1 Chronicles 28 17

1 Chronicles 28:17 kjv

Also pure gold for the fleshhooks, and the bowls, and the cups: and for the golden basins he gave gold by weight for every basin; and likewise silver by weight for every basin of silver:

1 Chronicles 28:17 nkjv

also pure gold for the forks, the basins, the pitchers of pure gold, and the golden bowls?he gave gold by weight for every bowl; and for the silver bowls, silver by weight for every bowl;

1 Chronicles 28:17 niv

the weight of pure gold for the forks, sprinkling bowls and pitchers; the weight of gold for each gold dish; the weight of silver for each silver dish;

1 Chronicles 28:17 esv

and pure gold for the forks, the basins and the cups; for the golden bowls and the weight of each; for the silver bowls and the weight of each;

1 Chronicles 28:17 nlt

David also designated the amount of gold for the solid gold meat hooks used to handle the sacrificial meat and for the basins, pitchers, and dishes, as well as the amount of silver for every dish.

1 Chronicles 28 verses

1 Chronicles 28 17 Meaning

This verse details the precise amounts of gold and silver specified by David, under divine inspiration, for various holy articles of the Temple. It covers the tables designated for the showbread and the very bread itself, along with the specific weights required for auxiliary utensils such as forks, basins, cups, and bowls made of pure gold and silver. The emphasis on "each corresponding to its weight" underscores the meticulousness of God's blueprint for His sanctuary and its sacred contents.

1 Chronicles 28 17 Context

This verse is situated within King David’s final and deeply significant charge to his son Solomon, specifically concerning the construction of the Temple in Jerusalem. In 1 Chronicles 28, David has gathered all the leaders of Israel and publicly designated Solomon as his successor for this monumental task. David recounts God’s revelation that he (David), being a man of war, could not build the Temple, but his son Solomon would. David then instructs Solomon to be strong, courageous, and to faithfully execute the work, promising God's unwavering support. Critically, David reveals that God Himself had given him the detailed "pattern" (תַּבְנִית, tavnit) for the entire Temple and all its vessels, inscribed by the hand of the Lord (1 Chr 28:19). Verse 17 is a specific manifestation of this divinely given blueprint, listing the precise requirements for the holy tables and their associated articles within the Temple.

Historically, this command signified a transition from the nomadic Tabernacle to a permanent dwelling place for God's presence in Jerusalem. Culturally, the Temple and its elaborate, precisely crafted articles reflected the holiness, glory, and order of the God of Israel, distinguishing His worship from that of surrounding pagan nations which often built according to human whim. The concept of "showbread" was deeply ingrained in Israel's worship, originating from the Tabernacle. It symbolized the perpetual covenant and God’s constant presence and provision, renewed weekly as a holy offering before the Lord. The specific weights emphasized the divine origin of the plan, the sanctity of the materials, and the need for absolute fidelity in executing God's will for His sanctuary.

1 Chronicles 28 17 Word analysis

• and the gold (וְהַזָּהָב və-hazzāhāv): "Gold" (זָהָב, zahav) universally denotes immense value, purity, and enduring quality. In biblical contexts, it is intrinsically linked to divine glory, holiness, and the sacred presence of God, as seen in the Tabernacle and Temple construction (Exod 25, 1 Kgs 6). Its specific mention here emphasizes that the highest quality material, of significant value, was commanded for God's sacred dwelling and worship instruments, signifying the importance of the purpose.
• for the tables of showbread (לְשֻׁלְחָנוֹת הַמַּעֲרֶכֶת ləšulḥănôt hammā‘ărāḵeṯ): "Tables" (שֻׁלְחָנוֹת, shulchanot) are plural, distinguishing them from the singular table of showbread in the Tabernacle (Exod 25:23). Solomon’s Temple notably contained ten golden tables (2 Chr 4:8), some perhaps for offerings, others for showbread. "Showbread" (לֶחֶם פָּנִים, leḥem pānîm, lit. "bread of the presence") or here hammā‘ărāḵeṯ ("the arrangement/ordering") refers to the twelve loaves of bread placed weekly before the Lord (Lev 24:5-9). These tables, therefore, were for maintaining this vital perpetual offering, symbolizing Israel's fellowship with God and His continuous provision.
• and for the clean bread (וּלְלֶחֶם הַטָּהוֹר ūləleḥem haṭṭāhôr): "Clean bread" (לֶחֶם הַטָּהוֹר, leḥem haṭṭāhôr) is a synonymous phrase for showbread, reiterating its sanctity and ritual purity (טָהוֹר, tāhôr, meaning pure, clean, ritually undefiled). This underscores the specific requirement for unblemished purity in everything consecrated for God's service, signifying the need for holy separation and absence of defilement in divine worship.
• and the forks (וְהַמִּזְלָגוֹת vəhammizlāgôt): "Forks" (מִזְלָגוֹת, mizlagot) refers to instruments used in the sacrificial cult (e.g., Exod 27:3 for handling ashes). Here, in context of the showbread tables, they might have been used for handling the sacred bread without direct human touch, or for adjusting components on the tables. Their inclusion demonstrates that even the supporting implements, though less prominent, were meticulously planned and to be made of gold.
• and the basins (וְהַסִּפֹּת vəhassippōt): "Basins" (סִפֹּת, sippōt) refers to bowls or vessels typically used for holding liquids, especially in cultic contexts (e.g., for blood, wine libations). For the showbread tables, they likely held accompaniments such as wine for drink offerings or oil, necessary for ritual purity or associated offerings.
• and the cups of pure gold (וְהַקְּעָרֹת זָהָב טָהוֹר vəhaqqə‘ārōṯ zāhāḇ ṭāhôr): "Cups" (קְעָרֹת, qe‘arot) are distinct types of bowls, often specifically for drinking or pouring. The repeated phrase "pure gold" (זָהָב טָהוֹר, zahav tahor) emphasizes the highest standard of material, indicating absolute purity and worth. This meticulousness signifies the profound reverence and sanctity with which all items related to God's presence were treated.
• and for the golden bowls (וְלִקְדְרוֹת הַזָּהָב vəliqḏrōt hazzāhāḇ): "Bowls" (קְדְרוֹת, qeḏrōt) denotes larger vessels or cauldrons, potentially for various offerings, holding water for purification, or other larger storage needs on or near the tables. Their golden composition again underscores their high sacred value and function in the divine service.
• each corresponding to its weight (לְקֶדֶר וָקֶדֶר בְּמִשְׁקָל ləqeḏer wāqeḏer bəmišqāl): This critical phrase "according to its weight" (בְּמִשְׁקָל, bəmišqāl) applied "for each bowl" (לְקֶדֶר וָקֶדֶר). It signifies a command for absolute precision and exactitude. This means that God prescribed not just the type of metal, but the exact mass for each specific bowl. This demonstrates divine authority and perfect design, leaving no room for human improvisation or approximation in items designated for sacred service. It also implies meticulous accountability for the handling of these precious and holy objects.
• and for the silver bowls, each corresponding to its weight; (וְלִקְדְרוֹת הַכֶּסֶף לְקֶדֶר וָקֶדֶר בְּמִשְׁקָל vəliqḏrōt hakkeseph ləqeḏer wāqeḏer bəmišqāl): "Silver" (כֶּסֶף, keseph), though less valuable than gold, was still a precious metal abundantly used in the Tabernacle and Temple. The repetition of "each corresponding to its weight" underscores that God's demand for precise adherence extended to all consecrated materials, whether gold or silver. This maintains the principle of perfect divine design and precise execution for all aspects of His worship, regardless of the relative material value of the item.

Words-Group Analysis:

• "the gold for the tables of showbread, and for the clean bread": This phrase links the precious material directly to the primary liturgical function—the provision for the bread of God's presence. It highlights the inherent sacredness and symbolic significance of the showbread and the high reverence afforded to anything associated with it, ensuring that its supporting furniture was of matching quality.
• "forks and the basins and the cups of pure gold": This grouping identifies a set of essential, albeit often subsidiary, utensils required to be crafted from "pure gold." It emphasizes that even the auxiliary tools used in divine service must meet the highest standard of purity and dedication, affirming that every detail and every instrument in God's worship is important and worthy of the finest materials.
• "the golden bowls, each corresponding to its weight; and for the silver bowls, each corresponding to its weight;": The repetition of the precise weight requirement ("each corresponding to its weight") for both golden and silver bowls powerfully reinforces God's meticulous nature and His demand for exacting standards. It implies a comprehensive divine pattern where even the smallest specific measurement was crucial, indicating the sacredness, value, and precise nature of all Temple articles, preventing arbitrary human construction and maintaining absolute order in worship.

1 Chronicles 28 17 Bonus section

The insistence on exact weights for even individual bowls carries a subtle polemic against the often haphazard and anthropocentric practices of contemporary pagan worship. While surrounding nations built grand temples, the specific details and materials were typically decided by human priests or kings. Here, the very weight of each bowl is divinely dictated, elevating God as the ultimate Architect and Owner. This highlights that worship is not invented by humans, nor is it dependent on human standards of quality, but on the precise, holy, and perfect standards set by God Himself.

The phrase "each corresponding to its weight" also implies rigorous accountability. Temple workers, including Solomon, would be expected to adhere strictly to these measurements, and inventories could verify the complete and correct assemblage of articles. This precision reflects not only divine order but also a high level of human stewardship expected for the holy things of God, safeguarding their integrity and preventing any form of embezzlement or misuse.

1 Chronicles 28 17 Commentary

First Chronicles 28:17 showcases the divine blueprint for the Temple in exquisite detail, demonstrating God’s demand for precision, purity, and excellence in His worship. David, having received this detailed "pattern" by inspiration, meticulously relays the requirements to Solomon. The specific listing of materials like "pure gold" for tables and all associated utensils—forks, basins, and cups—underscores the supreme value and holiness of objects designated for the sacred realm. The repeated phrase, "each corresponding to its weight," is particularly profound, indicating that the quantity and mass of every single holy item were divinely stipulated. This leaves no room for human arbitrariness, emphasizing that every detail in God's house, no matter how seemingly small, is subject to His specific instruction and perfect design. It sets a precedent for obedience to God’s exact revealed will, demonstrating that true worship is not about human preference but precise adherence to God's standard, generously resourced by a willing people. This commitment to purity and precise measurement for materials and vessels dedicated to God foreshadows the perfect and complete sacrifice of Christ, which was measured precisely by God's eternal decree.

• Practical usage example: When we serve God, whether in our careers, relationships, or church activities, we are called to give our "best," not just any effort. Just as specific weights of gold were commanded, our dedication, integrity, and diligence should reflect a commitment to excellence, doing everything "as unto the Lord."