What Does 1 Kings 7:38 Mean?
Then he made ten basins of bronze. One basin contained forty baths, and every basin was four forearms, and upon each of the ten stands was one basin.
Key words are shown with the Hebrew or Greek and what each word meant.
Selah Decoded Version The Selah Decoded Version renders what the Hebrew and Greek words meant to the people who first heard them.
King James wording
King James Version
Then made he ten lavers of brass: one laver contained forty baths: and every laver was four cubits: and upon every one of the ten bases one laver.THE KEY
The Hebrew word for laver belongs to a vessel-family that also names a furnace: both are hollows defined by what they hold, and here each basin has measured capacity and its own base.
THE MEANING
The verse presents cleansing as provision with form: each basin holds a measured amount and rests on its own base. The washing place has defined capacity and support within the sanctuary’s arrangement.
THE ROOT
כִּיּוֹר
kiyyor
GROWS FROM
כור
kûr
The word-family is associated with a hollowed or rounded vessel.
“basins” in this verse is kiyyor. The family includes כּוּר (kûr), a furnace or crucible, and כִּיּוֹר (kiyyor), a basin: both are vessels defined by what they hold. Here the basin’s capacity is measured, and each vessel is placed on a supporting base, making washing provision part of the sanctuary’s arrangement.
ALSO GROWS
kûr: Furnace or crucible
כּוּר
It is another hollow vessel, holding its contents through a process of heat.
kiyyor: Basin or laver for washing
כִּיּוֹר
It holds water for washing, and this verse gives each basin a measured capacity.
מְכוֹנָה
mekhonah
GROWS FROM
כון
kûn
To establish, prepare, or make firm.
“stands” in this verse is mekhonah. The base’s name belongs to the language of being established and prepared. Each water vessel is paired with a firm support, so capacity and stability appear together in the design.
ALSO GROWS
mākhôn: An established place or dwelling
מָכוֹן
It carries the sense of a place set in position, like the laver’s prepared support.
hēkhîn: To prepare or set in place
הֵכִין
It shows the same root’s movement from being established to making something ready.
THE PATTERN
Cleansing is provisioned through water given a vessel and a place within the structure of approach.
You shall also make a basin of bronze, and its stand also of bronze, for washing; and you shall set it between the tent of meeting and the altar, and you shall set waters in it.He made also ten basins, and set five on the right hand, and five on the left, to wash in them; such things as they offered for the rising offering they washed in them; but the sea was for the priests to wash in.That he might set her apart, cleansing her with the bath of water by the word.THE THREAD
You shall also make a basin of bronze, and its stand also of bronze, for washing; and you shall set it between the tent of meeting and the altar, and you shall set waters in it.Exodus uses the same Hebrew word, כִּיּוֹר (kiyyor), meaning a basin or laver. It names the water and washing directly, so the measured capacity and individual bases in 1 Kings read as designed provision for washing.
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