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:

2 KINGS 12:13KJV
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2 Kings 12:13 (KJV)

What does 2 Kings 12:13 mean?

2 Kings 12:13 explains that none of the money brought into the temple of the LORD was used to make silver bowls, snuffers, basins, trumpets, or any gold or silver vessels for the temple. Instead, the funds were not spent on creating new sacred objects at that time.

This verse is part of a record about King Jehoash’s efforts to repair the temple in Jerusalem. The focus here is on how the collected money was used: it was not spent on making new ceremonial items, but rather, as the surrounding verses show, on repairing the structure itself. This detail highlights the practical priorities during Jehoash’s reign, showing a shift from making new temple treasures to maintaining the building.

The Hebrew behind 2 Kings 12:13

  • "bowls" (סֵפֶל, sefel): This word refers to a type of vessel or container, often used in temple service. The verse notes that none of these were made from the collected funds, emphasizing the focus on repairs over ritual objects.
  • "snuffers" (מְזַמְּרוֹת, mezammerot): These were tools used to trim the wicks of lamps in the temple. Mentioning them shows attention to even the smaller details of temple service, but the verse clarifies that such items were not the priority for the funds.
  • "vessels" (כְּלִי, keli): This general word for objects or utensils is repeated for both gold and silver, underlining that no new sacred items—large or small—were produced from the money.
  • "money" (כֶּסֶף, kesef): This term is used for both silver as a material and for money in general. The verse uses it to clarify that the offerings were not converted into new temple items, but reserved for another purpose.

Why 2 Kings 12:13 matters

  • This verse clears up any assumption that the temple funds were used for making new ceremonial objects, showing instead a focus on structural repairs.
  • It highlights a practical approach to temple maintenance during King Jehoash’s reign, contrasting with earlier times when making new sacred vessels was a priority.
  • The verse connects to the wider passage by showing transparency and accountability in how temple offerings were managed, which was a significant concern in the history of Israel’s worship practices.

Where else these words appear

“snuffers” Hebrew H4212 · used in 5 verses

  • 1 Kings 7:50 And the bowls, and the snuffers, and the basons, and the spoons, and the censers of pure gold; and the hinges of gold, both for the doors of the inner house, the most holy place, and for the doors of the house, to wit, of the temple.
  • 2 Kings 25:14 And the pots, and the shovels, and the snuffers, and the spoons, and all the vessels of brass wherewith they ministered, took they away.
  • 2 Chronicles 4:22 And the snuffers, and the basons, and the spoons, and the censers, of pure gold: and the entry of the house, the inner doors thereof for the most holy place, and the doors of the house of the temple, were of gold.

“trumpets” Hebrew H2689 · used in 27 verses

  • Numbers 10:2 Make thee two trumpets of silver; of a whole piece shalt thou make them: that thou mayest use them for the calling of the assembly, and for the journeying of the camps.
  • 1 Chronicles 15:28 Thus all Israel brought up the ark of the covenant of the LORD with shouting, and with sound of the cornet, and with trumpets, and with cymbals, making a noise with psalteries and harps.
  • 2 Chronicles 23:13 And she looked, and, behold, the king stood at his pillar at the entering in, and the princes and the trumpets by the king: and all the people of the land rejoiced, and sounded with trumpets, also the singers with instruments of musick, and such as taught to sing praise. Then Athaliah rent her clothes, and said, Treason, Treason.

“bowls” Hebrew H5592 · used in 28 verses

  • Exodus 12:22 And ye shall take a bunch of hyssop, and dip it in the blood that is in the bason, and strike the lintel and the two side posts with the blood that is in the bason; and none of you shall go out at the door of his house until the morning.
  • 1 Chronicles 9:19 And Shallum the son of Kore, the son of Ebiasaph, the son of Korah, and his brethren, of the house of his father, the Korahites, were over the work of the service, keepers of the gates of the tabernacle: and their fathers, being over the host of the LORD, were keepers of the entry.
  • Jeremiah 52:19 And the basons, and the firepans, and the bowls, and the caldrons, and the candlesticks, and the spoons, and the cups; that which was of gold in gold, and that which was of silver in silver, took the captain of the guard away.

“basons” 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 25:15 And the firepans, and the bowls, and such things as were of gold, in gold, and of silver, in silver, the captain of the guard took away.