The inner sanctuary was twenty cubits long, twenty cubits wide, and twenty cubits high, and he overlaid it with pure gold. He also overlaid an altar of cedar.
English Standard Version (ESV)
What's easy to miss is that the sheer, unadorned cube of the inner sanctuary, perfectly twenty cubits in every dimension, speaks volumes before the gold is even mentioned. This precise, monumental shape points to God's perfect holiness and unapproachable presence, a stark, unchanging reality that the pure gold only serves to emphasize rather than create.
The inner sanctuary was twenty cubits long, twenty cubits wide, and twenty cubits high, and he overlaid it with pure gold. He also overlaid an altar of cedar.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse describes the meticulous, awe-inspiring construction of the Holy of Holies, the innermost chamber of Solomon's Temple, which was to house the Ark of the Covenant. Immediately preceding this, we see the detailed specifications for the Temple's main hall and its cherubim decorations, emphasizing God's presence being enshrined in exquisite beauty. The focus here on pure gold underscores the unparalleled holiness and divine glory intended for this sacred space, a stark contrast to the surrounding world.
Why would Solomon go to such lengths to cover the innermost part of the Temple in pure gold? It wasn't just for show.
The text tells us the Most Holy Place (the inner sanctuary) was completely covered in pure gold. This wasn't about impressing people with wealth; it was a profound symbol.
Divine Dwelling
Gold in the Bible often represents God's divine nature, His holiness, and His glory. Covering this space with pure gold signified that this was the place where God's very presence would uniquely dwell. It was a space set apart, utterly holy and perfect, reflecting His own character.
Atonement and Access
This inner sanctuary was the holiest of holies, where the Ark of the Covenant would reside. Only the High Priest could enter, and only once a year on the Day of Atonement. The covering of pure gold pointed to the perfect and unblemished sacrifice required for atonement, making access to God possible, albeit restricted in this Old Testament context.
While the gold sanctuary gets a lot of attention, a cedar altar is also mentioned. What's its role in this sacred space?
Alongside the gold-covered sanctuary, Solomon also overlaid 'an altar of cedar.' This might seem less significant than the vast gold coverage, but altars are crucial in biblical worship.
Place of Sacrifice
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Altars were the focal point of sacrifice and offering. This altar, though perhaps smaller and placed within the inner court or sanctuary (depending on interpretation), represented the means by which people could approach God. It was where atonement began.
Fragrant Offering
Cedar wood was known for its durability and pleasant fragrance. The overlaying of a cedar altar could symbolize that the sacrifices offered there were acceptable to God, their prayers and offerings ascending like a sweet aroma. It points to the necessary link between sacrifice and approaching a holy God, even within the most sacred space.
Understand the original words
mizbeach · Hebrew Noun
A structure, typically made of earth, stone, or wood, designed for the offering of sacrifices and incense to God. It represents the necessity of atonement and the means by which humanity approaches a holy God.
The detailed description of the Holy of Holies and its opulent overlaying with pure gold highlights the immense value and sacredness placed upon this innermost sanctuary, a stark contrast to the eventual destruction of the Temple by the Babylonians.
c. 967 BC
Solomon's Temple Construction Begins
King Solomon began building the First Temple in Jerusalem, a monumental project described in detail in 1 Kings 6-7.
c. 960 BC— this verse
The Holy of Holies Completed
The inner sanctuary, or Holy of Holies, was finished and overlaid with pure gold, marking a significant milestone in the Temple's construction.
c. 959 BC
Temple Dedication
Solomon dedicated the completed Temple, a sacred space meant to house the Ark of the Covenant and serve as the central place of worship for Israel.
c. 931 BC
Kingdom Divides
Following Solomon's death, the united kingdom of Israel split into two: the northern Kingdom of Israel and the southern Kingdom of Judah.
586 BC
Babylonians Destroy the First Temple
Nebuchadnezzar and the Babylonian army conquered Jerusalem and destroyed Solomon's Temple, ending its period of service and leading to the exile of many Judeans.
This passage describes the inner curtain of the tabernacle, the veil that separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place, mirroring the separation and sacredness of the inner sanctuary in Solomon's temple.
Leviticus 16:2God instructs Moses that the Most Holy Place is where He will meet with the people, emphasizing its unique role as the dwelling place of God's presence, much like the inner sanctuary of the temple.
2 Chronicles 3:8This verse directly parallels 1 Kings 6:20, describing the construction of the inner sanctuary (the Holy of Holies) in Solomon's Temple and its overlaying with pure gold, reinforcing the immense value and divine significance placed upon this space.
Ezekiel 41:3-4The prophet Ezekiel's vision of a future temple also includes a description of an inner sanctuary, or 'Most Holy Place,' which is overlaid with gold, showing a continuity of this sacred design in God's dwelling places throughout Scripture.
What's easy to miss is that the sheer, unadorned cube of the inner sanctuary, perfectly twenty cubits in every dimension, speaks volumes before the gold is even mentioned. This precise, monumental shape points to God's perfect holiness and unapproachable presence, a stark, unchanging reality that the pure gold only serves to emphasize rather than create.
This verse describes the meticulous, awe-inspiring construction of the Holy of Holies, the innermost chamber of Solomon's Temple, which was to house the Ark of the Covenant. Immediately preceding this, we see the detailed specifications for the Temple's main hall and its cherubim decorations, emphasizing God's presence being enshrined in exquisite beauty. The focus here on pure gold underscores the unparalleled holiness and divine glory intended for this sacred space, a stark contrast to the surrounding world.
This verse describes the meticulous, awe-inspiring construction of the Holy of Holies, the innermost chamber of Solomon's Temple, which was to house the Ark of the Covenant. Immediately preceding this, we see the detailed specifications for the Temple's main hall and its cherubim decorations, emphasizing God's presence being enshrined in exquisite beauty. The focus here on pure gold underscores the unparalleled holiness and divine glory intended for this sacred space, a stark contrast to the surrounding world.
"The inner sanctuary was twenty cubits long, twenty cubits wide, and twenty cubits high, and he overlaid it with pure gold. He also overlaid an altar of cedar." — What's easy to miss is that the sheer, unadorned cube of the inner sanctuary, perfectly twenty cubits in every dimension, speaks volumes before the gold is even mentioned. This precise, monumental sh…
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Last reviewed October 2026