### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **châshuq**, represented by `{{H2838}}`, refers to something attached, specifically a **fence-rail or rod connecting the posts or pillars; fillet**. Derived from the past participle of `{{H2836}}`, it is a precise architectural term. It appears **8 times** across **8 unique verses** in the Bible, exclusively within the book of Exodus.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In the biblical narrative, `{{H2838}}` is used solely in the detailed instructions for constructing the Tabernacle's outer court. These "fillets" served as connecting rods for the pillars `{{H5982}}` that supported the hangings of the court. The specifications are meticulous, noting that the fillets for the pillars were to be made of silver `{{H3701}}`, as detailed in the instructions for the south, north, and west sides of the court ([[Exodus 27:10-11]], [[Exodus 38:12]]). In one instance, concerning the five pillars at the entrance, the fillets and their chapiters `{{H7218}}` were overlaid with gold [[Exodus 36:38]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words help clarify the context and meaning of `{{H2838}}`:
* `{{H2836}}` **châshaq** (to cling, i.e. join, (figuratively) to love, delight in): This is the primitive root from which `{{H2838}}` is derived. It is used both for the physical act of creating the fillets [[Exodus 38:17]] and figuratively to describe the LORD's delight in or love for His people [[Deuteronomy 10:15]].
* `{{H5982}}` **ʻammûwd** (pillar): The fillets `{{H2838}}` are always mentioned as components of these pillars. The term is central to the Tabernacle's structure and is also used symbolically, such as the "pillar of a cloud" that guided Israel [[Exodus 13:21]].
* `{{H3701}}` **keçeph** (silver; by implication, money): This is the primary material used for the fillets, as stated in verses like [[Exodus 38:10]]. Beyond its use in construction, silver is often associated with value, price, and the process of refining [[Malachi 3:3]].
### Theological Significance
While a structural term, `{{H2838}}` carries thematic weight derived from its context within the Tabernacle's design.
* **Connection and Relationship:** The fillets physically join the pillars of the court, creating a unified structure. This physical "attaching" echoes the meaning of its root verb, `{{H2836}}`, which describes God setting His love upon His people, suggesting a parallel between the unified dwelling place and God's relational bond [[Deuteronomy 7:7]].
* **Purity and Value:** The consistent specification of the fillets as being made of silver `{{H3701}}` assigns a high value and sense of purity to these connecting elements. This choice of material elevates their function beyond mere utility, imbuing the structure with preciousness [[Exodus 38:17]].
* **Divine Order:** The detailed and repeated commands regarding the fillets underscore the precision and completeness of God's instructions for His sacred space. Every component, no matter how small, is part of a divinely ordered plan [[Exodus 27:11]].
### Summary
In summary, `{{H2838}}` is more than just an architectural footnote. As the "fillet" or connecting rod of the Tabernacle court, it plays a specific structural role. Its significance is deepened by its linguistic root `{{H2836}}`, which links the physical act of joining to the divine concepts of love and delight, and by its material composition of silver `{{H3701}}`, which denotes value and purity. The word illustrates how even the smallest details in the biblical text contribute to a larger theological vision of divine order and relationship.
TRV