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Exodus 38:19 — Word Study

Depth

WLCוְעַמֻּֽדֵיהֶם֙ אַרְבָּעָ֔ה וְאַדְנֵיהֶ֥ם אַרְבָּעָ֖ה נְחֹ֑שֶׁת וָוֵיהֶ֣ם כֶּ֔סֶף וְצִפּ֧וּי רָאשֵׁיהֶ֛ם וַחֲשֻׁקֵיהֶ֖ם כָּֽסֶף׃

BSAwith fourʼarbaʻ [a simple counting number] postsʻammûwd [pillars, columns] and fourʼarbaʻ bronzenᵉchôsheth [copper or something made of it] basesʼeden [sockets, strong foundations] Their hooksvâv [pegs or nails] were silverkeçeph [silver; money, a price] as well as the bandschâshuq [rings or rods connecting posts] and the platingtsippûwy [overlaying with metal] of their topsrôʼsh [heads or chiefs]

Word
Listen & take awayExodus 38
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 19 is in this chapter.
Hebrew ↓ Download MP3 The Masoretic text of this chapter, read aloud. Read by Abraham Shmuelof, courtesy of Audio Scriptures International. Chapter divisions by the Academy of Ancient Languages..
Say the word Each Hebrew word carries its transliteration (Ka.sef) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Exodus 38:19quick helps
In a sentenceThe verse describes the construction details of the tabernacle's posts and their bases.
What is being builtThe tabernacle, a significant structure in Israelite worship.
Materials usedBronze for the bases and silver for the hooks and connections.
The hard wordעַמּוּד
Take awayThe tabernacle's structure is built with strength and beauty.
4 commentators on this verse Jamieson, Ellicott, Cambridge, Whedon & more — read them › clause The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
How rare are these words?in the Old Testament

Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.

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 — Exodus 38:19

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 Tabernaclegenerated

18The curtain for the entrance to the courtyard was embroidered with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and finely spun linen. It was twenty cubits long and, like the curtains of the courtyard, five cubits high,
19with four posts and four bronze bases. Their hooks were silver, as well as the bands and the plating of their tops.
20All the tent pegs for the tabernacle and for the surrounding courtyard were bronze.
21This is the inventory for the tabernacle, the tabernacle of the Testimony, as recorded at Moses’ command by the Levites under the direction of Ithamar son of Aaron the priest.

Exodus 38:19 details the materials and structure of the tabernacle, emphasizing the importance of each component in the overall design. The tabernacle served as a sacred space for worship and a dwelling place for God among His people, as outlined in the preceding chapters of Exodus.


Cross References


The Key Word עַמּוּד, ve.'a.mu.dei.Hemgenerated

The word עַמּוּד (ammuwd) means 'pillar' or 'column,' referring to a vertical support structure. It can denote both a physical pillar and a platform, indicating strength and stability in construction.

This noun is in the masculine plural form, indicating multiple pillars, which are essential for supporting the structure of the tabernacle. The use of this word highlights the architectural significance of the pillars in maintaining the integrity of the tabernacle.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The verse consists of multiple clauses, each detailing a different aspect of the tabernacle's construction. The finite verb is implied in the context, with each noun phrase describing the components: four posts, four bases, silver hooks, and more.

The structure emphasizes the systematic listing of materials, indicating the careful planning involved in the tabernacle's design. Each noun phrase builds upon the previous one, creating a comprehensive picture of the overall construction.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

In the Septuagint, the word for עַמּוּד is rendered as στῦλοι (stylos), which also means 'pillars.' This choice maintains the architectural connotation of strength and support.

The Greek term used here aligns with the Hebrew meaning but may carry a slightly broader implication in the context of Greek architecture, suggesting a more decorative or monumental aspect.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Exodus 38:19 describes the construction of the tabernacle, noting that there were four posts and four bronze bases. The hooks for the posts were made of silver, along with the bands and the plating at the tops.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What is the significance of the materials used?

The materials signify both strength and beauty, with bronze being sturdy for the bases and silver representing value for the hooks.

Why are there four posts?

The number four may symbolize completeness in the context of the tabernacle's design, ensuring stability and balance.

What role do the hooks play?

The hooks connect the posts and support the structure of the tabernacle, ensuring that everything remains secure.

How does this verse relate to the overall structure of the tabernacle?

This verse provides essential details about the foundational elements of the tabernacle, highlighting the careful planning and craftsmanship involved in its construction.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. How does understanding the materials used in the tabernacle enhance your appreciation of its significance?
  2. What can the number of posts and bases teach us about the importance of structure in our own lives?
  3. In what ways do you see the concept of strength and support reflected in your community or relationships?
  4. How can we apply the principles of careful planning and craftsmanship seen in the tabernacle to our own projects or endeavors?

Commentators on this verse — 4 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Exodus 38:19 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

And he made the court: on the south side southward the hangings of the court were of fine twined linen, an hundred cubits: The court.

Read Robert Jamieson on Exodus 38 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(9-20) The construction of the court follows upon that of the furniture which it contained. The passage runs parallel with Exodus 27:9-19.

Read Charles John Ellicott on Exodus 38 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

9–20 (Exodus 27:9-19). The Court of the Tent of Meeting. In vv. 16–19 the text (Exodus 27:16-18) is reproduced with greater freedom than usual.

Read Cambridge on Exodus 38 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

THE ALTAR OF BURNT , Exodus 38:1-7. See notes on Exodus 27:1-7. THE LAVER, Exodus 38:8. See notes on Exodus 30:17-21. THE COURT OF THE , Exodus 38:9-20. See notes on Exodus 27:9-19.

Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Exodus 38 →

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

BSBBerean Standard Bible2020

with four posts and four bronze bases. Their hooks were silver, as well as the bands and the plating of their tops.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

Their pillars were four, and their sockets four, of bronze; their hooks of silver, and the overlaying of their capitals, and their fillets, of silver.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

with four posts and four bronze bases. Their hooks were silver, as well as the bands and the plating of their tops.

NETBNew English Translation2006

with four posts and their four bronze bases. Their hooks and their bands were silver, and their tops were overlaid with silver.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

And their pillars were four, and their sockets of brass four; their hooks of silver, and the overlaying of their chapiters and their fillets of silver.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

And their pillars were four, and their sockets four, of brass; their hooks of silver, and the overlaying of their capitals, and their fillets, of silver.

RVARevised Version, American1894

And their pillars were four, and their sockets four, of brass; their hooks of silver, and the overlaying of their chapiters and their fillets of silver.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

And their pillars were four, and their sockets of brass four; their hooks of silver, and the overlaying of their capitals and their fillets of silver.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

And their pillars were foure with their foure sockets of brasse: their hookes of siluer, and the couering of their chapiters, and their filets of siluer.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

and their pillars four, and their bases four, of copper; their hooks of silver, and the overlaying of their capitals and their connecting-rods of silver.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

and their pillars [are] four, and their sockets of brass four, their pegs [are] of silver, and the overlaying of their tops and their fillets [are] of silver;

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

and their pillars [are] four, and their sockets of bronze four, their pegs [are] of silver, and the overlaying of their tops and their fillets [are] of silver;

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

And the pillars for the same were four, with their four sockets of copper; their hooks were of silver, and the overlaying of their tops and their fillets, of silver.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

It had four bronze bases and silver hooks. The covering for their tops and its rods were made of silver.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

And the pillars in the entry were four with sockets of brass, and their heads and gravings of silver.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

It was held up by four posts and four stands. The posts had silver hooks, tops, and bands.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

There were four pillars with their bases, all of brass, the hooks being of silver, and their tops and their bands being covered with silver.

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.

וְandclausenoun phrase · subjectעַמֻּֽדֵיpillarsהֶם֙theirpredicateאַרְבָּעָ֔ה[were].fourוְandclausenoun phrase · subjectאַדְנֵיbasesהֶ֥םtheirpredicateאַרְבָּעָ֖הfouradverbialנְחֹ֑שֶׁת[were].bronzeclausenoun phrase · subjectוָוֵיhooksהֶ֣םtheirpredicateכֶּ֔סֶף[were].silverוְandclausenoun phrase · subjectnoun phraseצִפּ֧וּיthe.platingnoun phraseרָאשֵׁיtheir.topsהֶ֛םtheirוַandnoun phraseחֲשֻׁקֵיbandsהֶ֖םtheirpredicateכָּֽסֶף[were].silver

Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.


The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran

The Masoretic Text is supported by the Septuagint, which matches nine of the eleven words. The Samaritan Pentateuch differs by using עמודיהם (their pillars) instead of עַמֻּֽדֵיהֶם (their posts). The Dead Sea Scrolls show partial restoration, indicating some damage but aligning closely with the Masoretic Text.

Masoretic TextLeningrad Codex, c. AD 1008 — the text this page is built on

וְעַמֻּֽדֵיהֶם֙ אַרְבָּעָ֔ה וְאַדְנֵיהֶ֥ם אַרְבָּעָ֖ה נְחֹ֑שֶׁת וָוֵיהֶ֣ם כֶּ֔סֶף וְצִפּ֧וּי רָאשֵׁיהֶ֛ם וַחֲשֻׁקֵיהֶ֖ם כָּֽסֶף׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
וְעַמֻּֽדֵיהֶם֙στῦλοιאַרְבָּעָ֔הτέσσαρεςוְאַדְנֵיהֶ֥םκαὶאַרְבָּעָ֖הτέσσαρεςנְחֹ֑שֶׁתξαλκαῖוָוֵיהֶ֣םἀγκύλαιכֶּ֔סֶףἀργυραῖוְצִפּ֧וּיκαὶכָּֽסֶף׃ἀργυρίῳ

9 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.

Samaritan Pentateuchthe Torah as the Samaritan community kept it

עמודיהם ארבעה ואדניהם ארבעה נחשׁת וויהם כסף וצפוי ראשׁיהם וחשׁקיהם כסף

1 word differs from the Masoretic Text: עמודיהם (pillar)

Dead Sea Scrolls — 4Q17a copy a thousand years older than the Leningrad Codex

[ועמודי׳הם] [ארבעה] [ואדני׳הם] [ארבעה] [נחושת] ווי׳הם [כסף] [וצפוי] [ראשי׳הם] [וחשקי׳הם] [כסף]

nothing on the leather here — 1 partly restored, 10 supplied entire by an editor.

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.

Exodus 38:19עַמּוּדand pillarsand pillars theעַמּוּדאַרְבַּעfourfourאַרְבַּעאֶ֫דֶןand bases tand bases theirאֶ֫דֶןאַרְבַּעfourfourאַרְבַּענְחֹ֫שֶׁת[were] bron[were] bronzeנְחֹ֫שֶׁתוָוhooks theirhooks theirוָוכֶּ֫סֶף[were] silv[were] silverכֶּ֫סֶףצִפּוּיand [the] oand [the] overlצִפּוּירֹאשׁtops theirtops theirרֹאשׁחָשׁוּקand bands tand bands theirחָשׁוּקכֶּ֫סֶף[were] silv[were] silverכֶּ֫סֶףרָבַעto squareto squareרָבַעכָּסַףto longto longכָּסַףעָמַדto stand: to stand: standעָמַדצָפָהto overlayto overlayצָפָהאָדוֹןlordlordאָדוֹןנְחוּשָׁהbronzebronzeנְחוּשָׁהחָשַׁקto desireto desireחָשַׁקאֶ֫דֶןsocketsocketאֶ֫דֶןעָשָׂרtentenעָשָׂרחָשׁוּקringringחָשׁוּקשֶׁ֫קֶלshekelshekelשֶׁ֫קֶלכִּכָּרtalenttalentכִּכָּרעָנָןcloudcloudעָנָןקֶ֫רֶשׁboardboardקֶ֫רֶשׁבַּרְזֶלironironבַּרְזֶלכֶּ֫סֶףsilver: mosilver: moneyכֶּ֫סֶףעֲטָרָהcrowncrownעֲטָרָהנָשִׂיאleaderleaderנָשִׂיא
meets it a little oftener than chancemeets it far oftener than chancebuilt from the same roottwo words of the verse share ita word of this versea related word

Lexicons — every word in Exodus 38:19

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.

and pillars their four and bases their four [were] bronze hooks their [were] silver and [the] overlay of tops their and bands their [were] silver
וְעַמֻּֽדֵיהֶם֙ve.'a.mu.dei.Hem and pillars their H5982 Conjunction · noun common masculine plural construct · suffix
111× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, this Hebrew word refers to a pillar or column, often used as a symbol of strength or support. It can also describe a platform or a stand, like a column of smoke rising into the air. The word is used in various contexts, including architecture and nature.
Amplified meaning
pillars, columns
Tyndale gloss
pillar
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

עַמּוּד (ammuwd) means 'pillar' or 'column,' referring to a vertical support structure. It can denote both a physical pillar and a platform. The word is derived from a root meaning 'to stand.' The entries consistently emphasize its architectural connotation, with no significant disagreement noted among the lexicons.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עַמּוּד, עַמֻּד 110 n.m. pillar, column

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5982 עַמּוּד, עַמֻּד pillar, column

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5982 `ammuwd am-mood'

or ammud {am-mood'}; from 5975; a column (as standing); also

a stand, i.e. platform:--X apiece, pillar.

see HEBREW for 05975

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עַמּוּד (am.mud) — pillar.

1) pillar, column

1a) pillar

1b) column, upright

1c) column (of smoke)

עַמּוּד (am.mud) — (Hall of) Pillars.

Combined with u.lam (אוּלָם "Hall" H0197)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | N-mp | Suff — Conjunction · noun common masculine plural construct · suffix
HC/Ncmpc/Sp3mp
and pillars their four and bases their four [were] bronze hooks their [were] silver and [the] overlay of tops their and bands their [were] silver
אַרְבָּעָ֔ה'ar.ba.'Ah four H702 Adj
318× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The number four is a simple counting number in Hebrew, used to describe quantities of things, such as people, objects, or groups.
Amplified meaning
a simple counting number
Tyndale gloss
four
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אַרְבַּע (arba) means 'four' in Hebrew. It is a masculine noun derived from the root associated with the number four. The entries consistently affirm this meaning without any significant disagreement among lexicons.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אַרְבַּע, אַרְבָּעָה four

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H702 אַרְבַּע, אַרְבָּעָה four

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

702 'arba` ar-bah'

masculine oarbaah {ar-baw-aw'}; from 7251; four:--four.

see HEBREW for 07251

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אַרְבַּע (ar.ba) — four.

four

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Adj — Adj
HAcbsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

for ('arba`; tessares): "Four" (cardinal number) was a sacred and complete number with the Hebrews, as well as with several other peoples. It occurs very frequently in the Old Testament and the New Testament.

(1) It indicates completeness. We have the four rivers of Paradise (Ge 2:10); the four winds of heaven (Eze 37:9; Da 7:2; 8:8; 11:4; Zec 6:5, the Revised Version, margin "spirits"; /APC 2Esdras 13:5); "the four winds" (Mt 24:31; Mr 13:27); "the four corners of the earth" (Isa 11:12;

and pillars their four and bases their four [were] bronze hooks their [were] silver and [the] overlay of tops their and bands their [were] silver
וְאַדְנֵיהֶ֥םve.'ad.nei.Hem and bases their H134 Conjunction · noun common masculine plural construct · suffix
57× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Eden means a strong foundation or base, like a pedestal or socket. It is used to describe the earth's foundation and the bases of the tabernacle. The word signifies a firm and strong base.
Amplified meaning
sockets, strong foundations
Tyndale gloss
socket
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אֶ֫דֶן (eden) refers to a base or pedestal, indicating a strong foundation for structures like buildings or columns. It encompasses meanings such as sockets for tabernacle pillars and pedestals of gold. The word is linked to strength, as seen in its connection to another Hebrew term. It appears in contexts like Exodus 26:19.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[אֶ֫דֶן] 57 n.m. Ex 26:19 base, pedestal

pedestals of fine gold

pedestals of the earth on wh. its pillars were placed

(metal) pedestals, bases, or sockets in wh. tenons of planks & pillars of tabernacle were set up; two for each plank & one for each pillar

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H134 [אֶ֫דֶן] base, pedestal

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

134 'eden eh'-den

from the same as 113 (in the sense of strength); a basis (of

a building, a column, etc.):--foundation, socket.

see HEBREW for 0113

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֶ֫דֶן (e.den) — socket.

1) base, pedestal, socket (strong, firm)

1a) pedestals of gold on which marble pillars were set

1b) pedestals of the earth, foundation of the earth

1c) pedestals, bases, or sockets on which tabernacle stood

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | N-mp | Suff — Conjunction · noun common masculine plural construct · suffix
HC/Ncmpc/Sp3mp
and pillars their four and bases their four [were] bronze hooks their [were] silver and [the] overlay of tops their and bands their [were] silver
אַרְבָּעָ֖ה'ar.ba.'Ah four H702 Adj
318× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The number four is a simple counting number in Hebrew, used to describe quantities of things, such as people, objects, or groups.
Tyndale gloss
four
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אַרְבַּע (arba) means 'four' in Hebrew. It is a masculine noun derived from the root associated with the number four. The entries consistently affirm this meaning without any significant disagreement among lexicons.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אַרְבַּע, אַרְבָּעָה four

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H702 אַרְבַּע, אַרְבָּעָה four

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

702 'arba` ar-bah'

masculine oarbaah {ar-baw-aw'}; from 7251; four:--four.

see HEBREW for 07251

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אַרְבַּע (ar.ba) — four.

four

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Adj — Adj
HAcbsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

for ('arba`; tessares): "Four" (cardinal number) was a sacred and complete number with the Hebrews, as well as with several other peoples. It occurs very frequently in the Old Testament and the New Testament.

(1) It indicates completeness. We have the four rivers of Paradise (Ge 2:10); the four winds of heaven (Eze 37:9; Da 7:2; 8:8; 11:4; Zec 6:5, the Revised Version, margin "spirits"; /APC 2Esdras 13:5); "the four winds" (Mt 24:31; Mr 13:27); "the four corners of the earth" (Isa 11:12;

and pillars their four and bases their four [were] bronze hooks their [were] silver and [the] overlay of tops their and bands their [were] silver
נְחֹ֑שֶׁתne.Cho.shet [were] bronze H5178 Noun common · feminine singular absolute
140× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word refers to copper or something made of it, like a coin or chain. It can also symbolize something base or impure, as in lust or filthiness. It appears in various KJV translations, including brasen and brass.
Amplified meaning
copper or something made of it
Tyndale gloss
bronze
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

נְחֹ֫שֶׁת (nechosheth) refers to copper or bronze, often indicating items made from these metals, such as fetters. It is noted for being less valuable than gold but more than wood. Additionally, it can figuratively represent a harsh sky or, in specific contexts, suggest meanings related to lust or harlotry, as seen in Ezekiel 16:36.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

נְחֹ֫שֶׁת 137 n.m. copper, bronze

copper

fetters of copper or bronze

as less in value than gold but more than wood

fig. of pitiless sky

base

[נְחֹ֫שֶׁת] n.[f.] Ez 16:36 where context favours mng. lust, harlotry, or specif. sens. obscoen.

ref

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5178a נְחֹ֫שֶׁת copper, bronze . copper

. fetters of copper or bronze

. as less in value than gold but more than wood

. fig. of pitiless sky

H5178b נְחֹ֫שֶׁת where context favours mng. lust, harlotry, or specif. sens. obscoen.

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5178 nchosheth nekh-o'-sheth

for 5154; copper, hence, something made of that metal, i.e.

coin, a fetter; figuratively, base (as compared with gold or

silver):--brasen, brass, chain, copper, fetter (of brass),

filthiness, steel.

see HEBREW for 05154

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

נְחֹ֫שֶׁת (ne.cho.shet) — bronze.

1) copper, bronze

1a) copper (ore), bronze (as copper alloy)

1b) fetters (of copper or bronze)

1c) copper (as value)

נְחֹ֫שֶׁת (ne.cho.shet) — lust.

lust, harlotry

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-fs — Noun common · feminine singular absolute
HNcfsa
and pillars their four and bases their four [were] bronze hooks their [were] silver and [the] overlay of tops their and bands their [were] silver
וָוֵיהֶ֣םva.vei.Hem hooks their H2053 Noun common masculine plural construct · suffix
13× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew letter vav means hook, referring to a peg or nail. It is the sixth letter of the Hebrew alphabet. In the Bible, it is often translated as hook.
Amplified meaning
pegs or nails
Tyndale gloss
hook
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word וָו (*vav*) refers to a hook, pin, or peg. It is also the name of the sixth letter of the Hebrew alphabet. The entries consistently emphasize its meaning related to fastening or connecting.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[וָו] n.[m.] hook, pin or peg

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2053 [וָו] hook, pin or peg

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2053 vav vaw

probably a hook (the name of the sixth Heb. letter):--hook.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

וָו (vav) — hook.

hook, peg, nail, pin

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-mp | Suff — Noun common masculine plural construct · suffix
HNcmpc/Sp3mp
and pillars their four and bases their four [were] bronze hooks their [were] silver and [the] overlay of tops their and bands their [were] silver
כֶּ֔סֶףKe.sef [were] silver H3701 Noun common · masculine singular absolute
403× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Silver or money, often referring to payment or wealth, like the silver talents in Matthew 25. It can also describe silver as a valuable metal or ornament.
Amplified meaning
silver; money, a price
Tyndale gloss
silver: money
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

כֶּ֫סֶף (ke.seph) refers to silver and money, derived from a root meaning 'to be pale.' It encompasses various aspects of silver, including its use as a metal, ornament, and a measure of wealth or value. The term appears in contexts related to payment and price, indicating its significance in transactions.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כֶּ֫סֶף 402 n.m. silver, money

= silver ore, raw silver

silver as bright, shining

silver, as wealth

silver as spoil of war

silver as merchandise

silver as costly gift

silver as material

silver as measure of weight and value

among vbs. and phr.

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3701 כֶּ֫סֶף silver, money

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3701 keceph keh'-sef

from 3700; silver (from its pale color); by implication,

money:--money, price, silver(-ling).

see HEBREW for 03700

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

כֶּ֫סֶף (ke.seph) — silver: money.

: money/payment/silver

1) silver, money

1a) silver

1a1) as metal

1a2) as ornament

1a3) as colour

1b) money, shekels, talents

כֶּ֫סֶף (ke.seph) — silver: price.

: price

1) silver, money

1a) silver

1a1) as metal

1a2) as ornament

1a3) as colour

1b) money, shekels, talents

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absolute
HNcmsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

sil'-ver (keceph; argurion, arguros): Silver was known in the earliest historic times. Specimens of early Egyptian and Babylonian silver work testify to the skill of the ancient silversmiths. In Palestine, silver objects have been found antedating the occupation of the land by the Hebrews. This metal was used for making all kinds of ornamental objects. In the mound of Gezer were found bowls, vases, ladles, hairpins, rings and bracelets of silver. The rings and settings for scarabs or seals were commonly of this metal. The first mention of silver in the Bible is in Ge 13:2, where it says that Abraham was rich in cattle, in silver and gold. At that time it was commonly used in exchange in the form of bars or other shapes. Coins of that metal were of a much later date (Ge 20:16

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Silver

Used for a great variety of purposes, as may be judged from the frequent references to it in Scripture. It first appears in commerce in Gen. 13:2; 23:15, 16. It was largely employed for making vessels for the sanctuary in the wilderness (Ex. 26:19; 27:17; Num. 7:13, 19; 10:2). There is no record of its having been found in Syria or Palestine. It was brought in large quantities by foreign merchants from abroad, from Spain and India and other countries probably.

Smith's Bible Dictionary

In very early times silver was used for ornaments, (Genesis 24:53) and for vessels of various kinds. Images for idolatrous worship were made of silver or overlaid with it, (Exodus 20:23; Hosea 13:2); Habb 2:19 Bar. 6:39, and the manufacture of silver shrines for Diana was a trade in Ephesus. (Acts 19:24) But its chief use was as a medium of exchange, and throughout the Old Testament we find "silver" used for money, like the French argent . Silver was brought to Solomon from Arabia, (2 Chronicles 9:14) and from Tarshish, (2 Chronicles 9:21) which supplied the markets…

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

One of the precious metals and the one most commonly used as coin among all nations. It is first mentioned in Scripture in the history of Abraham, Ge 13:2 20:16 23:16, and was used in constricting the tabernacle, Ex 26:19,32, and afterwards the temple, 1Ch 29:4. In employing it as a medium of trade, the ancient Hebrews weighed it out, instead of having coins. In the times of the New Testament there were coins. See SHEKEL, and MONEY.

and pillars their four and bases their four [were] bronze hooks their [were] silver and [the] overlay of tops their and bands their [were] silver
וְצִפּ֧וּיve.tzi.Pui and [the] overlay of H6826 Conjunction · noun common masculine singular construct
5× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word refers to covering or overlaying something with metal, like plating. It is used to describe a process of adding a metal layer to an object.
Amplified meaning
overlaying with metal
Tyndale gloss
plating
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

צִפּוּי (tsippuwy) refers to metal plating or encasement, derived from the root word for covering. The entries consistently define it as a form of overlaying with metal, with no significant disagreement among the lexicons.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

צִפּוּי n.[m.] metal plating

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6826 צִפּוּי metal plating

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6826 tsippuwy tsip-poo'-ee

from 6823; encasement (with metal):--covering, overlaying.

see HEBREW for 06823

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

צִפּוּי (tsip.puy) — plating.

plating (of metal), metal plating

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | N-ms — Conjunction · noun common masculine singular construct
HC/Ncmsc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

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.

English usagewhat the translators’ English meant
Webster's Dictionary (1828), Webster's Unabridged (1913), Webster's Dictionary (1806)

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…

and pillars their four and bases their four [were] bronze hooks their [were] silver and [the] overlay of tops their and bands their [were] silver
רָאשֵׁיהֶ֛םra.shei.Hem tops their H7218 Noun common masculine plural construct · suffix
600× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means chief or prince, and is used to describe leaders in the Bible, such as in the book of 1 Samuel. It signifies a position of authority and importance.
Amplified meaning
heads or chiefs
Tyndale gloss
head
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

רֹאשׁ (ro'sh) means 'head' and encompasses various meanings related to position and rank. It can refer to the head of a person or animal, the top of a mountain, or a chief in various contexts, such as a city or nation. The word also signifies beginnings and sums, appearing in phrases related to enumeration. Additionally, it serves as a proper noun for 'Rosh,' a title for a chief or prince.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

רֹאשׁ 599 n.m.

(c. 230 t.) head, of human being

head, of animals

top (88 t.)

height, of stars

head = chief (man)

= chief (city)

chief nation

= chief (place, position)

= chief priest

= head of a family

head = front, leader's place

of time, beginning, of night watch

of things, river-heads

chief, choicest, best, of spices

head = division of army, company, band

= sum, esp. in phr. take sum of, enumerate

other phr.

base

רֹאשׁ n.pr.gent. Rôsh

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7218a רֹאשׁ . . (c. 230 t.) head, of human being

. head, of animals

. . top (88 t.)

. height, of stars

. . head = chief (man)

. = chief (city)

. chief nation

. = chief (place, position)

. = chief priest

. = head of a family

. . head = front, leader's place

. of time, beginning, of night watch

. of things, river-heads

. chief, choicest, best, of spices

. head = division of army, company, band

. = sum, esp. in phr. take sum of, enumerate

. other phr.

H7218b רֹאשׁ n. pr. gent. Rôsh

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7218 ro'sh roshe

from an unused root apparently meaning to shake; the head (as

most easily shaken), whether literal or figurative (in many

applications, of place, time, rank, itc.):--band, beginning,

captain, chapiter, chief(-est place, man, things), company,

end, X every (man), excellent, first, forefront, ((be-))head,

height, (on) high(-est part, (priest)), X lead, X poor,

principal, ruler, sum, top.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

רֹאשׁ (rosh) — head.

: head

1) head, top, summit, upper part, chief, total, sum, height, front, beginning

1a) head (of man, animals)

1b) top, tip (of mountain)

1c) height (of stars)

1d) chief, head (of man, city, nation, place, family, priest)

1e) head, front, beginning

1f) chief, choicest, best

1g) head, division, company, band

1h) sum

רֹאשׁ (rosh) — prince.

Rosh, a tite for a chief or prince

רֹאשׁ (rosh) — head: leader.

: leader

1) head, top, summit, upper part, chief, total, sum, height, front, beginning

1a) head (of man, animals)

1b) top, tip (of mountain)

1c) height (of stars)

1d) chief, head (of man, city, nation, place, family, priest)

1e) head, front, beginning

1f) chief, choicest, best

1g) head, division, company, band

1h) sum

רֹאשׁ (rosh) — head: top.

: top/best

1) head, top, summit, upper part, chief, total, sum, height, front, beginning

1a) head (of man, animals)

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-mp | Suff — Noun common masculine plural construct · suffix
HNcmpc/Sp3mp
and pillars their four and bases their four [were] bronze hooks their [were] silver and [the] overlay of tops their and bands their [were] silver
וַחֲשֻׁקֵיהֶ֖םva.cha.shu.kei.Hem and bands their H2838 Conjunction · noun common masculine plural construct · suffix
8× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word refers to a ring or rod that connects posts or pillars, often used in the context of the tabernacle. It describes the fillets or binders that hold the structure together, providing stability and support.
Amplified meaning
rings or rods connecting posts
Tyndale gloss
ring
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

חָשׁוּק (chashuq) refers to a fillet or ring that binds or clasps a pillar, particularly in the context of the tabernacle. It is derived from the past participle of another root, indicating something that is attached or connected, such as a fence-rail or rod. The term is specifically associated with the structural elements of the tabernacle.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[חָשׁוּק] n.[m.] fillet or ring clasping (binding) a pillar of the tabernacle

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2838 [חָשׁוּק] fillet or ring clasping (binding) a pillar of the tabernacle

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2838 chashuq khaw-shook'

or chashuwq {khaw-shook'}; past participle of 2836; attached,

i.e. a fence-rail or rod connecting the posts or

pillars:--fillet.

see HEBREW for 02836

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

חָשׁוּק (cha.shuq) — ring.

1) fillets, binders

1a) rings clasping a pillar of the tabernacle or silver rods between the pillars

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | N-mp | Suff — Conjunction · noun common masculine plural construct · suffix
HC/Ncmpc/Sp3mp
and pillars their four and bases their four [were] bronze hooks their [were] silver and [the] overlay of tops their and bands their [were] silver
כָּֽסֶף׃Ka.sef [were] silver H3701 Noun common · masculine singular absolute
403× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Silver or money, often referring to payment or wealth, like the silver talents in Matthew 25. It can also describe silver as a valuable metal or ornament.
Tyndale gloss
silver: money
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

כֶּ֫סֶף (ke.seph) refers to silver and money, derived from a root meaning 'to be pale.' It encompasses various aspects of silver, including its use as a metal, ornament, and a measure of wealth or value. The term appears in contexts related to payment and price, indicating its significance in transactions.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כֶּ֫סֶף 402 n.m. silver, money

= silver ore, raw silver

silver as bright, shining

silver, as wealth

silver as spoil of war

silver as merchandise

silver as costly gift

silver as material

silver as measure of weight and value

among vbs. and phr.

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3701 כֶּ֫סֶף silver, money

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3701 keceph keh'-sef

from 3700; silver (from its pale color); by implication,

money:--money, price, silver(-ling).

see HEBREW for 03700

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

כֶּ֫סֶף (ke.seph) — silver: money.

: money/payment/silver

1) silver, money

1a) silver

1a1) as metal

1a2) as ornament

1a3) as colour

1b) money, shekels, talents

כֶּ֫סֶף (ke.seph) — silver: price.

: price

1) silver, money

1a) silver

1a1) as metal

1a2) as ornament

1a3) as colour

1b) money, shekels, talents

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HNcmsa — Noun common · masculine singular absolute
HNcmsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

sil'-ver (keceph; argurion, arguros): Silver was known in the earliest historic times. Specimens of early Egyptian and Babylonian silver work testify to the skill of the ancient silversmiths. In Palestine, silver objects have been found antedating the occupation of the land by the Hebrews. This metal was used for making all kinds of ornamental objects. In the mound of Gezer were found bowls, vases, ladles, hairpins, rings and bracelets of silver. The rings and settings for scarabs or seals were commonly of this metal. The first mention of silver in the Bible is in Ge 13:2, where it says that Abraham was rich in cattle, in silver and gold. At that time it was commonly used in exchange in the form of bars or other shapes. Coins of that metal were of a much later date (Ge 20:16

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Silver

Used for a great variety of purposes, as may be judged from the frequent references to it in Scripture. It first appears in commerce in Gen. 13:2; 23:15, 16. It was largely employed for making vessels for the sanctuary in the wilderness (Ex. 26:19; 27:17; Num. 7:13, 19; 10:2). There is no record of its having been found in Syria or Palestine. It was brought in large quantities by foreign merchants from abroad, from Spain and India and other countries probably.

Smith's Bible Dictionary

In very early times silver was used for ornaments, (Genesis 24:53) and for vessels of various kinds. Images for idolatrous worship were made of silver or overlaid with it, (Exodus 20:23; Hosea 13:2); Habb 2:19 Bar. 6:39, and the manufacture of silver shrines for Diana was a trade in Ephesus. (Acts 19:24) But its chief use was as a medium of exchange, and throughout the Old Testament we find "silver" used for money, like the French argent . Silver was brought to Solomon from Arabia, (2 Chronicles 9:14) and from Tarshish, (2 Chronicles 9:21) which supplied the markets…

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

One of the precious metals and the one most commonly used as coin among all nations. It is first mentioned in Scripture in the history of Abraham, Ge 13:2 20:16 23:16, and was used in constricting the tabernacle, Ex 26:19,32, and afterwards the temple, 1Ch 29:4. In employing it as a medium of trade, the ancient Hebrews weighed it out, instead of having coins. In the times of the New Testament there were coins. See SHEKEL, and MONEY.

Sources on this page. Lexicons and dictionaries imported from the CrossWire SWORD modules — Abbott-Smith, Strong's, Dodson, the Intermediate Liddell-Scott-Jones, Robinson and Packard, Webster and Cawdrey. Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament (Harper, 1889 — Grimm’s Wilke’s Clavis Novi Testamenti, translated, revised and enlarged by Joseph Henry Thayer) is public domain and is set here from the Internet Archive page scan greekenglishlex00grim; it is uncorrected OCR, marked as such on the entry itself, and the Strong’s numbers — which Thayer’s own edition does not carry — were matched by lemma against the other modules on this page. Trench’s Synonyms of the New Testament (Macmillan, 1880) and Moulton and Milligan’s Vocabulary of the Greek Testament (Hodder & Stoughton, 1930, which entered the United States public domain on 1 January 2026) are set from Internet Archive page scans synonymsofnewtes00treniala and vocabularyofgree00mouluoft, and are likewise uncorrected OCR matched to Strong’s numbers by lemma. Trench treats a group of words at once, so the same essay stands on the page of each word it compares. The Mounce Concise Greek-English Dictionary is © 1993 and is used here by permission for non-commercial use, www.teknia.com/greek-dictionary. The full Liddell-Scott-Jones and the Hebrew word data (TAHOT) come from STEPBible.org, CC BY 4.0. Brown-Driver-Briggs is the OpenScriptures digitisation, public domain. Syntax analysis is the Nestle 1904 Lowfat treebank (biblicalhumanities.org); the concordance and morphology are built from the tagged Nestle 1904 text. Septuagint occurrences use the Open Scriptures Septuagint lemma index, derived from CCAT (University of Pennsylvania) and the Rahlfs 1935 dataset by Eliran Wong, CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 — used here on a non-commercial ministry site. Greek of Josephus and Barnabas from the Perseus Digital Library, CC BY-SA 4.0. Commentaries and the Ante-Nicene Fathers are public-domain texts hosted on this site. Everyday Greek from the Duke Databank of Documentary Papyri, CC BY 3.0, with dates and provenance from the Heidelberger Gesamtverzeichnis. Philo and the Apostolic Fathers from Open Greek and Latin (First1KGreek), CC BY-SA 4.0. The apparatus and the fifth Greek column are the SBL Greek New Testament, © 2010 SBL and Logos Bible Software, CC BY 4.0. The Latin is the Clementine Vulgate (public domain); the Syriac New Testament is the ETCBC edition (MIT licence). The Hebrew behind the Greek is computed here from the Septuagint index and TAHOT, not taken from any aligned edition. The translation spread and the per-word edition marks come from the Translators Amalgamated Greek NT (STEPBible, CC BY 4.0); clause roles from the Nestle 1904 Lowfat treebank (CC BY-SA 4.0); place identifications and their confidence from OpenBible.info Bible Geocoding (CC BY 4.0), with map tiles © OpenStreetMap contributors. Gospel parallels are computed here from shared uncommon vocabulary, not taken from any printed harmony. Cross references are the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge and the subject headings are Nave’s Topical Bible, both public domain. Works under Creative Commons licences are used unchanged apart from markup removal.

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