20 The should be emended to read חַלֹּנָיו וְסָפוֹן (khallonayv vésafon) instead of חַלֹּנָי וְסָפוּן (khallonay vésafon), i.e., the plural noun with third singular suffix rather than the first singular suffix and the infinitive absolute rather than the passive participle. The latter form then parallels the form for “paints” and functions in the same way (cf. §113.z for the infinitive with vav [ו] continuing a perfect). The errors in the involve reading the וְ once instead of twice (haplography) and reading the וּ (u) for the וֹ (o).
21 The word translated “red” only occurs here and in Ezek 23:14 where it refers to the pictures of the Babylonians on the wall of the temple. Evidently this was a favorite color for decoration. It is usually identified as vermilion, a mineral product from red ocher (cf. C. L. Wickwire, “Vermilion,” 4:748).

In other versions

who says, ‘I will build myself a great house

with spacious upper rooms,’

who cuts out windows for it,

paneling it with cedar

and painting it with vermilion.

He says, ‘I will build myself a great palace

with spacious upper rooms.’

So he makes large windows in it,

panels it with cedar

and decorates it in red.

who says, “I will build myself a massive palace,

with spacious upstairs rooms.”

He will cut windows in it,

and it will be paneled with cedar

and painted bright red.

He says, ‘I will build a magnificent palace

with huge rooms and many windows.

I will panel it throughout with fragrant cedar

and paint it a lovely red.’

Who says ‘I will build for myself

a spacious house with large upper rooms,’

and he cuts windows for it,

and it is paneled with cedar,

and he paints it with vermilion.

That saith, I will build me a wide house and large chambers,

And cutteth him out windows;

And it is cieled with cedar, and painted with vermilion.

Public Domain