The Hebrew word riqquaʻ, represented by H7555, describes something broad or beaten out, specifically as a metallic plate. It is a highly specific and rare term, appearing only 1 time in 1 unique verse in the Bible. The word's definition, "beaten out," points directly to the process of hammering metal into thin sheets.
The sole use of H7555 is found in Numbers 16:38, which gives a command following a rebellion. The censers H4289 of the sinners are to be made into broad H7555 plates H6341 that will serve as a covering H6826 for the altar H4196. The reason given is that because the censers were offered before the LORD, they have become hallowed. Their new purpose is to be a lasting sign to the children of Israel.
Several related words from its context help to define the function and significance of H7555:
- H4289 machtâh (censer, firepan, snuffdish): These are the items that were beaten broad H7555. They were pans used for carrying live coals for incense offerings, as seen when Aaron was commanded to take one from the altar to make atonement Numbers 16:46.
- H6341 pach ((thin) plate, snare): This word describes the metallic sheet that results from the beating process. While it means "plate" in this context, in other verses it is used to mean a "snare" or "gin" (Psalms 91:3, Isaiah 8:14).
- H6826 tsippûwy (covering, overlaying): This term defines the purpose of the newly formed plates. It refers to an encasement or overlaying with metal, such as the silver overlaying on the chapiters of the pillars of the court Exodus 38:19.
- H4196 mizbêach (altar): This is the sacred object that the broad H7555 plates covered. The altar is a central fixture for sacrifice, atonement, and worship (Leviticus 17:11, Genesis 12:7).
The theological weight of H7555 is concentrated in its single appearance, highlighting several key principles:
- Transformation from Sin to Holiness: The censers, used by sinners in an act of rebellion, are not destroyed but transformed. The process of making them broad H7555 is part of their conversion into a holy object.
- Sanctification by Proximity: The items are considered hallowed specifically "for they offered them before the LORD" Numbers 16:38. This shows that contact with the divine presence consecrates an object, regardless of its profane origin.
- A Permanent Memorial: The final broad plates serve as "a sign unto the children of Israel" Numbers 16:38, a visible and enduring reminder placed upon the holy altar about the seriousness of sin and the sovereign holiness of God.
In summary, H7555 is a precise term for "broad" or "beaten out" metal, used once to describe a profound act of transformation. Its singular context in Numbers 16:38 illustrates how objects associated with sin were repurposed through divine command. They became a hallowed covering for the altar, serving as a permanent sign that demonstrates God's power to sanctify and the importance of remembering His judgments.
TRV