Lexical Summary agol: Round Original Word: עָגֹל Strong's Exhaustive Concordance round Or magowl {aw-gole'}; from an unused root meaning to revolve, circular -- round. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom the same as egel Definition round NASB Translation circular (3), round (3). Brown-Driver-Briggs עָגֹל, עָגוֺל adjective round; — absolute עָגֹל 1 Kings 7:23 2t., עָגוֺל1Kings 10:19; 2 Chronicles 4:2; feminine plural עֲגֻלּוֺת 1 Kings 7:31; — round 1 Kings 7:31 (twice in verse) (opposed to מְרֻבָּעוֺת), 1 Kings 10:19; סָבְיב ׳ע round in circuit (perimeter) 1 Kings 7:23 2Chronicles 4:2; 1 Kings 7:35. Topical Lexicon Biblical Occurrences 1 Kings 7:23; 7:31 (two occurrences); 7:35; 10:19; 2 Chronicles 4:2 Architectural Usage in the Temple The word describes the circular contours of three principal features in Solomon’s complex: Symbolic Significance of Circular Form Scripture often associates the circle with perfection, fullness, and unbroken fellowship. The round Sea held water for continual cleansing—an ongoing invitation to purity (compare Hebrews 10:22). Its geometry silently taught that the LORD’s provision for holiness is complete. The throne’s rounded top reinforced that lesson: righteous rule rests on the wholeness of divine order (Psalm 89:14). Historical Context Archaeology shows no parallel in the ancient Near East matching the scale and precision of the ten-cubit Sea. The text emphasizes that Hiram of Tyre “cast” (1 Kings 7:23) the basin in one piece—evidence of Israel’s God-given technological advance. The same vocabulary is used for the throne’s curvature, linking sacred and royal spheres under covenantal blessing. Ministry Implications 1. Worship facilities today benefit from thoughtful design that points to theological truth. The ancients preached silently through architecture; modern ministries can do likewise. Christological Reflection The perfect circle anticipates the flawless atonement of Jesus Christ. The molten Sea prefigures the blood “that cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:7). Its vast capacity pictures the sufficiency of Christ’s sacrifice for “a multitude that no one could count” (Revelation 7:9). The rounded throne foreshadows the exalted seat of the Son of David, whose kingdom will never end (Luke 1:32-33). Eschatological Outlook Ezekiel’s future temple widens the motif of perfect measurements (Ezekiel 42:15-20), and Revelation culminates with the New Jerusalem fashioned as a flawless cube (Revelation 21:16), the three-dimensional counterpart to the circle. Both shapes convey the final, eternal completeness toward which every rounded surface in Solomon’s day was pointing. Summary Strong’s Hebrew 5696 consistently marks objects set apart for cleansing, order, and rule. Its Spirit-breathed placement in the text invites God’s people to marvel at His design, pursue wholeness, and look ahead to the day when perfection becomes permanent in the new heaven and new earth. Forms and Transliterations עֲגֻלּֽוֹת׃ עָג֣וֹל ׀ עָגֹ֣ל עָגֹ֣ל ׀ עָגֹ֤ל עגול עגל עגלות׃ ‘ā·ḡō·wl ‘ā·ḡōl ‘ă·ḡul·lō·wṯ ‘āḡōl ‘āḡōwl ‘ăḡullōwṯ aGol agulLotLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance 1 Kings 7:23 HEB: עַד־ שְׂפָת֜וֹ עָגֹ֣ל ׀ סָבִ֗יב וְחָמֵ֤שׁ NAS: from brim to brim, circular in form, KJV: to the other: [it was] round all about, INT: against again circular form was five 1 Kings 7:31 1 Kings 7:31 1 Kings 7:35 1 Kings 10:19 2 Chronicles 4:2 6 Occurrences |
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