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2 Chronicles 3:6 — Word Study

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WLCוַיְצַ֧ף אֶת־ הַבַּ֛יִת אֶ֥בֶן יְקָרָ֖ה לְתִפְאָ֑רֶת וְהַזָּהָ֖ב זְהַ֥ב פַּרְוָֽיִם׃

BSAHe adornedtsâphâh [decorated, overlaid] the templebayith [house, place of worship] with preciousyâqâr [valuable, costly] stonesʼeben [gems, jewels] for beautytiphʼârâh [glory, loveliness] and its goldzâhâb [yellow metal, brilliant treasure] [was]zâhâb from ParvaimParvayim [a region of gold production, possibly in Arabia]

Word
Listen & take away2 Chronicles 3
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 6 is in this chapter.
Hebrew ↓ Download MP3 The Masoretic text of this chapter, read aloud. Read by Abraham Shmuelof, courtesy of Audio Scriptures International. Chapter divisions by the Academy of Ancient Languages..
Say the word Each Hebrew word carries its transliteration (par.Va.yim) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
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2 Chronicles 3:6quick helps
In a sentenceThe temple was beautifully adorned with precious stones and gold sourced from Parvaim.
Who is speakingThe narrator describes the actions of King Solomon in constructing the temple.
Where we areThe description of the temple's grandeur and materials used in its construction.
The hard wordיְקָרָ֖ה
Take awayThe temple's beauty is emphasized through the use of precious materials.
6 commentators on this verse Jamieson, Trapp, Ellicott, AdamClarke & more — read them › clause verbצָפָה The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
How rare are these words?in the Old Testament

1 of 9 occurs nowhere else in the Old Testament — a word chosen on purpose.

Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.

Deep Study — 2 Chronicles 3:6

Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.

Context — The Construction of the Templegenerated

5He paneled the main room with cypress, which he overlaid with fine gold and decorated with palm trees and chains.
6He adorned the temple with precious stones for beauty, and its gold was from Parvaim.
7He overlaid its beams, thresholds, walls, and doors with gold, and he carved cherubim on the walls.
8Then he made the Most Holy Place; its length corresponded to the width of the temple—twenty cubits long and twenty cubits wide. And he overlaid the inside with six hundred talents of fine gold.

2 Chronicles 3:6 describes how King Solomon adorned the temple with precious stones and gold, emphasizing the beauty and splendor of the house of worship. This verse highlights the significance of the materials used, reflecting the glory intended for God's dwelling place. It is part of a larger narrative detailing the construction of the temple, which includes additional descriptions of its features and the materials employed, as seen in verses 5 and 7.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
11 Chronicles 29:2–8Now with all my ability I have made provision for the house of my God—gold for the gold articles, silver for the silver, bronze for the bronze, iron for the iron, and wood for the wood, as well as onyx for the settings, turquoise, stones of various colors, all kinds of precious stones, and slabs of marble—all in abundance.
2Isaiah 54:11–12“O afflicted city, lashed by storms, without solace, surely I will set your stones in antimony and lay your foundations with sapphires.
3Revelation 21:18–21The wall was made of jasper, and the city itself of pure gold, as pure as glass.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 3 references, hung on the phrase they belong to


The Key Word יְקָרָ֖ה, ye.ka.Rahgenerated

The word יְקָרָ֖ה (yeqarah) is an adjective meaning precious or valuable. It describes something that holds significant worth, often used in the context of jewels or esteemed objects. The parsing indicates it is a singular feminine adjective, which aligns with its use to describe אֶבֶן (even), meaning stones, in this verse.

This term conveys the idea of beauty and rarity, suggesting that the stones used in the temple were not just ordinary but held great value, adding to the overall magnificence of the structure.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against. The BSB has precious, and so do the KJV, ASV, and several others: all maintain the sense of value in יְקָרָ֖ה.

Where they part company is in the rendering of יְקָרָ֖הcostly (ILT) offers a different nuance, suggesting a focus on expense rather than intrinsic value.


Sentence Structuregenerated

One finite verb governs the main clause — וַיְצַ֧ף, and he overlaid — with multiple phrases describing what was done: the object of the verb, the materials used, and the purpose of the adornment. The structure emphasizes the act of overlaying as the central action.

The noun phrases are arranged to highlight the temple and its adornments, with the adverbial phrase לְתִפְאָ֑רֶת (for beauty) indicating the purpose of the precious stones.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint uses the word ἐκόσμησεν, which means he adorned. This choice reflects a focus on the act of beautifying, similar to the Hebrew וַיְצַ֧ף, but may carry a slightly different connotation in terms of artistic embellishment.

The LXX translation captures the essence of the Hebrew text, emphasizing the decorative aspect of the temple's construction.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

2 Chronicles 3:6 tells us that King Solomon decorated the temple with precious stones to make it beautiful, and the gold used came from a place called Parvaim, known for its gold production. This verse highlights the importance of the materials used in the temple's construction, showcasing its splendor.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean that the stones were precious?

The term 'precious' indicates that the stones were not only beautiful but also valuable, enhancing the temple's glory and significance.

Why was gold from Parvaim specifically mentioned?

Parvaim is noted as a region known for its gold production, emphasizing the quality and source of the materials used in the temple.

How does this verse relate to the overall description of the temple?

This verse contributes to the overall depiction of the temple's grandeur, showing the care and value placed on its construction and adornment.

What can we learn from the materials used in the temple?

The use of precious stones and gold reflects the importance of honoring God with the best resources available, symbolizing beauty and worth in worship.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. What does the use of precious materials in the temple teach us about the value of worship?
  2. How can we apply the principle of using our best resources in our own acts of service to God?
  3. In what ways can we reflect beauty and value in our lives, similar to how the temple was adorned?
  4. What significance does the source of materials, like Parvaim, have in understanding the context of the temple's construction?

Commentators on this verse — 6 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on 2 Chronicles 3:6 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

And he garnished the house with precious stones for beauty: and the gold was gold of Parvaim. He garnished the house with precious stones for beauty -better, he paved the house with precious and beautiful marble (Kitto).

Read Robert Jamieson on 2 Chronicles 3 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

2 Chronicles 3:6 And he garnished the house with precious stones for beauty: and the gold [was] gold of Parvaim.Ver. 6. And he garnished the house with precious stones.] Every one of which had some egregious virtue: so, much more hath effectual faith, laborious love, reverent fear, patient hope, right repentance, assured confidence, &c., and - that which holdeth all these together lovely lowly mindedness. See 1 Peter 5:5. And the gold was gold of Parvaim.] That is, Of Havilah, where the best gold is, saith Junius, and where, Pliny saith, there is a town called, corruptly, Parbacia. Others take it for Ophir, now called Peru, the greater and the lesser; whence the word here used is of the…

Read John Trapp on 2 Chronicles 3 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(6) Garnished.—Overlaid (2 Chronicles 3:4) the chamber.Precious stones.—See 1 Chronicles 29:2; and 1 Kings 10:11, which relates that Hiram’s fleet brought “precious stones” from Ophir for Solomon. But no mention of this kind of decoration is made in 1 Kings 6. The Vulgate explains the phrase as meaning a floor of costly marble. Gold of Parvaim.—Perhaps Farwâ, an auriferous region in S. Arabia. Others connect the word with the Sanskrit pûrva, “eastern,” and seek Parvaim, like Ophir, in India. The name does not recur in the Old Testament.

Read Charles John Ellicott on 2 Chronicles 3 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 6. Gold of Parvaim.] We know not what this place was; some think it is the same as Sepharvaim, a place in Armenia or Media, conquered by the king of Assyria, 2Kg 17:24, c. Others, that it is Taprobane, now the island of Ceylon, which Bochart derives from taph, signifying the border, and Parvan, i.e., the coast of Parvan. The rabbins say that it was gold of a blood-red colour, and had its name from פרים parim, heifers, being like to bullocks' blood. The Vulgate translates the passage thus: Stravit quoque pavimentum templi pretiosissimo marmore, decore multo porro aurum erat probatissimum; "And he made the pavement of the temple of the most precious marble; and moreover the gold was of…

Read AdamClarke on 2 Chronicles 3 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

6. precious stones] Not mentioned in the parallel account, but according to 1 Kings 5:17 costly stones (the same expression in Hebrew) were used for the foundations of the house. Probably here also costly rather than precious stones are meant. Parvaim] Apparently the name of a place, but nothing certain is known about it.

Read Cambridge on 2 Chronicles 3 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Precious stones for beauty - Not marbles but gems (compare 1 Chronicles 29:2).

Read Albert Barnes on 2 Chronicles 3 →

The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company

Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.

Modern formal

BSBBerean Standard Bible2020

He adorned the temple with precious stones for beauty, and its gold was from Parvaim.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

He decorated the house with precious stones for beauty. The gold was gold from Parvaim.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

He adorned the temple with precious stones for beauty, and its gold was from Parvaim.

NETBNew English Translation2006

He decorated the temple with precious stones; the gold he used came from Parvaim.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

And he garnished the house with precious stones for beauty: and the gold was gold of Parvaim.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

And he garnished the house with precious stones for beauty: and the gold was gold of Parvaim.

RVARevised Version, American1894

And he garnished the house with precious stones for beauty: and the gold was gold of Parvaim.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

And he garnished the house with precious stones for beauty: and the gold was gold of Parvaim.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

And hee ouerlayde the house with precious stone for beautie: and the golde was gold of Paruaim.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

And he overlaid the house with precious stones for beauty; and the gold was gold of Parvaim.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

and he overlayeth the house with precious stone for beauty, and the gold [is] gold of Parvaim,

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

and he overlays the house with precious stone for beauty, and the gold [is] gold of Parvaim,

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

And he overlaid the house with costly stones for ornament: and the gold was gold of Parvayim.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

He decorated the house with precious stones; the gold was gold from Parvaim.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

He paved also the floor of the temple with most precious marble, of great beauty.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

He decorated the Temple with beautiful gems, and with gold he imported from Parvaim.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

And the house was made beautiful with stones of great value, and the gold was gold of Parvaim.

Word by word, the decisions they made

יְקָרָ֖הye.ka.Rah precious H3368 2 different renderings
preciousASV BSB DBY DRA GNV KJV LSV MSB NETB NWB RVA ULB WEB YLT
costlyILT

Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.


The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank

This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.

וַandclauseverbיְצַ֧ףhe.overlaidnoun phrase · objectאֶת(et)noun phraseהַtheבַּ֛יִתhousenoun phrase · adverbialאֶ֥בֶןstone[s]יְקָרָ֖הpreciousprepositional phrase · prepositionalלְforתִפְאָ֑רֶתbeautyוְandclausenoun phrase · subjectהַtheזָּהָ֖בgoldnoun phrase · predicateזְהַ֥ב[was].the.goldפַּרְוָֽיִםof.Parvaim

Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.


The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran

The Masoretic Text states that the temple was adorned with precious stones for beauty, and the gold was from Parvaim. The Septuagint matches seven of the nine words in the Masoretic Text, indicating a strong agreement overall, although it presents the text with its own word order and articles. There are no significant differences in meaning between these witnesses, as both convey the same essential details regarding the adornment of the temple.

Masoretic TextLeningrad Codex, c. AD 1008 — the text this page is built on

וַיְצַ֧ף אֶת־ הַבַּ֛יִת אֶ֥בֶן יְקָרָ֖ה לְתִפְאָ֑רֶת וְהַזָּהָ֖ב זְהַ֥ב פַּרְוָֽיִם׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
וַיְצַ֧ףἐκόσμησενהַבַּ֛יִתοἶκονאֶ֥בֶןλίθοιςיְקָרָ֖הτιμίοιςלְתִפְאָ֑רֶתδόχανוְהַזָּהָ֖בξρυσίῳזְהַ֥בξρυσίου

7 of the 9 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.

Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.


The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with

This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.

2 Chronicles 3:6צָפָהand he overand he overlaidצָפָהאֵתthe object the object markאֵתבֵּיתthe housethe houseבֵּיתאֶ֫בֶןstone[s]stone[s]אֶ֫בֶןיָקָרpreciouspreciousיָקָרתִּפְאָרָהfor beautyfor beautyתִּפְאָרָהזָהָבand the goland the goldזָהָבזָהָב[was] [the][was] [the] golזָהָבפַּרְוָ֑יִםParvaimParvaimפַּרְוָ֑יִםבָּנָהto buildto buildבָּנָהאוֹתsign: mirasign: miraculouאוֹתיָקַרbe precioube preciousיָקַרפָּאַרto beautifto beautifyפָּאַרצָפָהto watchto watchצָפָהצָפָהto overlayto overlayצָפָהכֶּ֫סֶףsilver: mosilver: moneyכֶּ֫סֶףשִׁטָּהacaciaacaciaשִׁטָּהוָוhookhookוָומִגְרָשׁpasturepastureמִגְרָשׁאוֹצָרtreasuretreasureאוֹצָריָקָרpreciouspreciousיָקָרלוּחַtablettabletלוּחַבֹּ֫שֶׂםspicespiceבֹּ֫שֶׂםהוֹןsubstancesubstanceהוֹןעֲטָרָהcrowncrownעֲטָרָהצְבִיbeautybeautyצְבִי
meets it a little oftener than chancemeets it far oftener than chancebuilt from the same roottwo words of the verse share ita word of this versea related word

Lexicons — every word in 2 Chronicles 3:6

One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.

Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.

and he overlaid the object marker the house stone[s] precious for beauty and the gold [was] [the] gold of Parvaim
וַיְצַ֧ףvay.Tzaf and he overlaid H6823 Verb · Piel · sequential imperfect third person masculine singular
47× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Tsaphah can also mean to overlay or cover something, often with metal. It involves laying something over another material, like plating or coating.
Amplified meaning
decorated, overlaid
Tyndale gloss
to overlay
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

צָפָה (tsaphah) is a Hebrew verb meaning to lay out, overlay, or cover. It can refer to actions like plating or laying over materials, particularly metals. The entries suggest a focus on the physical act of covering or overlaying, with examples including pillars overlaid with gold. There is no significant disagreement among the lexicons.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[צָפָה] 47 vb. lay out, lay over

Qal they lay out the rug!

Pi. overlay, plate

Pu. impure silver laid over a sherd; pillars overlaid with gold.

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6823 [צָפָה] lay out, lay over .they lay out the rug!

. overlay, plate

. impure silver laid over a sherd; pillars overlaid with gold.

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6823 tsaphah tsaw-faw'

a primitive root (probably identical with 6822 through the

idea of expansion in outlook, transferring to action); to

sheet over (especially with metal):--cover, overlay.

see HEBREW for 06822

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

צָפָה (tsa.phah) — to overlay.

1) to lay out, lay over, overlay, cover

1a) (Piel) to overlay, plate, stud

1b) (Pual) to be laid over

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Piel-ConsecImperf-3ms — Verb · Piel · sequential imperfect third person masculine singular
Hc/Vpw3ms
and he overlaid the object marker the house stone[s] precious for beauty and the gold [was] [the] gold of Parvaim
אֶת־'et- the object marker H853 Particle
10,946× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the original Hebrew, this word points out the object of a verb or preposition, like 'namely' or 'even'. It appears in many books, including Genesis and Exodus. It's not directly translated in English, but helps clarify the meaning of sentences.
Tyndale gloss
[Obj.]
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אֵת (eth) is primarily a grammatical marker in Hebrew, indicating the definite direct object of a verb. It is not translated into English and typically precedes nouns that are definite. The word is derived from a demonstrative sense of entity, related to the Hebrew word for 'self.' Its Aramaic equivalent is יָת (yat).

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H853 אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

853 'eth ayth

apparent contracted from 226 in the demonstrative sense of

entity; properly, self (but generally used to point out more

definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or

namely):--(as such unrepresented in English).

see HEBREW for 0226

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֵת (et) — [Obj.].

sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative

Aramaic equivalent: yat (יָת "whom" H3487)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HTo — Particle
HTo
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and he overlaid the object marker the house stone[s] precious for beauty and the gold [was] [the] gold of Parvaim
הַבַּ֛יִתha.Ba.yit the house H1004 Particle · noun common masculine singular absolute
2,049× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for house refers to a dwelling place, including a family home, temple, or even the human body. It appears in various contexts, such as the temple in Jerusalem or the household of a family. In the Bible, it is often used to describe a place of worship or a family's living space.
Amplified meaning
house, place of worship
Tyndale gloss
place
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word בַּיִת (*bayith*) means 'house' and encompasses a wide range of meanings, including dwelling, family, and place. It can refer to physical structures, such as homes and temples, as well as metaphorical uses like the body or household affairs. The word is built from the root related to 'between' and appears in various contexts throughout the Old Testament.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

בֵּית fem. of בַּיִן, בֵּין prep. between

base

בַּ֫יִת 2034 n.m. house

house

place

receptacle

of house as containing a family

household, family (592 t.)

house, including household affairs

lit. housewards, hence metaph. inwards

מִבַּיִת

adv. on the inside

prep. within

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1004a בֵּית fem. of בַּיִן, בֵּין prep. between H1004b בַּ֫יִת house

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1004 bayith bah'-yith

probably from 1129 abbreviated; a house (in the greatest

variation of applications, especially family, etc.):--court,

daughter, door, + dungeon, family, + forth of, X great as

would contain, hangings, home(born), (winter)house(-hold),

inside(-ward), palace, place, + prison, + steward, + tablet,

temple, web, + within(-out).

see HEBREW for 01129

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

בֵּית (bet) — place.

nm

place, origin, between

בַּ֫יִת (ba.yit) — house: home.

: home/temple/building

nm

1) house

1a) house, dwelling habitation

1b) shelter or abode of animals

1c) human bodies (fig.)

1d) of Sheol

1e) of abode of light and darkness

1f) of land of Ephraim

2) place

3) receptacle

4) home, house as containing a family

5) household, family

5a) those belonging to the same household

5b) family of descendants, descendants as organized body

6) household affairs

7) inwards (metaph.)

8) (TWOT) temple

adv

9) on the inside

prep

10) within

בַּ֫יִת (ba.yit) — Beth-(ashbea).

nm

This name is used for a house, habitation

Combined with ash.be.a (אַשְׁבֵּעַ "Ashbea" H0791)

בַּ֫יִת (ba.yit) — Beth (Haggan).

nm

This name is used for a house, habitation

Combined with hag (גַּן "Haggan" H1588)

בַּ֫יִת (ba.yit) — Beth-(togarmah).

nm

This name is used for a house, habitation

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Art | N-ms — Particle · noun common masculine singular absolute
HTd/Ncmsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

hous (bayith; oikos, in classical Greek generally "an estate," oikia, oikema (literally, "habitation"), in Ac 12:1, "prison"):

I. CAVE DWELLINGS

II. STONE-BUILT AND MUD/BRICK-BUILT HOUSES

1. Details of Plan and Construction

(1) Corner-Stone

(2) Floor

(3) Gutter

(4) Door

(5) Hinge

(6) Lock and Key

(7) Threshold

(8) Hearth

(9) Window

(10) Roof

2. Houses of More than One Story

(1) Upper Chambers and Stairs

(2) Palaces and Castles

3. Internal Appearance

III. OTHER MEANINGS

LITERATURE

I. Cave Dwellings.

The earliest permanent habitations of the prehistoric inhabitants of Palestine were the natural caves which abound throughout the country. As the people increased and grouped themselves into communities, these abodes were supplemented by systems of artificial caves which, in some cases, developed into extensive burrowings of many adjoining compartments, having…

Easton's Bible Dictionary

House

Till their sojourn in Egypt the Hebrews dwelt in tents. They then for the first time inhabited cities (Gen. 47:3; Ex. 12:7; Heb. 11:9). From the earliest times the Assyrians and the Canaanites were builders of cities. The Hebrews after the Conquest took possession of the captured cities, and seem to have followed the methods of building that had been pursued by the Canaanites. Reference is made to the stone (1 Kings 7:9; Isa. 9:10) and marble (1 Chr. 29:2) used in building, and to the internal wood-work of the houses (

The houses of the rural poor in Egypt, as well as in most parts of Syria, Arabia and Persia, are generally mere huts of mud or sunburnt bricks. In some parts of Palestine and Arabia stone is used, and in certain districts caves in the rocks are used as dwellings. (Amos 5:11) The houses are usually of one story only, viz., the ground floor, and often contain only one apartment. Sometimes a small court for the cattle is attached; and in some cases the cattle are housed in the same building, or the live in a raised platform, and, the cattle round them on the ground. (1 Samuel 28:24) The windows are small apertures high up in the walls, sometimes grated with wood. The roofs are commonly but not always flat, and are usually formed of plaster of mud and straw laid upon boughs or…

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

Is often put for dwelling, residence; and hence the temple, and even the tabernacle, are called the house of God.

The universal mode of building houses in the East, is in the form of a hollow square, with an open court or yard in the center; which is thus entirely shut in by the walls of the house around it. Into this court all the windows open, there being usually no windows towards the street. Some houses of large size require several courts, and these usually communicate with each other. These courts are commonly paved; and in many large houses parts of them are planted with shrubs and trees, Ps 84:3 128:3; they have also, when possible, a fountain in them, often with a jet d’ eau, 2Sa 17:18. It is customary in many houses to extend an awning over the whole court in hot…

The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and he overlaid the object marker the house stone[s] precious for beauty and the gold [was] [the] gold of Parvaim
אֶ֥בֶן'E.ven stone[s] H68 Noun common · feminine singular absolute
273× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, this word refers to a stone, which could be a rock, a weight, or even a precious gem. It is used to describe a variety of objects, from building materials to hailstones. The KJV translates it as stone or weight.
Amplified meaning
gems, jewels
Tyndale gloss
stone: weight
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word אֶ֫בֶן (*eben*) means 'stone' and encompasses various types, including common stones, precious stones, and stones used as weights or tools. It can also refer to metaphorical uses, such as a hardened heart or sinking in water. The entries highlight its physical and symbolic significance, with no notable disagreements among lexicons.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֶ֫בֶן 274 n.f. stone

in natural state

stone, as material

precious stone, gen. with modifying word

stone containing metal, = ore

a weight, as orig. stone

plummet

objects like stone

in sim. (mostly poet.) of sinking in water

In topogr. terms

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H68 אֶ֫בֶן stone . in natural state

. stone, as material

. precious stone, gen. with modifying word

. stone containing metal, = ore

. a weight, as orig. stone

. plummet

. objects like stone

. in sim. (mostly poet.) of sinking in water

. In topogr. terms

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

68 'eben eh'-ben

from the root of 1129 through the meaning to build; a

stone:--+ carbuncle, + mason, + plummet, (chalk-, hail-,

head-, sling-)stone(-ny), (divers) weight(-s).

see HEBREW for 01129

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֶ֫בֶן (e.ven) — stone.

: stone

1) stone (large or small)

1a) common stone (in natural state)

1b) stone, as material

1b1) of tablets

1b2) marble, hewn stones

1c) precious stones, stones of fire

1d) stones containing metal (ore), tool for work or weapon

1e) weight

1f) plummet (stones of destruction) also made of metal

1g) stonelike objects, eg hailstones, stony heart, ice

1h) sacred object, as memorial Samuel set up to mark where God helped Israel to defeat the Philistines

1i) (simile)

1i1) sinking in water, motionlessness

1i2) strength, firmness, solidity

1i3) commonness

1j) (metaph)

1j1) petrified with terror

1j2) perverse, hard heart

אֶ֫בֶן (e.ven) — stone: weight.

: weight

1) stone (large or small)

1a) common stone (in natural state)

1b) stone, as material

1b1) of tablets

1b2) marble, hewn stones

1c) precious stones, stones of fire

1d) stones containing metal (ore), tool for work or weapon

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-fs — Noun common · feminine singular absolute
HNcfsa
and he overlaid the object marker the house stone[s] precious for beauty and the gold [was] [the] gold of Parvaim
יְקָרָ֖הye.ka.Rah precious H3368 Adj
36× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means something or someone is valuable and precious, like costly jewels or highly valued people, as seen in descriptions of honorable women and precious stones in the Bible.
Amplified meaning
valuable, costly
Tyndale gloss
precious
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

יָקָר (yaqar) means precious, rare, or splendid, and can refer to something valuable or weighty. It encompasses meanings like costly, excellent, and glorious, often used to describe precious stones or jewels. The word is built from a root that implies value, and it appears in contexts highlighting worth or reputation.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

יָקָר adj. precious, rare, splendid, weighty

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3368 יָקָר precious, rare, splendid, weighty

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3368 yaqar yaw-kawr'

from 3365; valuable (obj. or subj.): -brightness, clear,

costly, excellent, fat, honourable women, precious,

reputation.

see HEBREW for 03365

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יָקָר (ya.qar) — precious.

1) valuable, prized, weighty, precious, rare, splendid

1a) precious

1a1) costly

1a2) precious, highly valued

1a3) precious stones or jewels

1b) rare

1c) glorious, splendid

1d) weighty, influential

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Adj — Adj
HAafsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

presh'-us (stands for 17 different words, chief of which are yaqar; timios):

(1) Generally in the literal sense, "of great price," "costly," "expensive," of material things (e.g. Pr 1:13; Jer 20:5; Mr 14:3 the King James Version), especially of precious stones (2Sa 12:30; 2Ch 3:6; 1Co 3:12 the King James Version, etc.).

(2) Sometimes "of great moral (non-material) value." "Precious in the sight of Yahweh is the death of his saints" (Ps 116:15); "his precious and exceeding great promises" (

and he overlaid the object marker the house stone[s] precious for beauty and the gold [was] [the] gold of Parvaim
לְתִפְאָ֑רֶתle.tif.'A.ret for beauty H8597 Preposition · noun common feminine singular absolute
51× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word describes something beautiful or glorious, like a lovely garment or a person's honor. In the Bible, it is used to describe God's glory, as well as the beauty of creation and human achievements, as seen in Psalm and Isaiah.
Amplified meaning
glory, loveliness
Tyndale gloss
beauty
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

תִּפְאָרָה (tiph'arah) refers to beauty and glory, encompassing both physical and abstract qualities. It can denote the beauty of garments and jewels, the glory associated with rank or God, and even the honor of Israel. The term is built from the root meaning 'ornament' and covers a range of meanings related to splendor and majesty.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

תִּפְאָרָה n.f. beauty, glory

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8597 תִּפְאָרָה beauty, glory

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8597 tiph'arah tif-aw-raw'

or tiphereth {tif-eh'-reth}; from 6286; ornament (abstractly

or concretely, literally or figuratively):--beauty(- iful),

bravery, comely, fair, glory(-ious), hono; ornament

(abstractly or concretely, literally or

figuratively):--beauty(-iful), bravery, comely, fair,

glory(-ious), honour, majesty.

see HEBREW for 06286

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

תִּפְאָרָה (tiph.a.rah) — beauty.

1) beauty, splendour, glory

1a) beauty, finery (of garments, jewels)

1b) glory

1b1) of rank, renown

1b2) as attribute of God

1c) honour (or nation Israel)

1d) glorying, boasting (of individual)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | N-fs — Preposition · noun common feminine singular absolute
HR/Ncfsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

bu'-ti: The space allotted to this topic allows liberty only for the statement of two problems to students of the Bible. They should give distinct attention to the interblending of aesthetics with ethics in the Scripture. They should observe the extent and meaning of aesthetics in Nature.

1. Aesthetics in Scripture:

That the Bible is an ethical book is evident. Righteousness in all the relations of man as a moral being is the key to its inspiration, the guiding light to correct understanding of its utterance. But it is everywhere inspired and writ in an atmosphere of aesthetics. Study will bring out this fact from Genesis to Revelation. The first pair make their appearance in a garden where grew "every tree that is pleasant to the sight" (Ge 2:9), and the last vision for the race is an abode in a city whose gates are of pearl and…

Nave's Topical Bible

→ Vanity of Ps 39:11; Pr 6:25; 31:30; Isa 3:24; Eze 16:14; 28:17

→ Wastes away Ps 39:11; 49:14

→ INSTANCES OF

Sarah Ge 12:11

Rebekah Ge 24:16

Rachel Ge 29:17

Joseph Ge 39:6

Moses Ex 2:2; Heb 11:23

David 1Sa 16:12,18

and he overlaid the object marker the house stone[s] precious for beauty and the gold [was] [the] gold of Parvaim
וְהַזָּהָ֖בve.ha.za.Hav and the gold H2091 Conjunction · particle · noun common masculine singular absolute
389× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Gold is a valuable metal, also used to describe something yellow or brilliant, like oil or a clear sky. It is often mentioned in the Bible as a precious resource.
Amplified meaning
yellow metal, brilliant treasure
Tyndale gloss
gold
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

זָהָב (zahab) means gold and is derived from an unused root that conveys the idea of shimmering. It encompasses various aspects of gold, including its value as a precious metal, its use as a measure of weight, and its figurative brilliance. The term appears in contexts related to wealth, merchandise, and gifts.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

זָהָב 385 n.m. gold

= gold-ore, gold in raw state

gold as wealth

gold as spoil of war

gold as merchandise

gold as costly gift

gold as material

gold described by its source

gold defined by var. adj. and pts.

as measure of weight and value

= golden oil, from colour

often named with

the chief vbs. used

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2091 זָהָב gold

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2091 zahab zaw-hawb'

from an unused root meaning to shimmer; gold, figuratively,

something gold-colored (i.e. yellow), as oil, a clear sky:--

gold(-en), fair weather.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

זָהָב (za.hav) — gold.

1) gold

1a) as precious metal

1b) as a measure of weight

1c) of brilliance, splendour (fig.)

Aramaic equivalent: de.hav (דְּהַב "gold" H1722)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | Art | N-ms — Conjunction · particle · noun common masculine singular absolute
HC/Td/Ncmsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

gold (zahabh; chrusos):

1. Terms:

No metal has been more frequently mentioned in Old Testament writings than gold, and none has had more terms applied to it. Among these terms the one most used is zahabh. The Arabic equivalent, dhahab, is still the common name for gold throughout Palestine, Syria and Egypt. With zahabh frequently occur other words which, translated, mean "pure" (Ex 25:11), "refined" (1Ch 28:18), "finest" (1Ki 10:18), "beaten" (1Ki 10:17), "Ophir" (Ps 45:9).

Other terms occurring are: paz, "fine gold" (Job 28:17;

Gold

(1.) Heb. zahab, so called from its yellow colour (Ex. 25:11; 1 Chr. 28:18; 2 Chr. 3:5).

(2.) Heb. segor, from its compactness, or as being enclosed or treasured up; thus precious or “fine gold” (1 Kings 6:20; 7:49).

(3.) Heb. paz, native or pure gold (Job 28:17; Ps. 19:10; 21:3, etc.).

(4.) Heb. betzer, “ore of gold or silver” as dug out of the mine (Job 36:19, where it means simply riches).

Smith's Bible Dictionary

Gold was known from the very earliest times. (Genesis 2:11) It was at first used chiefly for ornaments, etc. (Genesis 24:22) Coined money was not known to the ancients till a comparatively late period; and on the Egyptian tombs gold is represented as being weighed in rings for commercial purposes. Comp. (Genesis 43:21) Gold was extremely abundant in ancient times, (1 Chronicles 22:14; 2 Chronicles 1:15; 9:9; Daniel 3:1; Nahum 2:9) but this did not depreciate its value, because of the enormous quantities consumed by…

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

A well-known valuable metal, found in many parts of the world, and obtained anciently in Ophir, Job 28:16; Parvaim, 2Ch 3:6; Sheba, and Raamah, Eze 27:22. Job alludes to gold in various forms, Job 22:24 28:15-19. Abraham was rich in it, and female ornaments were early made of it, Ge 13:2 24:22,35. It is spoken of throughout Scripture; and the use of it among and ancient Hebrews, in its native and mixed state, and for the same purposes as at present, was very common. The Ark of the Covenant was overlaid with pure gold; the mercy seat, the vessels and utensils belonging to the tabernacle, and those also of the house of…

and he overlaid the object marker the house stone[s] precious for beauty and the gold [was] [the] gold of Parvaim
זְהַ֥בze.Hav [was] [the] gold of H2091 Noun common · masculine singular construct
389× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Gold is a valuable metal, also used to describe something yellow or brilliant, like oil or a clear sky. It is often mentioned in the Bible as a precious resource.
Tyndale gloss
gold
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

זָהָב (zahab) means gold and is derived from an unused root that conveys the idea of shimmering. It encompasses various aspects of gold, including its value as a precious metal, its use as a measure of weight, and its figurative brilliance. The term appears in contexts related to wealth, merchandise, and gifts.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

זָהָב 385 n.m. gold

= gold-ore, gold in raw state

gold as wealth

gold as spoil of war

gold as merchandise

gold as costly gift

gold as material

gold described by its source

gold defined by var. adj. and pts.

as measure of weight and value

= golden oil, from colour

often named with

the chief vbs. used

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2091 זָהָב gold

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2091 zahab zaw-hawb'

from an unused root meaning to shimmer; gold, figuratively,

something gold-colored (i.e. yellow), as oil, a clear sky:--

gold(-en), fair weather.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

זָהָב (za.hav) — gold.

1) gold

1a) as precious metal

1b) as a measure of weight

1c) of brilliance, splendour (fig.)

Aramaic equivalent: de.hav (דְּהַב "gold" H1722)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular construct
HNcmsc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ov:

(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.

English usagewhat the translators’ English meant
Webster's Dictionary (1828), Webster's Unabridged (1913), Webster's Dictionary (1806)

OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]

1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.

I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.

For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.

It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.

Lamentations 3:1.

The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.

Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.

That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.

Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…

and he overlaid the object marker the house stone[s] precious for beauty and the gold [was] [the] gold of Parvaim
פַּרְוָֽיִם׃par.Va.yim Parvaim H6516 Noun proper
1× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Parvaim was an Oriental region known for its gold production, possibly located in Arabia. It is mentioned in the Bible as a source of gold. The name means 'oriental regions'.
Amplified meaning
a region of gold production, possibly in Arabia
Tyndale gloss
Parvaim
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

פַּרְוָ֑יִם (Parvayim) refers to a location, possibly in Arabia, known for its gold resources. The term is noted in 2 Chronicles 3:6 and is described as an 'Oriental region' in the lexicons. The entries indicate that it has foreign origins, but there is no significant disagreement among the sources.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

פַּרְוָ֑יִם n.pr.loc. 2 Ch 3:6; in Arabia?

ref

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6516 פַּרְוָ֑יִם, פַּרְוַיִם

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6516 Parvayim par-vah'-yim

of foreign origin; Parvajim, an Oriental region:--Parvaim.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

פַּרְוָ֑יִם (par.va.yim) — Parvaim.

§ Parvaim = "oriental regions"

a region known for its gold output, perhaps in Arabia

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-proper — Noun proper
HNpl
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

par-va'-im (parwayim; Septuagint Pharouaim): The word occurs only in 2Ch 3:6, as the place from which Solomon obtained gold for the decoration of his Temple. A derivation is given from the Sanskrit purva, "eastern," so that the name might be a vague term for the East (Gesenius, Thesaurus, 1125). Whether there was such a place in arabia is doubtful. Farwa in Yemen has been suggested, and also Saq el Farwain in Yemamah. Some have considered the name a shortened form of Cepharvayim which occurs in the Syriac and Targum Jonathan for the "Sephar" of Ge 10:30.

A. S. Fulton

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Parvaim

The name of a country from which Solomon obtained gold for the temple (2 Chr. 3:6). Some have identified it with Ophir, but it is uncertain whether it is even the name of a place. It may simply, as some think, denote “Oriental regions.”

Smith's Bible Dictionary

(Oriental regions), the name of an unknown place or country whence the gold was procured for the decoration of Solomon’s temple. (2 Chronicles 3:6) We may notice the conjecture that it is derived from the Sanscrit purva , "eastern," and is a general term for the east.

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

2Ch 3:6, the region of fine gold; probably Ophir; according to Gesenius, the East.

Sources on this page. Lexicons and dictionaries imported from the CrossWire SWORD modules — Abbott-Smith, Strong's, Dodson, the Intermediate Liddell-Scott-Jones, Robinson and Packard, Webster and Cawdrey. Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament (Harper, 1889 — Grimm’s Wilke’s Clavis Novi Testamenti, translated, revised and enlarged by Joseph Henry Thayer) is public domain and is set here from the Internet Archive page scan greekenglishlex00grim; it is uncorrected OCR, marked as such on the entry itself, and the Strong’s numbers — which Thayer’s own edition does not carry — were matched by lemma against the other modules on this page. Trench’s Synonyms of the New Testament (Macmillan, 1880) and Moulton and Milligan’s Vocabulary of the Greek Testament (Hodder & Stoughton, 1930, which entered the United States public domain on 1 January 2026) are set from Internet Archive page scans synonymsofnewtes00treniala and vocabularyofgree00mouluoft, and are likewise uncorrected OCR matched to Strong’s numbers by lemma. Trench treats a group of words at once, so the same essay stands on the page of each word it compares. The Mounce Concise Greek-English Dictionary is © 1993 and is used here by permission for non-commercial use, www.teknia.com/greek-dictionary. The full Liddell-Scott-Jones and the Hebrew word data (TAHOT) come from STEPBible.org, CC BY 4.0. Brown-Driver-Briggs is the OpenScriptures digitisation, public domain. Syntax analysis is the Nestle 1904 Lowfat treebank (biblicalhumanities.org); the concordance and morphology are built from the tagged Nestle 1904 text. Septuagint occurrences use the Open Scriptures Septuagint lemma index, derived from CCAT (University of Pennsylvania) and the Rahlfs 1935 dataset by Eliran Wong, CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 — used here on a non-commercial ministry site. Greek of Josephus and Barnabas from the Perseus Digital Library, CC BY-SA 4.0. Commentaries and the Ante-Nicene Fathers are public-domain texts hosted on this site. Everyday Greek from the Duke Databank of Documentary Papyri, CC BY 3.0, with dates and provenance from the Heidelberger Gesamtverzeichnis. Philo and the Apostolic Fathers from Open Greek and Latin (First1KGreek), CC BY-SA 4.0. The apparatus and the fifth Greek column are the SBL Greek New Testament, © 2010 SBL and Logos Bible Software, CC BY 4.0. The Latin is the Clementine Vulgate (public domain); the Syriac New Testament is the ETCBC edition (MIT licence). The Hebrew behind the Greek is computed here from the Septuagint index and TAHOT, not taken from any aligned edition. The translation spread and the per-word edition marks come from the Translators Amalgamated Greek NT (STEPBible, CC BY 4.0); clause roles from the Nestle 1904 Lowfat treebank (CC BY-SA 4.0); place identifications and their confidence from OpenBible.info Bible Geocoding (CC BY 4.0), with map tiles © OpenStreetMap contributors. Gospel parallels are computed here from shared uncommon vocabulary, not taken from any printed harmony. Cross references are the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge and the subject headings are Nave’s Topical Bible, both public domain. Works under Creative Commons licences are used unchanged apart from markup removal.

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