1 Kings 7:38

Then made he ten lavers of brass: one laver contained forty baths: [and] every laver was four cubits: [and] upon every one of the ten bases one laver.

Then made {H6213} he ten {H6235} lavers {H3595} of brass {H5178}: one {H259} laver {H3595} contained {H3557} forty {H705} baths {H1324}: and every {H259} laver {H3595} was four {H702} cubits {H520}: and upon every one {H259} of the ten {H6235} bases {H4350} one {H259} laver {H3595}.

He made ten bronze basins; each basin's capacity was 220 gallons and had a diameter of seven feet; there was a basin for each of the ten trolleys.

He also made ten bronze basins, each holding forty baths and measuring four cubits across, one basin for each of the ten stands.

And he made ten lavers of brass: one laver contained forty baths; and every laver was four cubits; and upon every one of the ten bases one laver.

Commentary

Context of 1 Kings 7:38

1 Kings 7:38 is part of an extensive description of the construction and furnishing of King Solomon's magnificent Temple in Jerusalem. This chapter details the intricate bronze work crafted by Hiram of Tyre, a skilled artisan brought from Tyre for this monumental task. Following descriptions of the two great bronze pillars (Jachin and Boaz), the Molten Sea (a massive basin for priestly ablutions), and the ten movable bases (described in 1 Kings 7:27-37), this verse specifically introduces the ten lavers that rested upon those bases. These items were essential components for the ritual purity required for priestly service within the Temple courtyard. The entire construction, beginning in 1 Kings 6:1, underscores the immense scale and divine significance of the House of the Lord.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Precision and Detail in Divine Service: The meticulous measurements and specifications for the lavers, like all Temple furnishings, emphasize that God desires careful and precise execution in worship and service. Every detail was important.
  • Abundance for Purification: Ten lavers, each holding a substantial amount of water (forty baths), highlight the abundant provision for cleansing and purification. This underscores the constant need for ritual purity for the priests as they performed their duties before a holy God.
  • Symbolism of Cleansing: The lavers served a practical purpose for washing sacrificial animals and the hands and feet of priests. Symbolically, they represent the necessity of purification before approaching God, a theme echoed throughout the Old Testament and spiritually fulfilled in the New Testament through Christ.
  • Craftsmanship and Grandeur: The bronze lavers, along with the other ornate Temple vessels, speak to the immense wealth and skill dedicated to God's dwelling place, reflecting His glory and the reverence due to Him.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV uses several terms that are helpful to understand from their original Hebrew context:

  • Lavers (Hebrew: ื›ึดึผื™ึนึผืจ, kiyyor): This term refers to large basins or washstands. These were not just simple bowls but significant, functional pieces of Temple furniture designed for the specific purpose of holding water for purification rituals.
  • Baths (Hebrew: ื‘ึทึผืช, bat): This was a liquid measure of capacity. One bath is estimated to be around 5.8 to 6 gallons (approximately 22 liters). Thus, "forty baths" meant each laver could hold approximately 232 to 240 gallons (around 880 to 900 liters) of water, a substantial volume emphasizing their practical utility for the numerous sacrifices.
  • Cubits (Hebrew: ืึทืžึธึผื”, ammah): An ancient unit of length, typically the distance from the elbow to the tip of the middle finger, roughly 18 inches (about 45 cm). So, "four cubits" would be about 6 feet (1.8 meters), indicating a considerable size for each laver.

Practical Application

While the physical lavers of Solomon's Temple are no longer in use, the principles they represent remain profoundly relevant for believers today.

  1. The Necessity of Purity: Just as priests needed to wash before serving, Christians are called to live lives of purity and holiness. This is not through ritualistic washing but through spiritual cleansing. The Book of Hebrews speaks of drawing near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.
  2. Diligence in Service: The meticulous detail in the Temple's construction, including these lavers, reminds us that God values excellence and diligence in our service to Him. Whether in our daily work, relationships, or spiritual disciplines, we are called to do all things "heartily, as to the Lord" (Colossians 3:23).
  3. Christ, Our Ultimate Cleansing: The Old Testament rituals, including the lavers, pointed forward to the ultimate and perfect cleansing found in Jesus Christ. His sacrifice provides the true and lasting "washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost" (Titus 3:5), making us clean and able to approach a holy God.

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Cross-References

  • Exodus 38:8 (2 votes)

    And he made the laver [of] brass, and the foot of it [of] brass, of the lookingglasses of [the women] assembling, which assembled [at] the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.

  • Exodus 40:11 (2 votes)

    And thou shalt anoint the laver and his foot, and sanctify it.

  • Exodus 40:12 (2 votes)

    And thou shalt bring Aaron and his sons unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and wash them with water.

  • 2 Chronicles 4:6 (2 votes)

    He made also ten lavers, and put five on the right hand, and five on the left, to wash in them: such things as they offered for the burnt offering they washed in them; but the sea [was] for the priests to wash in.

  • 2 Chronicles 4:22 (2 votes)

    And the snuffers, and the basons, and the spoons, and the censers, [of] pure gold: and the entry of the house, the inner doors thereof for the most holy [place], and the doors of the house of the temple, [were of] gold.

  • Exodus 30:17 (2 votes)

    ยถ And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

  • Exodus 30:21 (2 votes)

    So they shall wash their hands and their feet, that they die not: and it shall be a statute for ever to them, [even] to him and to his seed throughout their generations.