2 Chronicles 3:10
New International Version
For the Most Holy Place he made a pair of sculptured cherubim and overlaid them with gold.

New Living Translation
He made two figures shaped like cherubim, overlaid them with gold, and placed them in the Most Holy Place.

English Standard Version
In the Most Holy Place he made two cherubim of wood and overlaid them with gold.

Berean Standard Bible
In the Most Holy Place he made two cherubim of sculptured work, and he overlaid them with gold.

King James Bible
And in the most holy house he made two cherubims of image work, and overlaid them with gold.

New King James Version
In the Most Holy Place he made two cherubim, fashioned by carving, and overlaid them with gold.

New American Standard Bible
Then he made two sculptured cherubim in the room of the Most Holy Place and overlaid them with gold.

NASB 1995
Then he made two sculptured cherubim in the room of the holy of holies and overlaid them with gold.

NASB 1977
Then he made two sculptured cherubim in the room of the holy of holies and overlaid them with gold.

Legacy Standard Bible
Then in the room of the Holy of Holies he made two cherubim of fashioned work and overlaid them with gold.

Amplified Bible
And in the Holy of Holies he made two sculptured cherubim, and overlaid them with gold.

Christian Standard Bible
He made two cherubim of sculptured work, for the most holy place, and he overlaid them with gold.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
He made two cherubim of sculptured work, for the most holy place, and he overlaid them with gold.

American Standard Version
And in the most holy house he made two cherubim of image work; and they overlaid them with gold.

Contemporary English Version
Solomon had two statues of winged creatures made to put in the most holy place, and he covered them with gold.

English Revised Version
And in the most holy house he made two cherubim of image work; and they overlaid them with gold.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
In the most holy place he made two sculptured angels and covered them with gold.

Good News Translation
The king also had his workers make two winged creatures out of metal, cover them with gold, and place them in the Most Holy Place,

International Standard Version
He crafted two cherubim from wood, overlaid them with gold, and placed them in the Most Holy Place in the Temple.

Majority Standard Bible
In the Most Holy Place he made two cherubim of sculptured work, and he overlaid them with gold.

NET Bible
In the most holy place he made two images of cherubim and plated them with gold.

New Heart English Bible
In the most holy house he made two cherubim of sculptured work; and he overlaid them with gold.

Webster's Bible Translation
And in the most holy house he made two cherubim of image work, and overlaid them with gold.

World English Bible
In the most holy place he made two cherubim by carving, and they overlaid them with gold.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And he makes two cherubim in the most holy house, image work, and he overlays them with gold;

Young's Literal Translation
And he maketh in the most holy house two cherubs, image work, and he overlayeth them with gold;

Smith's Literal Translation
And in the house of the holy of holies he will make two cherubims, a work of sculptures, and he will overlay them with gold.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
He made also in the house of the holy of holies two cherubims of image work: and he overlaid them with gold.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Now he also made, in the house of the Holy of Holies, two cherubim as a work of statues. And he covered them with gold.

New American Bible
For the room of the holy of holies he made two cherubim of carved workmanship, which were then covered with gold.

New Revised Standard Version
In the most holy place he made two carved cherubim and overlaid them with gold.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
In the most holy house he made two cherubim of solid material, and overlaid them with gold.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And he made in the house of Holiness two Cherubim, a secure work, and he overlaid them in gold.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And in the most holy place he made two cherubim of image work; and they overlaid them with gold.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And he made two cherubs in the most holy house, wood-work, and he gilded them with gold.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Cherubim
10In the Most Holy Place he made two cherubim of sculptured work, and he overlaid them with gold. 11The total wingspan of the cherubim was twenty cubits. One wing of the first cherub was five cubits long and touched the wall of the temple, and its other wing was five cubits long and touched the wing of the other cherub.…

Cross References
Exodus 25:18-20
Make two cherubim of hammered gold at the ends of the mercy seat, / one cherub on one end and one on the other, all made from one piece of gold. / And the cherubim are to have wings that spread upward, overshadowing the mercy seat. The cherubim are to face each other, looking toward the mercy seat.

1 Kings 6:23-28
In the inner sanctuary he made two cherubim, each ten cubits high, out of olive wood. / One wing of the first cherub was five cubits long, and the other wing was five cubits long as well. So the full wingspan was ten cubits. / The second cherub also measured ten cubits; both cherubim had the same size and shape, ...

Ezekiel 10:1-22
And I looked and saw above the expanse, above the heads of the cherubim, the likeness of a throne of sapphire. / And the LORD said to the man clothed in linen, “Go inside the wheelwork beneath the cherubim. Fill your hands with burning coals from among the cherubim and scatter them over the city.” And as I watched, he went in. / Now when the man went in, the cherubim were standing on the south side of the temple, and a cloud filled the inner court. ...

Isaiah 6:2
Above Him stood seraphim, each having six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying.

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!”

Hebrews 9:5
Above the ark were the cherubim of glory, overshadowing the mercy seat. But we cannot discuss these things in detail now.

Exodus 37:7-9
He made two cherubim of hammered gold at the ends of the mercy seat, / one cherub on one end and one on the other, all made from one piece of gold. / And the cherubim had wings that spread upward, overshadowing the mercy seat. The cherubim faced each other, looking toward the mercy seat.

1 Kings 8:6-7
Then the priests brought the ark of the covenant of the LORD to its place in the inner sanctuary of the temple, the Most Holy Place, beneath the wings of the cherubim. / For the cherubim spread their wings over the place of the ark and overshadowed the ark and its poles.

Psalm 80:1
For the choirmaster. To the tune of “The Lilies of the Covenant.” A Psalm of Asaph. Hear us, O Shepherd of Israel, who leads Joseph like a flock; You who sit enthroned between the cherubim, shine forth

Psalm 99:1
The LORD reigns; let the nations tremble! He is enthroned above the cherubim; let the earth quake!

Revelation 5:6-8
Then I saw a Lamb who appeared to have been slain, standing in the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes, which represent the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. / And He came and took the scroll from the right hand of the One seated on the throne. / When He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp, and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.

Ezekiel 1:5-14
and within it was the form of four living creatures. And this was their appearance: They had a human form, / but each had four faces and four wings. / Their legs were straight, and the soles of their feet were like the hooves of a calf, gleaming like polished bronze. ...

Isaiah 37:16
“O LORD of Hosts, God of Israel, enthroned above the cherubim, You alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth. You made the heavens and the earth.

Exodus 26:1
“You are to construct the tabernacle itself with ten curtains of finely spun linen, each with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and cherubim skillfully worked into them.

Revelation 11:19
Then the temple of God in heaven was opened, and the ark of His covenant appeared in His temple. And there were flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake, and a great hailstorm.


Treasury of Scripture

And in the most holy house he made two cherubim of image work, and overlaid them with gold.

two cherubims

1 Kings 6:23-28
And within the oracle he made two cherubims of olive tree, each ten cubits high…

image work.

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Beings Cherubim Cherubs Covering Gold Holies Holy House Image Images Maketh Overlaid Overlayeth Pair Room Sculptured Winged Wood Work
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Beings Cherubim Cherubs Covering Gold Holies Holy House Image Images Maketh Overlaid Overlayeth Pair Room Sculptured Winged Wood Work
2 Chronicles 3
1. The place and time of building the temple
3. The measure and ornaments of the house
11. The cherubim
14. The veil and pillars














In the Most Holy Place
The Most Holy Place, also known as the Holy of Holies, was the innermost and most sacred area of the temple. It was where the presence of God was believed to dwell, and only the high priest could enter, and only once a year on the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16:2-34). This sacred space was a continuation of the design from the Tabernacle, emphasizing the separation between God and humanity due to sin, and the need for atonement.

he made two cherubim
Cherubim are angelic beings often associated with the presence and glory of God. They are first mentioned in Genesis 3:24, guarding the way to the Tree of Life. In the context of the temple, the cherubim symbolize the guardianship of God's holiness and serve as a reminder of the divine presence. Their inclusion in the Most Holy Place underscores the sacredness of the space and the reverence required in approaching God.

of sculptured work
The cherubim were crafted with great skill, indicating the importance of artistry in worship and the temple's construction. This reflects the detailed instructions given by God for the Tabernacle (Exodus 25:18-22) and later for the temple, highlighting the value placed on beauty and craftsmanship in the service of God. The use of sculptured work also points to the permanence and stability of the temple compared to the portable Tabernacle.

and he overlaid them with gold
Gold was a symbol of purity, divinity, and kingship, often used in the construction of sacred objects and spaces (Exodus 25:11). The overlaying of the cherubim with gold signifies the preciousness and holiness of the Most Holy Place. Gold's incorruptible nature also points to the eternal and unchanging nature of God. This use of gold connects to the wealth and splendor of Solomon's reign, as well as the future glory of God's kingdom.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Solomon
The king of Israel who was responsible for building the temple in Jerusalem, fulfilling the vision and instructions given to his father, David.

2. The Most Holy Place
Also known as the Holy of Holies, this was the innermost and most sacred area of the temple, where the presence of God was believed to dwell.

3. Cherubim
Angelic beings often associated with the presence of God, depicted here as part of the temple's sacred furnishings.

4. Temple in Jerusalem
The central place of worship for the Israelites, constructed under Solomon's reign, symbolizing God's dwelling among His people.

5. Gold Overlay
Represents the purity, value, and divine nature of the temple's furnishings, signifying the holiness of the space.
Teaching Points
The Holiness of God
The construction of the Most Holy Place and the cherubim emphasizes the holiness and majesty of God. As believers, we are called to approach God with reverence and awe.

Symbolism of the Cherubim
The cherubim symbolize God's presence and protection. In our lives, we can find comfort in knowing that God is always present and watching over us.

The Role of Worship
The temple was a place of worship and sacrifice. Today, our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, and we are called to live lives of worship and dedication to God.

Continuity of God's Plan
The detailed construction of the temple and its furnishings reflects God's unchanging nature and His plan for redemption, which is fulfilled in Christ.

Value of Obedience
Solomon's adherence to God's instructions for the temple construction serves as a reminder of the importance of obedience in our walk with God.(10) Two cherubims.--1Kings 6:23-28. They were made of oleaster, plated with gold.

Of image work.--Literally, a work of statuary. The Hebrew word meaning "statuary" occurs here only, and looks suspicious. The Vulg. renders opere statuario; the LXX. "a work of logs"; the Syriac "a durable work." With the last three renderings comp. 1Kings 6:23, "wood (or blocks) of oleaster," a specially hard wood. The rendering of the LXX. suggests that the original reading may have been ma'as?h '?cim, "woodwork."

And overlaid.--Heb., and they overlaid.

Verse 10. - Image work. The word in the Hebrew text (צַעֲצֻעִים) translated thus in our Authorized Version is a word unknown. Gesenius traces it to "an unused" Hebrew root צוַע, of Arabic derivation (meaning "to carry on the trade of a goldsmith"), and offers to translate it "statuary" work with the Vulgate (opus statuarium). The parallel (1 Kings 6:23) gives simply "wood of oil" (not "olive," Nehemiah 8:15), i.e. the oleaster tree wood. It is obvious that some of the characters of these words would go some way to make the other unknown word. But it must be confessed that our text shows no external indications of a corrupt reading.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
In the Most Holy
קֹ֤דֶשׁ (qō·ḏeš)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 6944: A sacred place, thing, sanctity

Place
בְּבֵֽית־ (bə·ḇêṯ-)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1004: A house

he made
וַיַּ֜עַשׂ (way·ya·‘aś)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6213: To do, make

two
שְׁנַ֔יִם (šə·na·yim)
Number - md
Strong's 8147: Two (a cardinal number)

cherubim
כְּרוּבִ֣ים (kə·rū·ḇîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 3742: Probably an order of angelic beings

of sculptured
צַעֲצֻעִ֑ים (ṣa·‘ă·ṣu·‘îm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 6816: Things formed, images

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

and he overlaid
וַיְצַפּ֥וּ (way·ṣap·pū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 6823: To lay out, lay over

them with gold.
זָהָֽב׃ (zā·hāḇ)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2091: Gold, something gold-colored, as oil, a clear sky


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OT History: 2 Chronicles 3:10 In the most holy house he made (2 Chron. 2Ch iiCh ii ch 2 chr 2chr)
2 Chronicles 3:9
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