1 Kings 7:43 kjv
And the ten bases, and ten lavers on the bases;
1 Kings 7:43 nkjv
the ten carts, and ten lavers on the carts;
1 Kings 7:43 niv
the ten stands with their ten basins;
1 Kings 7:43 esv
the ten stands, and the ten basins on the stands;
1 Kings 7:43 nlt
the ten water carts holding the ten basins;
1 Kings 7 43 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Exod 30:17-21 | Then the LORD spoke to Moses... You shall also make a bronze laver... to wash. | The Tabernacle's bronze laver, the prototype for priestly cleansing. |
| Exod 38:8 | He made the laver of bronze and its base of bronze, from the bronze mirrors... | Source material for Tabernacle laver, connecting to dedicated women's gifts. |
| Exod 40:30-32 | He set the laver between the tent of meeting and the altar... | God's instruction for priests to wash before ministry, vital for holiness. |
| Lev 8:6 | And Moses brought Aaron and his sons and washed them with water. | Initial ritual washing of priests for consecration. |
| Num 4:9 | ...the lampstand of the light with its lamps, and their utensils and their oil flasks... | Foreshadows the detailed cataloging and holy handling of sanctuary items. |
| 2 Chr 4:6 | He also made ten basins in which to wash, and he put five on the south side and five on the north side. | Parallel account explicitly stating the purpose and placement of these lavers. |
| 2 Chr 4:14 | Also the ten stands and the ten basins on the stands. | Confirms the pairing of bases and lavers, showing unity in temple construction. |
| Ps 24:3-4 | Who shall ascend the hill of the LORD?... He who has clean hands and a pure heart... | Spiritual parallel to ceremonial washing, emphasizing inner purity. |
| Isa 1:16 | "Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; put away the evil of your deeds..." | Prophetic call for spiritual cleansing beyond ritual, linked to righteousness. |
| Jer 2:22 | "For though you wash yourself with lye and use much soap..." | Highlight that external washing alone is insufficient without inward change. |
| Ezek 43:18-27 | Rituals for cleansing the altar in the future temple, emphasizing purification. | Continual importance of purification in the eschatological temple. |
| Zech 13:1 | "On that day a fountain will be opened... for sin and uncleanness." | Prophecy of ultimate spiritual cleansing available through divine provision. |
| Jn 13:10 | Jesus said to him, "He who is bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean..." | Spiritual significance of being "clean" in Christ versus needing continual cleansing. |
| Heb 10:22 | Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. | New Covenant parallel to the physical cleansing, now spiritual and inward. |
| Eph 5:26 | ...that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word... | Christ cleansing the Church, referencing purification through the Word. |
| Titus 3:5 | ...He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to His own mercy, by the washing of regeneration... | The regenerative washing of salvation, spiritual rebirth by the Spirit. |
| 1 Pet 3:21 | Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience... | Ritual washing symbolism transcended by spiritual reality and a clear conscience. |
| Exod 31:1-6 | ...I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, with intelligence... to devise artistic designs... | God equips artisans with skill for His sacred work, including bronze casting. |
| 1 Ki 7:13-14 | King Solomon sent and brought Hiram from Tyre... filled with skill and understanding for working in bronze. | Divine providence in providing Hiram's expertise for the Temple work. |
| 1 Chr 22:14 | "With great pains I have provided for the house of the LORD 100,000 talents of gold, 1,000,000 talents of silver, and bronze beyond weighing..." | Highlights the vast resources dedicated to God's house, making such elaborate items possible. |
| 1 Ki 10:23-24 | Thus King Solomon excelled all the kings of the earth in riches and in wisdom. | Context of Solomon's unparalleled wealth enabling the Temple's grandeur. |
| Rev 1:15 | His feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace... | Symbolism of bronze, here signifying Christ's holiness, judgment, and immovable walk. |
1 Kings 7 verses
1 Kings 7 43 Meaning
This verse details two significant categories of the finished furnishings for the Lord's temple in Jerusalem: ten ornate wheeled bronze bases or stands, and ten corresponding bronze lavers or basins specifically designed to rest upon these bases. These items were integral to the operational functions of the priestly service in the outer court, primarily for the ritual washing required during the preparation of sacrifices.
1 Kings 7 43 Context
1 Kings chapter 7 continues the detailed description of Solomon's construction projects, specifically focusing on the royal palace and, more extensively, the furnishings and internal components of the Temple of the Lord. Following the construction of the Temple itself (Chapter 6), this chapter lists and elaborates on the bronze articles made for the Temple's court and interior, crafted by Hiram, a skilled artisan from Tyre (1 Ki 7:13-14). Verses 23-47 provide specific descriptions of the two bronze pillars (Jachin and Boaz), the large molten "Sea" for the priests' cleansing, and then these ten mobile bases and ten lavers. Verse 43, therefore, acts as a summary inclusion within this enumeration, reaffirming that these vital purification items, in their full complement of ten pairs, were part of the completed bronze works. This level of detail underscores the monumental scale, meticulous design, and sacred purpose of every item dedicated to the worship of Yahweh, emphasizing His majesty and the purity required in His presence. The multiplicity of items also suggests a vastly increased capacity for the ritual work of a settled priesthood compared to the portable Tabernacle.
1 Kings 7 43 Word analysis
- and: (וְ - ve-) A conjunction, indicating continuation. It functions to connect this itemized list to the previously mentioned bronze articles (such as the two pillars and the great molten Sea), showing these elements are part of the larger completion of the Temple furnishings.
- the ten: (עֶשֶׂר - 'eser) A precise numerical quantifier. The repetition of "ten" emphasizes a complete set of matching pairs. This number often signifies completion or order in biblical contexts, hinting at the extensive scale of operations in the Temple beyond the single laver of the Tabernacle.
- bases: (הַמְּכֹנוֹת - hammekhonot) From the singular mekhonah (מְכוֹנָה), meaning "stands" or "pedestals," derived from a root (כּוּן - kun) implying establishment or stability. These were not mere stands but elaborate bronze wheeled carts described in great detail in 1 Kings 7:27-39. They were works of art, weighing considerable amounts, and decorated with intricate carvings of lions, oxen, and cherubim, possibly symbolizing divine power and cosmic order serving God's sanctuary. Their mobility suggested the possibility of moving the lavers to different points for purification within the large temple court.
- lavers: (הַכִּיֹּרוֹת - hakkiyyôrôt) From the singular kiyyôr (כִּיּוֹר), meaning "basin" or "bowl." These were large bronze vessels, each holding 40 baths (around 250 gallons), designed for water used in priestly washing. Unlike the much larger "Sea," these ten lavers were specifically for the ritual cleansing of the portions of the burnt offerings before they were offered, and likely for the priests' hands and feet before ministering. Their purpose was purification for service and sacrifice, signifying the essential need for holiness in approaching God.
- on the bases: (עַל־הַמְּכֹנוֹת - 'al hammekhonot) This phrase explicitly indicates the physical placement and functional relationship between the lavers and their stands. The lavers were seated atop their designed bases, highlighting their unified design and utilitarian purpose as paired items, prepared for immediate and continuous use in the temple services. This arrangement allowed the washing of many sacrificial items efficiently.
1 Kings 7 43 Bonus section
The precise measurements and detailed artistry of these items, as elaborated upon in 1 Kings 7:27-39, surpass what was strictly necessary for mere functionality. This extravagance in materials and craftsmanship highlights that God's dwelling and service were to be approached with the utmost reverence and beauty, demonstrating humanity's highest skills dedicated to His glory. The use of bronze, a durable and reflective metal, in these extensive quantities also speaks to permanence and strength, reflecting the everlasting nature of God's covenant and His enduring presence among His people. The inclusion of wheels on the bases suggests that while the Temple was a permanent structure, elements within its court maintained a degree of mobility, perhaps to accommodate large gatherings or different stages of the sacrificial process, reinforcing the adaptable yet ordered nature of Israel's worship system. The contrast between these numerous smaller lavers and the massive "molten Sea" (1 Ki 7:23-26) for the priests' personal ablutions clarifies that multiple and specific levels of purification were mandated for various aspects of sacred service.
1 Kings 7 43 Commentary
1 Kings 7:43 provides a concise summary of two highly significant and artistically intricate bronze furnishings for Solomon's Temple: ten elaborate bases and their ten accompanying lavers. Far from being merely utilitarian, the detailed description of the bases in preceding verses reveals them as magnificent works of art, crafted with symbolic figures like lions and oxen. The presence of ten of each, contrasting with the single laver in the Tabernacle, speaks to the immense scale and grandeur of Solomon's Temple, built for a vast and settled nation requiring ample provision for purification rituals. These lavers were essential for the priests to wash the sacrificial animals' internal organs and legs, ensuring ritual cleanliness before presenting them to the holy God. They embody the principle that anyone or anything drawing near to God must first be made pure, serving as a constant reminder of God's absolute holiness and the necessity of sanctification for divine service and worship. While physically located in the outer court, their purpose resonates with the deeper spiritual truth that purity, both external and internal, is indispensable for communion with the Divine, prefiguring the ultimate cleansing offered by Christ.