6 He garnished the house with precious stones for beauty: and the gold was gold of Parvaim.
*Minor differences ignored. Grouped by changes, with first version listed as example.
Precious stones for beauty - Not marbles but gems (compare 1-Chronicles 29:2). The phrase translated "for beauty" means "for its beautification," "to beautify it."
Parvaim is probably the name of a place, but what is quite uncertain.
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, 2-Kings 17:24, etc. 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 color, 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 the best quality," etc.
And he garnished the house with precious stones for beauty: and the gold [was] gold of (e) Parvaim.
(e) Some think it is Peru.
he garnished the house with precious stones for beauty--better, he paved the house with precious and beautiful marble [KITTO]. It may be, after all, that these were stones with veins of different colors for decorating the walls. This was an ancient and thoroughly Oriental kind of embellishment. There was an under pavement of marble, which was covered with planks of fir. The whole interior was lined with boards, richly decorated with carved work, clusters of foliage and flowers, among which the pomegranate and lotus (or water-lily) were conspicuous; and overlaid, excepting the floor, with gold, either by gilding or in plates (1Ki. 6:1-38).
*More commentary available at chapter level.