1 Kings 7 40

1 Kings 7:40 kjv

And Hiram made the lavers, and the shovels, and the basins. So Hiram made an end of doing all the work that he made king Solomon for the house of the LORD:

1 Kings 7:40 nkjv

Huram made the lavers and the shovels and the bowls. So Huram finished doing all the work that he was to do for King Solomon for the house of the LORD:

1 Kings 7:40 niv

He also made the pots and shovels and sprinkling bowls. So Huram finished all the work he had undertaken for King Solomon in the temple of the LORD:

1 Kings 7:40 esv

Hiram also made the pots, the shovels, and the basins. So Hiram finished all the work that he did for King Solomon on the house of the LORD:

1 Kings 7:40 nlt

He also made the necessary washbasins, shovels, and bowls. So at last Huram completed everything King Solomon had assigned him to make for the Temple of the LORD:

1 Kings 7 verses

1 Kings 7 40 Meaning

First Kings chapter 7 verse 40 states that Hiram, the skilled craftsman, completed the construction of essential cultic utensils for the Temple: the pots, shovels, and basins. This verse signifies the practical culmination of Hiram's significant metalwork contributions to the house of the LORD, highlighting the completion of various implements crucial for the Temple's sacrificial and purification rituals.

1 Kings 7 40 Context

1 Kings Chapter 7 primarily describes King Solomon's extensive building projects, following the completion of the Temple in chapter 6. It begins by detailing Solomon's personal palace, which took 13 years to build, nearly twice as long as the Temple itself (which took 7 years). Verses 13-47 then shift focus specifically to the sophisticated bronze work undertaken for the Temple by Hiram, a skilled artisan from Tyre. This section meticulously enumerates the grand items like the two bronze pillars (Jachin and Boaz), the bronze Sea, and the ten lavers, culminating in a general statement of Hiram's complete contribution to the essential Temple furnishings. Verse 40 marks the conclusion of this particular list of items, specifically the smaller, yet indispensable, tools for the sacrificial system, and signals the completion of Hiram's overall bronze work for the LORD's house. Historically, this period reflects the pinnacle of Israel's national prosperity and prominence under Solomon, utilizing significant international skilled labor, indicative of the era's advanced craftsmanship. The precise listing of these items underscores their importance in facilitating the Divinely-ordained worship and ritual purity within the Israelite cult.

1 Kings 7 40 Word analysis

• Hiram (חִירָם - Hîrām): Refers to the highly skilled bronzeworker from Tyre, a non-Israelite chosen by Solomon for his unique talent. His name is synonymous with supreme craftsmanship and wisdom in metalworking, indicating a divine enablement even for those outside the direct covenant line, for the purpose of glorifying God.

• made (וַיַּעַשׂ - wayyaʿas): From the Hebrew verb עשׂה (asah), meaning "to do, make, produce, fashion." It conveys the active construction and meticulous formation of these items, not merely their procurement.

• the pots (אֶת־הַסִּירוֹת - ’eṯ-hassîrôt): סִּיר (sīr) refers to a pot, kettle, or cauldron. In a cultic context, these were likely for carrying away ashes from the altar, implying cleanliness and waste management essential for holy space.

• shovels (וְאֶת־הַיָּעִים - wə’eṯ-hayyāʿîm): יַע (yaʿ) denotes a shovel or firepan. Used for removing ashes from the altar of burnt offering, maintaining the ritual purity and functionality of the sacrificial site.

• basins (וְאֶת־הַמִּזְרָקוֹת - wə’eṯ-hammizrāqôt): מִזְרָק (mizrāq) refers to a basin or bowl, specifically used in biblical sacrifices for catching and sprinkling blood (e.g., Lev 1:5, 11). These were critical for the atonement rituals, symbolizing life and propitiation.

• finished (וַיְכַל - wayyəḵal): From the verb כָּלָה (kālāh), meaning "to complete, finish, bring to an end." This word is significant, echoing God's completion of creation (Gen 2:2) and emphasizing the definitive and comprehensive nature of Hiram's contribution.

• all the work (אֶת־כָּל־הַמְּלָאכָה - ’eṯ-kol-hamməlāʾḵâ): מְלָאכָה (məlāʾḵâ) means "work, service, occupation, undertaking." "All the work" signifies the totality of Hiram's contractual duties in metalwork for the Temple, encompassing both grand architectural elements and necessary functional implements.

• he did (אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה - ’ăšer ʿāśâ): Reinforces the direct and personal effort Hiram expended in these creations.

• for King Solomon (לַמֶּלֶךְ שְׁלֹמֹה - lammeleḵ šəlōmōh): Identifies the authority and commissioning agent behind the Temple construction, highlighting human agency under divine instruction.

• on the house of the LORD (בֵּית יְהוָה - bēṯ YHWH): Refers to the sacred Temple dedicated to YHWH, the covenant God of Israel. It emphasizes that all these meticulous efforts were ultimately directed toward the establishment and proper functioning of God's dwelling place among His people.

• Words-group analysis:

  • "Hiram also made the pots, shovels, and basins": This grouping highlights Hiram's direct involvement in crafting specific cultic objects. These implements, though seemingly mundane, were indispensable for the daily rituals of the Temple, symbolizing a God who pays attention to details, cleanliness, and the proper procedure for approaching Him in worship.
  • "So Hiram finished all the work that he did for King Solomon on the house of the LORD": This concluding phrase encapsulates the culmination of a massive undertaking. It transitions from detailing specific items to acknowledging the complete fulfillment of a major phase of the Temple's construction. This completion signifies faithfulness to the divine commission through human labor and skilled craftsmanship.

1 Kings 7 40 Bonus section

• The craftsmanship of Hiram reflects a continuity of divine empowering, similar to how Bezalel and Oholiab were "filled with the Spirit of God, with skill, with intelligence, with knowledge, and with all craftsmanship" (Exod 31:3-5) for the Tabernacle construction. This suggests God enables gifted individuals, both Israelite and Gentile, to contribute to His work.
• The meticulous inventory and completion statements throughout 1 Kings 7 and its parallel in 2 Chronicles highlight the sacredness of the Temple. Every item, from the grand pillars to the small basins, was deliberately fashioned for the exclusive service of YHWH, setting apart Israelite worship from contemporary pagan practices.
• The transition from Solomon's 13-year palace construction to the 7-year Temple work, culminating in the description of the furnishings, subtly prioritizes the sanctity and comprehensive nature of God's house, even if the king’s personal comfort took more time. However, it's also true that the Temple, once complete, truly glorified the Kingdom and YHWH in Jerusalem.

1 Kings 7 40 Commentary

1 Kings 7:40 serves as a pivotal summary, confirming the successful conclusion of Hiram's extensive and intricate metalworking contributions to Solomon's Temple. It transitions from listing specific bronze components to stating the completion of his entire contracted work for the House of the LORD. The items mentioned—pots, shovels, and basins—though utilitarian, were indispensable for maintaining ritual purity and conducting sacrifices within the Temple, underscoring that every detail, however seemingly minor, was critical for reverent worship. Hiram's skilled craftsmanship, guided by divine wisdom as seen in Exodus's artisans, ensured the physical manifestation of God's holy dwelling place was equipped for sacred service. The emphasis on "finished" echoes divine patterns of creation and highlights the orderly and complete execution of God's sacred project on earth. This verse reinforces the comprehensive nature of the Temple's preparation, ensuring all necessary tools were in place for the established worship practices, allowing the presence of the LORD to be fully honored.