1 Kings 7:25

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.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The narrator details the architectural specifications of the bronze Sea in Solomon’s temple courtyard during the construction phase.

The words — The Hebrew term עֹמֵ֞ד ('o.Med) literally renders "[it was] standing," indicating the vessel's fixed support. The word בָּקָ֗ר (ba.Kar) identifies the "ox[en]" that physically bear the Sea's weight.

The thread — The identical description of the Sea resting on twelve oxen appears in 2 Chronicles 4:4 and is cataloged among the temple's bronze furnishings in Jeremiah 52:20.

Why it lands — The text establishes the precise load-bearing design required to stabilize a massive water reservoir, demanding attention to the engineering reality behind the sacred object.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

עֹמֵ֞ד'o.Med[it was] standing עַל־'al-on שְׁנֵ֧יshe.Neitwo [plus]עָשָׂ֣ר'a.Sarten בָּקָ֗רba.Karox[en]שְׁלֹשָׁ֣הshe.lo.Shahthree פֹנִ֣ים׀fo.Nim[were] turning צָפ֡וֹנָהtza.Fo.na/hnorth/ -ward וּשְׁלֹשָׁה֩u./she.lo.Shahand/ three פֹנִ֨ים׀fo.Nim[were] turning יָ֜מָּהYa.ma/hwest/ -ward וּשְׁלֹשָׁ֣ה׀u./she.lo.Shahand/ three פֹּנִ֣יםpo.Nim[were] turning נֶ֗גְבָּהNeg.ba/h[the] south/ towards וּשְׁלֹשָׁה֙u./she.lo.Shahand/ three פֹּנִ֣יםpo.Nim[were] turning מִזְרָ֔חָהmiz.Ra.cha/heast/ -ward וְהַיָּ֥םve./hai./Yamand/ the/ sea עֲלֵיהֶ֖ם'a.lei./Hem[was] on/ them מִלְמָ֑עְלָהmi/l./Ma.'e.la/hfrom/ to/ above/ <towards>וְכָל־ve./kholand/ all אֲחֹֽרֵיהֶ֖ם'a.cho.rei./Hemhindquarters/ their בָּֽיְתָה׃Ba.ye.ta/h[were] inside/ towards

King James Version

It stood upon twelve oxen, three looking toward the north, and three looking toward the west, and three looking toward the south, and three looking toward the east: and the sea was set above upon them, and all their hinder parts were inward.

Cross-references

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 4:4 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.
Ezekiel 1:10 The form of their faces was that of a man, and each of the four had the face of a lion on the right side, the face of an ox on the left side, and also the face of an eagle.
Matthew 28:19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
Mark 16:15 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.
Luke 24:47 and in His name repentance and forgiveness of sins will be proclaimed to all nations, beginning in Jerusalem.
1 Corinthians 9:9 For it is written in the Law of Moses: “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain.” Is it about oxen that God is concerned?
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.