2 chronicles 4:5 - It was a handbreadth thick; and its brim was made like the brim of a cup, like the flower of a lily. It received and held three thousand baths.
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What does "2 chronicles 4:5" mean?
This verse describes the "sea," a large bronze basin or laver in Solomon's Temple. Let's break it down:
"It was a handbreadth thick": This refers to the thickness of the bronze from which the sea was cast. A handbreadth is approximately 3-4 inches, suggesting a sturdy construction.
"its brim was made like the brim of a cup, like the flower of a lily": This describes the shape of the sea's rim. It wasn't just a straight edge, but flared outwards and was ornamented to resemble the petals of a lily. This indicates a decorative and possibly symbolic element. The lily, often associated with purity and beauty, might have held religious significance within the temple context.
"It received and held three thousand baths": This indicates the sea's enormous capacity. A "bath" was a unit of liquid measure. Estimations vary, but a bath is generally considered to be around 22-23 liters (or about 5.8-6 gallons). Therefore, three thousand baths would be approximately 66,000-69,000 liters (or 17,400-18,200 gallons). This highlights the sea's immense size and importance for temple rituals.
In Summary:
The verse describes the "sea" as a large, thick-walled bronze basin with an ornate, lily-shaped rim, capable of holding a vast quantity of water. The size suggests its significance in ritual purification or cleansing activities within the temple. The ornate design shows attention to aesthetics and symbolic meaning in the temple architecture. The sea was used by the priests for washing and purification before offering sacrifices.
2 chronicles 4:5 - It was a handbreadth thick; and its brim was made like the brim of a cup, like the flower of a lily. It received and held three thousand baths.
What does "2 chronicles 4:5" mean?
This verse describes the "sea," a large bronze basin or laver in Solomon's Temple. Let's break it down:
"It was a handbreadth thick": This refers to the thickness of the bronze from which the sea was cast. A handbreadth is approximately 3-4 inches, suggesting a sturdy construction.
"its brim was made like the brim of a cup, like the flower of a lily": This describes the shape of the sea's rim. It wasn't just a straight edge, but flared outwards and was ornamented to resemble the petals of a lily. This indicates a decorative and possibly symbolic element. The lily, often associated with purity and beauty, might have held religious significance within the temple context.
"It received and held three thousand baths": This indicates the sea's enormous capacity. A "bath" was a unit of liquid measure. Estimations vary, but a bath is generally considered to be around 22-23 liters (or about 5.8-6 gallons). Therefore, three thousand baths would be approximately 66,000-69,000 liters (or 17,400-18,200 gallons). This highlights the sea's immense size and importance for temple rituals.
In Summary:
The verse describes the "sea" as a large, thick-walled bronze basin with an ornate, lily-shaped rim, capable of holding a vast quantity of water. The size suggests its significance in ritual purification or cleansing activities within the temple. The ornate design shows attention to aesthetics and symbolic meaning in the temple architecture. The sea was used by the priests for washing and purification before offering sacrifices.