1 Kings 7 27

1 Kings 7:27 kjv

And he made ten bases of brass; four cubits was the length of one base, and four cubits the breadth thereof, and three cubits the height of it.

1 Kings 7:27 nkjv

He also made ten carts of bronze; four cubits was the length of each cart, four cubits its width, and three cubits its height.

1 Kings 7:27 niv

He also made ten movable stands of bronze; each was four cubits long, four wide and three high.

1 Kings 7:27 esv

He also made the ten stands of bronze. Each stand was four cubits long, four cubits wide, and three cubits high.

1 Kings 7:27 nlt

Huram also made ten bronze water carts, each 6 feet long, 6 feet wide, and 4 1?2 feet tall.

1 Kings 7 verses

1 Kings 7 27 Meaning

This verse describes Solomon's precise construction of ten elaborate bronze stands to hold the ten lavers within the Temple complex. Each stand was meticulously crafted, measuring four cubits long, four cubits wide, and three cubits high, emphasizing the specific and orderly nature of the Temple's design and furnishings according to divine patterns.

1 Kings 7 27 Context

1 Kings Chapter 7 primarily details the elaborate construction projects undertaken by King Solomon following the completion of the Temple. It meticulously describes Solomon's own palace, including the House of the Forest of Lebanon, the Hall of Pillars, and the Hall of the Throne. Following this, the chapter transitions to the even more significant and highly detailed account of the bronze furnishings for the Temple, highlighting the work of Huram (or Hiram), the skilled bronze worker from Tyre. These furnishings include the two bronze pillars (Jachin and Boaz), the Molten Sea, and the ten elaborate stands for the ten lavers mentioned in this verse. The context underscores the vast resources, skilled labor, and divine instructions that went into creating the house of the LORD, ensuring every detail was exact and befitting God's presence.

1 Kings 7 27 Word analysis

• And he made: 'Asah (עָשָׂה). Signifies action, creation, or fabrication. Here, it refers to the ongoing and detailed craftsmanship overseen by Solomon and executed by skilled workers. It's not a mere act but a deliberate process.
• ten: 'Eser (עֶשֶׂר). A specific number, emphasizing quantity and replication. Ten, biblically, often signifies completion or divine order, appearing in the Ten Commandments or the tithe. Here, it indicates multiple units of purification stations.
• stands: Mekōnot (מְכֹנ֫וֹת). From the root kun (כּוּן), meaning "to be firm, establish, prepare." These were more than simple pedestals; they were intricate wheeled structures designed to support the large bronze lavers and facilitate their movement or stable placement. The very word suggests stability and a prepared foundation.
• of bronze: Nᵉḥošeṯ (נְחֹשֶׁת). A metal often used for sacred items in the Tabernacle and Temple (altar, laver). Its durability, reflective quality when polished, and value made it suitable for the Temple. Bronze signifies strength, endurance, and sometimes judgment or atonement (like the bronze serpent).
• each stand: Repetition for emphasis on the identical nature and precise dimensions of every single unit. It highlights standardization and meticulous replication of a single, divinely ordained design.
• four cubits long: Arba' ammah ōreḵ (אַרְבַּ֥ע אַמָּ֖ה אָרְכֹּ֑ו). A cubit ('ammah) was the standard unit of measurement, roughly the distance from the elbow to the fingertips (around 18-21 inches or 45-53 cm). This detail signifies the precise architectural planning and the exact scale dictated by the divine pattern, leaving nothing to chance.
• and four cubits wide: Wᵉ'arba' ammah rōḥbō (וְאַרְבַּ֥ע אַמָּ֖ה רָחְבֹּ֑ו). Indicates a square base, implying stability and a balanced design. The use of specific measurements aligns with the highly ordered nature of God's design for His dwelling.
• and three cubits high: Wᵉšālōš ammah qōmātō (וְשָׁלֹ֥שׁ אַמָּ֖ה קוֹמָתֹֽו). The vertical dimension. These detailed measurements collectively ensured functionality, stability, and aesthetic proportions within the overall Temple complex. They point to the sacred geometry and divinely ordered plans given for the Temple.

1 Kings 7 27 Bonus section

The extensive detail given to the bronze stands (which continues in subsequent verses describing their wheels, borders, pomegranates, and cherubim) highlights the importance of ritual purity and proper protocol for the priesthood in the Tabernacle/Temple system. The ten lavers, with their intricate stands, demonstrate a scalable solution for the purification needs of the increasing number of priests in the Temple compared to the single laver in the wilderness Tabernacle. This architectural expansion for sacred objects symbolizes an enlarged capacity for worship and priestly service as the nation of Israel grew. These meticulous designs, given their functional and symbolic significance for ritual washing, underscore the theme throughout Scripture of the need for spiritual cleansing to approach a holy God.

1 Kings 7 27 Commentary

1 Kings 7:27 serves as an instance of the incredibly precise and detailed construction of the Temple furnishings under Solomon, reflecting an adherence to divine instructions. The meticulous measurements of "four cubits long, four cubits wide, and three cubits high" for each of the ten bronze stands were not arbitrary. They speak to the profound care and reverence applied to the sacred objects and the sanctuary itself. These stands, later described with elaborate decorative work (v. 28-36), supported the lavers for ritual purification, signifying the necessity of cleanliness and holiness in the approach to God. The extensive use of bronze, a durable and valuable material, further emphasizes the lasting nature and significance of these instruments of worship. The entire description underscores that the physical temple, with every piece of its furniture, was meant to embody divine order, beauty, and purpose, setting apart the place of worship as unique and consecrated.