The Hebrew word mᵉbashshᵉlâh, represented by H4018, refers to a boiling-place or cooking hearth. This highly specific term is derived from the word for boiling. It is one of the rarest words in the biblical text, appearing only 1 time in 1 unique verse.
The sole appearance of H4018 is in Ezekiel's vision of a future temple. In this context, the word describes a specific, functional part of the temple's construction. The verse states that a structure was "made with boiling places under the rows round about" Ezekiel 46:23. This places the boiling places as intentionally designed features within the organized layout of the temple courts.
Several related words from its only context help clarify its structural and functional role:
- H2905 ṭûwr (row): This word, defined as a row or wall, is used to describe the "row of building" where the boiling places are located Ezekiel 46:23. It establishes an organized, linear architectural setting.
- H2918 ṭîyrâh (row): A related term also meaning row, palace, or castle. The boiling places are situated "under the rows" Ezekiel 46:23, indicating their position within these significant structures.
- H6213 ʻâsâh (to do or make): This primitive root highlights that the structure with the boiling places was intentionally "made" or prepared Ezekiel 46:23, emphasizing purpose and design.
The significance of H4018 is primarily functional and architectural, as seen in its single biblical reference.
- Architectural Specificity: The inclusion of a term for boiling-place in Ezekiel's vision demonstrates the highly detailed nature of the described temple, where even specific utility areas are noted.
- Designated Function: The placement of the boiling places within a carefully arranged structure, "under the rows" Ezekiel 46:23, shows that this was a designated space created for a specific purpose.
- Ordered Construction: The association with words like ṭûwr H2905 and ṭîyrâh H2918 indicates that these cooking hearths were not random, but part of an orderly and systematic layout within the sacred complex.
In summary, H4018 is a precise term for a boiling-place or cooking hearth. Its single occurrence in Ezekiel 46:23 reveals its function as a purpose-built feature within the detailed architectural vision of the temple. While extremely rare, it illustrates how the biblical text accounts for the practical and functional elements that support the activities within a sacred space.
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