What does 2 Chronicles 4:3 mean?
"And under it was the similitude of oxen, which did compass it round about: ten in a cubit, compassing the sea round about. Two rows of oxen were cast, when it was cast." - 2 Chronicles 4:3
2 Chronicles 4:3 (KJV) states: "And under it was the similitude of oxen, which did compass it round about: ten in a cubit, compassing the sea round about. Two rows of oxen were cast, when it was cast."
This verse comes from the second book of Chronicles, which is found in the Old Testament of the Bible. 2 Chronicles is a historical account of the kings of Judah and the building of the temple in Jerusalem. This particular verse is part of the description of the construction of the bronze sea in the temple.
The use of oxen in the design and construction of the bronze sea holds significant meaning and symbolism. In the ancient Near East, oxen were commonly associated with strength, power, and agricultural productivity. They were often used as symbols of fertility and abundance. In this context, the depiction of oxen in the design of the bronze sea reflects the importance of these qualities in the worship and rituals that took place in the temple.
The number ten is also significant in this verse. The ten oxen in a cubit represent order and completeness. In the Bible, the number ten is often associated with the law and divine order. In this verse, the ten oxen symbolize the divine order and perfection of the temple and its sacred rituals.
The "sea" mentioned in this verse refers to the large basin that was used for ceremonial purification. The design of the bronze sea, with the oxen surrounding it, serves as a visual representation of the temple's focus on purity and ritual cleanliness. The imagery of the oxen "compassing the sea round about" suggests a sense of protection and containment, emphasizing the sacred nature of the water it contained.
The mention of the casting of the oxen also holds symbolism. In ancient times, the casting of metal was seen as a skilled and labor-intensive process. The casting of the oxen for the bronze sea would have required great craftsmanship and attention to detail. This emphasizes the importance and reverence placed on the construction of the temple and its sacred vessels.
Overall, this verse from 2 Chronicles 4:3 reflects the significance of symbolism and ritual purity in the construction and use of the temple. The use of oxen and the number ten in the design of the bronze sea conveys the themes of strength, order, and divine completeness. The imagery of the oxen surrounding the sea emphasizes the sacred nature of the temple and its rituals, while the casting of the oxen highlights the craftsmanship and care put into the construction of the sacred vessels. This verse serves as a reminder of the reverence and attention to detail that was given to the worship of God in the Old Testament.
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2 Chronicles 4:3 Artwork
2 Chronicles 4:3 - "And under it was the similitude of oxen, which did compass it round about: ten in a cubit, compassing the sea round about. Two rows of oxen were cast, when it was cast."
"And under it was the similitude of oxen, which did compass it round about: ten in a cubit, compassing the sea round about. Two rows of oxen were cast, when it was cast." - 2 Chronicles 4:3
2 Chronicles 3:4 - "And the porch that was in the front of the house, the length of it was according to the breadth of the house, twenty cubits, and the height was an hundred and twenty: and he overlaid it within with pure gold."
2 Chronicles 4:22
1 Chronicles 4:3 - "And these were of the father of Etam; Jezreel, and Ishma, and Idbash: and the name of their sister was Hazelelponi:"
2 Chronicles 28:3
2 Chronicles 4:15 - "One sea, and twelve oxen under it."
2 Chronicles 30:4 - "And the thing pleased the king and all the congregation."
2 Chronicles 8:3 - "And Solomon went to Hamath-zobah, and prevailed against it."
2 Chronicles 3:2 - "And he began to build in the second day of the second month, in the fourth year of his reign."
2 Chronicles 7:4 - "¶ Then the king and all the people offered sacrifices before the LORD."
"One sea, and twelve oxen under it." - 2 Chronicles 4:15
2 Chronicles 4:21 - "And the flowers, and the lamps, and the tongs, made he of gold, and that perfect gold;"
2 Chronicles 4:14 - "He made also bases, and lavers made he upon the bases;"
2 Chronicles 24:4 - "¶ And it came to pass after this, that Joash was minded to repair the house of the LORD."
2 Chronicles 5:4 - "And all the elders of Israel came; and the Levites took up the ark."
Matthew 2:3-4
Matthew 2:3-4
2 Chronicles 3:6 - "And he garnished the house with precious stones for beauty: and the gold was gold of Parvaim."
Matthew 2:3-4
2 Chronicles 29:4 - "And he brought in the priests and the Levites, and gathered them together into the east street,"
Matthew 2:3-4
2 Chronicles 12:4 - "And he took the fenced cities which pertained to Judah, and came to Jerusalem."
2 Chronicles 14:4 - "And commanded Judah to seek the LORD God of their fathers, and to do the law and the commandment."
2 Chronicles 24:3 - "And Jehoiada took for him two wives; and he begat sons and daughters."
"And these were of the father of Etam; Jezreel, and Ishma, and Idbash: and the name of their sister was Hazelelponi:" - 1 Chronicles 4:3
2 Chronicles 3:9 - "And the weight of the nails was fifty shekels of gold. And he overlaid the upper chambers with gold."
2 Chronicles 4:10 - "And he set the sea on the right side of the east end, over against the south."
2 Chronicles 3:3 - "¶ Now these are the things wherein Solomon was instructed for the building of the house of God. The length by cubits after the first measure was threescore cubits, and the breadth twenty cubits."
2 Chronicles 27:3 - "He built the high gate of the house of the LORD, and on the wall of Ophel he built much."