2 Chronicles 3:10 — Word Study
WLCוַיַּ֜עַשׂ בְּבֵֽית־ קֹ֤דֶשׁ הַקֳּדָשִׁים֙ כְּרוּבִ֣ים שְׁנַ֔יִם מַעֲשֵׂ֖ה צַעֲצֻעִ֑ים וַיְצַפּ֥וּ אֹתָ֖ם זָהָֽב׃
BSAIn the Most Holyqôdesh Placebayith [the inner sanctuary, sacred area] he madeʻâsâh▸ twoshᵉnayim [a pair, dual] cherubimkᵉrûwb [angelic beings, heavenly guardians] of sculpturedtsaʻtsuaʻ△ workmaʻăseh [image work, carved figures] and he overlaidtsâphâh▸ [covered, layered] themʼêth with goldzâhâb [a valuable metal]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| וַיַּ֜עַשׂ | and he made | Verb, Qal, sequential imperfect third person masculine singular |
| בְּבֵֽית־ | in [the] house of | Preposition, noun common masculine singular construct |
| קֹ֤דֶשׁ | [the] holy place of | Noun |
| הַקֳּדָשִׁים֙ | the holy places | Particle, noun |
| כְּרוּבִ֣ים | cherubim | Noun common, masculine plural absolute |
| שְׁנַ֔יִם | two | Noun common, both dual absolute |
| מַעֲשֵׂ֖ה | a work of | Noun common, masculine singular construct |
| צַעֲצֻעִ֑ים | castings | Noun common, masculine plural absolute |
| וַיְצַפּ֥וּ | and they overlaid | Verb, Piel, sequential imperfect third person masculine plural |
| אֹתָ֖ם | the object marker them | Particle, suffix |
| זָהָֽב׃ | gold | Noun common, masculine singular absolute |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | In the Most Holy Place he made two cherubim of sculptured work, and he overlaid them with gold. |
| KJV | And in the most holy house he made two cherubims of image work, and overlaid them with gold. |
| ASV | And in the most holy house he made two cherubim of image work; and they overlaid them with gold. |
| YLT | And he maketh in the most holy house two cherubs, image work, and he overlayeth them with gold; |
| WEB | In the most holy place he made two cherubim by carving, and they overlaid them with gold. |
| BBE | And in the most holy place he made images of two winged beings, covering them with gold. |
Where they part company is in the description of the cherubim's craftsmanship — see How Translations Differ.
The structure centers on the act of making, with a focus on the cherubim's craftsmanship and their gilded finish.
6 commentators on this verse
Jamieson, Poole, Trapp, Ellicott & more — read them ›
clause
verbעָשָׂה
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
1 of 11 occurs nowhere else in the Old Testament — a word chosen on purpose.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — 2 Chronicles 3:10
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — The Construction of the Templegenerated
2 Chronicles 3:10 describes how Solomon made two cherubim in the Most Holy Place of the temple, emphasizing the sacredness of this area. The cherubim, crafted with intricate detail, serve as guardians of the divine presence. This act is part of a larger narrative detailing the grandeur and holiness of the temple, reflecting God's dwelling among His people.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 Kings 6:23–28 | In the inner sanctuary he made two cherubim, each ten cubits high, out of olive wood. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 1 reference, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — כְּרוּבִ֣ים, ke.ru.Vimgenerated
The word כְּרוּב (kerub) refers to cherubim, angelic beings often depicted as guardians in biblical texts. These beings are associated with the presence of God and are prominently featured in the temple's design, symbolizing protection and holiness.
Cherubim are mentioned in various contexts, including their role in the Garden of Eden and their depiction on the Ark of the Covenant. In this verse, the plural form indicates a pair of cherubim, highlighting their importance in the sacred space of the temple.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, which uses the term cherubim consistently with other translations such as the KJV and ASV.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The verse is structured around the finite verb וַיַּ֜עַשׂ, and he made, which governs the entire sentence. It is followed by a prepositional phrase indicating the location, בְּבֵֽית־ קֹ֤דֶשׁ, in the Most Holy Place, and then lists the objects and actions associated with the making of the cherubim.
The syntax emphasizes the act of creation and the sacredness of the space, with the cherubim described as שְׁנַ֔יִם, two, indicating a duality that is significant in the context of their protective role.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
In the Septuagint, the Hebrew כְּרוּבִ֣ים is rendered as ξερουβιν, which maintains the same reference to cherubim. This choice reinforces the understanding of these beings as guardians of the divine presence.
The Greek term used here does not expand on the meaning of cherubim but aligns closely with the Hebrew, indicating a consistent interpretation of their role in the sacred narrative.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
2 Chronicles 3:10 tells us that Solomon made two cherubim in the Most Holy Place of the temple, crafting them from sculpted work and covering them with gold. This highlights the importance of these angelic figures in representing God's presence and protection in the sacred space.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
The cherubim represent divine guardianship and the presence of God, emphasizing the holiness of the Most Holy Place.
Gold symbolizes purity, value, and divine glory, making it an appropriate material for the sacred representations within the temple.
Cherubim are often depicted as guardians, such as in the Garden of Eden and on the Ark of the Covenant, where they signify God's protection and holiness.
The Most Holy Place is the innermost sanctuary of the temple, where God's presence dwelled and where only the high priest could enter once a year.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- What do the cherubim represent in my understanding of God's presence?
- How can I appreciate the artistry and significance of sacred spaces in worship?
- In what ways can I reflect the holiness that the Most Holy Place signifies in my life?
- How does understanding the role of cherubim enhance my view of divine protection?
Commentators on this verse — 6 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on 2 Chronicles 3:10 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryAnd in the most holy house he made two cherubims of image work, and overlaid them with gold. Two cherubim. These figures in the tabernacle were of pure gold (Exodus 25:1-40), and over-shadowed the mercy-seat.
Read Robert Jamieson on 2 Chronicles 3 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleOf image work; made in the shape of young men or boys, as they commonly are. Or, of movable work; so called because they were not fixed to the mercy-seat, as the Mosaical cherubims were, but stood upon their feet, as it is said here , in a moving posture.
Read Matthew Poole on 2 Chronicles 3 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments2 Chronicles 3:10 And in the most holy house he made two cherubims of image work, and overlaid them with gold.Ver. 10. Two cherubims of image work.] Opere exemtili, so Tremellius; of work that might be taken asunder. Or of moving work, so others; that is to say, made as if they were in the act of flying or going. If it were image work - cherubims were made like boys, - yet this is no plea for Popish images; since they are flatly forbidden; and God made the law for us, not for himself.
Read John Trapp on 2 Chronicles 3 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(10) Two cherubims.—1 Kings 6:23-28. They were made of oleaster, plated with gold. Of image work.—Literally, a work of statuary. The Hebrew word meaning “statuary” occurs here only, and looks suspicious. The Vulg. renders opere statuario; the LXX. “a work of logs”; the Syriac “a durable work.” With the last three renderings comp. 1 Kings 6:23, “wood (or blocks) of oleaster,” a specially hard wood. The rendering of the LXX. suggests that the original reading may have been ma‘asçh ‘ççîm, “woodwork.” And overlaid.—Heb., and they overlaid.
Read Charles John Ellicott on 2 Chronicles 3 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges10–13. The Cherubim 10. of image work] Both the meaning of the phrase and the reading are doubtful; LXX. ἔργονἐκξύλων; 1 Kings 6:23, of olive wood (R.V.). and overlaid] R.V. and they overlaid; but the singular is probably right; LXX. ἐχρύσωσεν: 1 Kings 6:28, and he overlaid.
Read Cambridge on 2 Chronicles 3 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleThe word translated “image work,” or, in the margin, “moveable work,” occurs only in this passage, and has not even a Hebrew derivation.
Read Albert Barnes on 2 Chronicles 3 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
In the Most Holy Place he made two cherubim of sculptured work, and he overlaid them with gold.
In the most holy place he made two cherubim by carving, and they overlaid them with gold.
In the Most Holy Place he made two cherubim of sculptured work, and he overlaid them with gold.
In the most holy place he made two images of cherubim and plated them with gold.
Tyndale line
And in the most holy house he made two cherubims of image work, and overlaid them with gold.
And in the most holy house he made two cherubim of image work; and they overlaid them with gold.
And in the most holy house he made two cherubim of image work; and they overlaid them with gold.
And in the most holy house he made two cherubim of image work, and overlaid them with gold.
And in the house of the most holy place he made two Cherubims wrought like children, and ouerlayd them with golde.
Strictly literal
And in the house of the most holy place he made two cherubim of image work, and they overlaid them with gold.
And he maketh in the most holy house two cherubs, image work, and he overlayeth them with gold;
And he makes two cherubim in the most holy house, image work, and he overlays them with gold;
And he made in the most holy house two cherubim of sculpture work, and they overlaid them with gold.
He made two images of cherubs for the most holy place; craftsmen overlaid them with gold.
From the Latin
He made also in the house of the holy of holies two cherubims of image work: and he overlaid them with gold.
Simplified
He made for the Most Holy Place two wooden cherubim covered with gold.
And in the most holy place he made images of two winged beings, covering them with gold.
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint largely agree in this verse, with ten of the eleven words matching. This agreement highlights the consistency in the description of Solomon's work on the cherubim and their significance in the temple.
וַיַּ֜עַשׂ בְּבֵֽית־ קֹ֤דֶשׁ הַקֳּדָשִׁים֙ כְּרוּבִ֣ים שְׁנַ֔יִם מַעֲשֵׂ֖ה צַעֲצֻעִ֑ים וַיְצַפּ֥וּ אֹתָ֖ם זָהָֽב׃
10 of the 11 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in 2 Chronicles 3:10
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
עָשָׂה (asah) is a Hebrew verb meaning to do or make, encompassing a wide range of actions such as producing, preparing, and observing. It can refer to both concrete and abstract activities, including making offerings and attending to tasks. The verb also has forms indicating passive meanings, such as being made or offered. Notably, the Piel form refers to pressing or squeezing.
עָשָׂה 2622 vb. do, make
Qal 2524
do (1560 t.)
deal with
oft. in phr. do kindness with
abs. act, act with effect
make (670 t.)
produce, yield
prepare, esp. of dressing and cooking food
make offering
attend to, put in order
observe, celebrate, religious festival
acquire property of various kinds
appoint priests
bring about of י׳’s effecting a deliverance
use
spend, pass, days of life
Niph.
97be done
be made, of concr. things
be produced from vine
be prepared, of food
be offered
be observed, passover
be used
Pu. I was made
base
[עָשָׂה] vb. Pi. press, squeeze
base
H6213a עָשָׂה do, make .. . do (1560 + t.)
. deal with
. oft. in phr. do kindness with
. abs. act, act with effect
. . make (670 + t.)
. produce, yield
. prepare, esp. of dressing and cooking food
. make offering
. attend to, put in order
. observe, celebrate, religious festival
. acquire property of various kinds
. appoint priests
. bring about of י׳’s effecting a deliverance
. use
. spend, pass, days of life
. . be done
. . be made, of concr. things
. be produced from vine
. be prepared, of food
. be offered
. be observed, passover
. be used
. I was made
H6213b עָשָׂה Pi. press, squeeze
6213 `asah aw-saw'
a primitive root; to do or make, in the broadest sense and
widest application (as follows):--accomplish, advance,
appoint, apt, be at, become, bear, bestow, bring forth,
bruise, be busy, X certainly, have the charge of, commit, deal
(with), deck, + displease, do, (ready) dress(-ed), (put in)
execute(-ion), exercise, fashion, + feast, (fight-)ing man, +
finish, fit, fly, follow, fulfill, furnish, gather, get, go
about, govern, grant, great, + hinder, hold ((a feast)), X
indeed, + be industrious, + journey, keep, labour, maintain,
make, be meet, observe, be occupied, offer, + officer, pare,
bring (come) to pass, perform, pracise, prepare, procure,
provide, put, requite, X sacrifice, serve, set, shew, X sin,
spend, X surely, take, X thoroughly, trim, X very, + vex, be
(warr-)ior, work(-man), yield, use.
עָשָׂה (a.sah) — to make: do.
: do/perform
1) to do, fashion, accomplish, make
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to do, work, make, produce
1a1a) to do
1a1b) to work
1a1c) to deal (with)
1a1d) to act, act with effect, effect
1a2) to make
1a2a) to make
1a2b) to produce
1a2c) to prepare
1a2d) to make (an offering)
1a2e) to attend to, put in order
1a2f) to observe, celebrate
1a2g) to acquire (property)
1a2h) to appoint, ordain, institute
1a2i) to bring about
1a2j) to use
1a2k) to spend, pass
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to be done
1b2) to be made
1b3) to be produced
1b4) to be offered
1b5) to be observed
1b6) to be used
1c) (Pual) to be made
עָשָׂה (a.sah) — to press.
(Piel) to press, squeeze
עָשָׂה (a.sah) — to make.
: make(OBJECT)
1) to do, fashion, accomplish, make
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to do, work, make, produce
1a1a) to do
1a1b) to work
1a1c) to deal (with)
1a1d) to act, act with effect, effect
1a2) to make
1a2a) to make
1a2b) to produce
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms — Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine singularHc/Vqw3ms
The Hebrew word בַּיִת (*bayith*) means 'house' and encompasses a wide range of meanings, including dwelling, family, and place. It can refer to physical structures, such as homes and temples, as well as metaphorical uses like the body or household affairs. The word is built from the root related to 'between' and appears in various contexts throughout the Old Testament.
בֵּית fem. of בַּיִן, בֵּין prep. between
base
בַּ֫יִת 2034 n.m. house
house
place
receptacle
of house as containing a family
household, family (592 t.)
house, including household affairs
lit. housewards, hence metaph. inwards
מִבַּיִת
adv. on the inside
prep. within
base
H1004a בֵּית fem. of בַּיִן, בֵּין prep. between H1004b בַּ֫יִת house
1004 bayith bah'-yith
probably from 1129 abbreviated; a house (in the greatest
variation of applications, especially family, etc.):--court,
daughter, door, + dungeon, family, + forth of, X great as
would contain, hangings, home(born), (winter)house(-hold),
inside(-ward), palace, place, + prison, + steward, + tablet,
temple, web, + within(-out).
see HEBREW for 01129
בֵּית (bet) — place.
nm
place, origin, between
בַּ֫יִת (ba.yit) — house: home.
: home/temple/building
nm
1) house
1a) house, dwelling habitation
1b) shelter or abode of animals
1c) human bodies (fig.)
1d) of Sheol
1e) of abode of light and darkness
1f) of land of Ephraim
2) place
3) receptacle
4) home, house as containing a family
5) household, family
5a) those belonging to the same household
5b) family of descendants, descendants as organized body
6) household affairs
7) inwards (metaph.)
8) (TWOT) temple
adv
9) on the inside
prep
10) within
בַּ֫יִת (ba.yit) — Beth-(ashbea).
nm
This name is used for a house, habitation
Combined with ash.be.a (אַשְׁבֵּעַ "Ashbea" H0791)
בַּ֫יִת (ba.yit) — Beth (Haggan).
nm
This name is used for a house, habitation
Combined with hag (גַּן "Haggan" H1588)
בַּ֫יִת (ba.yit) — Beth-(togarmah).
nm
This name is used for a house, habitation
Prep | N-ms — Preposition · noun common masculine singular constructHR/Ncmsc
ov:
(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.
OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]
1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.
I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.
For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.
It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.
Lamentations 3:1.
The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.
Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.
That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.
Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…
קֹ֫דֶשׁ (qodesh) refers to the concepts of apartness, sacredness, and holiness. It can denote a sacred place or thing, such as the Most Holy Place or a sanctuary. The term emphasizes the idea of being set apart, whether in relation to God, places, or objects.
קֹ֫דֶשׁ 469 n.m. apartness, sacredness
base
H6944 קֹ֫דֶשׁ apartness, sacredness
6944 qodesh ko'-desh
from 6942; a sacred place or thing; rarely abstract,
sanctity:--consecrated (thing), dedicated (thing), hallowed
(thing), holiness, (X most) holy (X day, portion, thing),
saint, sanctuary.
see HEBREW for 06942
קֹ֫דֶשׁ (qo.desh) — holiness.
1) apartness, holiness, sacredness, separateness
1a) apartness, sacredness, holiness
1a1) of God
1a2) of places
1a3) of things
1b) set-apartness, separateness
קֹ֫דֶשׁ (qo.desh) — Most Holy Place.
This name means apartness, holiness, sacredness
Also named: hagion (ἅγιον "Most Holy Place" G0039H)
קֹ֫דֶשׁ (qo.desh) — (Way of) Holiness.
Combined with de.rekh (דֶּ֫רֶךְ "Way" H1870H)
This name means apartness, holiness, sacredness
קֹ֫דֶשׁ (qo.desh) — Holy Place.
This name means apartness, holiness, sacredness
Also named: hagion (ἅγιον "Holy Place" G0039)
N-ms — NounHNtmsc
ov:
(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.
OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]
1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.
I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.
For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.
It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.
Lamentations 3:1.
The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.
Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.
That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.
Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…
קֹ֫דֶשׁ (qodesh) refers to the concepts of apartness, sacredness, and holiness. It can denote a sacred place or thing, such as the Most Holy Place or a sanctuary. The term emphasizes the idea of being set apart, whether in relation to God, places, or objects.
קֹ֫דֶשׁ 469 n.m. apartness, sacredness
base
H6944 קֹ֫דֶשׁ apartness, sacredness
6944 qodesh ko'-desh
from 6942; a sacred place or thing; rarely abstract,
sanctity:--consecrated (thing), dedicated (thing), hallowed
(thing), holiness, (X most) holy (X day, portion, thing),
saint, sanctuary.
see HEBREW for 06942
קֹ֫דֶשׁ (qo.desh) — holiness.
1) apartness, holiness, sacredness, separateness
1a) apartness, sacredness, holiness
1a1) of God
1a2) of places
1a3) of things
1b) set-apartness, separateness
קֹ֫דֶשׁ (qo.desh) — Most Holy Place.
This name means apartness, holiness, sacredness
Also named: hagion (ἅγιον "Most Holy Place" G0039H)
קֹ֫דֶשׁ (qo.desh) — (Way of) Holiness.
Combined with de.rekh (דֶּ֫רֶךְ "Way" H1870H)
This name means apartness, holiness, sacredness
קֹ֫דֶשׁ (qo.desh) — Holy Place.
This name means apartness, holiness, sacredness
Also named: hagion (ἅγιον "Holy Place" G0039)
HTd/Ntmpa — Particle · nounHTd/Ntmpa
כְּרוּב (kerub) refers to a cherub, an angelic being associated with guarding the Garden of Eden, flanking God's throne, and appearing as an image over the Ark of the Covenant. The term is of uncertain derivation and is used in both singular and plural forms (cherubim). Various texts, including Ezekiel, describe their roles and appearances.
כְּרוּב 91 n.m. cherub
the living chariot of the theophanic God
as guards of the garden of Eden
as the throne of Yahweh Sabaoth
P gives an account
K and Ch describe the cherubim of the temple
Ezekiel describes the cherubim
base
H3742 כְּרוּב cherub
3742 kruwb ker-oob'
of uncertain derivation; a cherub or imaginary
figure:--cherub, (plural) cherubims.
כְּרוּב (ke.ruv) — cherub.
1) cherub, cherubim (pl)
1a) an angelic being
1a1) as guardians of Eden
1a2) as flanking God's throne
1a3) as an image form hovering over the Ark of the Covenant
1a4) as the chariot of Jehovah (fig.)
N-mp — Noun common · masculine plural absoluteHNcmpa
→ Eastward of the garden of Eden Ge 3:24
→ In the tabernacle Ex 25:18-20; 37:7-9
→ The ark of the covenant rested beneath the wings of 1Ki 8:6,7; 2Ch 5:7,8; Heb 9:5
→ Figures of, embroidered
On the walls of the tabernacle Ex 26:1; 36:8
And on the curtain Ex 26:31; 36:35
→ In the temple 1Ki 6:23-29; 2Ch 3:10-13
→ Figures of
On the curtain 2Ch 3:14
- Form and appearance of
Eze 1:5-11,13,14
- Animated by the Spirit of God
Eze 1:12,20
- Engaged in accomplishing the purposes of God
Eze 1:15,21; 10:9-11,16,17
- The glory of God exhibited upon
Eze 1:22,26-28; 10:4,18,20
- Sound of their wings was as the voice of God
Eze 1:24; 10:5
- Placed at the entrance of Eden
- OF GOLD
. Formed out of, and at each end of the mercy seat
. Placed over the ark of the covenant
שְׁנַ֫יִם (shnayim) means 'two' and serves as both a cardinal and ordinal number. It can denote 'both,' 'double,' or 'twice,' and is used in various combinations with other numbers. The word is derived as a dual form of שָׁנָה (shanah), which relates to the concept of pairs.
שְׁנַ֫יִם, שְׁתַּיִם 768 n.m. et f. du. two
base
H8147 שְׁנַ֫יִם, שְׁתַּיִם two
8147 shnayim shen-ah'-yim
dual of 8145; feminine shttayim {shet-tah'-yim}; two; also
(as ordinal) twofold:--both, couple, double, second, twain, +
twelfth, + twelve, + twenty (sixscore) thousand, twice, two.
see HEBREW for 08145
שְׁנַ֫יִם (she.na.yim) — two.
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)
Adj — Noun common · both dual absoluteHNcbda
too.
See NUMBER.
מַעֲשֶׂה (ma`aseh) means deed or work, encompassing a range of actions from good to bad, and includes concepts like business, labor, and products made. It can refer to specific achievements, works of God, or even customs. The entries suggest a broad application in various contexts, but do not indicate any significant disagreement among lexicons.
מַעֲשֶׂה 233 n.m. deed, work
base
H4639 מַעֲשֶׂה deed, work
4639 ma`aseh mah-as-eh'
from 6213; an action (good or bad); generally, a transaction;
abstractly, activity; by implication, a product (specifically,
a poem) or (generally) property:--act, art, + bakemeat,
business, deed, do(-ing), labor, thing made, ware of making,
occupation, thing offered, operation, possession, X well,
((handy-, needle-, net-))work(ing, - manship), wrought.
see HEBREW for 06213
מַעֲשֶׂה (ma.a.seh) — deed: work.
: work/product
1) deed, work
1a) deed, thing done, act
1b) work, labour
1c) business, pursuit
1d) undertaking, enterprise
1e) achievement
1f) deeds, works (of deliverance and judgment)
1g) work, thing made
1h) work (of God)
1i) product
מַעֲשֶׂה (ma.a.seh) — deed: justice.
: justice/right/righteousness
1) deed, work
1a) deed, thing done, act
1b) work, labour
1c) business, pursuit
1d) undertaking, enterprise
1e) achievement
1f) deeds, works (of deliverance and judgment)
1g) work, thing made
1h) work (of God)
1i) product
מַעֲשֶׂה (ma.a.seh) — deed: judgement.
: judgement/punishment
1) deed, work
1a) deed, thing done, act
1b) work, labour
1c) business, pursuit
1d) undertaking, enterprise
1e) achievement
1f) deeds, works (of deliverance and judgment)
1g) work, thing made
1h) work (of God)
1i) product
מַעֲשֶׂה (ma.a.seh) — deed: custom.
: custom/manner
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular constructHNcmsc
ov:
(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.
OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]
1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.
I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.
For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.
It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.
Lamentations 3:1.
The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.
Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.
That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.
Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…
The Hebrew word צַעֲצֻעִים (*tsa`tsua`*) refers to sculpted figures or images, derived from a root meaning to bestrew with carvings. It is used in the context of things formed or images, specifically noted in 2 Chronicles 3:10. The entries consistently emphasize its association with sculptural works.
צַעֲצֻעִים n.[m.]pl. things formed, images;—2 Ch 3:10
ref
H6816 צַעֲצֻעִים, צַעְצֻעַ
6816 tsa`tsua` tsah-tsoo'-ah
from an unused root meaning to bestrew with carvings;
sculpture:--image (work).
צַעֲצֻעִים (tsa.tsu.a) — image.
things formed, images, sculpted figures
N-mp — Noun common · masculine plural absoluteHNcmpa
צָפָה (tsaphah) is a Hebrew verb meaning to lay out, overlay, or cover. It can refer to actions like plating or laying over materials, particularly metals. The entries suggest a focus on the physical act of covering or overlaying, with examples including pillars overlaid with gold. There is no significant disagreement among the lexicons.
[צָפָה] 47 vb. lay out, lay over
Qal they lay out the rug!
Pi. overlay, plate
Pu. impure silver laid over a sherd; pillars overlaid with gold.
base
H6823 [צָפָה] lay out, lay over .they lay out the rug!
. overlay, plate
. impure silver laid over a sherd; pillars overlaid with gold.
6823 tsaphah tsaw-faw'
a primitive root (probably identical with 6822 through the
idea of expansion in outlook, transferring to action); to
sheet over (especially with metal):--cover, overlay.
see HEBREW for 06822
צָפָה (tsa.phah) — to overlay.
1) to lay out, lay over, overlay, cover
1a) (Piel) to overlay, plate, stud
1b) (Pual) to be laid over
Conj | V-Piel-ConsecImperf-3mp — Verb · Piel · sequential imperfect third person masculine pluralHc/Vpw3mp
אֵת (eth) is primarily a grammatical marker in Hebrew, indicating the definite direct object of a verb. It is not translated into English and typically precedes nouns that are definite. The word is derived from a demonstrative sense of entity, related to the Hebrew word for 'self.' Its Aramaic equivalent is יָת (yat).
אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite
base
H853 אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite
853 'eth ayth
apparent contracted from 226 in the demonstrative sense of
entity; properly, self (but generally used to point out more
definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or
namely):--(as such unrepresented in English).
see HEBREW for 0226
אֵת (et) — [Obj.].
sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative
Aramaic equivalent: yat (יָת "whom" H3487)
DirObjM | Suff — Particle · suffixHTo/Sp3mp
זָהָב (zahab) means gold and is derived from an unused root that conveys the idea of shimmering. It encompasses various aspects of gold, including its value as a precious metal, its use as a measure of weight, and its figurative brilliance. The term appears in contexts related to wealth, merchandise, and gifts.
זָהָב 385 n.m. gold
= gold-ore, gold in raw state
gold as wealth
gold as spoil of war
gold as merchandise
gold as costly gift
gold as material
gold described by its source
gold defined by var. adj. and pts.
as measure of weight and value
= golden oil, from colour
often named with
the chief vbs. used
base
H2091 זָהָב gold
2091 zahab zaw-hawb'
from an unused root meaning to shimmer; gold, figuratively,
something gold-colored (i.e. yellow), as oil, a clear sky:--
gold(-en), fair weather.
זָהָב (za.hav) — gold.
1) gold
1a) as precious metal
1b) as a measure of weight
1c) of brilliance, splendour (fig.)
Aramaic equivalent: de.hav (דְּהַב "gold" H1722)
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absoluteHNcmsa
gold (zahabh; chrusos):
1. Terms:
No metal has been more frequently mentioned in Old Testament writings than gold, and none has had more terms applied to it. Among these terms the one most used is zahabh. The Arabic equivalent, dhahab, is still the common name for gold throughout Palestine, Syria and Egypt. With zahabh frequently occur other words which, translated, mean "pure" (Ex 25:11), "refined" (1Ch 28:18), "finest" (1Ki 10:18), "beaten" (1Ki 10:17), "Ophir" (Ps 45:9).
Other terms occurring are: paz, "fine gold" (Job 28:17;
Gold
(1.) Heb. zahab, so called from its yellow colour (Ex. 25:11; 1 Chr. 28:18; 2 Chr. 3:5).
(2.) Heb. segor, from its compactness, or as being enclosed or treasured up; thus precious or “fine gold” (1 Kings 6:20; 7:49).
Gold was known from the very earliest times. (Genesis 2:11) It was at first used chiefly for ornaments, etc. (Genesis 24:22) Coined money was not known to the ancients till a comparatively late period; and on the Egyptian tombs gold is represented as being weighed in rings for commercial purposes. Comp. (Genesis 43:21) Gold was extremely abundant in ancient times, (1 Chronicles 22:14; 2 Chronicles 1:15; 9:9; Daniel 3:1; Nahum 2:9) but this did not depreciate its value, because of the enormous quantities consumed by…
A well-known valuable metal, found in many parts of the world, and obtained anciently in Ophir, Job 28:16; Parvaim, 2Ch 3:6; Sheba, and Raamah, Eze 27:22. Job alludes to gold in various forms, Job 22:24 28:15-19. Abraham was rich in it, and female ornaments were early made of it, Ge 13:2 24:22,35. It is spoken of throughout Scripture; and the use of it among and ancient Hebrews, in its native and mixed state, and for the same purposes as at present, was very common. The Ark of the Covenant was overlaid with pure gold; the mercy seat, the vessels and utensils belonging to the tabernacle, and those also of the house of…