2840. chishshur
Lexical Summary
chishshur: Thought, plan, device

Original Word: חִשֻּׁר
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: chishshur
Pronunciation: khish-shoor'
Phonetic Spelling: (khish-shoor')
KJV: spoke
NASB: hubs
Word Origin: [from an unused root meaning to bind together]

1. combined, i.e. the nave or hub of a wheel (as holding the spokes together)

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
spoke

From an unused root meaning to bind together; combined, i.e. The nave or hub of a wheel (as holding the spokes together) -- spoke.

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from the same as chashrah
Definition
a nave, hub (of a wheel)
NASB Translation
hubs (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs
[חִשּׁוּר] noun [masculine] nave, hub of a wheel (which gather in the spokes) — plural suffix חִשֻּׁרֵיהֶם 1 Kings 7:33.

חשׁשׁ (√ of following; compare Arabic hasten, hurry (transitive), particles of straw, sand, dust, as flying quickly about; see LagBN 40).

Topical Lexicon
Meaning and Context

חִשֻּׁר (chishshur) appears a single time in Scripture, in the account of Solomon’s bronze stands for the Temple (1 Kings 7:33). The term identifies the “axles” that joined the four wheels to each movable stand supporting the basins. Though mentioned only briefly, the axles are integral to the passage’s portrait of masterful engineering and aesthetic excellence within the house of the Lord.

Cultural and Technological Background

In the tenth century BC, the Near East had already witnessed sophisticated metalworking, but Israel’s artisans—led by Huram of Tyre—produced bronze craftsmanship unrivaled in its precision. The wheels resembled “the structure of a chariot wheel” (1 Kings 7:33), implying the stands could be maneuvered much like military or ceremonial chariots. The axles allowed free rotation while bearing the full weight of the heavy basins, each holding some four hundred baths of water (1 Kings 7:38). In effect, the Temple contained mobile laver-units, facilitating purification rituals for priests and burnt offerings (2 Chronicles 4:6). The single mention of חִשֻּׁר thus testifies to Israel’s adoption of advanced transport technology for sacred service, merging practical utility with symbolic meaning.

Theological Significance

1. Divine precision. The inclusion of such mechanical details underscores that God values order and excellence. Every bolt and axle was “cast metal,” forged according to the pattern given to David and realized by Solomon (1 Chronicles 28:11-19). Scripture’s inspiration extends to technical minutiae, demonstrating the Lord’s sovereignty over both grand theology and fine craftsmanship.
2. Mobility of cleansing. The movable basins, enabled by their axles, picture purification that reaches wherever service occurs. Whereas the great Sea was stationary (1 Kings 7:23-26), the wheeled lavers depict cleansing availability throughout the courtyard, foreshadowing how the gospel’s cleansing would move beyond one locale (Acts 1:8).
3. Echoes of the divine chariot. The likeness between Temple wheels and chariot wheels parallels Ezekiel’s vision of the heavenly “wheel within a wheel” (Ezekiel 1:15-21). Both scenes combine metallurgical imagery with divine presence, suggesting that earthly worship objects mirrored celestial realities.

Lessons for Ministry and Application

• Craftsmanship as worship: Believers gifted in mechanical or technical skills serve no less spiritually than those in overtly religious roles. Colossians 3:23-24 affirms labor done “as for the Lord.”
• Holiness in mundane details: Modern ministry often overlooks practical infrastructure (sound systems, seating, maintenance). The axles of Solomon’s stands remind leaders that excellence glorifies God even in hidden supports.
• Mobility of grace: Just as water for cleansing moved with the priests, the church must ensure the means of grace are accessible—taking Scripture, fellowship, and compassion beyond sanctuary walls to streets, hospitals, and homes.

Related Scriptures and Themes

1 Kings 7:27-39 – Full context of the bronze stands and their wheels.

2 Chronicles 4:6 – Parallel account emphasizing ritual function.

Ezekiel 1:15-21 – Visionary wheels signifying God’s omnipresent glory.

Exodus 31:1-6 – Bezalel and Oholiab, Spirit-filled artisans.

1 Corinthians 12:4-6 – Varieties of gifts, same Lord.

Forms and Transliterations
וְחִשֻּׁרֵיהֶ֖ם וחשריהם vechishshureiHem wə·ḥiš·šu·rê·hem wəḥiššurêhem
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Englishman's Concordance
1 Kings 7:33
HEB: וְגַבֵּיהֶ֗ם וְחִשֻּׁקֵיהֶ֛ם וְחִשֻּׁרֵיהֶ֖ם הַכֹּ֥ל מוּצָֽק׃
NAS: their spokes, and their hubs [were] all
KJV: and their felloes, and their spokes, [were] all molten.
INT: their rims their spokes and their hubs all cast

1 Occurrence

Strong's Hebrew 2840
1 Occurrence


wə·ḥiš·šu·rê·hem — 1 Occ.

2839
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