2 Chronicles 9:11 The king made the algum wood into steps for the house of the LORD and for the king's palace, and into lyres and harps for the singers. Never before had anything like them been seen in the land of Judah.)

Bible > 2 Chronicles > Chapter 9 > Verse 11

◄ 2 Chronicles 9:11 ►

New International Version
The king used the algumwood to make steps for the temple of the LORD and for the royal palace, and to make harps and lyres for the musicians. Nothing like them had ever been seen in Judah.)

New Living Translation
The king used the sandalwood to make steps for the Temple of the LORD and the royal palace, and to construct lyres and harps for the musicians. Never before had such beautiful things been seen in Judah.)

English Standard Version
And the king made from the algum wood supports for the house of the LORD and for the king’s house, lyres also and harps for the singers. There never was seen the like of them before in the land of Judah.

Berean Standard Bible
The king made the algum wood into steps for the house of the LORD and for the king’s palace, and into lyres and harps for the singers. Never before had anything like them been seen in the land of Judah.)

King James Bible
And the king made of the algum trees terraces to the house of the LORD, and to the king's palace, and harps and psalteries for singers: and there were none such seen before in the land of Judah.

New King James Version
And the king made walkways of the algum wood for the house of the LORD and for the king’s house, also harps and stringed instruments for singers; and there were none such as these seen before in the land of Judah.

New American Standard Bible
From the algum trees the king made steps to the house of the LORD and for the king’s palace, and lyres and harps for the singers; and nothing like them was seen before in the land of Judah.

NASB 1995
From the algum trees the king made steps for the house of the LORD and for the king’s palace, and lyres and harps for the singers; and none like that was seen before in the land of Judah.

NASB 1977
And from the algum the king made steps for the house of the LORD and for the king’s palace, and lyres and harps for the singers; and none like that was seen before in the land of Judah.

Legacy Standard Bible
And the king made of the algum trees steps for the house of Yahweh and for the king’s house, and lyres and harps for the singers; and none like that was seen before in the land of Judah.

Amplified Bible
From the almug timber the king made stairways for the house of the LORD and for the king’s palace, and lyres and harps for the singers; none like that was seen before in the land of Judah.

Christian Standard Bible
The king made the algum wood into walkways for the LORD’s temple and for the king’s palace and into lyres and harps for the singers. Never before had anything like them been seen in the land of Judah.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The king made the algum wood into walkways for the LORD’s temple and for the king’s palace and into lyres and harps for the singers. Never before had anything like them been seen in the land of Judah.

American Standard Version
And the king made of the algum-trees terraces for the house of Jehovah, and for the king's house, and harps and psalteries for the singers: and there were none such seen before in the land of Judah.

English Revised Version
And the king made of the algum trees terraces for the house of the LORD, and for the king's house, and harps and psalteries for the singers; and there were none such seen before in the land of Judah.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
With the sandalwood the king made gateways to the LORD's temple and the royal palace, and lyres and harps for the singers. No one had ever seen anything like them in Judah.

Good News Translation
Solomon used the wood to make stairs for the Temple and for his palace, and to make harps and lyres for the musicians. Nothing like that had ever been seen before in the land of Judah.)

International Standard Version
The king used the algum wood to have steps made for the LORD's Temple and for the royal palace, as well as lyres and harps for the choir, and nothing like that wood had been seen before in the territory of Judah.

Majority Standard Bible
The king made the algum wood into steps for the house of the LORD and for the king’s palace, and into lyres and harps for the singers. Never before had anything like them been seen in the land of Judah.)

NET Bible
With the timber the king made steps for the LORD's temple and royal palace as well as stringed instruments for the musicians. No one had seen anything like them in the land of Judah prior to that.)

New Heart English Bible
The king made of the algum trees steps for the house of the LORD, and for the king's house, and harps and stringed instruments for the singers: and there were none like these seen before in the land of Judah.

Webster's Bible Translation
And the king made of the algum trees terraces to the house of the LORD, and to the king's palace, and harps and psalteries for singers: and there were none such seen before in the land of Judah.

World English Bible
The king used algum tree wood to make terraces for Yahweh’s house and for the king’s house, and harps and stringed instruments for the singers. There were none like these seen before in the land of Judah.

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
And the king makes the algum-trees [into] staircases for the house of YHWH, and for the house of the king, and harps and psalteries for singers; and there have been none seen like these before in the land of Judah.

Young's Literal Translation
And the king maketh the algum-trees staircases for the house of Jehovah, and for the house of the king, and harps and psalteries for singers; and there have been none seen like these before in the land of Judah.

Smith's Literal Translation
And the king will make the almug trees stair-cases to the house of Jehovah, and to the house of the king, and harps and lyres for those singing: and none were seen as they in the land of Judah.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
And the king made of the thyine trees stairs in the house of the Lord, and in the king's house, and harps and psalteries for the singing men: never were there seen such trees in the land of Juda.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And the king made, from this particular thyine wood, steps in the house of the Lord, and in the house of the king, and also harps and psalteries for the singing men. Never was there seen such wood in the land of Judah.

New American Bible
With the cabinet wood the king made stairs for the house of the LORD and the house of the king, and harps and lyres for the chanters. The like of these had not been seen before in the land of Judah.

New Revised Standard Version
From the algum wood, the king made steps for the house of the LORD and for the king’s house, lyres also and harps for the singers; there never was seen the like of them before in the land of Judah.

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
And they also brought algum wood for stools for the house of the LORD and for the house of King Solomon, and harps for singers, and there were none such seen before in the land of Judah.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And they brought wood of box trees for the stools of the house of LORD JEHOVAH, and for the house of King Solomon, and harps for the Singers, and there had not been seen the likes of them in the land of Yehuda.

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
And the king made of the sandal-wood paths for the house of the LORD, and for the king's house, and harps and psalteries for the singers; and there were none such seen before in the land of Judah.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And the king made of the pine timber steps to the house of the Lord, and to the king's house, and harps and lutes for the singers: and such were not seen before in the land of Juda.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

The Queen of Sheba
…10(The servants of Hiram and of Solomon who brought gold from Ophir also brought algum wood and precious stones. 11The king made the algum wood into steps for the house of the LORD and for the king’s palace, and into lyres and harps for the singers. Never before had anything like them been seen in the land of Judah.) 12King Solomon gave the queen of Sheba all she desired—whatever she asked—far more than she had brought the king. Then she left and returned to her own country, along with her servants.…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

1 Kings 10:12
The king made the almug wood into steps for the house of the LORD and for the king’s palace, and into lyres and harps for the singers. Never before had such almug wood been brought in, nor has such been seen again to this day.)

1 Kings 10:11
(The fleet of Hiram that brought gold from Ophir also brought from Ophir a great cargo of almug wood and precious stones.

1 Kings 10:18-20
Additionally, the king made a great throne of ivory and overlaid it with pure gold. / The throne had six steps, and its back had a rounded top. There were armrests on both sides of the seat, with a lion standing beside each armrest. / Twelve lions stood on the six steps, one at either end of each step. Nothing like this had ever been made for any kingdom.

1 Kings 5:6
Now therefore, order that cedars of Lebanon be cut down for me. My servants will be with your servants, and I will pay your servants whatever wages you set, for you know that there are none among us as skilled in logging as the Sidonians.”

1 Kings 6:15-18
He lined the interior walls with cedar paneling from the floor of the temple to the ceiling, and he covered the floor with cypress boards. / He partitioned off the twenty cubits at the rear of the temple with cedar boards from floor to ceiling to form within the temple an inner sanctuary, the Most Holy Place. / And the main hall in front of this room was forty cubits long. ...

1 Kings 7:2-3
He built the House of the Forest of Lebanon a hundred cubits long, fifty cubits wide, and thirty cubits high, with four rows of cedar pillars supporting the cedar beams. / The house was roofed with cedar above the beams that rested on the pillars—forty-five beams, fifteen per row.

1 Kings 9:11
King Solomon gave twenty towns in the land of Galilee to Hiram king of Tyre, who had supplied him with cedar and cypress logs and gold for his every desire.

1 Kings 9:27-28
And Hiram sent his servants, sailors who knew the sea, to serve in the fleet with Solomon’s servants. / They sailed to Ophir and imported gold from there—420 talents—and delivered it to Solomon.

1 Kings 10:22
For the king had the ships of Tarshish at sea with Hiram’s fleet, and once every three years the ships of Tarshish would arrive bearing gold, silver, ivory, apes, and peacocks.

1 Kings 10:27
The king made silver as common in Jerusalem as stones, and cedar as abundant as sycamore in the foothills.

2 Chronicles 2:8
Send me also cedar, cypress, and algum logs from Lebanon, for I know that your servants have skill to cut timber there. And indeed, my servants will work with yours

2 Chronicles 2:10
I will pay your servants, the woodcutters, 20,000 cors of ground wheat, 20,000 cors of barley, 20,000 baths of wine, and 20,000 baths of olive oil.”

2 Chronicles 2:16
We will cut logs from Lebanon, as many as you need, and we will float them to you as rafts by sea down to Joppa. Then you can take them up to Jerusalem.”

2 Chronicles 8:6
as well as Baalath, all the store cities that belonged to Solomon, and all the cities for his chariots and horses—whatever he desired to build in Jerusalem, Lebanon, and throughout the land of his dominion.

2 Chronicles 8:18
So Hiram sent him ships captained by his servants, along with crews of experienced sailors. They went with Solomon’s servants to Ophir and acquired from there 450 talents of gold, which they delivered to King Solomon.

Treasury of Scripture

And the king made of the algum trees terraces to the house of the LORD, and to the king's palace, and harps and psalteries for singers: and there were none such seen before in the land of Judah.

terrace.

1 Kings 10:12
And the king made of the almug trees pillars for the house of the LORD, and for the king's house, harps also and psalteries for singers: there came no such almug trees, nor were seen unto this day.

1 Chronicles 23:5
Moreover four thousand were porters; and four thousand praised the LORD with the instruments which I made, said David, to praise therewith.

1 Chronicles 25:1
Moreover David and the captains of the host separated to the service of the sons of Asaph, and of Heman, and of Jeduthun, who should prophesy with harps, with psalteries, and with cymbals: and the number of the workmen according to their service was:

Jump to Previous

Algum Algum-Trees Algumwood Harps House Instruments Judah King's Lyres Makers Melody Music Musicians Palace Paths Psalteries Royal Sandal-Wood Singers Stairs Steps Stringed Temple Terraces Trees Used Wood

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2 Chronicles 9

1. The queen of sheba admires the wisdom of Solomon
13. Solomon's revenue in gold
15. His targets and shields
17. The throne of ivory
20. His vessels
23. His presents
25. His chariots and horse
26. His tributes
29. His reign and death

Berean Study Bible

The king made the algum wood
The phrase highlights King Solomon's initiative and wisdom in utilizing rare resources. "Algum wood," often equated with "almug" in other translations, is believed to be a fine, durable wood, possibly sandalwood or a similar exotic timber. Its use signifies the opulence and grandeur of Solomon's reign, reflecting his God-given wisdom in governance and aesthetics. Historically, this wood was imported from distant lands, indicating the extensive trade networks and international relations Solomon established, which were unprecedented in Israel's history.

into steps for the house of the LORD
This phrase underscores the reverence and priority given to the temple, the central place of worship for the Israelites. The "house of the LORD" refers to Solomon's Temple, a symbol of God's presence among His people. The use of precious materials for the temple's construction and adornment reflects the importance of worship and the desire to honor God with the best resources available. It also serves as a reminder of the covenant relationship between God and Israel, where the temple was the focal point of divine-human interaction.

and for the king’s palace
This phrase indicates that the algum wood was also used for Solomon's royal residence, showcasing the wealth and splendor of his kingdom. The palace, like the temple, was a symbol of stability and prosperity. It highlights the dual focus of Solomon's reign: devotion to God and the establishment of a strong, prosperous nation. The parallel use of materials for both sacred and royal purposes suggests a harmonious relationship between faith and governance, where the king's authority is seen as divinely sanctioned.

and into harps and lyres for the musicians
This phrase emphasizes the cultural and artistic achievements during Solomon's reign. Harps and lyres were essential instruments in ancient Israelite worship and court life, used to praise God and entertain the royal court. The crafting of these instruments from precious wood signifies the value placed on music and the arts as expressions of worship and national identity. It reflects the biblical theme of creativity as a divine gift, meant to glorify God and enrich human experience.

So much of this wood had never been seen before in the land of Judah
This concluding phrase highlights the unprecedented nature of Solomon's achievements. The abundance and quality of the algum wood symbolize the peak of Israel's material and spiritual prosperity under Solomon's rule. It serves as a testament to God's blessing and the fulfillment of His promises to David and Solomon. Historically, it marks a period of peace and wealth that allowed for such extravagant projects, setting a standard for future generations. This phrase inspires believers to recognize and appreciate the unique blessings and opportunities God provides in their own lives.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(11) Terraces.--M'silloth, which usually means highways, that is, raised paths. The word is an interpretation of mis'?d, which only occurs in 1Kings 11:12. LXX., ?????????; Vulg., "gradus;" Arabic, "pillars."

Singers.--The singers.

And there were none such seen before in the land of Judah.--A shortened paraphrase of, "There came no such almug trees, nor were seen unto this day" (Kings). "The land of Judah" is a phrase which indicates how utterly the northern kingdom was excluded from the redactor's thought.

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

The king
הַ֠מֶּלֶךְ (ham·me·leḵ)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4428: A king

made
וַיַּ֣עַשׂ (way·ya·‘aś)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6213: To do, make

the algum
הָֽאַלְגּוּמִּ֜ים (hā·’al·gūm·mîm)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 418: Perhaps a sandalwood tree

wood
עֲצֵ֨י (‘ă·ṣê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 6086: Tree, trees, wood

into steps
מְסִלּ֤וֹת (mə·sil·lō·wṯ)
Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 4546: A thoroughfare, a viaduct, a staircase

for the house
לְבֵית־ (lə·ḇêṯ-)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1004: A house

of the LORD
יְהוָה֙ (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

and for the king’s
הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ (ham·me·leḵ)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4428: A king

palace,
וּלְבֵ֣ית (ū·lə·ḇêṯ)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1004: A house

and into lyres
וְכִנֹּר֥וֹת (wə·ḵin·nō·rō·wṯ)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 3658: A harp

and harps
וּנְבָלִ֖ים (ū·nə·ḇā·lîm)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 5035: A skin-bag for, liquids, a vase, a lyre

for the singers.
לַשָּׁרִ֑ים (laš·šā·rîm)
Preposition-l, Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural
Strong's 7891: To sing

Never
וְלֹא־ (wə·lō-)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

before
לְפָנִ֖ים (lə·p̄ā·nîm)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 6440: The face

had anything like them
כָהֵ֛ם (ḵā·hêm)
Preposition-k | Pronoun - third person masculine plural
Strong's 1992: They

been seen
נִרְא֥וּ (nir·’ū)
Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 7200: To see

in the land
בְּאֶ֥רֶץ (bə·’e·reṣ)
Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 776: Earth, land

of Judah.)
יְהוּדָֽה׃ (yə·hū·ḏāh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3063: Judah -- 'praised', a son of Jacob, also the southern kingdom, also four Israelites

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OT History: 2 Chronicles 9:11 The king made of the algum trees (2 Chron. 2Ch iiCh ii ch 2 chr 2chr)