Lexical Summary patur: Interpretation Original Word: פָטוּר Strong's Exhaustive Concordance open Passive participle of patar; opened, i.e. (as noun) a bud -- open. see HEBREW patar NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originpass. part. of patar, q.v. Topical Lexicon Overview פָטוּר (patûr) unites two complementary ideas in Scripture: aesthetic beauty expressed through “open flowers” carved in Solomon’s Temple, and exemption from ordinary labor so that worship might proceed unceasingly. Both emphases converge on one theme—the priority God places on devoted, unhindered, and beautiful worship. Occurrences and Literary Settings 1 Kings 6:18; 6:29; 6:32; 6:35 record patûr in the description of the Temple’s cedar panels, walls, and doors. 1 Chronicles 9:33 applies the term to Levite singers who were “exempt from other duties.” In every passage the word appears within the larger narratives of Temple construction or Temple service, underscoring its cultic orientation. Decorative Reliefs in the House of the LORD Four references belong to the building narrative of 1 Kings 6. The cedar interior was “carved with gourds and open flowers” (1 Kings 6:18), while walls and doors carried “carvings of cherubim, palm trees, and open flowers” (1 Kings 6:29, 32, 35). These floral motifs, rendered in low relief, served more than ornamental purposes; they visually linked the sanctuary with the created order. As blossoms suggest life, growth, and fruitfulness, the Temple became a stylized Garden of Eden, a restored meeting place between God and humanity. The artistry also elevated the worshippers’ minds, reminding them that beauty belongs to true worship (Psalm 27:4). Edenic and Covenantal Symbolism By pairing patûr-blossoms with cherubim and palm trees, the text evokes three theological memories: Thus patûr functions typologically. In the Old Covenant, carved flowers anticipated the eschatological blossoming of God’s people (Isaiah 35:1-2). In the New Covenant, the living Temple—Christ and His body—fulfils that promise (John 2:21; Ephesians 2:21). Freedom for Constant Worship 1 Chronicles 9:33 shifts the term from carving to calling: “The singers… stayed in the rooms of the temple and were exempt from other duties, for they were on duty both day and night”. Their exemption (patûr) mirrors the freedom of the carved blossoms—unhindered by stone, projecting outward in perpetual beauty. The Levites’ sole occupation was praise (Psalm 134:1). Their release from mundane obligations highlights corporate worship as a full-time ministry that sustains the spiritual life of the covenant community. Ministerial Insights 1. Sanctified Craftsmanship. God commissions artistic excellence. Modern artisans, musicians, and technicians who serve the church echo the Temple craftsmen; their work should be both skillful and theological. Historical Footnote Archaeological parallels from Phoenician and Syrian temples confirm that floral bas-relief was common in royal architecture of the tenth century B.C. Solomon’s artisans, many supplied by Hiram of Tyre (1 Kings 5:7-8), adapted the international style but infused it with covenant symbolism, making patûr uniquely Israelite. Summary Patûr weaves together the visual and the vocational. Carved blossoms beautified God’s house; exempted singers filled that house with ceaseless praise. Both uses call the church to craft environments and structures—physical and organizational—that allow worship to flourish, echoing the eternal blossom of God’s presence among His people. Forms and Transliterations וּפְטֻרֵ֖י וּפְטוּרֵ֖י וּפְטוּרֵ֥י ופטורי ופטרי פְּטוּרִ֑ים פטורים pə·ṭū·rîm petuRim pəṭūrîm ū·p̄ə·ṭu·rê ū·p̄ə·ṭū·rê ufetuRei ūp̄əṭurê ūp̄əṭūrêLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance 1 Kings 6:18 HEB: מִקְלַ֣עַת פְּקָעִ֔ים וּפְטוּרֵ֖י צִצִּ֑ים הַכֹּ֣ל INT: carved gourds open flowers all 1 Kings 6:29 1 Kings 6:32 1 Kings 6:35 1 Chronicles 9:33 5 Occurrences |
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