The Hebrew word tsippûwy, represented by H6826, refers to an encasement (with metal); covering, overlaying. It appears 5 times across 5 unique verses in the Bible. The term consistently denotes a thin layer of metal applied to the surface of an object, either for decoration, structural enhancement, or as a sign.
In biblical usage, H6826 appears in three distinct contexts. In the construction of the Tabernacle, it is the silver overlaying on the chapiters of the court pillars (Exodus 38:17, Exodus 38:19). It is also used to create a holy object from a profane one, when the brasen censers of rebellious men were hammered into a covering for the altar as a memorial sign to Israel (Numbers 16:38, Numbers 16:39). In a prophetic context, it is the silver covering of graven images, which the people are commanded to defile and cast away as part of their purification Isaiah 30:22.
Several related words provide further context for the function and materials associated with a covering:
- H2838 châshuq (fillet): This term describes the silver fence-rails or rods that connected the pillars of the Tabernacle court, often mentioned alongside the silver overlaying Exodus 38:17.
- H5982 ʻammûwd (pillar): These are the vertical supports on which the silver overlaying was applied in the Tabernacle court (Exodus 38:17, Exodus 38:19).
- H6341 pach ((thin) plate, snare): This word is used for the "broad plates" made from censers that became the covering for the altar Numbers 16:38. Its definition also includes "snare," indicating how a thin, spread-out object can be used for trapping.
- H642 ʼêphuddâh (ornament): This term appears in parallel with tsippûwy in Isaiah 30:22, describing the golden ornament of molten images that, like the silver covering, was to be cast away.
The significance of H6826 is tied to the spiritual status of the object it covers.
- Consecrated Objects: In the Tabernacle, the silver overlaying was part of the intricate, holy design commanded by God, beautifying the sacred space (Exodus 38:17, Exodus 38:19).
- Memorial and Warning: The covering on the altar, made from the censers of sinners, was hallowed and served as a powerful and permanent sign to the children of Israel Numbers 16:38.
- Objects of Idolatry: The covering on graven images, though made of precious silver, is marked for defilement and rejection, demonstrating that outward value is meaningless when attached to a corrupt object Isaiah 30:22.
In summary, H6826 is a specific term for a metallic overlay. Its biblical use illustrates a sharp contrast: it can be part of the beautiful and holy construction of God's dwelling place, or it can be the profane exterior of an idol destined for destruction. Through this word, scripture shows that the value of a covering is determined not by its material, but by the nature of what it conceals.
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