2 Chronicles 4 4

2 Chronicles 4:4 kjv

It stood upon twelve oxen, three looking toward the north, and three looking toward the west, and three looking toward the south, and three looking toward the east: and the sea was set above upon them, and all their hinder parts were inward.

2 Chronicles 4:4 nkjv

It stood on twelve oxen: three looking toward the north, three looking toward the west, three looking toward the south, and three looking toward the east; the Sea was set upon them, and all their back parts pointed inward.

2 Chronicles 4:4 niv

The Sea stood on twelve bulls, three facing north, three facing west, three facing south and three facing east. The Sea rested on top of them, and their hindquarters were toward the center.

2 Chronicles 4:4 esv

It stood on twelve oxen, three facing north, three facing west, three facing south, and three facing east. The sea was set on them, and all their rear parts were inward.

2 Chronicles 4:4 nlt

The Sea was placed on a base of twelve bronze oxen, all facing outward. Three faced north, three faced west, three faced south, and three faced east, and the Sea rested on them.

2 Chronicles 4 verses

2 Chronicles 4 4 Meaning

2 Chronicles 4:4 describes the foundational support for the "Molten Sea," a large bronze basin used by priests for washing and purification within Solomon's Temple. This immense vessel was specifically designed to rest upon the backs of twelve meticulously crafted bronze oxen. These oxen were arranged in groups of three, each group facing one of the four cardinal directions—north, west, south, and east—symbolizing completeness and comprehensive spiritual coverage. Their hindquarters were intentionally positioned inward, maintaining the sanctity and aesthetic integrity of this significant liturgical object.

2 Chronicles 4 4 Context

This verse is part of a detailed account of Solomon's construction of the Temple in Jerusalem, specifically focusing on the sacred vessels and furnishings within the complex. Chapter 4 of 2 Chronicles comprehensively describes the elaborate bronze implements, including the massive bronze altar (v. 1), the colossal Molten Sea (vv. 2-5), the ten movable bronze lavers (v. 6), the golden lampstands (v. 7), and the tables for the showbread (v. 8). The emphasis in Chronicles, compared to its parallel in 1 Kings, is often on the liturgical functions and divine order within the Temple. Historically, this period marks the zenith of the unified Israelite monarchy, where God's presence was symbolically localized in a permanent, magnificent structure, replacing the portable Tabernacle. The precision in the descriptions underscores the divine origin of the plans (1 Chr 28:11-19) and the sanctity of the items used in priestly service, particularly those related to purification, which was essential for maintaining ritual cleanness and holiness in God's presence.

2 Chronicles 4 4 Word analysis

• It stood upon: The Hebrew verb is עָמַד (amad), meaning "to stand" or "to be established." This signifies a firm and enduring foundation.
• twelve: שְׁנֵים עָשָׂר (shenayim asar). The number twelve holds profound theological significance, representing divine organization, completeness, and especially the twelve tribes of Israel. This suggests a symbolic connection between the support of the Molten Sea and the entirety of God's chosen people.
• oxen: בָּקָר (bakar). These were strong, sturdy animals, fitting as structural support. In the ancient Near East, oxen were often associated with strength, sacrifice, and fertility. Here, their bronze form, while symbolic of strength, directly serves God's sanctuary, distinctly not worshipped, a subtle theological point against surrounding pagan animal veneration.
• three looking toward: שְׁלֹשָׁה פֹנִים (shloshah ponim). Shloshah means "three." Ponim is the active participle, indicating they were "facing" or "turning their faces towards." The arrangement in groups of three highlights symmetry and order.
• the north, three looking toward the west, three looking toward the south, and three looking toward the east: These specific cardinal directions (צָפ֙וֹנָה֙ - tsafonah, יָמָּה - yammah, נֶגְבָּה - negbah, מִזְרָחָה - mizrachah) signify comprehensiveness. The four directions together indicate universality, implying that the purifying work of the Temple, represented by the Molten Sea, was symbolically for all of Israel, encompassing all corners of the land.
• and the Sea was set above them: וְהַיָּם עֲלֵיהֶם מִלְמָעְלָה (ve'ha'yam aleihem milma'lah). This confirms the oxen served as the direct, primary support for the enormous basin.
• and all their hindquarters were inward: וְכָל־אֲחֹרֵיהֶם בַּיְתָה (ve'khol achoreihem baytah). This detail emphasizes aesthetic and possibly cultic reverence. By concealing the rear of the oxen, any less presentable parts of the animals were hidden, maintaining the visual purity and sanctity of the sacred space. This design choice elevates the dignified appearance of the support.

Words-group Analysis:

• "twelve oxen... three looking toward...": This entire phrase underscores the meticulously ordered design of the Temple components, reflecting divine precision and Israel's tribal structure. The number twelve, combined with the four cardinal directions, points to an all-encompassing reach and foundation rooted in the people of God. The oxen serve as a sturdy, powerful support, but they are instruments, not idols, distinguishing Israel's worship from pagan practices of animal deification. The specific orientation further highlights completeness and God's sovereign oversight over all directions and His people within them.

2 Chronicles 4 4 Bonus section

The choice of bronze for the oxen and the Molten Sea itself is significant. Bronze (often nechosheth in Hebrew, meaning copper or bronze) in biblical typology is often associated with judgment and atonement, as seen with the bronze altar (Exod 27:1-2), the bronze serpent (Num 21:9), and various implements in the Tabernacle. Its robust nature signifies strength and endurance. The support by oxen could also implicitly represent the labor and burden of the priests, as they bear the weight of ministering to a nation requiring constant purification. The vastness of the Molten Sea, needing such substantial support, implies the enormity of sin and the perpetual need for purification within the nation, signifying God's ample provision for cleansing. This detail serves as a direct polemic against animal worship prevalent in surrounding pagan nations (like the Egyptian Apis bull cult or Canaanite Baal worship which included bull iconography), firmly establishing these oxen as mere instruments serving Yahweh, the true God, rather than objects of worship themselves.

2 Chronicles 4 4 Commentary

2 Chronicles 4:4 provides a precise description of the structural support for the Molten Sea, revealing not just engineering detail but profound theological symbolism. The arrangement of twelve bronze oxen, meticulously facing the four cardinal directions, is not merely functional; it conveys a rich spiritual meaning. The twelve oxen intrinsically symbolize the twelve tribes of Israel, highlighting that the ritual purification facilitated by the Sea (for priests to wash, as noted in 2 Chr 4:6) rested upon, and was thus connected to, the entirety of God's people. This points to the collective nature of their covenant relationship with God and their dependence on priestly mediation. The outward-facing orientation across the four directions further amplifies the concept of comprehensive divine provision and order, embracing all of Israel, wherever they might be situated. The deliberate hiding of the oxen's hindquarters underscores the emphasis on reverence, aesthetic sanctity, and the maintenance of holiness in the Temple, where only what is pure and honorable should be displayed in proximity to God's presence. This design speaks to God's desire for purity and order in worship, while also subtly contrasting Israel's Yahweh worship with surrounding cultures that openly displayed or even worshipped animal forms. This verse, though seemingly a mere construction detail, profoundly illustrates the interweaving of function, symbolism, and spiritual order within Solomon's Temple.