Lexical Summary miqlaath: Covering, shelter Original Word: מִקְלַעַת Strong's Exhaustive Concordance carved figure, carving, graving From qala'; a sculpture (probably in bas-relief) -- carved (figure), carving, graving. see HEBREW qala' NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom qala Definition carving NASB Translation carved (1), carvings (1), engravings (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs מִקֶלַ֫עַת noun feminine carving; — construct ׳מ 1 Kings 6:18; plural absolute מִקְלָעוֺת, 1 Kings 7:31; construct מִקְלְעוֺת (after קָלַע) 1 Kings 6:29,32. קְלֹקֵל see קלל. above Topical Lexicon Overview of the Term מִקְלַעַת refers to a decorative carving associated exclusively with Solomon’s Temple furnishings. It describes a series of intricate reliefs—often rendered in English as “gourd-shaped ornaments” or “gourd-like knops”—that were cut into the cedar and bronze work. The word’s limited distribution highlights its technical nature and the specialised craftsmanship employed in the construction of the First Temple. Occurrences within Solomon’s Temple Narrative 1 Kings 6:18 introduces the term in connection with the cedar panelling that lined the inner sanctuary: “The cedar inside the temple was carved in the shape of gourds and open flowers”. Verse 29 confirms the same motif on the walls, while verse 32 places it on the doors to the inner sanctuary. Outside the main structure, 1 Kings 7:31 applies the motif to the bronze stands of the great court. In every case, מִקְלַעַת appears alongside imagery of flowers, cherubim and palm trees, linking the gourd motif to a broader Edenic tapestry. Artistic and Architectural Significance Gourd-shaped carvings carried symbolic and practical importance in the Ancient Near Eastern world. Gourds were natural water vessels in a dry climate, evoking life and refreshment. Their rhythmic repetition in the Temple reinforced an atmosphere of ordered beauty. The craftsman Hiram of Tyre (1 Kings 7:13-14) would have been familiar with Phoenician ornamental vocabularies, yet the biblical writer singles out these carvings to demonstrate that Israel’s sanctuary surpassed pagan temples both in skill and in theology. The carvings were not merely embellishments; they were covenant art, proclaiming the Lord’s intention to renew creation through His royal house. Symbolic Theology 1. Life and Provision: Just as a gourd stores water, the Temple stored the testimony and presence of God, a spring of life for His people (Psalm 36:9). Intertextual Echoes and Biblical Unity Though מִקְלַעַת itself is confined to 1 Kings, its imagery resonates elsewhere. Numbers 11:5 remembers “the cucumbers, melons, leeks,” pointing to the Covenant Lord who provides in deserts. Jonah 4:6 records a plant God appointed for shade, underscoring themes of divine compassion. The Temple’s gourds subtly gather these threads, presenting a gallery of scriptural allusions that bind Law, Prophets and Writings together. Implications for Worship and Ministry Today • Craft Excellence: The Spirit of God still equips artisans (Exodus 31:1-5). Congregations should encourage craftsmanship that channels beauty toward the praise of Christ. Conclusion מִקְלַעַת stands as a testament that no detail in Scripture is superfluous. Even a specialised term for Temple carvings points to the Lord who fills His house with life, order and beauty, inviting His people into the greater Temple of the risen Christ. Forms and Transliterations מִקְלְע֨וֹת מִקְלְעוֹת֙ מִקְלַ֣עַת מִקְלָע֔וֹת מקלעות מקלעת mikLaat miklaot mikleOt miq·la·‘aṯ miq·lā·‘ō·wṯ miq·lə·‘ō·wṯ miqla‘aṯ miqlā‘ōwṯ miqlə‘ōwṯLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance 1 Kings 6:18 HEB: הַבַּ֙יִת֙ פְּנִ֔ימָה מִקְלַ֣עַת פְּקָעִ֔ים וּפְטוּרֵ֖י NAS: within, carved [in the shape] of gourds KJV: within [was] carved with knops INT: the house within carved gourds open 1 Kings 6:29 1 Kings 6:32 1 Kings 7:31 4 Occurrences |
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