1 Kings 10:20
in 1 Kings 10Twelve lions stood on the six steps, one at either end of each step. Nothing like this had ever been made for any kingdom.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And twelve lions stood there on the one side and on the other upon the six steps: there was not the like made in any kingdom.
KJV
And twelve lions stood there on the one side and on the other upon the six steps: there was not the like made in any kingdom.
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This verse in 1 Kings 10
Commentary
6 notes on this verseAnd twelve lions stood there on the one side and on the other upon the six steps,.... There was a lion on each side of every step, a symbol of royal power, as before observed; so the Egyptians placed lions under the throne of Orus (r): there was not the like made in any kingdom; for the matter and form of it, for its grandeur and magnificence; there was none at least at that time, whatever has been since; for this is the first throne of ivory we read of. (r) Hori Apoll. Hieroglyph, l. 1. c. 17.
This site's exposition
a great throne of ivory
on 1 Kings 10:18-20
The throne is ivory overlaid “with pure gold”, with six steps, a lion beside each armrest. More lions stand on the steps, “one at either end of each step”. The text's own comment, “Nothing like this had ever been made for any kingdom”, matches the claim at verse 23.
This site's exposition
Nothing like this had ever been made
John Gill reads the lions as a sign of royal power, noting that the Egyptians set lions beneath the throne of Horus. Gill knew of no earlier throne of ivory. Albert Barnes finds this throne grander than any pictured in the carvings of Assyria or Egypt.
The record, by era
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
He rolled it, flowered it, or inlaid it, with gold. The stays or arms of this stately chair were supported by the images of lions in gold; so were the steps and paces by which he went up to it, to be a memorandum to him of that courage and resolution wherewith he ought to execute judgment, not fearing the face of man. The righteous, in that post, is bold as a lion.
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
Solomon’s throne, as described, is certainly grander than any of which we have a representation, either in Assyria or Egypt. Much more, then, would it transcend the thrones in inferior kingdoms.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
The ascent to it was by six steps, on each of which stood lions, in place of a railing--while a lion, probably of gilt metal, stood at each side, which, we may suppose from the analogy of other Oriental thrones, supported a canopy. A golden footstool is mentioned (2Ch 9:18) as attached to this throne, whose magnificence is described as unrivalled.
The words behind it
15 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וּשְׁנֵ֧ים | usheneim | and two [plus] | H8147 → | 768 times |
| עָשָׂ֣ר | ʾasar | ten | H6240 → | 338 times |
| אֲרָיִ֗ים | ʾarayim | lions | H738 → | 80 times |
| עֹמְדִ֥ים | ʾomedim | [were] standing | H5975 → | 521 times |
| שָׁ֛ם | sham | there | H8033 → | 834 times |
| עַל־ | ʾal- | on | H5921 → | 5755 times |
| שֵׁ֥שׁ | shesh | [the] six | H8337 → | 216 times |
| הַֽמַּעֲל֖וֹת | hamaalot | the steps | H4609 → | |
| מִזֶּ֣ה | mizeh | from this | H2088 → | 1180 times |
| וּמִזֶּ֑ה | umizeh | and from this | H2088 → | 1180 times |
| לֹֽא־ | lo'- | not | H3808 → | 5168 times |
| נַעֲשָׂ֥ה | naasah | it had been made | H6213 → | 2628 times |
| כֵ֖ן | khen | thus | H3651 → | 771 times |
| לְכָל־ | lekhol | for all | H3605 → | 5413 times |
| מַמְלָכֽוֹת׃ | mamlakhot | kingdoms | H4467 → | 117 times |
וּשְׁנֵ֧יםand two [plus]
usheneimH8147 →768 times
עָשָׂ֣רten
ʾasarH6240 →338 times
אֲרָיִ֗יםlions
ʾarayimH738 →80 times
עֹמְדִ֥ים[were] standing
ʾomedimH5975 →521 times
שָׁ֛םthere
shamH8033 →834 times
עַל־on
ʾal-H5921 →5755 times
שֵׁ֥שׁ[the] six
sheshH8337 →216 times
הַֽמַּעֲל֖וֹתthe steps
hamaalotH4609 →
מִזֶּ֣הfrom this
mizehH2088 →1180 times
וּמִזֶּ֑הand from this
umizehH2088 →1180 times
לֹֽא־not
lo'-H3808 →5168 times
נַעֲשָׂ֥הit had been made
naasahH6213 →2628 times
כֵ֖ןthus
khenH3651 →771 times
לְכָל־for all
lekholH3605 →5413 times
מַמְלָכֽוֹת׃kingdoms
mamlakhotH4467 →117 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Revelation 5:5Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed to open the scroll and its seven seals.”
it leads to
- Isaiah 11:1
Then a shoot will spring up from the stump of Jesse, and a Branch from his roots will bear fruit.
- Jeremiah 23:5–6
Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and He will reign wisely as King and will administer justice and righteousness in the land.
- Revelation 22:16
“I, Jesus, have sent My angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the bright Morning Star.”
- Romans 15:12
And once more, Isaiah says: “The Root of Jesse will appear, One who will arise to rule over the Gentiles; in Him the Gentiles will put their hope.”
- Hebrews 7:14
For it is clear that our Lord descended from Judah, a tribe as to which Moses said nothing about priests.
- Isaiah 11:1
Through
Genesis 49:9Judah is a young lion—my son, you return from the prey. Like a lion he crouches and lies down; like a lioness, who dares to rouse him?
it leads to
- Numbers 23:24
Behold, the people rise like a lioness; they rouse themselves like a lion, not resting until they devour their prey and drink the blood of the slain.”
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Revelation 5:5
Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed to open the scroll and its seven seals.”
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Numbers 23:24
Through
Numbers 24:9He crouches, he lies down like a lion; like a lioness, who dares to rouse him? Blessed are those who bless you and cursed are those who curse you.”
it leads to
- Genesis 49:9
Judah is a young lion—my son, you return from the prey. Like a lion he crouches and lies down; like a lioness, who dares to rouse him?
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Genesis 49:9
Where this verse is studied
About 1 Kings
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.