Lexical Summary mutseqeth: Casting, Molten Original Word: מוּצָקָה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance when it was cast, pipe Or mutsaqah {moo-tsaw-kaw'}; from yatsaq; properly, something poured out, i.e. A casting (of metal); by implication, a tube (as cast) -- when it was cast, pipe. see HEBREW yatsaq NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom yatsaq Definition a pipe, casting NASB Translation piece (1), spouts (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs [מוּצֶ֫קֶת] noun feminine 1. pipe (through which oil is poured) מוּצָקוֺת Zechariah 4:2. 2 a casting (compare יְצֻקָה) יְצוּקִים בְּמֻעַֿקְתּוֺ2Chronicles 4:3. Topical Lexicon Occurrences and Immediate Context2 Chronicles 4:3 records that “the gourds were cast in two rows when the Sea was cast,” emphasizing that the huge bronze basin of Solomon’s temple was formed as a single, unified piece. Zechariah 4:2 presents a visionary counterpart: “I see a solid gold lampstand with a bowl at the top,” a menorah likewise described as entirely cast, seamless and complete. Historical Backdrop Bronze and gold casting were at their height during Solomon’s reign. Artisans sent by Hiram of Tyre (1 Kings 7:13-14) poured molten metal into clay moulds, allowing massive or intricate objects to emerge in one piece. The language of מוּצָקָה points to this technological accomplishment. The Bronze Sea stood on the Temple’s court, holding roughly twenty-two thousand liters of water for priestly cleansing (2 Chronicles 4:5-6). The golden lampstand envisioned by Zechariah evokes the menorah that once burned within the Holy Place (Exodus 25:31-40), yet now appears with an inexhaustible oil supply, anticipating the restoration of worship after the exile. Symbolic and Theological Significance 1. Unity and Integrity Being cast “as one” underlines God’s desire for wholeness. No joints, rivets, or seams interrupt the Bronze Sea or the lampstand; likewise, divine workmanship fashions an undivided covenant people (John 17:21). 2. Permanence and Stability Solid metal resists fracture. The imagery reinforces the enduring character of God’s ordinances: cleansing (water) and illumination (light) endure “throughout all generations” (Psalm 119:90). 3. Divine Initiative Molten metal cannot shape itself; it is entirely at the mercy of the caster. Israel’s worship apparatus rests on God’s sovereign action, foreshadowing the believer’s new creation in Christ (Ephesians 2:10). Liturgical Function • Bronze Sea: Daily purification for priests mirrored the constant need for cleansing before approaching a holy God. Both vessels served without interruption; water and light were to be continually available. Their cast form guaranteed durability for their perpetual ministry. Prophetic and Eschatological Overtones Zechariah’s solid lampstand, fed by two olive trees, speaks of inexhaustible grace—“‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the LORD of Hosts” (Zechariah 4:6). The seamless casting mirrors the Spirit’s unbroken supply. Revelation 4:6 and Revelation 21:18 draw on similar imagery of crystal seas and gold that is “pure,” pointing to the perfected worship of the new heaven and new earth. Lessons for Contemporary Ministry • Dependence: Effective service flows from God’s workmanship, not human patchwork. Key References Exodus 25:31-40; 1 Kings 7:13-26; 2 Chronicles 4:2-6; Zechariah 4:1-14; John 17:21; Ephesians 2:10; Revelation 1:12-13; Revelation 4:6; Revelation 21:18 Forms and Transliterations בְּמֻֽצַקְתּֽוֹ׃ במצקתו׃ מֽוּצָק֔וֹת מוצקות bə·mu·ṣaq·tōw bəmuṣaqtōw beMutzakTo mū·ṣā·qō·wṯ mūṣāqōwṯ mutzaKotLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance 2 Chronicles 4:3 HEB: הַבָּקָ֔ר יְצוּקִ֖ים בְּמֻֽצַקְתּֽוֹ׃ NAS: rows, cast in one piece. KJV: of oxen [were] cast, when it was cast. INT: the oxen cast piece Zechariah 4:2 2 Occurrences |
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