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⇱ 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.

Bible > 1 Kings > Chapter 6 > Verse 18
◄ 1 Kings 6:18 ►
New International Version
The inside of the temple was cedar, carved with gourds and open flowers. Everything was cedar; no stone was to be seen.

New Living Translation
Cedar paneling completely covered the stone walls throughout the Temple, and the paneling was decorated with carvings of gourds and open flowers.

English Standard Version
The cedar within the house was carved in the form of gourds and open flowers. All was cedar; no stone was seen.

Berean Standard Bible
The cedar paneling inside the temple was carved with gourds and open flowers. Everything was cedar; not a stone could be seen.

King James Bible
And the cedar of the house within was carved with knops and open flowers: all was cedar; there was no stone seen.

New King James Version
The inside of the temple was cedar, carved with ornamental buds and open flowers. All was cedar; there was no stone to be seen.

New American Standard Bible
There was cedar inside the house, carved in the shape of gourds and open flowers; everything was cedar, there was no stone visible.

NASB 1995
There was cedar on the house within, carved in the shape of gourds and open flowers; all was cedar, there was no stone seen.

NASB 1977
And there was cedar on the house within, carved in the shape of gourds and open flowers; all was cedar, there was no stone seen.

Legacy Standard Bible
And there was cedar on the house within, carved in the shape of gourds and open flowers; all was cedar, there was no stone seen.

Amplified Bible
The cedar on the house within had wood carvings in the shape of gourds and open flowers. Everything was cedar; no stone was visible.

Christian Standard Bible
The cedar paneling inside the temple was carved with ornamental gourds and flower blossoms. Everything was cedar; not a stone could be seen.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The cedar paneling inside the temple was carved with ornamental gourds and flower blossoms. Everything was cedar; not a stone could be seen.

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

Contemporary English Version
The inside walls were lined with cedar to hide the stones, and the cedar was decorated with carvings of gourds and flowers.

English Revised Version
And there was cedar on the house within, carved with knops and open flowers: all was cedar; there was no stone seen.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Gourds and flowers were carved into the cedar paneling inside the temple. Everything was [covered with] cedar. No stone could be seen.

Good News Translation
The cedar panels were decorated with carvings of gourds and flowers; the whole interior was covered with cedar, so that the stones of the walls could not be seen.

International Standard Version
Cedar carvings in the form of gourds and blooming flowers covered the entire interior of the Temple so that no stone could be seen.

NET Bible
The inside of the temple was all cedar and was adorned with carvings of round ornaments and of flowers in bloom. Everything was cedar; no stones were visible.

New Heart English Bible
And the inside of the house was cedar, carved with buds and open flowers: all was cedar; there was no stone seen.

Webster's Bible Translation
And the cedar of the house within was carved with knobs and open flowers: all was cedar; there was no stone seen.
Majority Text Translations
Majority Standard Bible
The cedar paneling inside the temple was carved with gourds and open flowers. Everything was cedar; not a stone could be seen.

World English Bible
There was cedar on the house within, carved with buds and open flowers. All was cedar. No stone was visible.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And the cedar for the house within [is] carvings of knobs and openings of flowers; the whole [is] cedar, there is not a stone seen.

Young's Literal Translation
And the cedar for the house within is carvings of knobs and openings of flowers; the whole is cedar, there is not a stone seen.

Smith's Literal Translation
And cedar to the house within carved work with ornaments and opening flower-buds; all cedar: no stone was seen.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And all the house was covered within with cedar, having the turnings, and the joints thereof artfully wrought and carvings projecting out: all was covered with boards of cedar: and no stone could be seen in the wall at all.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And the entire house was clothed with cedar on the interior, having its turnings and junctures artfully wrought, with carvings projecting outward. Everything was clothed with panels of cedar. And no stone at all was able to be seen in the wall.

New American Bible
The cedar in the interior of the house was carved in the form of gourds and open flowers; all was of cedar, and no stone was to be seen.

New Revised Standard Version
The cedar within the house had carvings of gourds and open flowers; all was cedar, no stone was seen.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And the house was covered within with cedar, which was carved with buds and open flowers; all was cedar; there was no stone seen in it.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And cedar was covering the house from within, and it was lattice work and carved ornaments, and lilies and all was of cedar, and a stone was not seen in it.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And the cedar on the house within was carved with knops and open flowers; all was cedar; there was no stone seen.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Temple's Interior
…17And the main hall in front of this room was forty cubits long. 18The cedar paneling inside the temple was carved with gourds and open flowers. Everything was cedar; not a stone could be seen. 19Solomon also prepared the inner sanctuary within the temple to set the ark of the covenant of the LORD there.…

Cross References
Exodus 26:33-35
And hang the veil from the clasps and place the ark of the Testimony behind the veil. So the veil will separate the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place. / Put the mercy seat on the ark of the Testimony in the Most Holy Place. / And place the table outside the veil on the north side of the tabernacle, and put the lampstand opposite the table, on the south side.

Exodus 36:35-38
Next, he made the veil of blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and finely spun linen, with cherubim skillfully worked into it. / He also made four posts of acacia wood for it and overlaid them with gold, along with gold hooks; and he cast four silver bases for the posts. / For the entrance to the tent, he made a curtain embroidered with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and finely spun linen, ...

2 Chronicles 3:5-7
He paneled the main room with cypress, which he overlaid with fine gold and decorated with palm trees and chains. / He adorned the temple with precious stones for beauty, and its gold was from Parvaim. / He overlaid its beams, thresholds, walls, and doors with gold, and he carved cherubim on the walls.

1 Kings 7:48-50
Solomon also made all the furnishings for the house of the LORD: the golden altar; the golden table on which was placed the Bread of the Presence; / the lampstands of pure gold in front of the inner sanctuary, five on the right side and five on the left; the gold flowers, lamps, and tongs; / the pure gold basins, wick trimmers, sprinkling bowls, ladles, and censers; and the gold hinges for the doors of the inner temple (that is, the Most Holy Place) as well as for the doors of the main hall of the temple.

Hebrews 9:2-5
A tabernacle was prepared. In its first room were the lampstand, the table, and the consecrated bread. This was called the Holy Place. / Behind the second curtain was a room called the Most Holy Place, / containing the golden altar of incense and the gold-covered ark of the covenant. Inside the ark were the gold jar of manna, Aaron’s staff that had budded, and the stone tablets of the covenant. ...

Exodus 25:8-9
And they are to make a sanctuary for Me, so that I may dwell among them. / You must make the tabernacle and design all its furnishings according to the pattern I show you.

Exodus 25:31-40
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. ...

2 Chronicles 4:19-22
Solomon also made all the furnishings for the house of God: the golden altar; the tables on which was placed the Bread of the Presence; / the lampstands of pure gold and their lamps, to burn in front of the inner sanctuary as prescribed; / the flowers, lamps, and tongs of gold—of purest gold; ...

Exodus 37:17-24
Then he made the lampstand out of pure hammered gold, all of one piece: its base and shaft, its cups, and its buds and petals. / Six branches extended from the sides, three on one side and three on the other. / There were 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 extended from the lampstand. ...

1 Kings 8:6-8
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. / The poles extended far enough that their ends were visible from the Holy Place in front of the inner sanctuary, but not from outside the Holy Place; and they are there to this day.

Exodus 40:20-21
Moses took the Testimony and placed it in the ark, attaching the poles to the ark; and he set the mercy seat atop the ark. / Then he brought the ark into the tabernacle, put up the veil for the screen, and shielded off the ark of the Testimony, just as the LORD had commanded him.

2 Chronicles 5:7-9
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. / The poles of the ark extended far enough that their ends were visible from in front of the inner sanctuary, but not from outside the Holy Place; and they are there to this day.

Exodus 25:10-22
And they are to construct an ark of acacia wood, two and a half cubits long, a cubit and a half wide, and a cubit and a half high. / Overlay it with pure gold both inside and out, and make a gold molding around it. / Cast four gold rings for it and fasten them to its four feet, two rings on one side and two on the other. ...

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.

Exodus 30:1-10
“You are also to make an altar of acacia wood for the burning of incense. / It is to be square, a cubit long, a cubit wide, and two cubits high. Its horns must be of one piece. / Overlay with pure gold the top and all the sides and horns, and make a molding of gold around it. ...


2 Kings 4:39
And one went out into the field to gather herbs, and found a wild vine, and gathered thereof wild gourds his lap full, and came and shred them into the pot of pottage: for they knew them not.

open flowers.

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Buds Carved Carvings Cedar Cedar-Wood Colocynths Designs Flowers Form Gourds Half-Open House Inside Knobs Knops Open Openings Ornamented Shape Stone Temple Whole Within
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Buds Carved Carvings Cedar Cedar-Wood Colocynths Designs Flowers Form Gourds Half-Open House Inside Knobs Knops Open Openings Ornamented Shape Stone Temple Whole Within
1 Kings 6
1. The building of Solomon's temple
5. The chambers thereof
11. God's promise unto it
15. The ceiling and adorning of it
23. The cherubim
31. The doors
36. The court
37. The time of building it














The cedar paneling inside the temple
The use of cedar wood in the construction of the temple is significant. Cedar was highly valued in the ancient Near East for its durability, resistance to decay, and pleasant aroma. It was imported from Lebanon, indicating the wealth and resources available to Solomon. The use of cedar also reflects the grandeur and majesty of the temple, as it was a material often used in royal and sacred buildings. This choice of material underscores the temple's purpose as a dwelling place for God, emphasizing its sanctity and the reverence due to it.

was carved with gourds and open flowers.
The carvings of gourds and open flowers are rich in symbolism. Gourds, often associated with sustenance and provision, may symbolize God's provision for His people. Open flowers can represent beauty, life, and the flourishing of creation under God's care. These carvings reflect the artistry and craftsmanship involved in the temple's construction, highlighting the importance of beauty and detail in worship spaces. The imagery also connects to the Garden of Eden, suggesting a return to paradise and communion with God.

Everything was cedar;
The complete use of cedar for the interior signifies purity and uniformity. It creates a seamless and harmonious environment, free from the distractions of varied materials. This uniformity can symbolize the unity and consistency of God's presence and His unchanging nature. The exclusivity of cedar in the temple's interior also points to the idea of holiness, setting the temple apart from ordinary structures.

not a stone could be seen.
The covering of stone with cedar paneling indicates a transformation from the ordinary to the extraordinary. While stone represents strength and permanence, the cedar overlay adds an element of beauty and refinement. This transformation can be seen as a metaphor for the spiritual transformation that occurs in the presence of God. The hidden stones also suggest the idea of inner beauty and the importance of what is unseen, aligning with biblical themes of inner purity and the heart's condition.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Solomon
The king of Israel who was responsible for building the temple. His reign was marked by wisdom and prosperity, and he was tasked with constructing the temple as a permanent dwelling place for God among His people.

2. The Temple
The central place of worship for the Israelites, symbolizing God's presence with His people. The temple was a fulfillment of God's promise to David that his son would build a house for God's name.

3. Cedar Wood
A valuable and durable wood used extensively in the construction of the temple. It was imported from Lebanon and was known for its quality and fragrance.

4. Gourds and Open Flowers
Decorative carvings that adorned the interior of the temple, symbolizing beauty and the abundance of creation.

5. Israel
The nation chosen by God to be His people, for whom the temple was built as a place of worship and sacrifice.
Teaching Points
The Beauty of Holiness
The intricate carvings of gourds and flowers in the temple remind us that God values beauty and creativity. Our worship spaces and lives should reflect the beauty of holiness, pointing others to the Creator.

The Importance of Quality in Worship
The use of cedar, a high-quality material, signifies the importance of offering our best to God. In our worship and service, we should strive for excellence, giving God our first and finest.

Symbolism of Creation
The carvings of gourds and flowers symbolize the abundance and diversity of God's creation. This reminds us to appreciate and steward the natural world as a reflection of God's glory.

God's Presence Among His People
The temple was a physical representation of God's presence with Israel. Today, believers are the temple of the Holy Spirit, called to live in a way that reflects God's presence in the world.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1. What is the meaning of 1 Kings 6:18?

2. How does 1 Kings 6:18 reflect God's attention to detail in worship spaces?

3. What does the cedar interior symbolize about the temple's sacredness and God's holiness?

4. How can we apply the temple's craftsmanship to our church building efforts today?

5. In what ways does 1 Kings 6:18 connect to Exodus 25's tabernacle instructions?

6. How can we ensure our worship spaces honor God like Solomon's temple did?

7. What is the significance of cedar and gourds in 1 Kings 6:18?

8. How does 1 Kings 6:18 reflect Solomon's priorities in temple construction?

9. Why is the temple's interior decoration important in 1 Kings 6:18?

10. What are the top 10 Lessons from 1 Kings 6?

11. Why do biblical descriptions of Solomon's temple differ from contemporary architectural styles?

12. Given the temple's grandeur in 1 Kings 6:2-10, how do we reconcile this with the relatively modest archaeological evidence of Solomon's era?

13. In 1 Kings 6:14-18, how plausible is it to have such elaborate cedar and gold paneling without any significant historical or external documentation?

14. How is it historically or scientifically plausible for David to accumulate 'one hundred thousand talents of gold and a million talents of silver' (1 Chronicles 22:14)?
What Does 1 Kings 6:18 Mean
Cedar Paneling

“The cedar paneling inside the temple…” (1 Kings 6:18)

• Cedar was a prized, enduring wood (2 Samuel 7:2; Psalm 92:12) that resisted rot and insects. By lining the sanctuary with it, Solomon ensured the interior would remain beautiful and fragrant for generations, echoing the Lord’s promise of lasting presence (1 Kings 9:3).

• Cedar’s rich scent and warm color created a welcoming place of worship, reminding Israel that God desires fellowship, not a cold, stone enclosure (Exodus 25:8; Revelation 21:3).

• Covering the walls with wood rather than leaving bare masonry symbolized redemption: the rough stone of human effort hidden beneath the richness God provides (Isaiah 61:3; Ephesians 2:20-22).

Carved with Gourds and Open Flowers

“…was carved with gourds and open flowers.” (1 Kings 6:18)

• Gourds and blossoms portray life, growth, and fruitfulness—images first seen in Eden (Genesis 2:8-9). By decorating the walls this way, Solomon recalled God’s original design for humanity: living in fruitful fellowship with Him.

• The open flower motif suggests continual praise and responsiveness to God, like the lampstand in the tabernacle with its almond-blossom cups (Exodus 25:31-34).

• These carvings were not mere ornamentation; they proclaimed that true worship leads to flourishing (Psalm 1:3; John 15:5).

Everything Was Cedar; Not a Stone Could Be Seen

“Everything was cedar; not a stone could be seen.” (1 Kings 6:18)

• Total coverage emphasizes completeness. Just as no stone showed through, no aspect of life is meant to remain untouched by God’s holiness (Leviticus 19:2; 1 Peter 1:15-16).

• The hidden stones illustrate God’s mercy: the hard reality of judgment concealed beneath a gracious covering, foreshadowing Christ, who shields believers from condemnation (Romans 8:1; Colossians 3:3).

• The seamless cedar interior mirrors the unity God desires in His people (1 Corinthians 1:10). Disjointed stone blocks give way to a harmonious wooden whole, pointing to the church “fitly framed together” (Ephesians 2:21, KJV).

summary

1 Kings 6:18 blends beauty, symbolism, and practical craftsmanship. Cedar signifies durability and God’s welcoming presence; carved gourds and flowers speak of life and fruitfulness; the concealed stone highlights God’s gracious covering and call to wholeness. Together they invite believers to experience a worship that is enduring, flourishing, and entirely surrendered to the Lord who dwells among His people.

Verse 18. - And the cedar of the house within [lit. cedar (wood) was placed against the house inside] was carved with knops [Heb. sculpture of gourds. The sculpture is in apposition to cedar. The authorities are divided as to the kind of sculpture intended. Keil thinks they were bassi relievi; Bahr contends that, like those of the Egyptian monuments, they were sunken, פְּקָעִים is generally assumed to be synonymous with פְּקֻעֹת "squirting cucumbers" (2 Kings 4:39, note). Bahr, however, justly observes that a deadly fruit, such as this is described to have been, was hardly likely to be employed in the decoration of the sanctuary, and he would render the word "buds." Keil thinks the gourds were oval ornaments, something like the wild gourd, which ran in rows along the walls. See the illustration, "Slab from Kouyunjik," Dict. Bib. 2 p. 49] and open flowers [lit. burstings of flowers. These words again are very variously interpreted. Thenius: festoons of flowers; Keil: open flower buds; Gesen.: expanded flowers]: all was cedar; there was no stone seen. [Really, the cedar was no more seen than the stone, for this in turn was overlaid with gold (ver. 22.)]

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
The cedar
וְאֶ֤רֶז (wə·’e·rez)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 730: A cedar tree

paneling inside
פְּנִ֔ימָה (pə·nî·māh)
Adverb
Strong's 6441: Toward the side or inside, within

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

was carved
מִקְלַ֣עַת (miq·la·‘aṯ)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 4734: A sculpture

with gourds
פְּקָעִ֔ים (pə·qā·‘îm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 6497: Gourd (shaped) ornaments

and open
וּפְטוּרֵ֖י (ū·p̄ə·ṭū·rê)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - masculine plural construct
Strong's 6358: Opened, a bud

flowers.
צִצִּ֑ים (ṣiṣ·ṣîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 6731: Glistening, a burnished plate, a flower, a wing

Everything
הַכֹּ֣ל (hak·kōl)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

was cedar;
אֶ֔רֶז (’e·rez)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 730: A cedar tree

not
אֵ֥ין (’ên)
Adverb
Strong's 369: A non-entity, a negative particle

a stone
אֶ֖בֶן (’e·ḇen)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 68: A stone

could be seen.
נִרְאָֽה׃ (nir·’āh)
Verb - Nifal - Participle - feminine singular
Strong's 7200: To see


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OT History: 1 Kings 6:18 There was cedar on the house within (1Ki iKi i Ki 1 Kg 1kg)