2 Chronicles 4:3 kjv
And under it was the similitude of oxen, which did compass it round about: ten in a cubit, compassing the sea round about. Two rows of oxen were cast, when it was cast.
2 Chronicles 4:3 nkjv
And under it was the likeness of oxen encircling it all around, ten to a cubit, all the way around the Sea. The oxen were cast in two rows, when it was cast.
2 Chronicles 4:3 niv
Below the rim, figures of bulls encircled it?ten to a cubit. The bulls were cast in two rows in one piece with the Sea.
2 Chronicles 4:3 esv
Under it were figures of gourds, for ten cubits, compassing the sea all around. The gourds were in two rows, cast with it when it was cast.
2 Chronicles 4:3 nlt
It was encircled just below its rim by two rows of figures that resembled oxen. There were about six oxen per foot all the way around, and they were cast as part of the basin.
2 Chronicles 4 3 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Kgs 7:23-26 | Then he made the molten sea, ten cubits... | Parallel account of the Molten Sea construction. |
| 2 Chron 4:4 | It stood upon twelve oxen, three looking toward the north... | Further details on the supporting oxen (distinct from v.3 decoration). |
| Ex 30:17-21 | And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying... | Bronze laver in the Tabernacle for priests to wash. |
| Ex 31:1-5 | And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, See... | God divinely gifting craftsmanship skill for the Tabernacle. |
| 1 Kgs 7:13-14 | And king Solomon sent and fetched Hiram out of Tyre... | Hiram's expertise as master craftsman for temple vessels. |
| 1 Chron 28:11-19 | Then David gave to Solomon his son the pattern of the porch... | David receiving divine pattern for all temple elements. |
| Ex 25:9 | According to all that I shew thee, after the pattern... | God providing exact blueprint for the Tabernacle, mirroring the divine order. |
| Heb 8:5 | Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things... | Earthly sanctuary details are shadows of heavenly realities. |
| Lev 16:4 | He shall put on the holy linen coat, and he shall have... | Requirement for priestly washing before holy service. |
| Heb 10:22 | Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance... | Washing of the body with pure water for spiritual purification. |
| Ezek 1:10 | As for the likeness of their faces, they four had the face... | Visions of cherubim and living creatures, sometimes with animal-like features in divine context. |
| Ps 24:3-4 | Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD?... | Purity of hands and heart required for God's presence. |
| Isa 6:5-7 | Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone... | Isaiah's ritual cleansing and commissioning for ministry. |
| John 13:10 | Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth... | Jesus on the spiritual necessity of cleansing. |
| Rev 4:6 | And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal... | Symbolic "sea of glass" before God's throne in heaven. |
| Ex 32:4 | And he received them at their hand, and fashioned it... | Golden Calf idolatry: Animal images misused for worship. |
| Ps 106:19-20 | They made a calf in Horeb, and worshipped the molten image... | Turning divine glory into the similitude of an ox. |
| Rom 1:23 | And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image... | Warning against exchanging God's glory for images of creatures. |
| Num 19:2-10 | This is the ordinance of the law which the LORD... | Use of an unblemished red heifer in ritual purification. |
| 1 Kgs 6:29 | And he carved all the walls of the house round about... | Temple decoration included carved figures, though not of oxen. |
2 Chronicles 4 verses
2 Chronicles 4 3 Meaning
The verse describes the intricate decorative molding on the exterior of the Molten Sea, a large bronze basin in Solomon's Temple. This decoration featured a pattern resembling oxen or bovine figures, positioned "under" the brim or lip of the sea and encircling its entirety. The phrase "ten in a cubit" indicates a repeating design pattern or measurement related to these decorative elements along the circumference. These decorative ox-like figures were meticulously "cast" into the bronze in two distinct rows, signifying a purposeful and integral part of the Sea's design.
2 Chronicles 4 3 Context
2 Chronicles Chapter 4 details the construction of the sacred vessels for Solomon's Temple, specifically focusing on the great bronze furnishings crafted by Hiram, a skilled artisan from Tyre. This verse fits into the description of the Molten Sea (or "bronze laver"), which served as the primary source of water for the priests to perform their ritual ablutions before entering the Holy Place and ministering before God. Historically, in ancient Near Eastern temples, basins were common, and animal motifs, including bulls, were often associated with fertility gods or even directly worshipped. In the Israelite temple, however, such animal imagery, particularly the oxen (clean animals, useful for labor and sacrifice), was recontextualized. Their inclusion here, serving as mere decoration or functional support (as in v.4), demonstrates God's sovereignty over all creation and reclaims potential pagan symbols, stripping them of idolatrous power and repurposing them within the framework of true worship.
2 Chronicles 4 3 Word analysis
- likeness of oxen (Hebrew: תבנית בקר - tabnith bakar): This refers to the form, pattern, or resemblance of oxen. The choice of "oxen" here, unlike the parallel account in 1 Kings 7:24 which speaks of "knops" (פקעים - peka'im, likely gourds or buds), has led to scholarly debate regarding a possible textual variant or the Chronicler's unique emphasis. The "oxen" are not literally present animals but sculptured figures. Oxen were strong, valuable beasts, clean for Israelite consumption and sacrifice, yet also symbols often used in pagan idolatry (e.g., the Golden Calf). Their inclusion here, purely as decoration and a submissive element of the holy structure, is significant: it subordinates creation to the Creator and repurposes imagery that pagans might worship, bringing it under divine authority.
- under it (Hebrew: תחתיו - tachtaiv): This indicates the position of the oxen figures – below the rim or lip of the Molten Sea, suggesting a base or lower decorative band.
- did compass it round about (Hebrew: מקיפים לו סביב - mekiifim lo saviv): This emphasizes that the decoration encircled the entire circumference of the molten sea, forming a continuous ornamental band. "Compassing" implies encompassing, encircling.
- ten in a cubit (Hebrew: עשר באמה - eser ba'ammah): This is a difficult and much-debated phrase. It typically describes a measure of density or repetition for an ornamental pattern. Common interpretations suggest that it refers to a decorative design where:
- Ten decorative elements (e.g., gourds or the 'oxen' motif itself) were repeated per cubit of the sea's circumference.
- The pattern or the group of these figures stretched for ten cubits around the basin, possibly indicating a repeated module or extent.
- Two rows of oxen were cast, when it was cast (Hebrew: שתי שורות בקר יצקים ביצקו - shte shorot bakar yotz’kim b’yitz’ko): This describes the method of construction and arrangement. "Cast" (יצקים - yotz’kim) means they were formed by pouring molten bronze into molds. The phrase indicates that these decorative figures were integral to the Sea's bronze structure from its very creation ("when it was cast"), not added later. Their arrangement in "two rows" suggests distinct upper and lower bands of this decorative motif. This further differentiates them from the 12 oxen that would support the sea as described in the subsequent verse (2 Chron 4:4). These "oxen" of verse 3 are explicitly part of the molded decoration of the sea's body.
2 Chronicles 4 3 Bonus section
The specific mention of "ten in a cubit" without a clear explanation reinforces the Bible's commitment to describing real, tangible structures even when details seem unusual to modern readers, reflecting historical design and architectural measurements rather than mere literary flourish. The Chronicler's specific mention of "oxen" here (where Kings has "knops") may also serve a theological purpose, linking the grandeur of the temple to an enduring visual of strong, significant creatures, potentially reminding the returning exiles of God's dominion even over things that were once misdirected toward idolatry. It underlines the Temple's unique purpose as a space meticulously designed by divine revelation.
2 Chronicles 4 3 Commentary
2 Chronicles 4:3 reveals the meticulous divine specification behind the Temple furnishings. The decorative "likeness of oxen" on the Molten Sea was not merely for aesthetics but carried symbolic weight. In a world rampant with zoomorphic idolatry, especially the worship of bull figures, God's directive to incorporate oxen in a subservient, decorative, and functional (v.4) role within His holy house profoundly demythologizes and re-purposes such imagery. It showcases His complete sovereignty, demonstrating that even elements revered by pagans are nothing but creatures used by Him according to His precise plan. The emphasis on their "casting" into "two rows" speaks to the intentionality, permanence, and integrated nature of these details. This sacred design reinforces that purity and holiness, which the Molten Sea symbolized for priestly washing, are established on divinely ordained patterns, not human invention or compromise with surrounding pagan practices.
- Practical usage: This verse illustrates how God redeems and transforms common things or cultural symbols, integrating them into His purposes, not for their inherent power, but as a testament to His greater glory. For believers, it highlights the importance of re-orienting our perspectives from worldly allurements to God's intended use, always recognizing His supreme authority.