Also pure gold for the fleshhooks, and the bowls, and the cups: and for the golden basons he gave gold by weight for every bason; and likewise silver by weight for every bason of silver:

1 CHRONICLES 28:17KJV
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1 Chronicles 28:17 (KJV)

What does 1 Chronicles 28:17 mean?

1 Chronicles 28:17 lists the specific amounts of pure gold and silver set aside for making various temple utensils, such as fleshhooks, bowls, cups, and basins, with each item receiving its own measured weight of precious metal. This verse highlights the careful preparation and detailed planning for the temple’s furnishings.

King David is speaking to the leaders of Israel, giving instructions and resources for building the temple that his son Solomon will oversee. The verse shows David’s attention to detail, ensuring that every item used in temple worship is made from the best materials, with nothing left to chance or guesswork.

The Hebrew behind 1 Chronicles 28:17

  • "pure" (זָךְ, zakh): This word means "clean" or "pure," emphasizing that only the finest, unalloyed gold was to be used for these sacred objects.
  • "fleshhooks" (מִזְלָג, mizlag): These were utensils used to handle meat from sacrifices, showing that even practical tools for temple service were made with care and value.
  • "weight" (מִשְׁקָל, mishqal): The use of this word stresses that every item had a specific, measured amount of gold or silver, not just a general supply, reflecting order and precision in temple worship.

Why 1 Chronicles 28:17 matters

  • This verse clears up any idea that the temple furnishings were ordinary or hastily made; each item was carefully crafted from pure materials, with exact weights assigned.
  • The attention to detail in the verse highlights the seriousness and reverence with which temple worship was approached in ancient Israel.
  • The verse connects to the larger passage where David is passing on his vision and resources to Solomon, showing the importance of both leadership and preparation in carrying out sacred tasks.

Where else these words appear

“cups” Hebrew H7184 · used in 4 verses

  • Exodus 25:29 And thou shalt make the dishes thereof, and spoons thereof, and covers thereof, and bowls thereof, to cover withal: of pure gold shalt thou make them.
  • Exodus 37:16 And he made the vessels which were upon the table, his dishes, and his spoons, and his bowls, and his covers to cover withal, of pure gold.
  • Numbers 4:7 And upon the table of shewbread they shall spread a cloth of blue, and put thereon the dishes, and the spoons, and the bowls, and covers to cover withal: and the continual bread shall be thereon:

“basons” Hebrew H3713 · used in 6 verses

  • Exodus 16:14 And when the dew that lay was gone up, behold, upon the face of the wilderness there lay a small round thing, as small as the hoar frost on the ground.
  • Ezra 1:10 Thirty basons of gold, silver basons of a second sort four hundred and ten, and other vessels a thousand.
  • Job 38:29 Out of whose womb came the ice? and the hoary frost of heaven, who hath gendered it?

“fleshhooks” Hebrew H4207 · used in 7 verses

  • Exodus 27:3 And thou shalt make his pans to receive his ashes, and his shovels, and his basons, and his fleshhooks, and his firepans: all the vessels thereof thou shalt make of brass.
  • Numbers 4:14 And they shall put upon it all the vessels thereof, wherewith they minister about it, even the censers, the fleshhooks, and the shovels, and the basons, all the vessels of the altar; and they shall spread upon it a covering of badgers' skins, and put to the staves of it.
  • 1 Samuel 2:14 And he struck it into the pan, or kettle, or caldron, or pot; all that the fleshhook brought up the priest took for himself. So they did in Shiloh unto all the Israelites that came thither.

“bowls” Hebrew H4219 · used in 32 verses

  • Exodus 27:3 And thou shalt make his pans to receive his ashes, and his shovels, and his basons, and his fleshhooks, and his firepans: all the vessels thereof thou shalt make of brass.
  • Numbers 7:55 His offering was one silver charger of the weight of an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering:
  • 2 Kings 12:13 Howbeit there were not made for the house of the LORD bowls of silver, snuffers, basons, trumpets, any vessels of gold, or vessels of silver, of the money that was brought into the house of the LORD: