two cherubim of sculptured work, and he overlaid them with gold.

2 Chronicles 3:16
He made interwoven chains and put them on top of the pillars. He made a hundred pomegranates and fastened them into the chainwork.

2 Chronicles 4:2-5
He also made the Sea of cast metal. It was circular in shape, measuring ten cubits from rim to rim, five cubits in height, and thirty cubits in circumference. / Below the rim, figures of oxen encircled it, ten per cubit all the way around the Sea, cast in two rows as a part of the Sea. / The Sea stood on twelve oxen, three facing north, three facing west, three facing south, and three facing east. The Sea rested on them, with all their hindquarters toward the center. ...

Jeremiah 52:21-23
Each pillar was eighteen cubits tall and twelve cubits in circumference; each was hollow, four fingers thick. / The bronze capital atop one pillar was five cubits high, with a network of bronze pomegranates all around. The second pillar, with its pomegranates, was similar. / Each capital had ninety-six pomegranates on the sides, and a total of a hundred pomegranates were above the surrounding network.

Revelation 4:6-8
And before the throne was something like a sea of glass, as clear as crystal. In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures, covered with eyes in front and back. / The first living creature was like a lion, the second like a calf, the third had a face like a man, and the fourth was like an eagle in flight. / And each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around and within. Day and night they never stop saying: “Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!”

Revelation 21:18-21
The wall was made of jasper, and the city itself of pure gold, as pure as glass. / The foundations of the city walls were adorned with every kind of precious stone: The first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald, / the fifth sardonyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst. ...

Revelation 22:1-2
Then the angel showed me a river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb / down the middle of the main street of the city. On either side of the river stood a tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit and yielding a fresh crop for each month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.

Matthew 6:29
Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his glory was adorned like one of these.


Treasury of Scripture

And the capitals that were on the top of the pillars were of lily work in the porch, four cubits.

lily work

1 Kings 7:22
And upon the top of the pillars was lily work: so was the work of the pillars finished.

1 Kings 6:18,32-35
And the cedar of the house within was carved with knops and open flowers: all was cedar; there was no stone seen…

Jump to Previous
Capitals Chapiters Crowns Cubits Design Flowers Four High Lily Ornamented Pillars Porch Portico Shape Top Tops Vestibule Work
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Capitals Chapiters Crowns Cubits Design Flowers Four High Lily Ornamented Pillars Porch Portico Shape Top Tops Vestibule Work
1 Kings 7
1. The building of Solomon's house
2. Of the house of Lebanon
6. Of the porch of pillars
7. Of the porch of judgment
8. Of the house for Pharaoh's daughter
13. Hiram's work of the two pillars,
23. Of the molten sea
27. Of the ten bases
38. Of the ten lavers
40. and all the vessels














capitals atop the pillars
The term "capitals" refers to the decorative tops of the pillars, which are significant in ancient architecture. In Hebrew, the word used is "כֹּתֶרֶת" (koteret), which denotes the crowning feature of a column. These capitals were not merely structural but also symbolic, representing the beauty and glory of the temple. The pillars themselves, known as "עמודים" (amudim), were essential in supporting the structure, symbolizing strength and stability. In a spiritual sense, these capitals can be seen as the crowning glory of God's creation, reflecting His majesty and the beauty of His divine order.

in the portico
The "portico" refers to a porch or entranceway, known in Hebrew as "אוּלָם" (ulam). This was a significant architectural feature in Solomon's Temple, serving as a grand entrance that prepared worshippers for the sacred space within. The portico's presence highlights the importance of preparation and reverence when approaching God. It serves as a reminder of the transition from the secular to the sacred, encouraging believers to enter God's presence with awe and respect.

shaped like lilies
The phrase "shaped like lilies" is a beautiful depiction of the capitals' design. The lily, or "שׁוּשַׁן" (shushan) in Hebrew, is often associated with purity and beauty in Scripture. This floral motif is not only aesthetically pleasing but also rich in symbolism, representing the purity and holiness that should characterize the worship of God. The lily's presence in the temple's architecture serves as a reminder of the beauty of holiness and the call for believers to live lives that reflect God's purity.

four cubits high
The measurement "four cubits high" provides a sense of scale and grandeur to the capitals. A cubit, known as "אַמָּה" (ammah) in Hebrew, is an ancient unit of length, approximately 18 inches or 45 centimeters. Thus, the capitals were about six feet tall, emphasizing their prominence and the importance of beauty and detail in the house of God. This height signifies the elevation of God's ways above human understanding, calling believers to look up and aspire to the divine standards set by the Creator.

Verse 19. - And the chapiters that were upon the top of the pillars [It is difficult to believe that these words, which are identical with those in vers. 16, 17,18, can refer to a different - a second and superposed capital (Rawlinson), or to the entablature (Fergusson)] were of lily work [i.e., bassirelievi in imitation of flowering lilies. Probably the bowl-shaped chapiter was treated as a fullblown lily, just as the capitals of Egyptian pillars took the form of the lotus. The molten sea was similarly treated (ver. 26). The lily (שׁוּשַׁן), from שׁוּשׁ), to be white), was undoubtedly an emblem of purity. Bahr observes that it may justly be named "the flower of the promised land," and that as the lotus was the religious flower of the Indian and Egyptian religions, so was the lily of the Jewish] in the porch [These words, בָּאוּלָם, are very obscure. Keil understands" as in the hall" (cf. κατὰ τὸ αὐλὰμ, LXX.) But that idea would have been expressed by כָּאוּלָם, and nothing is said elsewhere about any lily work in the porch (Bahr). Ewald, too, thinks the decoration of the porch is referred to, and holds that a description of this lily work must once have preceded this statement, though it is now wanting. Thenius, al. suppose them to refer to the position of the pillars within the porch, and the "four cubits" mentioned presently, they take to indicate the diameter of the capitals. Wordsworth would render "inside or toward the porch," and understands that the lily work was only on the inside of the pillars. It is, perhaps, impossible to arrive at any certain conclusion], four cubits. [This may either mean that of five cubits (which was the height of the entire capital), four, and these the upper four (ver. 22), were covered with lily work, while one cubit at the bottom of the capital was ornamented with chain-work or festeons - we can hardly believe that nets, chains, and lily work were all combined in the same space, or it may refer to the position of the pillars in the portico.]

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
And the capitals
וְכֹֽתָרֹ֗ת (wə·ḵō·ṯā·rōṯ)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 3805: The capital of a, column

atop
רֹ֣אשׁ (rōš)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 7218: The head

the pillars
הָעַמּוּדִ֔ים (hā·‘am·mū·ḏîm)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 5982: A column, a stand, platform

in the portico
בָּֽאוּלָ֑ם (bā·’ū·lām)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 197: A vestibule

were shaped
מַעֲשֵׂ֖ה (ma·‘ă·śêh)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 4639: An action, a transaction, activity, a product, property

like lilies,
שׁוּשַׁ֣ן (šū·šan)
Noun - common singular
Strong's 7799: A lily, as a, flower of architectural ornament, a, trumpet

four
אַרְבַּ֖ע (’ar·ba‘)
Number - feminine singular construct
Strong's 702: Four

cubits [high].
אַמּֽוֹת׃ (’am·mō·wṯ)
Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 520: A mother, a cubit, a door-base


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OT History: 1 Kings 7:19 The capitals that were on the top (1Ki iKi i Ki 1 Kg 1kg)
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