1 Kings 5:18
New International Version
The craftsmen of Solomon and Hiram and workers from Byblos cut and prepared the timber and stone for the building of the temple.

New Living Translation
Men from the city of Gebal helped Solomon’s and Hiram’s builders prepare the timber and stone for the Temple.

English Standard Version
So Solomon’s builders and Hiram’s builders and the men of Gebal did the cutting and prepared the timber and the stone to build the house.

Berean Standard Bible
So Solomon’s and Hiram’s builders, along with the Gebalites, quarried the stone and prepared the timber and stone for the construction of the temple.

King James Bible
And Solomon's builders and Hiram's builders did hew them, and the stonesquarers: so they prepared timber and stones to build the house.

New King James Version
So Solomon’s builders, Hiram’s builders, and the Gebalites quarried them; and they prepared timber and stones to build the temple.

New American Standard Bible
So Solomon’s builders and Hiram’s builders and the Gebalites cut the stones, and they prepared the timbers and the stones to build the house.

NASB 1995
So Solomon’s builders and Hiram’s builders and the Gebalites cut them, and prepared the timbers and the stones to build the house.

NASB 1977
So Solomon’s builders and Hiram’s builders and the Gebalites cut them, and prepared the timbers and the stones to build the house.

Legacy Standard Bible
So Solomon’s builders and Hiram’s builders and the Gebalites carved them out, and prepared the timbers and the stones to build the house.

Amplified Bible
So Solomon’s builders and Hiram’s builders and the men of Gebal cut and chiseled the stones, and prepared the timber and the stones to build the house (temple).

Christian Standard Bible
So Solomon’s builders and Hiram’s builders, along with the Gebalites, quarried the stone and prepared the timber and stone for the temple’s construction.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
So Solomon’s builders and Hiram’s builders, along with the Gebalites, quarried the stone and prepared the timber and stone for the temple’s construction.

American Standard Version
And Solomon's builders and Hiram's builders and the Gebalites did fashion them, and prepared the timber and the stones to build the house.

Contemporary English Version
Solomon's and Hiram's men worked with men from the city of Gebal, and together they got the stones and logs ready for the temple.

English Revised Version
And Solomon's builders and Hiram's builders and the Gebalites did fashion them, and prepared the timber and the stones to build the house.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Solomon's workmen, Hiram's workmen, and men from Gebal quarried the stone and prepared the logs and stone to build the temple.

Good News Translation
Solomon's and Hiram's workers and men from the city of Byblos prepared the stones and the timber to build the Temple.

International Standard Version
As a result, Solomon's builders worked with Hiram's builders, accompanied by the Gebalites, to quarry the stone and to prepare the timber and other stone for the Temple's construction.

Majority Standard Bible
So Solomon’s and Hiram’s builders, along with the Gebalites, quarried the stone and prepared the timber and stone for the construction of the temple.

NET Bible
Solomon's and Hiram's construction workers, along with men from Byblos, did the chiseling and prepared the wood and stones for the building of the temple.

New Heart English Bible
Solomon's builders and Hiram's builders and the Gebalites cut them, and prepared the timber and the stones to build the house.

Webster's Bible Translation
And Solomon's builders, and Hiram's builders did hew them, and the stone-squarers: so they prepared timber and stones to build the house.

World English Bible
Solomon’s builders and Hiram’s builders and the Gebalites cut them, and prepared the timber and the stones to build the house.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and the builders of Solomon, and the builders of Hiram, and the Giblites hew [them], and prepare the wood and the stones to build the house.

Young's Literal Translation
and the builders of Solomon, and the builders of Hiram, and the Giblites hew, and prepare the wood and the stones to build the house.

Smith's Literal Translation
And Solomon's builders and Hiram's builders, and those setting, will cut: and they will prepare the woods and stones to build the house.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And the masons of Solomon, and the masons of Hiram hewed them: and the Giblians prepared timber and stones to build the house.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And these were shaped by the stoneworkers of Solomon and the stoneworkers of Hiram. And the men of Gebal also prepared the wood and the stones in order to build the house.

New American Bible
Solomon’s and Hiram’s builders, along with others from Gebal, shaped them, and prepared the wood and stones for building the house.

New Revised Standard Version
So Solomon’s builders and Hiram’s builders and the Gebalites did the stonecutting and prepared the timber and the stone to build the house.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And Solomon's builders and Hiram's builders and the stonemasons did hew them; so they prepared stones and timber for the building of the house.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And the Builders of Solomon and the Builders of Khiram and the Stone Masons quarried and they prepared stones and wood for the building of the house.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And Solomon's builders and Hiram's builders and the Gebalites did fashion them, and prepared the timber and the stones to build the house.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And they prepared the stones and the timber during three years.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Solomon's Workmen and Laborers
17And the king commanded them to quarry large, costly stones to lay the foundation of the temple with dressed stones. 18So Solomon’s and Hiram’s builders, along with the Gebalites, quarried the stone and prepared the timber and stone for the construction of the temple.

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

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.

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

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.

Exodus 31:3-5
And I have 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, / to cut gemstones for settings, and to carve wood, so that he may be a master of every craft.

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.

2 Chronicles 2:13-14
So now I am sending you Huram-abi, a skillful man endowed with creativity. / He is the son of a woman from the daughters of Dan, and his father is a man of Tyre. He is skilled in work with gold and silver, bronze and iron, stone and wood, purple, blue, and crimson yarn, and fine linen. He is experienced in every kind of engraving and can execute any design that is given him. He will work with your craftsmen and with those of my lord, your father David.

Genesis 11:3
And they said to one another, “Come, let us make bricks and bake them thoroughly.” So they used brick instead of stone, and tar instead of mortar.

Isaiah 28:16
So this is what the Lord GOD says: “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation; the one who believes will never be shaken.

Matthew 7:24-25
Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. / The rain fell, the torrents raged, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because its foundation was on the rock.

Ephesians 2:20-22
built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the cornerstone. / In Him the whole building is fitted together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord. / And in Him you too are being built together into a dwelling place for God in His Spirit.

1 Peter 2:5
you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 3:10-11
By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one must be careful how he builds. / For no one can lay a foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.

Acts 7:47-50
But it was Solomon who built the house for Him. / However, the Most High does not dwell in houses made by human hands. As the prophet says: / ‘Heaven is My throne and the earth is My footstool. What kind of house will you build for Me, says the Lord, or where will My place of repose be? ...


Treasury of Scripture

And Solomon's builders and Hiram's builders did hew them, and the stone squarers: so they prepared timber and stones to build the house.

the stone squarers.

Joshua 13:5
And the land of the Giblites, and all Lebanon, toward the sunrising, from Baalgad under mount Hermon unto the entering into Hamath.

Psalm 83:7
Gebal, and Ammon, and Amalek; the Philistines with the inhabitants of Tyre;

Ezekiel 27:9
The ancients of Gebal and the wise men thereof were in thee thy calkers: all the ships of the sea with their mariners were in thee to occupy thy merchandise.

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Build Builders Craftsmen Cut Cutting Edges Fashion Gebal Gebalites Giblites Hew Hewing Hiram Hiram's House Prepare Prepared Ready Solomon Solomon's Stone Stones Timber Timbers Wood Work
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Build Builders Craftsmen Cut Cutting Edges Fashion Gebal Gebalites Giblites Hew Hewing Hiram Hiram's House Prepare Prepared Ready Solomon Solomon's Stone Stones Timber Timbers Wood Work
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














So Solomon’s and Hiram’s builders
This phrase highlights the collaboration between King Solomon of Israel and King Hiram of Tyre. The alliance between these two leaders is significant, as it represents a peaceful and cooperative relationship between Israel and its neighboring nations. Historically, Tyre was known for its skilled craftsmen and builders, which Solomon wisely utilized for the construction of the temple. This partnership underscores the importance of unity and collaboration in achieving great works for God’s glory.

along with the Gebalites
The Gebalites were skilled workers from the city of Gebal, also known as Byblos, located in modern-day Lebanon. Byblos was renowned for its expertise in stone masonry and construction. The inclusion of the Gebalites in this monumental project emphasizes the value of specialized skills and the importance of bringing together diverse talents to fulfill God’s purposes. It also reflects the interconnectedness of ancient cultures and the sharing of knowledge and resources.

quarried the stone
Quarrying stone was a labor-intensive process that required precision and expertise. The stones used for the temple were likely large and of high quality, as the temple was to be a magnificent structure dedicated to the worship of God. The act of quarrying symbolizes the preparation and dedication required in serving God. Just as the stones were carefully selected and shaped, believers are called to be living stones, prepared and refined for God’s spiritual house (1 Peter 2:5).

and prepared the timber and stone
The preparation of materials for the temple construction involved careful planning and craftsmanship. Timber, likely sourced from the cedars of Lebanon, was prized for its durability and beauty. The combination of timber and stone signifies the blending of strength and elegance in the temple’s design. This preparation process serves as a metaphor for the spiritual preparation required in our lives, as we build our faith and character to become temples of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19).

for the construction of the temple
The temple in Jerusalem was not just a physical structure; it was the dwelling place of God’s presence among His people. Its construction was a fulfillment of God’s promise and a central aspect of Israel’s worship and identity. The temple’s significance extends beyond its architectural grandeur; it represents God’s desire to dwell with His people and the importance of creating sacred spaces for worship. In a broader sense, it points to the ultimate fulfillment in Christ, who is the true temple, and in whom believers find their spiritual home (John 2:19-21).

(18) The stone-squarers.--This rendering is a curious gloss on the proper name, "Giblites" (see margin)--the inhabitants of Gebal (mentioned in Ezekiel 27:9 in connection with Tyre, and probably in Psalm 83:7), a city on the coast of Ph?nicia--simply because the context shows that they were clever in stone-squaring. As they are distinguished from Hiram's builders, it is possible that they were serfs under them, like the Canaanites under Solomon's builders.

Verse 18. - And Solomon's builders and Hiram's builders did hew them, and the stone squarers: [the marg. Giblites, i.e., people of Gebal, is to be preferred. For Gebal ( = mountain) see Joshua 13:5 ("the land of the Giblites and Lebanon"); Psalm 83:7 ("Gebal and they of Tyro"); and Ezekiel 27:9, where the LXX. translate the word Biblus, which was the Greek name of the city and district north of the famous river Adonis, on the extreme border of Phoenicia. It is now known as Jebeil. It has been already remarked that Tyre and Sidon, as well as Gebal, have Hebrew meanings. These are among the proofs of the practical identity of the Hebrew and Phoenician tongues. The Aramaean immigrants (Deuteronomy 26:5; Genesis 12:5) no doubt adopted the language of Canaan (Dict. Bib., art. "Phoenicians"). Keil renders, "even the Giblites." He would understand, i.e., that the Zidonian workmen were Giblites; but this is doubtful. The Giblites are selected, no doubt, for special mention because of the prominent part they took in the work. Gebal, as its ancient and extensive ruins prove, was a place of much importance, and lying as it did on the coast, and near the cedar forests, would naturally have an important share in the cutting and shipping of the timber. Indeed, it is not improbable that it was at this port that the land transport ended, and the rafts were made. A road ran anciently from Gebal to Baalbak, so that the transport was not impracticable. But as the forests were probably of great extent, there may have been two or three depots at which the timber was floated] so they prepared timber [Heb. the timber] and stones [Heb. the stones] to build the house. [The LXX. (Vat. and Alex. alike) add here, "three years." It is barely possible that these words may have dropped out of the text, but they look more like a gloss, the inference from the chronological statement of 1 Kings 6:1.]



Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
So Solomon’s
שְׁלֹמֹ֛ה (šə·lō·mōh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 8010: Solomon -- David's son and successor to his throne

and Hiram’s
חִיר֖וֹם (ḥî·rō·wm)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 2438: Hiram -- a Benjamite, also two Arameans (Syrians)

builders,
וּבֹנֵ֥י (ū·ḇō·nê)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct
Strong's 1129: To build

along with the Gebalites,
וְהַגִּבְלִ֑ים (wə·hag·giḇ·lîm)
Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - proper - masculine plural
Strong's 1382: Gebalite -- inhabitant of Gebal

quarried the stone
וַֽיִּפְסְל֞וּ (way·yip̄·sə·lū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 6458: To hew, hew into shape

and prepared
וַיָּכִ֛ינוּ (way·yā·ḵî·nū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 3559: To be erect

the timber
הָעֵצִ֥ים (hā·‘ê·ṣîm)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 6086: Tree, trees, wood

and stone
וְהָאֲבָנִ֖ים (wə·hā·’ă·ḇā·nîm)
Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 68: A stone

for the construction
לִבְנ֥וֹת (liḇ·nō·wṯ)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 1129: To build

of the temple.
הַבָּֽיִת׃ (hab·bā·yiṯ)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1004: A house


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OT History: 1 Kings 5:18 Solomon's builders and Hiram's builders and (1Ki iKi i Ki 1 Kg 1kg)
1 Kings 5:17
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