The Meaning of 1 Kings 8:6 Explained

1 Kings 8:6

KJV: And the priests brought in the ark of the covenant of the LORD unto his place, into the oracle of the house, to the most holy place, even under the wings of the cherubims.

YLT: And the priests bring in the ark of the covenant of Jehovah unto its place, unto the oracle of the house, unto the holy of holies, unto the place of the wings of the cherubs;

Darby: And the priests brought in the ark of the covenant of Jehovah to its place, into the oracle of the house, into the most holy place, under the wings of the cherubim;

ASV: And the priests brought in the ark of the covenant of Jehovah unto its place, into the oracle of the house, to the most holy place, even under the wings of the cherubim.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And the priests  brought in  the ark  of the covenant  of the LORD  unto his place,  into the oracle  of the house,  to the most  holy  [place, even] under the wings  of the cherubims. 

What does 1 Kings 8:6 Mean?

Context Summary

1 Kings 8:1-11 - The Temple Filled With Glory
When the Temple was finished it was dedicated in connection with the Feast of Tabernacles. All Israel in its most festive attire welcomed the Ark to its resting-place, with sacrifices and offerings that defied calculation. The budding rod and manna had gone from the Ark, because they belonged to a stage of experience which had passed away, just as we have to put away the things of our childhood; but the holy Law was there, 1 Kings 8:9, because, in our most ripened experience, we need to build and meditate on the eternal righteousness which is the foundation of God's throne. The staves of the Ark were drawn out, because this was God's resting-place forever. See Psalms 132:1-18.
How comforted Solomon was when he saw the glory cloud settle down, like a bird on its nest! It was the sign of the divine approval and acceptance, Exodus 40:34. May that Presence fill the throne-room of our nature, that there may be no part dark, Luke 11:36, but that soul, mind, and strength may be full of love and light.
1 Kings 8:1-66 - Breaking Three Commandments
From a worldly point of view Naboth might have done a good stroke of business by selling his estate to. Ahab. A royal price and assured favor might have been his-but he had a conscience! Above the persuasive tones of the monarch's offer sounded the voice of God: "The land shall not be sold for ever, for the land is mine." See Leviticus 25:23; Numbers 36:7; Ezekiel 46:18.
Ahab knew perfectly well that Jezebel could not give him the property of another except by foul means, but he took pains not to inquire. Though the direct orders for Naboth's death did not come from him, yet, by his silence, he was an accomplice and an accessory; and divine justice penetrates all such specious excuses. God holds us responsible for wrongs which we do not arrest, though we have the power. The crime was blacker because of the pretext of religion, as suggested by a fast. See also 2 Kings 9:26. The blood of murdered innocence cries to God, and his requital, though delayed, is inevitable. See Revelation 6:9-10. [source]

Chapter Summary: 1 Kings 8

1  The feast of the temple
12  Solomon's blessing
22  Solomon's prayer
54  Solomon's blessing
62  His sacrifice of peace offerings

What do the individual words in 1 Kings 8:6 mean?

And brought in the priests - the ark of the covenant of Yahweh to its place into the inner sanctuary of the temple the most the Most Holy [Place] under under the wings of the cherubim
וַיָּבִ֣אוּ הַ֠כֹּהֲנִים אֶת־ אֲר֨וֹן בְּרִית־ יְהוָ֧ה אֶל־ מְקוֹמ֛וֹ אֶל־ דְּבִ֥יר הַבַּ֖יִת קֹ֣דֶשׁ הַקֳּדָשִׁ֑ים אֶל־ תַּ֖חַת כַּנְפֵ֥י הַכְּרוּבִֽים

וַיָּבִ֣אוּ  And  brought  in 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: בֹּוא 
Sense: to go in, enter, come, go, come in.
הַ֠כֹּהֲנִים  the  priests 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: כֹּהֵן  
Sense: priest, principal officer or chief ruler.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
אֲר֨וֹן  the  ark 
Parse: Noun, common singular construct
Root: אֲרֹון  
Sense: chest, ark.
בְּרִית־  of  the  covenant 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: בְּרִית  
Sense: covenant, alliance, pledge.
יְהוָ֧ה  of  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
מְקוֹמ֛וֹ  its  place 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: מָקֹום  
Sense: standing place, place.
אֶל־  into 
Parse: Preposition
Root: אֶל  
Sense: to, toward, unto (of motion).
דְּבִ֥יר  the  inner  sanctuary 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: דְּבִיר  
Sense: the holy of holies, the innermost room of the temple or tabernacle.
הַבַּ֖יִת  of  the  temple 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: בַּיִת 
Sense: house.
קֹ֣דֶשׁ  the  most 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: קֹדֶשׁ  
Sense: apartness, holiness, sacredness, separateness.
הַקֳּדָשִׁ֑ים  the  Most  Holy  [Place] 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: קֹדֶשׁ  
Sense: apartness, holiness, sacredness, separateness.
אֶל־  under 
Parse: Preposition
Root: אֶל  
Sense: to, toward, unto (of motion).
תַּ֖חַת  under 
Parse: Preposition
Root: מִתְחָה 
Sense: the under part, beneath, instead of, as, for, for the sake of, flat, unto, where, whereas.
כַּנְפֵ֥י  the  wings 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural construct
Root: כָּנָף  
Sense: wing, extremity, edge, winged, border, corner, shirt.
הַכְּרוּבִֽים  of  the  cherubim 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: כְּרוּב  
Sense: cherub, cherubim (pl).