1 Kings 7:26 It was a handbreadth thick, and its rim was fashioned like the brim of a cup, like a lily blossom. It could hold two thousand baths.

◄ 1 Kings 7:26 ►

New International Version
It was a handbreadth in thickness, and its rim was like the rim of a cup, like a lily blossom. It held two thousand baths.

New Living Translation
The walls of the Sea were about three inches thick, and its rim flared out like a cup and resembled a water lily blossom. It could hold about 11,000 gallons of water.

English Standard Version
Its thickness was a handbreadth, and its brim was made like the brim of a cup, like the flower of a lily. It held two thousand baths.

Berean Standard Bible
It was a handbreadth thick, and its rim was fashioned like the brim of a cup, like a lily blossom. It could hold two thousand baths.

King James Bible
And it was an hand breadth thick, and the brim thereof was wrought like the brim of a cup, with flowers of lilies: it contained two thousand baths.

New King James Version
It was a handbreadth thick; and its brim was shaped like the brim of a cup, like a lily blossom. It contained two thousand baths.

New American Standard Bible
And it was a hand width thick, and its brim was made like the brim of a cup, like a lily blossom; it could hold two thousand baths.

NASB 1995
It was a handbreadth thick, and its brim was made like the brim of a cup, as a lily blossom; it could hold two thousand baths.

NASB 1977
And it was a handbreadth thick, and its brim was made like the brim of a cup, as a lily blossom; it could hold two thousand baths.

Legacy Standard Bible
And it was a handbreadth thick, and its brim was made like the brim of a cup, as a lily blossom; it could hold two thousand baths.

Amplified Bible
It was a hand width thick, and its brim was made like the brim of a cup, like a lily blossom. It held two thousand baths.

Christian Standard Bible
The basin was three inches thick, and its rim was fashioned like the brim of a cup or of a lily blossom. It held eleven thousand gallons.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The reservoir was three inches thick, and its rim was fashioned like the brim of a cup or of a lily blossom. It held 11,000 gallons.

American Standard Version
And it was a handbreadth thick: and the brim thereof was wrought like the brim of a cup, like the flower of a lily: it held two thousand baths.

Contemporary English Version
The sides of the bowl were 75 millimeters thick, and its rim was like a cup that curved outward like flower petals. The bowl held about 40,000 liters.

English Revised Version
And it was an handbreadth thick; and the brim thereof was wrought like the brim of a cup, like the flower of a lily: it held two thousand baths.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The pool was three inches thick. Its rim was like the rim of a cup, shaped like a lily's bud. It held 12,000 gallons.

Good News Translation
The sides of the tank were 3 inches thick. Its rim was like the rim of a cup, curving outward like the petals of a lily. The tank held about 10,000 gallons.

International Standard Version
The reservoir, which held about 2,000 baths, stood about a handbreadth thick, and its rim looked like the brim of a cup or of a lily blossom.

Majority Standard Bible
It was a handbreadth thick, and its rim was fashioned like the brim of a cup, like a lily blossom. It could hold two thousand baths.

NET Bible
It was four fingers thick and its rim was like that of a cup shaped like a lily blossom. It could hold about 12,000 gallons.

New Heart English Bible
It was almost three inches thick: and its brim was worked like the brim of a cup, like the flower of a lily: it held two thousand baths.

Webster's Bible Translation
And it was a hand-breadth thick, and its brim was wrought like the brim of a cup, with flowers of lilies: it contained two thousand baths.

World English Bible
It was a hand width thick. Its brim was worked like the brim of a cup, like the flower of a lily. It held two thousand baths.

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
And its thickness [is] a handbreadth, and its edge [is] as the work of the edge of a cup, [as] flowers of lilies; it contains two thousand baths.

Young's Literal Translation
And its thickness is an handbreadth, and its edge as the work of the edge of a cup, flowers of lilies; two thousand baths it containeth.

Smith's Literal Translation
And its thickness a hand breadth, and its lip as the work of the lip of a cup the flower of the lily: it will hold two thousand baths.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
And the laver was a handbreadth thick: and the brim thereof was like the brim of a cup, or the leaf of a crisped lily: it contained two thousand bates.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And the basin was the thickness of three twelfths. And its brim was like the brim of a chalice, or like the outturned petal of a lily. It contained two thousand baths.

New American Bible
It was a handbreadth thick, and its brim resembled that of a cup, being lily-shaped. Its capacity was two thousand baths.

New Revised Standard Version
Its thickness was a handbreadth; its brim was made like the brim of a cup, like the flower of a lily; it held two thousand baths.

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
And its thickness was a hand-breadth, and its brim was made like the brim of a cup, with lilies; it contained two thousand baths.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And its thickness was a hands breadth, and its rim was like the rim of a cup with the fruit of lilies, and it held two thousand baths.

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
And it was a hand-breadth thick; and the brim thereof was wrought like the brim of a cup, like the flower of a lily; it held two thousand baths.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
and its rim was as the work of the rim of a cup, a lily-flower, and the thickness of it was a span.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

The Molten Sea
…25The Sea stood on twelve oxen, three facing north, three facing west, three facing south, and three facing east. The Sea rested on them, with all their hindquarters toward the center. 26It was a handbreadth thick, and its rim was fashioned like the brim of a cup, like a lily blossom. It could hold two thousand baths.

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

2 Chronicles 4:5
It was a handbreadth thick, and its rim was fashioned like the brim of a cup, like a lily blossom. It could hold three thousand baths.

Exodus 30:18
“You are to make a bronze basin with a bronze stand for washing. Set it between the Tent of Meeting and the altar, and put water in it,

Exodus 38:8
Next he made the bronze basin and its stand from the mirrors of the women who served at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting.

2 Chronicles 4:2-6
He also made the Sea of cast metal. It was circular in shape, measuring ten cubits from rim to rim, five cubits in height, and thirty cubits in circumference. / Below the rim, figures of oxen encircled it, ten per cubit all the way around the Sea, cast in two rows as a part of the Sea. / The Sea stood on twelve oxen, three facing north, three facing west, three facing south, and three facing east. The Sea rested on them, with all their hindquarters toward the center. ...

1 Kings 7:23-25
He also made the Sea of cast metal. It was circular in shape, measuring ten cubits from rim to rim, five cubits in height, and thirty cubits in circumference. / Below the rim, ornamental buds encircled it, ten per cubit all the way around the Sea, cast in two rows as a part of the Sea. / The Sea stood on twelve oxen, three facing north, three facing west, three facing south, and three facing east. The Sea rested on them, with all their hindquarters toward the center.

1 Kings 7:38-39
He also made ten bronze basins, each holding forty baths and measuring four cubits across, one basin for each of the ten stands. / He set five stands on the south side of the temple and five on the north, and he put the Sea on the south side, at the southeast corner of the temple.

2 Kings 16:17
King Ahaz also cut off the frames of the movable stands and removed the bronze basin from each of them. He took down the Sea from the bronze oxen that were under it and put it on a stone base.

Jeremiah 52:20
As for the two pillars, the Sea, the twelve bronze bulls under it, and the movable stands that King Solomon had made for the house of the LORD, the weight of the bronze from all these articles was beyond measure.

2 Chronicles 4:15
the Sea; the twelve oxen underneath the Sea;

2 Chronicles 4:11
Additionally, Huram made the pots, shovels, and sprinkling bowls. So Huram finished the work that he had undertaken for King Solomon in the house of God:

Revelation 4:6
And before the throne was something like a sea of glass, as clear as crystal. In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures, covered with eyes in front and back.

Revelation 15:2
And I saw something like a sea of glass mixed with fire, beside which stood those who had conquered the beast and its image and the number of its name. They were holding harps from God,

Revelation 21:6
And He told me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give freely from the spring of the water of life.

John 2:6-7
Now six stone water jars had been set there for the Jewish rites of purification. Each could hold from twenty to thirty gallons. / Jesus told the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” So they filled them to the brim.

John 4:14
But whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a fount of water springing up to eternal life.”

Treasury of Scripture

And it was an hand breadth thick, and the brim thereof was worked like the brim of a cup, with flowers of lilies: it contained two thousand baths.

an hand breadth

Jeremiah 52:21
And concerning the pillars, the height of one pillar was eighteen cubits; and a fillet of twelve cubits did compass it; and the thickness thereof was four fingers: it was hollow.

with flowers

1 Kings 7:19
And the chapiters that were upon the top of the pillars were of lily work in the porch, four cubits.

1 Kings 6:18,32,35
And the cedar of the house within was carved with knops and open flowers: all was cedar; there was no stone seen…

2 Chronicles 4:6
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 4:3
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.

two thousand

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.

2 Chronicles 4:5
And the thickness of it was an handbreadth, and the brim of it like the work of the brim of a cup, with flowers of lilies; and it received and held three thousand baths.

Ezekiel 45:14
Concerning the ordinance of oil, the bath of oil, ye shall offer the tenth part of a bath out of the cor, which is an homer of ten baths; for ten baths are an homer:

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Baths Blossom Breadth Brim Contained Containeth Cup Curved Edge Flower Flowers Hand Handbreadth Hand-Breadth Held Hold Lily Rim Thereof Thick Thickness Thousand Work Worked Wrought

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Baths Blossom Breadth Brim Contained Containeth Cup Curved Edge Flower Flowers Hand Handbreadth Hand-Breadth Held Hold Lily Rim Thereof Thick Thickness Thousand Work Worked Wrought

1 Kings 7

1. The building of Solomon's house
2. Of the house of Lebanon
6. Of the porch of pillars
7. Of the porch of judgment
8. Of the house for Pharaoh's daughter
13. Hiram's work of the two pillars,
23. Of the molten sea
27. Of the ten bases
38. Of the ten lavers
40. and all the vessels

Berean Study Bible

It was a handbreadth thick
The term "handbreadth" refers to an ancient unit of measurement, approximately four inches or the width of a hand. This detail emphasizes the substantial and sturdy construction of the object being described, which is the "Sea" or large basin in Solomon's temple. The Hebrew word for handbreadth is "טֶפַח" (tephach), indicating a measure of stability and durability. In a spiritual sense, this thickness symbolizes the strength and permanence of God's provision and presence, as the basin was used for ritual purification, a critical aspect of maintaining holiness in worship.

and its rim was fashioned like the brim of a cup
The imagery of a cup brim suggests elegance and functionality. The Hebrew word for "rim" is "שָׂפָה" (saphah), which can also mean lip or edge. This design choice not only served a practical purpose but also added to the aesthetic beauty of the temple furnishings. The cup-like rim may symbolize the overflowing abundance of God's blessings and the invitation to partake in His grace, much like a cup that is filled to the brim.

like a lily blossom
The lily is often associated with purity and beauty in biblical literature. The Hebrew word "שׁוֹשַׁן" (shoshan) is used here, which is frequently linked to the splendor of Solomon's reign and the beauty of creation. The lily motif on the basin's rim could represent the purity required for those who approach God, as well as the beauty of holiness. It serves as a reminder of the divine artistry and care in the design of the temple, reflecting God's own nature.

It could hold two thousand baths
The "bath" is another ancient unit of measurement, roughly equivalent to 5.8 gallons or 22 liters. The capacity of two thousand baths indicates the immense size and capacity of the basin, underscoring the abundance of God's provision for His people. The Hebrew word for bath is "בַּת" (bath), and this large volume signifies the sufficiency of God's grace and the ample provision for cleansing and purification. In a broader theological context, it points to the inexhaustible nature of God's mercy and the readiness of His provision for those who seek Him.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 26. - And it was a handbreadth thick [i.e., three inches], and the brim thereof was wrought like the brim of a cup [Heb. and his lip like the work of the lip of a cup, i.e., curved outwards], with flowers of lilies [lit., "a blossom of lily." Keil understands "ornamented with lily flowers," but the strict interpretation the "lily blossom" being in apposition to "cup" - requires us to refer the words to the shape rather than to the ornamentation of the laver. The lip was curved like a lily]: it contained two thousand [In Chronicles and by Josephus the number is given as 3000. This may have resulted, as Keil thinks, from confounding ג and ב but it is suspicious that so many of the numbers of the Chronicles are exaggerations. The common explanation of the discrepancy, viz., that it held 2000 baths "when filled to its ordinary height, but when filled to the brim 3000" (Wordsworth), appears to me hardly ingenuous] baths. ["The data for determining the value of the bath or ephah are both scanty and conflicting" (Dict. Bib. 3. p. 1741). Josephus, the only authority on the subject, says that it equalled the Attic metretes (about 8.5 gals.), but it is very doubtful whether he was "really familiar with the Greek measures" (ib.) At any rate, if this statement is correct, his other statement as to the shape of the laver must be altogether erroneous, since 2000 baths would equal 17,000 gals., and a hemispherical laver could not possibly have contained more than 10,000. The attempt has been made, on the assumption that the sea was a hemisphere, as Josephus affirms, to calculate from its capacity the value of the bath, which in that case would be about four gallons. But there is good reason for doubting whether the laver was hemispherical - such a shape would be ill adapted to its position on the backs of oxen - and some have maintained that it was cylindrical, others that, like the laver of the tabernacle, it had a foot (Exodus 30:18) or basin. The prevailing opinion of scholars, however, appears to be that it was 30 cubits in circumference only at the lip, and that it bellied out considerably below. While the shape, however, must remain a matter of uncertainty, we are left in no doubt as to its purpose. It was "for the priests to wash in" (2 Chronicles 4:6) - not, of course, for immersing their whole persons, but their hands and feet (Exodus 30:19, 21). The priests (after Exodus 3:5; Joshua 5:15, etc.) ministered barefoot. It was, according to Rabbinical tradition, provided with taps or faucets (Bahr). It has, however, been held by some that the water issued forth (as in the Alhambra) from the lions' mouths. It is probable that a basin of some sort was attached to it. Whether the laver was filled by the hand or by some special contrivance, it is quite impossible to say. We know that provision was made for storing water hard by. The present writer was privileged in 1861 to explore the great reservoir, the Bahr el Khebir, still existing underneath the Haram area, at a time when very few Europeans had seen it (see Pal. Explor. Fund, No. 7; Barclay, "City of the Great King;" Porter, Handbook, 1. pp. 134, 138). The water was probably brought from Solomon's pools at Bethlehem, though "a fountain of water exists in the city and is running unto this day, far below the surface" ("Our Work in Palestine," p. 103). Tacitus mentions the fens perennis aquae and the piscinae cisternaeque servandis imbribus.

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

It was a handbreadth
טֶ֔פַח (ṭe·p̄aḥ)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2947: A spread of the hand, a palm-breadth, a corbel

thick,
וְעָבְי֣וֹ (wə·‘ā·ḇə·yōw)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 5672: Density, depth, width

and its rim
וּשְׂפָת֛וֹ (ū·śə·p̄ā·ṯōw)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 8193: The lip, language, a margin

was fashioned
כְּמַעֲשֵׂ֥ה (kə·ma·‘ă·śêh)
Preposition-k | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 4639: An action, a transaction, activity, a product, property

like the brim
שְׂפַת־ (śə·p̄aṯ-)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 8193: The lip, language, a margin

of a cup,
כּ֖וֹס (kō·ws)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 3563: A cup, a lot, some unclean bird, an owl

like a lily
שׁוֹשָׁ֑ן (šō·wō·šān)
Noun - common singular
Strong's 7799: A lily, as a, flower of architectural ornament, a, trumpet

blossom.
פֶּ֣רַח (pe·raḥ)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 6525: A calyx, bloom

It could hold
יָכִֽיל׃ (yā·ḵîl)
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3557: To keep in, to measure, to maintain

two thousand
אַלְפַּ֥יִם (’al·pa·yim)
Number - md
Strong's 505: A thousand

baths.
בַּ֖ת (baṯ)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1324: A bath (a Hebrew measure)

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OT History: 1 Kings 7:26 It was a handbreadth thick: and its (1Ki iKi i Ki 1 Kg 1kg)