1 Kings 5:16
New International Version
as well as thirty-three hundred foremen who supervised the project and directed the workers.

New Living Translation
and 3,600 foremen to supervise the work.

English Standard Version
besides Solomon’s 3,300 chief officers who were over the work, who had charge of the people who carried on the work.

Berean Standard Bible
not including his 3,300 foremen who supervised the workers.

King James Bible
Beside the chief of Solomon's officers which were over the work, three thousand and three hundred, which ruled over the people that wrought in the work.

New King James Version
besides three thousand three hundred from the chiefs of Solomon’s deputies, who supervised the people who labored in the work.

New American Standard Bible
besides Solomon’s 3,300 chief deputies who were in charge of the project and ruled over the people who were doing the work.

NASB 1995
besides Solomon’s 3,300 chief deputies who were over the project and who ruled over the people who were doing the work.

NASB 1977
besides Solomon’s 3,300 chief deputies who were over the project and who ruled over the people who were doing the work.

Legacy Standard Bible
besides Solomon’s 3,300 chief deputies who were over the project and who ruled over the people who were doing the work.

Amplified Bible
besides Solomon’s 3,300 chief deputies who were in charge of the project and who were in charge of the people doing the work.

Christian Standard Bible
not including his thirty-three hundred deputies in charge of the work. They supervised the people doing the work.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
not including his 3,300 deputies in charge of the work. They ruled over the people doing the work.

American Standard Version
besides Solomon's chief officers that were over the work, three thousand and three hundred, who bare rule over the people that wrought in the work.

Contemporary English Version
and over 3,000 assistants to keep track of the work and to supervise the workers.

English Revised Version
besides Solomon's chief officers that were over the work, three thousand and three hundred, which bare rule over the people that wrought in the work.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
and 3,300 foremen who were in charge of the workers.

Good News Translation
and he placed 3,300 foremen in charge of them to supervise their work.

International Standard Version
Solomon also employed 3,300 officials to supervise the work and to manage the people employed in the construction.

Majority Standard Bible
not including his 3,300 foremen who supervised the workers.

NET Bible
besides 3,300 officials who supervised the workers.

New Heart English Bible
besides Solomon's chief officers who were over the work, three thousand and six hundred, who bore rule over the people who labored in the work.

Webster's Bible Translation
Besides the chief of Solomon's officers who were over the work, three thousand and three hundred, who ruled over the people that wrought in the work.

World English Bible
besides Solomon’s chief officers who were over the work: three thousand three hundred who ruled over the people who labored in the work.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
apart from the three thousand and three hundred heads of the officers of Solomon who [are] over the work—those ruling over the people who are working in the business.

Young's Literal Translation
apart from the heads of the officers of Solomon, who are over the work, three thousand and three hundred, those ruling over the people who are working in the business.

Smith's Literal Translation
Besides from the chiefs set to Solomon which were over the work, three thousand and three hundred ruling over the people doing in the work.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Besides the overseers who were over every work, in number three thousand, and three hundred that ruled over the people, and them that did the work.

Catholic Public Domain Version
aside from the commanders who were over each work, in number three thousand and three hundred, who gave orders to the people and to those who were doing the work.

New American Bible
in addition to three thousand three hundred overseers answerable to Solomon, who were in charge of the work and directed the people engaged in the work.

New Revised Standard Version
besides Solomon’s three thousand three hundred supervisors who were over the work, having charge of the people who did the work.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Besides the chiefs of Solomon's officers who were set over the work, three thousand and three hundred, who were in charge of the people doing the work.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Apart from the Princes who stood for Solomon over the work, three thousand and three hundred were authorized over the people who were doing the work.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
besides Solomon's chief officers that were over the work, three thousand and three hundred, who bore rule over the people that wrought in the work.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
besides the rulers that were appointed over the works of Solomon, there were three thousand six hundred masters who wrought in the works.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Solomon's Workmen and Laborers
15Solomon had 70,000 porters and 80,000 stonecutters in the mountains, 16not including his 3,300 foremen who supervised the workers. 17And the king commanded them to quarry large, costly stones to lay the foundation of the temple with dressed stones.…

Cross References
2 Chronicles 2:2
So he conscripted 70,000 porters, 80,000 stonecutters in the mountains, and 3,600 supervisors.

2 Chronicles 2:18
Solomon made 70,000 of them porters, 80,000 stonecutters in the mountains, and 3,600 supervisors.

Exodus 31:1-6
Then the LORD said to Moses, / “See, I have called by name Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. / And I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability, and knowledge in all kinds of craftsmanship, ...

Exodus 35:30-35
Then Moses said to the Israelites, “See, the LORD has called by name Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. / And He has filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability, and knowledge in all kinds of craftsmanship, / to design artistic works in gold, silver, and bronze, ...

1 Kings 9:20-21
As for all the people who remained of the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites (the people who were not Israelites)— / their descendants who remained in the land, those whom the Israelites were unable to devote to destruction—Solomon conscripted these people to be forced laborers, as they are to this day.

2 Chronicles 8:7-9
As for all the people who remained of the Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites (these people were not Israelites)— / their descendants who remained in the land, those whom the Israelites had not destroyed—Solomon conscripted these people to be forced laborers, as they are to this day. / But Solomon did not consign any of the Israelites to slave labor, because they were his men of war, the leaders of his captains, and the commanders of his chariots and cavalry.

1 Kings 4:6
Ahishar was in charge of the palace; and Adoniram son of Abda was in charge of the forced labor.

1 Kings 4:28
Each one also brought to the required place their quotas of barley and straw for the chariot horses and other horses.

1 Kings 6:7
The temple was constructed using finished stones cut at the quarry, so that no hammer or chisel or any other iron tool was heard in the temple while it was being built.

1 Kings 7:13-14
Now King Solomon sent to bring Huram from Tyre. / He was the son of a widow from the tribe of Naphtali, and his father was a man of Tyre, a craftsman in bronze. Huram had great skill, understanding, and knowledge for every kind of bronze work. So he came to King Solomon and carried out all his work.

1 Kings 9:22-23
But Solomon did not consign any of the Israelites to slavery, because they were his men of war, his servants, his officers, his captains, and the commanders of his chariots and cavalry. / They were also the chief officers over Solomon’s projects: 550 supervisors over the people who did the work.

2 Samuel 5:11
Now Hiram king of Tyre sent envoys to David, along with cedar logs, carpenters, and stonemasons, and they built a palace for David.

1 Chronicles 14:1
Now Hiram king of Tyre sent envoys to David, along with cedar logs, stonemasons, and carpenters, to build a palace for him.

1 Chronicles 22:15-16
You also have many workers: stonecutters, masons, carpenters, and men skilled in every kind of work— / in gold and silver, bronze and iron—craftsmen beyond number. Now begin the work, and may the LORD be with you.”

1 Chronicles 28:21
The divisions of the priests and Levites are ready for all the service of the house of God, and every willing man of every skill will be at your disposal for the work. The officials and all the people are fully at your command.”


Treasury of Scripture

Beside the chief of Solomon's officers which were over the work, three thousand and three hundred, which ruled over the people that worked in the work.

1 Kings 9:23
These were the chief of the officers that were over Solomon's work, five hundred and fifty, which bare rule over the people that wrought in the work.

2 Chronicles 2:2
And Solomon told out threescore and ten thousand men to bear burdens, and fourscore thousand to hew in the mountain, and three thousand and six hundred to oversee them.

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Addition Apart Authority Besides Bore Carried Charge Chief Chiefs Deputies Directed Foremen Heads Hundred Labored Officers Oversee Overseers Project Responsible Rule Ruled Solomon Solomon's Supervised Thirty-Three Thousand Three Work Wrought
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Addition Apart Authority Besides Bore Carried Charge Chief Chiefs Deputies Directed Foremen Heads Hundred Labored Officers Oversee Overseers Project Responsible Rule Ruled Solomon Solomon's Supervised Thirty-Three Thousand Three Work Wrought
1 Kings 5
1. Hiram, sending to congratulate Solomon, is desired to furnish him with timber
7. Hiram, blessing God for Solomon, furnishes him with trees.
13. The number of Solomon's workmen and laborers














not including
This phrase indicates an exclusion, suggesting that the number mentioned previously does not encompass the totality of those involved in the work. In the context of Solomon's vast building projects, it highlights the organizational structure and the division of labor. The Hebrew root for "not including" (לֹא) is often used to denote exceptions or exclusions, emphasizing the meticulous record-keeping and management under Solomon's reign.

his 3,300 foremen
The term "foremen" refers to those in positions of authority and oversight. In Hebrew, the word used here is "נֹצְבִים" (notzvim), which can be translated as "overseers" or "officers." These individuals were responsible for ensuring that the laborers carried out their tasks efficiently and effectively. The number 3,300 signifies a substantial administrative body, reflecting the scale and complexity of the construction projects, such as the building of the Temple. Historically, this points to a well-organized workforce, which was necessary for the monumental tasks undertaken during Solomon's reign.

who supervised
The act of supervision implies guidance, direction, and accountability. The Hebrew root "נָצַב" (natsav) means to stand or set in place, indicating that these foremen were established in their roles to maintain order and productivity. This reflects the biblical principle of stewardship and the importance of leadership in executing God-given tasks. The foremen's role was crucial in maintaining the quality and progress of the work, ensuring that the workers adhered to the plans and standards set forth.

the workers
The workers, or "עֹשֵׂי הַמְּלָאכָה" (osei hamelachah) in Hebrew, were the laborers who physically carried out the construction tasks. This phrase underscores the collaborative effort required to achieve the grand vision of Solomon's projects. The workers were likely a diverse group, including Israelites and foreigners, reflecting the inclusive nature of Solomon's workforce. This diversity can be seen as a metaphor for the body of Christ, where different members work together for a common purpose. The historical context suggests a labor force that was both skilled and numerous, capable of executing the intricate designs of the Temple and other structures.

(16) The chief of Solomon's officers we should certainly have supposed to have been taken from the Israelites (as clearly were the 550 named in 1Kings 9:23). But the passage in Chronicles (2Chronicles 2:18)--reckoning them at 3,600--seems to imply that they were, like the overseers of Israel in the Egyptian bondage (Exodus 5:14-15), taken from the subject races.

Verse 16. - Beside [without counting] the chief of Solomon's officers [Heb. the princes of the overseers, i.e., the princes who acted as overseers, principes qui praefecti erant (Vatabl.)] which were over the work three thousand and three hundred [This large number proves that the "chiefs of the overseers" cannot be meant. Were all the 3,300 superior officers, there must have been quite an army of subalterns. But we read of none. In 1 Kings 9:23, an additional number of 550 "princes of the overseers" (same expression) is mentioned, making a total of 3,850 superintendents, which agrees with the total stated in the Book of Chronicles. It is noteworthy, however, that the details differ from those of the Kings. In 2 Chronicles 2:17 we read of a body of 3,600 "overseers to set the people a work," whilst in 1 Kings 8:10 mention is made of 250 "princes of the overseers." These differences result, no doubt, from difference of classification and arrangement (J.H. Michaelis). In Chronicles the arrangement is one of race, i.e., 3,600 aliens גּרֵים; cf. 2 Chronicles 2:18) and 250 Israelites, whilst in Kings it is one of status, i.e., 3,300 inferior and 550 superior officers. It follows consequently that all the inferior and 300 of the superior overseers were Canaanites] which ruled over the people that wrought in the work.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
not including
לְ֠בַד (lə·ḇaḏ)
Preposition | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 905: Separation, a part of the body, branch of a, tree, bar for, carrying, chief of

his
לִשְׁלֹמֹה֙ (liš·lō·mōh)
Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 8010: Solomon -- David's son and successor to his throne

3,300 {}
שְׁלֹ֥שֶׁת (šə·lō·šeṯ)
Number - masculine singular construct
Strong's 7969: Three, third, thrice

foremen
מִשָּׂרֵ֨י (miś·śā·rê)
Preposition-m | Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 8269: Chieftain, chief, ruler, official, captain, prince

who supervised
הָרֹדִ֣ים (hā·rō·ḏîm)
Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural
Strong's 7287: To tread down, subjugate, to crumble off

the workers.
בָּעָ֔ם (bā·‘ām)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5971: A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock


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OT History: 1 Kings 5:16 Besides Solomon's chief officers who were over (1Ki iKi i Ki 1 Kg 1kg)
1 Kings 5:15
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