or כִּיֹּר; from the same as כּוּר; properly, something round (as excavated or bored), i.e. a chafing-dish forcoals or a caldron forcooking; hence (from similarity of form) a washbowl; also (for the same reason) a pulpit or platform; hearth, laver, pan, scaffold.
Transliteration:kîyôwr
Pronunciation:kee-yore'
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word כִּיּוֹר (kîyôwr), Strong's `{{H3595}}`, derives from the same root as כּוּר (kûr), which relates to a furnace or melting pot, implying something hollowed out or cast. Its core meaning is "something round (as excavated or bored)." From this fundamental sense, its semantic range expands significantly:
1. **Container for Heat/Cooking:**
* A chafing-dish for coals, often translated as "hearth" or "pan" (e.g., [[Zechariah 12:6]]).
* A caldron or pot for cooking, indicating a vessel for boiling or preparing food (e.g., [[1 Samuel 2:14]]).
2. **Washbowl/Basin:**
* A washbowl or basin, primarily known as a "laver" in the Tabernacle and Temple contexts (e.g., [[Exodus 30:18]]). This usage stems from the similarity in form—a round, hollow vessel.
3. **Platform/Pulpit:**
* A "scaffold" or "platform," particularly a raised structure for public address or prayer (e.g., [[2 Chronicles 6:13]]). This extension is also based on a perceived similarity in form, perhaps a rounded or elevated stand.
Thus, kîyôwr encompasses a diverse set of objects, united by their general shape and often their function as containers or elevated structures.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The occurrences of כִּיּוֹר (kîyôwr) in the Hebrew Bible reveal its varied applications:
* **The Laver (most frequent usage):** This kîyôwr is a prominent fixture in the Tabernacle and Temple.
* In the Tabernacle, [[Exodus 30:18-21]] mandates a bronze laver and its stand, placed between the Tent of Meeting and the altar, for Aaron and his sons to wash their hands and feet before ministering. This ritual washing was essential for purity in divine service (e.g., [[Exodus 38:8]], [[Exodus 40:30-32]]).
* In Solomon's Temple, the kîyôwr takes on grander proportions. [[1 Kings 7:23-39]] and [[2 Chronicles 4:2-6]] describe the "Bronze Sea" (a massive laver) and ten smaller lavers, often mounted on wheeled stands. These were used for washing the sacrifices and for the priests' purification, underscoring the scale of Temple operations and the continued emphasis on ceremonial purity.
* **Cooking Vessels/Pots:**
* [[1 Samuel 2:14]] describes the priest's servant using a three-pronged fork to take meat from a kîyôwr (pan or caldron) after it had been boiled, highlighting its use in everyday cooking and sacrificial preparation.
* [[Jeremiah 35:5]] uses kîyôwr to refer to "bowls" or "pots" of wine, set before the Rechabites. This indicates a general container for liquids.
* **Hearth/Chafing-dish:**
* [[Zechariah 12:6]] employs kîyôwr metaphorically: "In that day I will make the clans of Judah like a hearth of fire among the wood, and like a flaming torch among sheaves." Here, kîyôwr denotes a vessel containing fire, symbolizing destructive power and consuming judgment, particularly against Judah's enemies.
* **Platform/Scaffold:**
* [[2 Chronicles 6:13]] uniquely uses kîyôwr to describe a "bronze platform" (or scaffold) that Solomon stood upon to pray before the assembly during the dedication of the Temple. This was a raised, prominent structure from which he addressed the people and interceded with God, signifying a place of authority, leadership, and public proclamation.
### Related Words & Concepts
The word כִּיּוֹר (kîyôwr) is intrinsically linked to its root כּוּר (kûr), `{{H3564}}`, which means "to bore, dig, pierce," and also refers to a "furnace" or "smelting pot." This connection underscores the idea of a hollowed-out or cast object, especially one made of metal, like bronze.
The most significant conceptual link is to **purity and sanctification**. The laver's function in the Tabernacle and Temple necessitates understanding concepts like:
* **Washing (`{{H7364}}` rachats):** The act of cleansing for ritual purity.
* **Holiness (`{{H6944}}` qodesh):** The state of being set apart for God, which requires purification.
* **Atonement (`{{H3722}}` kaphar):** While the laver doesn't atone, it facilitates the priestly service connected to atonement.
The "hearth" usage in Zechariah connects to **divine judgment and refining fire**, concepts often associated with God's purifying and consuming power.
The "platform" usage in 2 Chronicles links to **authority, intercession, and public proclamation**, highlighting the role of leaders in worship and covenant renewal.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of כִּיּוֹר (kîyôwr) is multifaceted, primarily stemming from its use as the laver in sacred contexts:
1. **Purity and Access to God:** The laver's placement between the altar and the Holy Place profoundly illustrates the necessity of purification for approaching a holy God. Priests had to wash their hands and feet, symbolizing the internal and external cleansing required for divine service. This ritual foreshadows the spiritual cleansing necessary for all believers, ultimately fulfilled through the atoning work of Jesus Christ, who provides access to God's presence (cf. [[Hebrews 10:19-22]]). It teaches that holiness is a prerequisite for fellowship with the Divine.
2. **Consecration for Service:** The act of washing at the laver was not merely symbolic but a mandated step in the consecration of priests. It underscores that those who serve God must be set apart and purified for their sacred duties, reflecting God's demand for holiness in His ministers.
3. **Divine Judgment and Refining:** The imagery of a "hearth of fire" in [[Zechariah 12:6]] conveys God's consuming power against His enemies, but also, by extension from its root, His ability to refine and purify through testing, much like metal is refined in a furnace. This highlights God's sovereignty and His active involvement in history, both in judgment and restoration.
4. **Authoritative Prayer and Leadership:** Solomon's kîyôwr (platform) in [[2 Chronicles 6:13]] signifies a place of public leadership, intercession, and covenant renewal. It emphasizes the importance of leaders who stand before God on behalf of the people, offering prayers and proclaiming divine truth. This points to the role of intercessory prayer and the authority vested in those who lead God's people in worship and obedience.
### Summary
The Hebrew word כִּיּוֹר (kîyôwr), `{{H3595}}`, is a rich term whose core meaning of "something round" expands to encompass a variety of objects: a cooking pot, a hearth for fire, and most significantly, the sacred laver in the Tabernacle and Temple, as well as a public platform. Its diverse applications, from the mundane to the deeply sacred, reveal its adaptability. Theologically, kîyôwr primarily underscores the indispensable biblical principles of purity and holiness required for approaching God, particularly through the function of the laver. It also symbolically points to divine judgment and the authority of leadership in public worship and intercession. Thus, kîyôwr contributes significantly to our understanding of ancient Israelite ritual, daily life, and profound theological truths concerning God's nature and His relationship with humanity.