2 Chronicles 4 22

2 Chronicles 4:22 kjv

And the snuffers, and the basins, and the spoons, and the censers, of pure gold: and the entry of the house, the inner doors thereof for the most holy place, and the doors of the house of the temple, were of gold.

2 Chronicles 4:22 nkjv

the trimmers, the bowls, the ladles, and the censers of pure gold. As for the entry of the sanctuary, its inner doors to the Most Holy Place, and the doors of the main hall of the temple, were gold.

2 Chronicles 4:22 niv

the pure gold wick trimmers, sprinkling bowls, dishes and censers; and the gold doors of the temple: the inner doors to the Most Holy Place and the doors of the main hall.

2 Chronicles 4:22 esv

the snuffers, basins, dishes for incense, and fire pans, of pure gold, and the sockets of the temple, for the inner doors to the Most Holy Place and for the doors of the nave of the temple were of gold.

2 Chronicles 4:22 nlt

the lamp snuffers, bowls, ladles, and incense burners ? all of solid gold;
the doors for the entrances to the Most Holy Place and the main room of the Temple, overlaid with gold.

2 Chronicles 4 verses

2 Chronicles 4 22 Meaning

2 Chronicles 4:22 concludes the detailed description of the elaborate furnishings and architectural elements within Solomon's Temple, emphasizing the pervasive use of gold. It specifically lists the sacred vessels: the snuffers for trimming lamp wicks, basins for various liquid offerings and ritual cleansing, spoons used for incense or coals, and censers for burning incense – all made of pure gold. Beyond these implements, the verse also highlights key structural components of the Temple building itself that were adorned with gold: the entrance area, the inner doors leading into the Most Holy Place (the holiest sanctuary), and the main doors of the Temple's great hall (the Hekhal), underscoring the extraordinary value, holiness, and divine grandeur ascribed to God's dwelling place.

2 Chronicles 4 22 Context

2 Chronicles 4:22 falls within the larger section detailing the construction and adornment of Solomon's Temple, specifically from chapters 2 to 5. Chapter 4 focuses on the various furnishings and utensils crafted for the Temple's service and aesthetic. While verses 1-18 describe the large bronze items crafted by Huram-Abi, verses 19-22 shift exclusively to the objects made of "pure gold," providing an exhaustive list. This verse, being the last of the four, rounds out the enumeration of these precious items and concludes the architectural descriptions, setting the stage for the Temple's dedication in chapter 5. Historically, the building of the Temple in Jerusalem under King Solomon marked the zenith of Israelite wealth, power, and international influence. This opulent structure was designed to be the central place of worship for the one true God, Yahweh. In the context of the Ancient Near East (ANE), other nations built grand temples to their deities, often adorning them with precious metals. However, the immense amount of pure gold specified for the Israelite Temple carried a distinct theological significance, acting as a polemic against surrounding pagan beliefs. Unlike the pagan temples which housed idols and sought to "contain" their gods, the Temple of Yahweh emphasized the holiness and transcendence of God, whose presence could only be symbolized and accessed according to His strict commands. The purity and abundance of the gold symbolized not merely human wealth, but the intrinsic purity and surpassing glory of God Himself, who is set apart from all idolatry and material limitations. The golden elements underscored the sacredness of the space and the meticulous care required for service to the Holy One of Israel.

2 Chronicles 4 22 Word analysis

• And the snuffers, and the basins, and the spoons, and the censers: These are specific implements used in the daily service of the priests in the Holy Place of the Temple.

  • Snuffers (מַזְמֵרוֹת, mazmerot): Tools used to trim the wicks of the lamps on the golden lampstand (menorah), ensuring continuous, bright light. Significance: Highlighted meticulous care in Temple service and maintaining divine illumination (symbolizing God's truth).
  • Basins (מִזְרָקוֹת, mizraqot): Bowls or sprinklers used for ritual purposes, especially for collecting and sprinkling the blood of sacrifices (Lev 1:5, 11) and for drink offerings. Significance: Essential for the sacrificial system, emphasizing atonement and purification rituals.
  • Spoons (כַּפּוֹת, kappôt): Small dishes or containers, often associated with carrying incense (Num 7:14, 20) or coals from the altar of burnt offering. Significance: Linked to the burning of incense, representing prayers ascending to God.
  • Censers (מַחְתּוֹת, machtôt): Firepans used for burning incense. Significance: Directly tied to offering aromatic incense to God, symbolizing reverence, prayer, and divine acceptance. All these instruments point to the detailed, precise, and consecrated nature of worship in God's presence.

• of pure gold (זָהָב סָגוּר, zahav sagur): This phrase indicates the highest quality, unalloyed gold, refined and free from impurities. Significance: Emphasizes the supreme value, preciousness, and holiness attributed to these sacred objects used in God's service. The material reflects the purity and holiness of God Himself and the purity required in worship.

• and the entry of the house, the inner doors thereof for the most holy place, and the doors of the house of the temple, were of gold: These refer to significant structural elements of the Temple building itself, specifically its main entrances and internal divisions.

  • Entry of the house (מֵבֹא הַבַּיִת, mevo habbayit): Likely refers to the threshold or porch leading into the Holy Place. Significance: Marks the solemn entry into God's sanctuary.
  • Inner doors thereof for the Most Holy Place (דַּלְתוֹתָיו הַפְּנִימִיוֹת לְקֹדֶשׁ הַקָּדָשִׁים, daltotav haph'nimiyot l'qodesh haq'qadashim): The specific doors that separated the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies, or Most Holy Place (Debir), where the Ark of the Covenant resided. Significance: These doors guarded the most sacred space, symbolizing the separation between sinful humanity and a holy God. Access was strictly limited, pointing to the need for specific atonement for entrance.
  • Doors of the house of the temple (וְדַלְתוֹת הַבַּיִת לַהֵיכָל, v'daltot habbayit laheikhal): The main doors leading into the Hekhal (the Holy Place, main sanctuary) from the entrance vestibule. Significance: Represented the grand entry into the area of priestly service.

• "were of gold": Repeated emphasis on gold for all these items. Significance: Reinforces the extraordinary value, magnificence, and sanctity of the Temple and its contents. It speaks of divine glory manifested in the material world. The pervasive use of gold signifies dedication, devotion, and the inherent purity of divine presence.

2 Chronicles 4 22 Bonus section

The consistent use of pure gold throughout the Tabernacle and later the Temple (Exo 25-40; 1 Ki 6-7) reveals a deliberate divine instruction to communicate God's character. It underscores God's absolute holiness, worth, and His rightful expectation of the very best in worship. The material wealth displayed here under Solomon also reflects a period of great blessing from God upon His obedient people, yet also subtly hints at the transient nature of earthly splendor compared to the enduring spiritual glory of God's presence. While stunning, the earthly Temple, however gilded, was a shadow of a heavenly reality and of the true dwelling of God through His Spirit in believers.

2 Chronicles 4 22 Commentary

2 Chronicles 4:22 completes the list of golden objects within Solomon's Temple, drawing the eye from smaller ritual implements to significant architectural features. The repeated emphasis on "pure gold" is not merely a declaration of material wealth but a profound theological statement. Gold, being incorruptible and lustrous, symbolized divine glory, purity, and enduring value in ancient Israelite thought. Each item, from the tools that maintained the Temple's light to the vessels for blood and incense, was made of the finest material, underscoring the holiness and meticulous care required for worship. The gold also spoke to the reverence due to the God being worshipped.

The mention of the doors, particularly those leading to the Most Holy Place, further highlights the sacred nature of the structure. These gold-laden portals marked a transition from the outer courts, separating the common from the holy, and ultimately, the sacred from the Most Sacred, where God's presence dwelt symbolically. Access to the Most Holy Place was highly restricted, emphasizing humanity's fallen state and the necessity of divine provision (through the High Priest and atonement) to approach God.

This lavish Temple, covered in gold, foreshadowed greater spiritual realities. It spoke to the unsurpassed glory of God (Hag 2:7-9) and anticipated the ultimate sanctuary not made with human hands (Heb 9:11). The pure gold elements reflect the perfect, unblemished purity of Christ, who is the true and ultimate Temple (Joh 2:19-21) and through whom believers now have access to God's holy presence (Heb 10:19-20), an access far superior to that restricted by golden doors. The items' functions also point to Christian truths: the snuffers for light can allude to Christ as the Light of the World; the basins for purification and sacrifice to Christ's blood; and the censers for incense to the prayers of the saints (Rev 8:3-4).