Hebrew Word Reference — 1 Kings 7:24
In the Bible, this word refers to a type of decorative knob or ornament, often carved from wood or metal. It was used in the design of the tabernacle and other furnishings. The word is also translated as gourd in some contexts.
Definition: knob-shaped or ball-shaped or gourd-shaped carved wood or metal ornament
Usage: Occurs in 2 OT verses. KJV: knop. See also: 1 Kings 6:18; 1 Kings 7:24.
This Hebrew word means underneath or below, often used to describe physical locations or positions. It appears in various books, including Genesis, Exodus, and Psalms, to indicate something is under or beneath something else. The word has several related meanings.
Definition: : under/below 1) the under part, beneath, instead of, as, for, for the sake of, flat, unto, where, whereas n m 1a) the under part adv accus 1b) beneath prep 1c) under, beneath 1c1) at the foot of (idiom) 1c2) sweetness, subjection, woman, being burdened or oppressed (fig) 1c3) of subjection or conquest 1d) what is under one, the place in which one stands 1d1) in one's place, the place in which one stands (idiom with reflexive pronoun) 1d2) in place of, instead of (in transferred sense) 1d3) in place of, in exchange or return for (of things mutually interchanged) conj 1e) instead of, instead of that 1f) in return for that, because that in compounds 1g) in, under, into the place of (after verbs of motion) 1h) from under, from beneath, from under the hand of, from his place, under, beneath
Usage: Occurs in 450 OT verses. KJV: as, beneath, [idiom] flat, in(-stead), (same) place (where...is), room, for...sake, stead of, under, [idiom] unto, [idiom] when...was mine, whereas, (where-) fore, with. See also: Genesis 1:7; Deuteronomy 7:24; 1 Kings 20:42.
This word refers to lips or language, and can also mean the edge or border of something. It is used in the Bible to describe the shore of a sea or the edge of a cup.
Definition: : lips/mouth 1) lip, language, speech, shore, bank, brink, brim, side, edge, border, binding 1a) lip (as body part) 1b) language 1c) edge, shore, bank (of cup, sea, river, etc)
Usage: Occurs in 164 OT verses. KJV: band, bank, binding, border, brim, brink, edge, language, lip, prating, (sea-)shore, side, speech, talk, (vain) words. See also: Genesis 11:1; Psalms 120:2; Psalms 12:3.
This word describes something that surrounds or encompasses, like a circle or neighborhood, and can also mean around or about, as in on every side. It is used to describe physical locations and proximity. The KJV translates it as about or circuit.
Definition: : around/border subst 1) places round about, circuit, round about adv 2) in a circuit, a circuit, round about prep 3) in the circuit, from every side
Usage: Occurs in 282 OT verses. KJV: (place, round) about, circuit, compass, on every side. See also: Genesis 23:17; 1 Kings 7:24; Psalms 3:7.
To turn or surround is the meaning of this Hebrew word, which can be used literally or figuratively. It appears in the Bible to describe changing direction or surrounding something.
Definition: : turn/bring_around 1) to turn, turn about or around or aside or back or towards, go about or around, surround, encircle, change direction 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to turn, turn about, be brought round, change 1a2) to march or walk around, go partly around, circle about, skirt, make a round, make a circuit, go about to, surround, encompass 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to turn oneself, close round, turn round 1b2) to be turned over to 1c) (Piel) to turn about, change, transform 1d) (Poel) 1d1) to encompass, surround 1d2) to come about, assemble round 1d3) to march, go about 1d4) to enclose, envelop 1e) (Hiphil) 1e1) to turn, cause to turn, turn back, reverse, bring over, turn into, bring round 1e2) to cause to go around, surround, encompass 1f) (Hophal) 1f1) to be turned 1f2) to be surrounded
Usage: Occurs in 148 OT verses. KJV: bring, cast, fetch, lead, make, walk, [idiom] whirl, [idiom] round about, be about on every side, apply, avoid, beset (about), besiege, bring again, carry (about), change, cause to come about, [idiom] circuit, (fetch a) compass (about, round), drive, environ, [idiom] on every side, beset (close, come, compass, go, stand) round about, inclose, remove, return, set, sit down, turn (self) (about, aside, away, back). See also: Genesis 2:11; 1 Chronicles 16:43; Psalms 7:8.
In the original Hebrew, this word points out the object of a verb or preposition, like 'namely' or 'even'. It appears in many books, including Genesis and Exodus. It's not directly translated in English, but helps clarify the meaning of sentences.
Definition: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative Aramaic equivalent: yat (יָת "whom" H3487)
Usage: Occurs in 6782 OT verses. KJV: (as such unrepresented in English). See also: Genesis 1:1; Genesis 10:8; Genesis 19:21.
This Hebrew word means the number ten, often used in combination with other numbers to describe larger quantities, such as in the story of the ten commandments in Exodus 20. It is commonly translated as 'ten' in the KJV.
Definition: 1) ten 1a) ten 1b) with other numbers Aramaic equivalent: a.sar (עֲשַׂר "ten" H6236)
Usage: Occurs in 157 OT verses. KJV: ten, (fif-, seven-) teen. See also: Genesis 5:14; 1 Kings 6:3; Isaiah 5:10.
A cubit is a unit of measurement, about the length of a forearm, used in the Bible to describe the size of objects like the Ark of the Covenant in Exodus. It is also used to describe a foundation or a door-base.
Definition: cubit-a measure of distance (the forearm), roughly 18 in (. 5m). There are several cubits used in the OT, the cubit of a man or common cubit (De 3:11), the legal cubit or cubit of the sanctuary (Eze 40:5) plus others. See a Bible Dictionary for a complete treatment. Aramaic equivalent: am.mah (אַמָּה "cubit" H0521)
Usage: Occurs in 132 OT verses. KJV: cubit, [phrase] hundred (by exchange for H3967 (מֵאָה)), measure, post. See also: Genesis 6:15; 2 Chronicles 3:3; Isaiah 6:4.
This word means to surround or go around something, like making a circle or enclosing an area. It can also imply a sense of violence or attack, like beating or knocking something down. In the Bible, it is used to describe God's presence surrounding his people.
Definition: 1) to strike, strike off 1a) (Piel) to strike off skin Aramaic equivalent: ne.qash (נְקַשׁ "to knock" H5368)
Usage: Occurs in 19 OT verses. KJV: compass (about, -ing), cut down, destroy, go round (about), inclose, round. See also: Leviticus 19:27; Job 19:6; Psalms 17:9.
In the original Hebrew, this word points out the object of a verb or preposition, like 'namely' or 'even'. It appears in many books, including Genesis and Exodus. It's not directly translated in English, but helps clarify the meaning of sentences.
Definition: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative Aramaic equivalent: yat (יָת "whom" H3487)
Usage: Occurs in 6782 OT verses. KJV: (as such unrepresented in English). See also: Genesis 1:1; Genesis 10:8; Genesis 19:21.
Refers to a large body of water like the Mediterranean Sea or a sea in general, sometimes specifically the west or seaward direction.
Definition: This name means sea, seaward, westward Another name of eph.ron (עֶפְרוֹן "(Mount )Ephron" H6085H)
Usage: Occurs in 339 OT verses. KJV: sea ([idiom] -faring man, (-shore)), south, west (-ern, side, -ward). See also: Genesis 1:10; Joshua 17:10; Psalms 8:9.
This word describes something that surrounds or encompasses, like a circle or neighborhood, and can also mean around or about, as in on every side. It is used to describe physical locations and proximity. The KJV translates it as about or circuit.
Definition: : around/border subst 1) places round about, circuit, round about adv 2) in a circuit, a circuit, round about prep 3) in the circuit, from every side
Usage: Occurs in 282 OT verses. KJV: (place, round) about, circuit, compass, on every side. See also: Genesis 23:17; 1 Kings 7:24; Psalms 3:7.
The Hebrew word for the number two appears in Genesis and Exodus, describing pairs and dualities. It can also mean double or twice. In the Bible, it is often used to describe things that come in twos, like two witnesses or two tablets.
Definition: 1) two 1a) two (the cardinal number) 1a1) two, both, double, twice 1b) second (the ordinal number) 1c) in combination with other numbers 1d) both (a dual number)
Usage: Occurs in 646 OT verses. KJV: both, couple, double, second, twain, [phrase] twelfth, [phrase] twelve, [phrase] twenty (sixscore) thousand, twice, two. See also: Genesis 1:16; Exodus 30:4; Numbers 13:23.
This word refers to a row of things, like a row of bricks in a wall or a row of jewels on a necklace. It is used to describe something that is arranged in a line or sequence.
Definition: 1) row 1a) row, course (of building) 1b) row (of jewels)
Usage: Occurs in 20 OT verses. KJV: row. See also: Exodus 28:17; 1 Kings 7:3; Ezekiel 46:23.
In the Bible, this word refers to a type of decorative knob or ornament, often carved from wood or metal. It was used in the design of the tabernacle and other furnishings. The word is also translated as gourd in some contexts.
Definition: knob-shaped or ball-shaped or gourd-shaped carved wood or metal ornament
Usage: Occurs in 2 OT verses. KJV: knop. See also: 1 Kings 6:18; 1 Kings 7:24.
This verb means to pour something out, like liquid or metal, and can also imply making something firm or hard. It's used in books like Isaiah 44:3 and Jeremiah 10:14.
Definition: : pour 1) to pour, flow, cast, pour out 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to pour, pour out 1a2) to cast 1a3) to flow 1b) (Hiphil) to pour, pour out 1c) (Hophal) 1c1) to be poured 1c2) cast, molten (participle) 1c3) being firmly established (participle)
Usage: Occurs in 49 OT verses. KJV: cast, cleave fast, be (as) firm, grow, be hard, lay out, molten, overflow, pour (out), run out, set down, stedfast. See also: Genesis 28:18; 1 Kings 7:24; Psalms 41:9.
This noun refers to the act of casting metal, like pouring it into a mold. It appears in Exodus 25:12, describing the creation of the Ark of the Covenant.
Definition: a casting (of metal)
Usage: Occurs in 2 OT verses. KJV: when it was cast. See also: 1 Kings 7:24; 1 Kings 7:30.
Context — The Molten Sea
22And the tops of the pillars were shaped like lilies. So the work of the pillars was completed.
23He also made the Sea of cast metal. It was circular in shape, measuring ten cubits from rim to rim, five cubits in height, and thirty cubits in circumference.
24Below the rim, ornamental buds encircled it, ten per cubit all the way around the Sea, cast in two rows as a part of the Sea.
25The Sea stood on twelve oxen, three facing north, three facing west, three facing south, and three facing east. The Sea rested on them, with all their hindquarters toward the center.
26It was a handbreadth thick, and its rim was fashioned like the brim of a cup, like a lily blossom. It could hold two thousand baths.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) |
| 1 |
1 Kings 6:18 |
The cedar paneling inside the temple was carved with gourds and open flowers. Everything was cedar; not a stone could be seen. |
| 2 |
2 Chronicles 4:3 |
Below the rim, figures of oxen encircled it, ten per cubit all the way around the Sea, cast in two rows as a part of the Sea. |
| 3 |
Exodus 37:17–22 |
Then he made the lampstand out of pure hammered gold, all of one piece: its base and shaft, its cups, and its buds and petals. Six branches extended from the sides, three on one side and three on the other. There were three cups shaped like almond blossoms on the first branch, each with buds and petals, three on the next branch, and the same for all six branches that extended from the lampstand. And on the lampstand were four cups shaped like almond blossoms with buds and petals. A bud was under the first pair of branches that extended from the lampstand, a bud under the second pair, and a bud under the third pair. The buds and branches were all of one piece with the lampstand, hammered out of pure gold. |
| 4 |
Exodus 25:31–36 |
Then you are to make a lampstand of pure, hammered gold. It shall be made of one piece, including its base and shaft, its cups, and its buds and petals. Six branches are to extend from the sides of the lampstand—three on one side and three on the other. There are to be three cups shaped like almond blossoms on the first branch, each with buds and petals, three on the next branch, and the same for all six branches that extend from the lampstand. And on the lampstand there shall be four cups shaped like almond blossoms with buds and petals. For the six branches that extend from the lampstand, a bud must be under the first pair of branches, a bud under the second pair, and a bud under the third pair. The buds and branches are to be all of one piece with the lampstand, hammered out of pure gold. |
1 Kings 7:24 Summary
The verse 1 Kings 7:24 describes the ornamental buds that were cast in two rows below the rim of the Sea, which was a large basin used for purification in the temple. These buds were a decorative element that added to the beauty of the Sea, and they remind us of the importance of attention to detail and excellence in our work, as seen in Colossians 3:23-24. Just as the Sea was crafted with care and attention to detail, we can reflect God's character in our own work and service to Him by striving for excellence and beauty. By doing so, we can bring glory to God and point others to His goodness and provision, as seen in Psalm 19:1.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the significance of the ornamental buds in 1 Kings 7:24?
The ornamental buds in 1 Kings 7:24 symbolize the beauty and craftsmanship of God's creation, as seen in other biblical accounts like Exodus 28:33-35, where similar decorative elements were used in the priestly garments.
Why were the buds cast in two rows as part of the Sea?
The two rows of buds may represent the abundance and richness of God's provision, much like the description of the Garden of Eden in Genesis 2:8-14, where the trees were pleasing to the eye and good for food.
How do the ornamental buds relate to the rest of the temple furnishings?
The ornamental buds on the Sea are part of the larger decorative scheme of the temple, which includes other intricate details like the carvings on the pillars in 1 Kings 7:22, all of which reflect the attention to detail and care that God desires in our worship and service to Him, as seen in Exodus 25:40 and Hebrews 8:5.
What can we learn from the craftsmanship of the Sea and its decorations?
The craftsmanship of the Sea and its decorations teaches us about the importance of excellence and attention to detail in our work, as seen in Colossians 3:23-24, where we are instructed to do our work heartily as unto the Lord.
Reflection Questions
- What does the attention to detail in the construction of the Sea reveal about God's character and His desire for our worship?
- How can I apply the principle of excellence in craftsmanship to my own work and service to God?
- What role does beauty and aesthetics play in our worship and service to God, and how can we balance this with the importance of humility and simplicity?
- In what ways can I reflect the richness and abundance of God's provision in my own life, and how can I share this with others?
Gill's Exposition on 1 Kings 7:24
And under the brim of it round about there were knops compassing it,.... Of an oval form, and therefore the Targum calls them figures of eggs; in 2 Chronicles 4:3 they are said to have the similitude
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 1 Kings 7:24
And under the brim of it round about there were knops compassing it, ten in a cubit, compassing the sea round about: the knops were cast in two rows, when it was cast. No JFB commentary on these verses.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on 1 Kings 7:24
Knops; or, carved or molten figures; for learned Hebricians note, that this word signifies the figures or pictures of all sorts, as flowers, beasts, &c. This general word is particularly explained of oxen, , unless there were so many figures, or sculptures of gourds, or other flowers; and in each of these a little ox’ s head. Ten in a cubit; so there were three hundred in all. The knops were cast together with the sea, not carved. In two rows: it seems doubtful whether the second row had ten in each cubit, and so there were three hundred more; or whether the ten were distributed into five in each row.
Trapp's Commentary on 1 Kings 7:24
1 Kings 7:24 And under the brim of it round about [there were] knops compassing it, ten in a cubit, compassing the sea round about: the knops [were] cast in two rows, when it was cast.Ver. 24. Ten in a cubit.] Three hundred knops under the lily work, on the brim of the sea.
Ellicott's Commentary on 1 Kings 7:24
(13-50) The exceedingly graphic and elaborate description of the work of Hiram on the vessels and furniture of the Temple, and on the great pillars, bears on the very face of it the most evident marks of historical accuracy and of the use of contemporary documents, and it has, moreover, great antiquarian interest. Looked at in itself, it shows that the Temple (like many other buildings in the comparative infancy of architecture) depended for its effect, not so much on size or proportion, as on rich material, elaborate decoration, and costly furniture, on which all the resources both of treasure and art were lavished. But besides this, the sense of the especial sacredness attached to all the vessels of the Temple, which was hereafter to degenerate into a Pharisaic superstition (see Matthew 23:16-18), suggested the most careful record of every detail, and reverently traced to “the Spirit of God” the gift of “wisdom of heart” “to devise curious works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass,” as in Bezaleel and Aholiab for the Tabernacle (Exodus 35:31-32), so also in Hiram for the Temple. There is something especially remarkable in this broad comprehensiveness of conception which recognises the illuminating and inspiring power of the Spirit of God, not only in the moral and religious teaching of the prophet and the devotional utterances of the psalmist, but in the warlike enthusiasm of the Judge, the sagacity of the statesman, the imaginative skill of the artist, and the wisdom of the philosophic thinker. Nothing could more strikingly illustrate the Apostolic declaration: “There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit” (1 Corinthians 12:4).
Cambridge Bible on 1 Kings 7:24
24. knops] The word is that which occurs in 1 Kings 6:18, and the knops were probably of a gourd-shape. See note there. The description in 2 Chronicles (1 Kings 4:3) says that oxen and not knops were the ornaments. ten in a cubit] This would make the number of knops to be 300. But the R.V. renders for ten cubits. And so the words are rendered in 1 Kings 6:26. But the A. V. must give the true sense. Otherwise why is it said that the sea was encompassed by these knops? when it was cast] i.e. They were of the same piece with the whole rim, and not attached afterwards like some of the ornaments of the pillars.
Barnes' Notes on 1 Kings 7:24
Knops - literally, “gourds,” - i. e. a boss or ball ornament encircled the rim of the bowl in two rows.
Whedon's Commentary on 1 Kings 7:24
24. Knops… in two rows — Egg-shaped representations of the wild gourd or cucumber, as in 1 Kings 6:18, compassing the laver in a double row at the upper part.
Sermons on 1 Kings 7:24
| Sermon | Description |
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Golden Snuffers
by T. Austin-Sparks
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T. Austin-Sparks emphasizes the significance of the 'golden snuffers' in maintaining the freshness of God's testimony through His people, represented as wicks in the candlestick of |
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(Exodus) Exodus 25:31-40
by J. Vernon McGee
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In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of worshiping God and walking in the light. He compares the lampstand in the tabernacle to Christ, describing it as a perfect |
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Vision of Peter
by Stephen Kaung
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In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of having a heavenly vision. He refers to himself as the first and the last, the one who leads the race to be whole and the l |
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The Golden Lampstand
by Henry Law
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Henry Law preaches on the significance of the pure, hammered gold lampstand in the holy Tent as a representation of Christ, the all-gold Savior without blemish, who bore the agoniz |
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"A Candlestick All of Gold" Its Function
by T. Austin-Sparks
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T. Austin-Sparks emphasizes the significance of the 'candlestick of pure gold' as a representation of the Church's calling to be a source of divine light in the world. He highlight |
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"A Candlestick All of Gold" Its Testimony
by T. Austin-Sparks
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T. Austin-Sparks emphasizes the significance of the golden candlestick as a representation of God's original testimony, highlighting its role in both the establishment and recovery |