These cherubim illustrate the greatness of God’s presence in the Temple, a reminder that He is both transcendent and intimately involved with His people.
The Temple that King Solomon built (circa 957 BC) was an awe-inspiring structure, designed to reflect the majesty of the Lord and serve as a permanent dwelling place for His presence. In this sacred location, Scripture focuses on the details of two large cherubim placed within the inner sanctuary. Thus we read, “The wings of the cherubim were twenty cubits in length; the wing of one, five cubits, touched the wall of the house, and its other wing, five cubits, touched the wing of the other cherub” (v.11). King Solomon, who ruled Israel from approximately 971 to 931 BC, commissioned these cherubim as part of the elaborate and meticulous design of the Temple in Jerusalem, a city situated high in the rugged hill country of ancient Israel and deeply revered as the center of worship.
The mention of “twenty cubits in length” (v.11) underscores the imposing size and careful measure of the cherubim’s wings. An individual cubit was typically about eighteen inches long, making this span approximately thirty feet in total. These towering figures, with each wing measuring “five cubits,” served as a vivid representation of divine guardianship. Cherubim throughout the Old Testament are often linked with God’s throne and presence, reminiscent of how the Ark of the Covenant was overshadowed by cherubim in the Tabernacle (see Exodus 25:18-22). Here, their wings stretching across the sanctuary conveyed both a sense of awe and comfort—God’s presence was truly overarching, yet close and personal to those who came to worship Him.
Furthermore, “touched the wall of the house, and its other wing, five cubits, touched the wing of the other cherub” (v.11) highlights a unified and protective symbolism. The two cherubim covered the space between them and the walls with their wings, signifying God’s unbroken, holy dominion over all who enter. This design detail foreshadows Christ’s own divine guardianship over His people in the New Testament John 10:28), reminding believers that God continually provides shelter and guidance to those who seek Him.
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2 Chronicles 3:11 meaning
The Temple that King Solomon built (circa 957 BC) was an awe-inspiring structure, designed to reflect the majesty of the Lord and serve as a permanent dwelling place for His presence. In this sacred location, Scripture focuses on the details of two large cherubim placed within the inner sanctuary. Thus we read, “The wings of the cherubim were twenty cubits in length; the wing of one, five cubits, touched the wall of the house, and its other wing, five cubits, touched the wing of the other cherub” (v.11). King Solomon, who ruled Israel from approximately 971 to 931 BC, commissioned these cherubim as part of the elaborate and meticulous design of the Temple in Jerusalem, a city situated high in the rugged hill country of ancient Israel and deeply revered as the center of worship.
The mention of “twenty cubits in length” (v.11) underscores the imposing size and careful measure of the cherubim’s wings. An individual cubit was typically about eighteen inches long, making this span approximately thirty feet in total. These towering figures, with each wing measuring “five cubits,” served as a vivid representation of divine guardianship. Cherubim throughout the Old Testament are often linked with God’s throne and presence, reminiscent of how the Ark of the Covenant was overshadowed by cherubim in the Tabernacle (see Exodus 25:18-22). Here, their wings stretching across the sanctuary conveyed both a sense of awe and comfort—God’s presence was truly overarching, yet close and personal to those who came to worship Him.
Furthermore, “touched the wall of the house, and its other wing, five cubits, touched the wing of the other cherub” (v.11) highlights a unified and protective symbolism. The two cherubim covered the space between them and the walls with their wings, signifying God’s unbroken, holy dominion over all who enter. This design detail foreshadows Christ’s own divine guardianship over His people in the New Testament John 10:28), reminding believers that God continually provides shelter and guidance to those who seek Him.