The Molten Sea
Tabernacle & TempleMeaning: “The bronze “sea” (great laver)”
Cleansing on a grand scale at the house of God.
The huge cast-bronze basin in Solomon’s Temple where the priests washed, resting on twelve bronze oxen.
What It Was
For Solomon’s Temple, Hiram cast an enormous round basin of bronze — “a molten sea, ten cubits from the one brim to the other” — standing on twelve bronze oxen facing the four directions (1 Kings 7:23–26). It held water for the priests’ washing.
Biblical Significance & Symbolism
As the tabernacle’s bronze laver, the molten sea speaks of the cleansing required for those who serve God — but now on a temple scale, the twelve oxen recalling the twelve tribes. It points to the “washing of water by the word” (Ephesians 5:26) that fits God’s people for his presence.
Timeline
Hiram casts the molten sea for the Temple
Scripture References
5 verses1 Kings1 verse
1 Kings 7:23
And he made a molten sea, ten cubits from the one brim to the other: it was round all about, and his height was five cubits: and a line of thirty cubits did compass it round about. from: Heb. from his brim to his brim
2 Kings1 verse
2 Kings 25:13
And the pillars of brass that were in the house of the LORD, and the bases, and the brasen sea that was in the house of the LORD, did the Chaldees break in pieces, and carried the brass of them to Babylon.
1 Chronicles1 verse
1 Chronicles 18:8
Likewise from Tibhath, and from Chun, cities of Hadarezer, brought David very much brass, wherewith Solomon made the brasen sea, and the pillars, and the vessels of brass. Tibhath: called in the book of Samuel Betah, and Berothai
2 Chronicles1 verse
2 Chronicles 4:2
Also he made a molten sea of ten cubits from brim to brim, round in compass, and five cubits the height thereof; and a line of thirty cubits did compass it round about. from: Heb. from his brim to his brim
Jeremiah1 verse
Jeremiah 52:17
Also the pillars of brass that were in the house of the LORD, and the bases, and the brasen sea that was in the house of the LORD, the Chaldeans brake, and carried all the brass of them to Babylon.
Topics & Symbolism
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Frequently asked about The Molten Sea
What was The Molten Sea in the Bible?
The huge cast-bronze basin in Solomon’s Temple where the priests washed, resting on twelve bronze oxen.
What does The Molten Sea symbolize?
Cleansing on a grand scale at the house of God.
What does the name The Molten Sea mean?
The name The Molten Sea means “The bronze “sea” (great laver)”.
What was The Molten Sea made of?
The Molten Sea was made of cast bronze, measuring 10 cubits across, 5 high, 30 around.
Who made The Molten Sea?
The Molten Sea was made by Hiram of Tyre.
Where was The Molten Sea kept?
The Molten Sea was kept at Solomon’s Temple courtyard.
Where is The Molten Sea first mentioned in the Bible?
The Molten Sea is first mentioned in 1 Kings 7:23.
How often is The Molten Sea mentioned in the Bible?
The Molten Sea is mentioned in 5 verses across 5 books: 1 Kings, 2 Kings, 1 Chronicles, 2 Chronicles, Jeremiah.
What was the molten sea in Solomon’s Temple?
A huge cast-bronze basin, ten cubits across, resting on twelve bronze oxen, holding water for the priests’ washing (1 Kings 7:23–26).
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