2 Chronicles 4:10 kjv
And he set the sea on the right side of the east end, over against the south.
2 Chronicles 4:10 nkjv
He set the Sea on the right side, toward the southeast.
2 Chronicles 4:10 niv
He placed the Sea on the south side, at the southeast corner.
2 Chronicles 4:10 esv
And he set the sea at the southeast corner of the house.
2 Chronicles 4:10 nlt
The great bronze basin called the Sea was placed near the southeast corner of the Temple.
2 Chronicles 4 10 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Ki 7:39 | And he put the sea on the right side of the east end, toward the south. | Parallel description of the Molten Sea's placement. |
| Exo 30:18 | Thou shalt also make a laver of brass, and his foot also of brass... | Prototype: bronze laver for priestly washing. |
| Exo 30:19-21 | ...Aaron and his sons shall wash their hands and their feet... | Purpose of washing before ministry. |
| Exo 38:8 | ...made the laver of brass, and the foot of it of brass, of the looking glasses... | Construction and material of the Tabernacle laver. |
| 2 Chr 4:1-5 | Solomon made a brazen altar... Also he made a molten sea of ten cubits... | Details of the altar and Molten Sea construction. |
| 1 Ki 7:23-26 | ...Then made he a molten sea, ten cubits... held two thousand baths. | Parallel account of the Molten Sea's dimensions and capacity. |
| 2 Chr 4:5 | ...it received and held three thousand baths. | Molten Sea's full capacity (or different measure). |
| Heb 9:10 | Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances... | Old Covenant ritual washings contrasted with spiritual reality. |
| Tit 3:5 | Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration... | Spiritual cleansing in the New Covenant. |
| Eph 5:26 | ...that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word... | Christ's purification of the church. |
| Zec 13:1 | In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness. | Prophetic promise of ultimate spiritual cleansing. |
| Psa 51:7 | Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. | Prayer for divine cleansing. |
| 1 Pet 3:21 | The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us... | New Testament application of symbolic cleansing. |
| Heb 8:5 | Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things... | Earthly sanctuary as a pattern of heavenly reality. |
| Heb 9:1 | Then verily the first covenant had also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary. | Description of the earthly sanctuary. |
| Eze 43:1-2 | ...brought me to the gate that looketh toward the east: And, behold, the glory of the God of Israel came from the way of the east... | Significance of the East direction in temple context. |
| 1 Ki 8:44 | If thy people go out to battle... and shall pray unto the LORD toward the city... | Prayer facing the Temple/Jerusalem. |
| Psa 16:11 | Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore. | "Right hand" symbolizing favor and presence. |
| Psa 110:1 | The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand... | Christ's exalted position at the right hand of God. |
| Num 21:9 | And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole... | Bronze used for redemption/healing (cf. serpent). |
| 2 Ki 25:13 | And the pillars of brass that were in the house of the LORD... and the brasen sea... | Mention of the Molten Sea's later destruction by Babylonians. |
| Jer 52:17 | Also the pillars of brass that were in the house of the LORD... and the brasen sea... | Parallel account of the Sea's destruction. |
| 1 Cor 6:11 | And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus... | Spiritual washing and justification in Christ. |
2 Chronicles 4 verses
2 Chronicles 4 10 Meaning
2 Chronicles 4:10 describes the precise positioning of the "Molten Sea," a colossal bronze basin within the outer court of Solomon's Temple. It indicates that this large receptacle, used by the priests for ceremonial cleansing, was situated in the southeastern corner of the temple courtyard. This meticulous detail underscores its functional importance and symbolic value within the sacred space.
2 Chronicles 4 10 Context
2 Chronicles Chapter 4 meticulously details the furnishings and vessels commissioned by King Solomon for the First Temple in Jerusalem. Following the completion of the main temple structure (Chapter 3), Chapter 4 focuses on the major metallic fixtures for worship: the enormous bronze altar for sacrifices, the massive "Molten Sea" for priestly ablutions, and the ten movable bronze stands with basins for other ritual washings. This verse specifically places the Molten Sea, emphasizing its importance and providing architectural detail necessary for its functional use. Historically and culturally, large basins were common in ancient temples for various purifications, but the Molten Sea's scale was unique, underscoring the grandeur of Israel's God and the magnitude of the priestly ministry serving Him. Its precise eastern-facing placement, where divine glory often entered, suggests a connection to God's presence and the proper conduct of worship.
2 Chronicles 4 10 Word analysis
- And he set: "וַיַּצֵּב" (vayyatstsev). From the root natsab (נָצַב), meaning "to stand, to set, to station." This indicates a deliberate, fixed, and permanent placement of the Molten Sea. The "he" refers either to Huram (the skilled craftsman) or King Solomon who oversaw the entire temple construction.
- the sea: "הַיָּם" (hayyam). Refers to the "Molten Sea," a colossal bronze basin (1 Ki 7:23, 2 Chr 4:2-5). It was named "sea" due to its immense size and water capacity (3,000 baths or about 17,500 gallons as per 2 Chr 4:5), which significantly exceeded the smaller laver in the Tabernacle. It stood on twelve bronze oxen.
- on the right side: "אֶל-כֶּתֶף הַיְמָנִית" (el ketef hayemanit). "Ketef" means "shoulder" or "side," and "yemanit" means "right." In Hebrew thought, the right side often symbolizes strength, honor, favor, or good fortune (Psa 16:11). When facing the Temple's front (east), "right" indicates the South.
- of the east end: "מִזְרָחָה" (mizrachah). Meaning "eastward" or "towards the east." This denotes the general direction.
- over against: "קֵדְמָה" (qedmah). Literally "eastward" or "in front of." Here it functions to specify proximity or facing an area. When combined with "the south," it clearly positions the object relative to these two cardinal points.
- the south: "נֶגֶב" (negev). The literal directional term for South. In Israel, it refers to the Negev desert region.
Words-group analysis:
- "set the sea": Highlights the establishment of a foundational component for the priests' ritual purity, crucial for approaching God in worship. This act underscores God's provision for His ministers.
- "on the right side of the east end, over against the south": This precise directional detail means the Molten Sea was placed in the southeast corner of the Temple courtyard. This specificity ensures proper liturgical orientation and signifies its importance within the layout of God's house, indicating that sacred activities were performed with careful regard to alignment and purpose.
2 Chronicles 4 10 Bonus section
- The twelve oxen: According to 2 Chronicles 4:4 (and 1 Kings 7:25), the Molten Sea rested on twelve bronze oxen, grouped in fours, facing the four cardinal directions (North, South, East, West). This imagery likely symbolized the twelve tribes of Israel, perhaps suggesting that the provision for cleansing (represented by the water) was available to the entire nation, or embodying the strength and stability upon which divine service rests.
- Symbolic Volume: While 1 Kings 7:26 states the Sea held 2,000 baths, 2 Chronicles 4:5 states 3,000 baths. Scholars debate this discrepancy, suggesting either a maximum overflow capacity versus working capacity, or differences in cubit standards/liquid measurements over time. Regardless, the intent remains its vast capacity for ritual purification.
- Future destruction: This significant vessel, along with other bronze furnishings, was later broken up and carried away by the Babylonians during the destruction of the Temple (2 Ki 25:13, Jer 52:17). This act of despoiling represented the end of an era of physical worship in the Jerusalem temple and highlighted the consequences of national disobedience.
- Type of Christ: The purification offered by the Molten Sea served as a type or shadow pointing towards the ultimate spiritual cleansing provided by Jesus Christ (cf. Tit 3:5, Eph 5:26). While the physical washing addressed ceremonial impurity, Christ's sacrifice provides eternal atonement and regeneration for the heart and conscience.
2 Chronicles 4 10 Commentary
2 Chronicles 4:10 describes a critical element of the temple’s functionality: the Molten Sea, a gigantic basin intended for the Levitical priests’ ritual purification. Its sheer size reflected the immense scale of worship in the temple era, signifying ample provision for the entire priesthood. The strategic placement in the southeast corner, likely facing eastward alongside the temple's entrance, integrated it seamlessly into the processional path of those serving before God. This grand implement was more than an architectural marvel; it was a constant, tangible reminder of the essential need for holiness and cleansing before engaging in divine service. Every priest's interaction with this water-filled "sea" prefigured the deeper spiritual purification that humanity requires, fulfilled ultimately in the person and work of Christ, whose sacrifice provides a fountain for true cleansing from sin for all believers.