Menu

Exodus 37:12 — Word Study

Depth

WLCוַיַּ֨עַשׂ ל֥וֹ מִסְגֶּ֛רֶת טֹ֖פַח סָבִ֑יב וַיַּ֧עַשׂ זֵר־ זָהָ֛ב לְמִסְגַּרְתּ֖וֹ סָבִֽיב׃

BSAAnd he madeʻâsâh [crafted, formed] a rimmiçgereth [border, edge] aroundçâbîyb a handbreadth wideṭôphach [the width of a hand, about 3-4 inches] and putʻâsâh [placed, set] a goldzâhâb [valuable, precious] moldingzêr [crown, decorative edge] onçâbîyb the rimmiçgereth [perimeter, surrounding edge]

Word
Listen & take awayExodus 37
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 12 is in this chapter.
Hebrew ↓ Download MP3 The Masoretic text of this chapter, read aloud. Read by Abraham Shmuelof, courtesy of Audio Scriptures International. Chapter divisions by the Academy of Ancient Languages..
Say the word Each Hebrew word carries its transliteration (sa.Viv) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Exodus 37:12quick helps
In a sentenceThe craftsman made a rim and a gold molding for the table.
Who is speakingThe passage describes the work of a skilled craftsman in the construction of the tabernacle.
Where we areThis verse is part of the detailed instructions for building the tabernacle and its furnishings.
The hard wordמִסְגֶּ֛רֶת
Take awayThe craftsmanship reflects the care and detail in the construction of sacred objects.
3 commentators on this verse Jamieson, Ellicott, Whedon & more — read them › clause verbעָשָׂה The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
How rare are these words?in the Old Testament

Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.

Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.

Deep Study — Exodus 37:12

Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.

Context — The Construction of the Tabernaclegenerated

11He overlaid it with pure gold and made a gold molding around it.
12And he made a rim around it a handbreadth wide and put a gold molding on the rim.
13He cast four gold rings for the table and fastened them to the four corners at its four legs.
14The rings were placed close to the rim, to serve as holders for the poles used to carry the table.

Exodus 37:12 describes the craftsmanship involved in creating the tabernacle's furnishings, highlighting the importance of detail and beauty in the sacred space. The surrounding context includes instructions for the construction of the table and its accessories, emphasizing the significance of these items in Israel's worship.


Cross References


The Key Word מִסְגֶּ֛רֶת, mis.Ge.retgenerated

The noun מִסְגֶּ֛רֶת (misgereth) means a rim or border, indicating the outer edge of an object. It is derived from a root that conveys the idea of enclosing or surrounding, often used in contexts that describe boundaries or perimeters.

In this verse, it specifically refers to the rim of the table, which is crafted with precision to enhance its appearance and functionality. The use of this term underscores the importance of detail in the sacred objects used in worship.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The finite verb וַיַּ֨עַשׂ (and he made) governs the entire verse, indicating the action taken by the craftsman. The structure includes a prepositional phrase describing the object of the action, followed by a noun phrase detailing the measurements and materials used.

The word order emphasizes the actions of making and placing, with the rim and molding being central to the description of the table's construction.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint does not provide a direct translation for מִסְגֶּ֛רֶת, but the Greek word used reflects a similar concept of a border or edge, indicating the translators understood the importance of the rim in the context of the tabernacle's furnishings.

This choice suggests a continuity in the emphasis on craftsmanship and detail when rendering the Hebrew text into Greek.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Exodus 37:12 describes how a craftsman made a rim around the table that was a handbreadth wide and added a gold molding. This highlights the care taken in crafting the tabernacle's furnishings.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does the rim represent in this context?

The rim signifies the careful craftsmanship involved in creating sacred objects, indicating their importance in worship.

Why is the measurement of a handbreadth given?

The measurement provides a precise understanding of the dimensions, reflecting the attention to detail required in constructing the tabernacle.

What is the significance of using gold for the molding?

Gold symbolizes value and beauty, enhancing the sacredness of the objects used in worship.

How does this verse connect to the overall theme of the tabernacle?

This verse illustrates the meticulous nature of the tabernacle's construction, emphasizing the importance of beauty and precision in the worship of God.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. How does attention to detail in our work reflect our values and beliefs?
  2. In what ways can we incorporate beauty into our daily lives as an act of worship?
  3. What does this passage teach us about the significance of sacred spaces?
  4. How can we apply the principles of craftsmanship seen here in our own projects or tasks?

Commentators on this verse — 3 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Exodus 37:12 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

And he overlaid it with pure gold, and made thereunto a crown of gold round about. No JFB commentary on these verses.

Read Robert Jamieson on Exodus 37 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

XXXVII.(1-24) This passage corresponds with Exodus 37:10-29 of Exodus 25, and contains an account of the construction of the holy furniture: (1) That of the Holy of Holies: viz., the ark (Exodus 37:1-5), the mercyseat (Exodus 37:6-9); (2) that of the Holy Place, viz., the table of shewbread (Exodus 37:10-16) and the golden candlestick (Exodus 37:17-24). Exodus 37:1-5 correspond to Exodus 25:10-14 of Exodus 25 Exodus 37:6-9 correspond to Exodus 25:17-20 of Exodus 25 Exodus 37:10-16 correspond to Exodus 25:23-29 of Exodus 25 Exodus 37:17-24 correspond to Exodus 25:31-39 of Exodus 25

Read Charles John Ellicott on Exodus 37 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

THE ARK OF THE , Exodus 39:1-9. See notes on Exodus 25:10-22. THE TABLE OF , Exodus 39:10-16. See notes on Exodus 25:23-30. THE GOLDEN , Exodus 39:17-24. See notes on Exodus 25:31-40. THE ALTAR OF INCENSE, Exodus 39:25-28.

Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Exodus 37 →

The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company

Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.

Modern formal

BSBBerean Standard Bible2020

And he made a rim around it a handbreadth wide and put a gold molding on the rim.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

He made a border of a hand’s width around it, and made a golden molding on its border around it.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

And he made a rim around it a handbreadth wide and put a gold molding on the rim.

NETBNew English Translation2006

He made a surrounding frame for it about three inches wide, and he made a surrounding border of gold for its frame.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

Also he made thereunto a border of an handbreadth round about; and made a crown of gold for the border thereof round about.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

And he made unto it a border of a handbreadth round about, and made a golden crown to the border thereof round about.

RVARevised Version, American1894

And he made unto it a border of an handbreadth round about, and made a golden crown to the border thereof round about.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

Also he made to it a border of a hand-breadth round about; and made a crown of gold for its border round about.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

Also he made thereto a border of an hand breadth round about, and made vpon the border a crowne of golde round about.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

And he made for it a margin of a hand-breadth round about; and made a border of gold for the margin thereof round about.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

And he maketh for it a border of a handbreadth round about, and maketh a wreath of gold for its border round about;

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

And he makes a border for it of a handbreadth around, and makes a wreath of gold around for its border;

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

And he made unto it a rim of a hand's breadth round about, and made a golden crown on its rim round about.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

He made a surrounding frame for it one handbreadth wide, with a surrounding border of gold for the frame.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

And to the ledge itself he made a polished crown of gold, of four fingers’ breadth, and upon the same another golden crown.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

He made a border around it the width of a hand and put a gold trim on the border.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

And he made a frame all round it about as wide as a man's hand, edged with gold all round.

Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.


The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank

This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.

וַandclauseverbיַּ֨עַשׂhe.madeprepositional phrase · prepositionalל֥forוֹitnoun phrase · objectמִסְגֶּ֛רֶתa.rimטֹ֖פַחof.a.hand.breadthadverbialסָבִ֑יבall.aroundוַandclauseverbיַּ֧עַשׂhe.madenoun phrase · objectזֵרa.moldingזָהָ֛בof.goldprepositional phrase · prepositionalלְfornoun phraseמִסְגַּרְתּ֖rimוֹitsadverbialסָבִֽיבall.around

Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.


The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran

The Masoretic Text is supported by the Samaritan Pentateuch, which agrees word for word. The Dead Sea Scrolls show partial restoration, indicating some loss of text but aligning closely with the Masoretic reading.

Masoretic TextLeningrad Codex, c. AD 1008 — the text this page is built on

וַיַּ֨עַשׂ ל֥וֹ מִסְגֶּ֛רֶת טֹ֖פַח סָבִ֑יב וַיַּ֧עַשׂ זֵר־ זָהָ֛ב לְמִסְגַּרְתּ֖וֹ סָבִֽיב׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
וַיַּ֨עַשׂ’’ל֥וֹ’’מִסְגֶּ֛רֶת’’טֹ֖פַח’’סָבִ֑יב’’וַיַּ֧עַשׂ’’זֵר־’’זָהָ֛ב’’סָבִֽיב׃’’

9 of the 10 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.

Samaritan Pentateuchthe Torah as the Samaritan community kept it

ויעשׂ לו מסגרת טפח סביב ויעשׂ זר זהב למסגרתו סביב

Agrees with the Masoretic Text here, word for word.

Dead Sea Scrolls — 4Q22a copy a thousand years older than the Leningrad Codex

ויעש ל׳ו [מסגרת] [טפח] סביב ויעש [זר] זהב למסגרת׳ו סביב

5 words on the leather — 2 partly restored, 3 supplied entire by an editor.

Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.


The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with

This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.

Exodus 37:12עָשָׂהand he madeand he madeעָשָׂהוֹfor itfor itוֹמִסְגֶּ֫רֶתa rim ofa rim ofמִסְגֶּ֫רֶתטֹ֫פַחa hand breaa hand breadthטֹ֫פַחסָבִיבall aroundall aroundסָבִיבעָשָׂהand he madeand he madeעָשָׂהזֵרa molding oa molding ofזֵרזָהָבgoldgoldזָהָבמִסְגֶּ֫רֶתfor rim itsfor rim itsמִסְגֶּ֫רֶתסָבִיבall aroundall aroundסָבִיבסָגַרto shutto shutסָגַרסָבַבto turn: tto turn: turnסָבַבטָפַחto extendto extendטָפַחזָרַרto sneezeto sneezeזָרַרמְלָאכָהworkworkמְלָאכָהתּוֹעֵבַהabominatioabominationתּוֹעֵבַהשַׁלָבִּיםframeframeשַׁלָבִּיםטֹ֫פַחhandbreadthandbreadthטֹ֫פַחאֵילָםarchesarchesאֵילָםחַלּוֹןwindowwindowחַלּוֹןזֵרborderborderזֵרמִסְגֶּ֫רֶתperimeterperimeterמִסְגֶּ֫רֶתצֵלָעsidesideצֵלָעזָהָבgoldgoldזָהָבצָפָהto overlayto overlayצָפָהכֶּ֫סֶףsilver: mosilver: moneyכֶּ֫סֶף
meets it a little oftener than chancemeets it far oftener than chancebuilt from the same roottwo words of the verse share ita word of this versea related word

Lexicons — every word in Exodus 37:12

One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.

Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.

and he made for it a rim of a hand breadth all around and he made a molding of gold for rim its all around
וַיַּ֨עַשׂvai.Ya.'as and he made H6213 Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine singular
2,629× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This verb means to make or do something, and is used over 2,600 times in the Bible. It is first used in Genesis 1:7 to describe God's creation of the world and is also used in Exodus 31:5 to describe the work of skilled craftsmen.
Amplified meaning
crafted, formed
Tyndale gloss
to make
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

עָשָׂה (asah) is a Hebrew verb meaning to do or make, encompassing a wide range of actions such as producing, preparing, and observing. It can refer to both concrete and abstract activities, including making offerings and attending to tasks. The verb also has forms indicating passive meanings, such as being made or offered. Notably, the Piel form refers to pressing or squeezing.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עָשָׂה 2622 vb. do, make

Qal 2524

do (1560 t.)

deal with

oft. in phr. do kindness with

abs. act, act with effect

make (670 t.)

produce, yield

prepare, esp. of dressing and cooking food

make offering

attend to, put in order

observe, celebrate, religious festival

acquire property of various kinds

appoint priests

bring about of י׳’s effecting a deliverance

use

spend, pass, days of life

Niph.

97be done

be made, of concr. things

be produced from vine

be prepared, of food

be offered

be observed, passover

be used

Pu. I was made

base

[עָשָׂה] vb. Pi. press, squeeze

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6213a עָשָׂה do, make .. . do (1560 + t.)

. deal with

. oft. in phr. do kindness with

. abs. act, act with effect

. . make (670 + t.)

. produce, yield

. prepare, esp. of dressing and cooking food

. make offering

. attend to, put in order

. observe, celebrate, religious festival

. acquire property of various kinds

. appoint priests

. bring about of י׳’s effecting a deliverance

. use

. spend, pass, days of life

. . be done

. . be made, of concr. things

. be produced from vine

. be prepared, of food

. be offered

. be observed, passover

. be used

. I was made

H6213b עָשָׂה Pi. press, squeeze

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6213 `asah aw-saw'

a primitive root; to do or make, in the broadest sense and

widest application (as follows):--accomplish, advance,

appoint, apt, be at, become, bear, bestow, bring forth,

bruise, be busy, X certainly, have the charge of, commit, deal

(with), deck, + displease, do, (ready) dress(-ed), (put in)

execute(-ion), exercise, fashion, + feast, (fight-)ing man, +

finish, fit, fly, follow, fulfill, furnish, gather, get, go

about, govern, grant, great, + hinder, hold ((a feast)), X

indeed, + be industrious, + journey, keep, labour, maintain,

make, be meet, observe, be occupied, offer, + officer, pare,

bring (come) to pass, perform, pracise, prepare, procure,

provide, put, requite, X sacrifice, serve, set, shew, X sin,

spend, X surely, take, X thoroughly, trim, X very, + vex, be

(warr-)ior, work(-man), yield, use.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עָשָׂה (a.sah) — to make: do.

: do/perform

1) to do, fashion, accomplish, make

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to do, work, make, produce

1a1a) to do

1a1b) to work

1a1c) to deal (with)

1a1d) to act, act with effect, effect

1a2) to make

1a2a) to make

1a2b) to produce

1a2c) to prepare

1a2d) to make (an offering)

1a2e) to attend to, put in order

1a2f) to observe, celebrate

1a2g) to acquire (property)

1a2h) to appoint, ordain, institute

1a2i) to bring about

1a2j) to use

1a2k) to spend, pass

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be done

1b2) to be made

1b3) to be produced

1b4) to be offered

1b5) to be observed

1b6) to be used

1c) (Pual) to be made

עָשָׂה (a.sah) — to press.

(Piel) to press, squeeze

עָשָׂה (a.sah) — to make.

: make(OBJECT)

1) to do, fashion, accomplish, make

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to do, work, make, produce

1a1a) to do

1a1b) to work

1a1c) to deal (with)

1a1d) to act, act with effect, effect

1a2) to make

1a2a) to make

1a2b) to produce

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms — Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine singular
Hc/Vqw3ms
and he made for it a rim of a hand breadth all around and he made a molding of gold for rim its all around
ל֥וֹlo for it H9033 Preposition · suffix
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

וֹ (o) — him.

Personal object pronoun - suffix for propositions and verbs without an object: 3rd person masculine singular

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HRd/Sp3ms — Preposition · suffix
HRd/Sp3ms
and he made for it a rim of a hand breadth all around and he made a molding of gold for rim its all around
מִסְגֶּ֛רֶתmis.Ge.ret a rim of H4526 Noun common · feminine singular construct
17× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word means a border or perimeter of a region, like the edge of a city or a mountain. It is used in the Bible to describe the borders of Israel in Numbers 34:7-12 and the strongholds of God in Psalm 31:2-4. The word can also refer to a secure or fortified place.
Amplified meaning
border, edge
Tyndale gloss
perimeter
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מִסְגֶּ֫רֶת (misgereth) refers to a border or rim, as well as a fastness or stronghold. It is derived from the root meaning to enclose, indicating something that serves as a margin or boundary. The term appears in contexts related to borders and strongholds, highlighting its use in describing enclosed spaces.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מִסְגֶּ֫רֶת n.f. 1. border, rim. 2. fastness

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4526 מִסְגֶּ֫רֶת 1. border, rim. 2. fastness

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4526 micgereth mis-gheh'-reth

from 5462; something enclosing, i.e. a margin (of a region,

of a panel); concretely, a stronghold:--border, close place,

hole.

see HEBREW for 05462

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מִסְגֶּ֫רֶת (mis.ge.ret) — perimeter.

1) border, fastness, rim

1a) border, rim

1b) fastness

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-fs — Noun common · feminine singular construct
HNcfsc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ov:

(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.

English usagewhat the translators’ English meant
Webster's Dictionary (1828), Webster's Unabridged (1913), Webster's Dictionary (1806)

OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]

1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.

I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.

For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.

It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.

Lamentations 3:1.

The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.

Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.

That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.

Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…

and he made for it a rim of a hand breadth all around and he made a molding of gold for rim its all around
טֹ֖פַחTo.fach a hand breadth H2948 Noun common · masculine singular absolute
5× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Similar to H2947, this word also refers to the width of a hand, used in 1 Kings 7:26 and 2 Chronicles 4:5 to describe the size of the molten sea. The molten sea was large.
Amplified meaning
the width of a hand, about 3-4 inches
Tyndale gloss
handbreadth
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

טֹ֫פַח (tophach) means 'hand-breadth' and refers to a measurement of width. It is derived from related words indicating breadth and is consistently defined across lexicons. The term appears in contexts where precise dimensions are relevant.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

טֹ֫פַח n.m. span, hand-breadth

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2948 טֹ֫פַח span, hand-breadth

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2948 tophach to'-fakh

from 2946 (the same as 2947):--hand-breadth (broad).

see HEBREW for 02946

see HEBREW for 02947

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

טֹ֫פַח (to.phach) — handbreadth.

span, hand breadth

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absolute
HNcmsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

bredth (rochabh, the root idea being to make wide, spacious): A term of expanse or measurement used of the ark (Ge 6:15); of the tabernacle (Ex 27:13); of Solomon's temple (1Ki 6:2). platos, "breadth," as of the celestial city (Re 21:16). Figuratively, of the comprehensiveness of God's law (Ps 119:96); of the heart (1Ki 4:29, rendered "largeness of heart" English Versions); of God's immeasurable love (Eph 3:18).

and he made for it a rim of a hand breadth all around and he made a molding of gold for rim its all around
סָבִ֑יבsa.Viv all around H5439 Noun common · both singular absolute
336× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word describes something that surrounds or encompasses, like a circle or neighborhood, and can also mean around or about, as in on every side. It is used to describe physical locations and proximity. The KJV translates it as about or circuit.
Tyndale gloss
around
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

סָבִיב (cabiyb) primarily means 'around' and is used as a noun, adverb, and preposition. It denotes a circle, neighbors, or the surrounding area, often implying a sense of being on every side or in a circuit. The entries consistently emphasize its usage in contexts of proximity and encirclement.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

סָבִיב 336 subst., used mostly as adv. and prep., circuit, round about

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5439 סָבִיב subst., used mostly as adv. and prep., circuit, round about

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5439 cabiyb saw-beeb'

or (feminine) cbiybah {seb-ee-baw'}; from 5437; (as noun) a

circle, neighbour, or environs; but chiefly (as adverb, with

or without preposition) around:--(place, round) about,

circuit, compass, on every side.

see HEBREW for 05437

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

סָבִיב (sa.viv) — around.

: around/border

subst

1) places round about, circuit, round about

adv

2) in a circuit, a circuit, round about

prep

3) in the circuit, from every side

סָבִיב (sa.viv) — around: side.

: side

subst

1) places round about, circuit, round about

adv

2) in a circuit, a circuit, round about

prep

3) in the circuit, from every side

סָבִיב (sa.viv) — around: whole.

: whole

subst

1) places round about, circuit, round about

adv

2) in a circuit, a circuit, round about

prep

3) in the circuit, from every side

סָבִיב (sa.viv) — around: neighours.

: neighours

subst

1) places round about, circuit, round about

adv

2) in a circuit, a circuit, round about

prep

3) in the circuit, from every side

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-cs — Noun common · both singular absolute
HNcbsa
and he made for it a rim of a hand breadth all around and he made a molding of gold for rim its all around
וַיַּ֧עַשׂvai.Ya.'as and he made H6213 Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine singular
2,629× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This verb means to make or do something, and is used over 2,600 times in the Bible. It is first used in Genesis 1:7 to describe God's creation of the world and is also used in Exodus 31:5 to describe the work of skilled craftsmen.
Amplified meaning
placed, set
Tyndale gloss
to make
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

עָשָׂה (asah) is a Hebrew verb meaning to do or make, encompassing a wide range of actions such as producing, preparing, and observing. It can refer to both concrete and abstract activities, including making offerings and attending to tasks. The verb also has forms indicating passive meanings, such as being made or offered. Notably, the Piel form refers to pressing or squeezing.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עָשָׂה 2622 vb. do, make

Qal 2524

do (1560 t.)

deal with

oft. in phr. do kindness with

abs. act, act with effect

make (670 t.)

produce, yield

prepare, esp. of dressing and cooking food

make offering

attend to, put in order

observe, celebrate, religious festival

acquire property of various kinds

appoint priests

bring about of י׳’s effecting a deliverance

use

spend, pass, days of life

Niph.

97be done

be made, of concr. things

be produced from vine

be prepared, of food

be offered

be observed, passover

be used

Pu. I was made

base

[עָשָׂה] vb. Pi. press, squeeze

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6213a עָשָׂה do, make .. . do (1560 + t.)

. deal with

. oft. in phr. do kindness with

. abs. act, act with effect

. . make (670 + t.)

. produce, yield

. prepare, esp. of dressing and cooking food

. make offering

. attend to, put in order

. observe, celebrate, religious festival

. acquire property of various kinds

. appoint priests

. bring about of י׳’s effecting a deliverance

. use

. spend, pass, days of life

. . be done

. . be made, of concr. things

. be produced from vine

. be prepared, of food

. be offered

. be observed, passover

. be used

. I was made

H6213b עָשָׂה Pi. press, squeeze

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6213 `asah aw-saw'

a primitive root; to do or make, in the broadest sense and

widest application (as follows):--accomplish, advance,

appoint, apt, be at, become, bear, bestow, bring forth,

bruise, be busy, X certainly, have the charge of, commit, deal

(with), deck, + displease, do, (ready) dress(-ed), (put in)

execute(-ion), exercise, fashion, + feast, (fight-)ing man, +

finish, fit, fly, follow, fulfill, furnish, gather, get, go

about, govern, grant, great, + hinder, hold ((a feast)), X

indeed, + be industrious, + journey, keep, labour, maintain,

make, be meet, observe, be occupied, offer, + officer, pare,

bring (come) to pass, perform, pracise, prepare, procure,

provide, put, requite, X sacrifice, serve, set, shew, X sin,

spend, X surely, take, X thoroughly, trim, X very, + vex, be

(warr-)ior, work(-man), yield, use.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עָשָׂה (a.sah) — to make: do.

: do/perform

1) to do, fashion, accomplish, make

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to do, work, make, produce

1a1a) to do

1a1b) to work

1a1c) to deal (with)

1a1d) to act, act with effect, effect

1a2) to make

1a2a) to make

1a2b) to produce

1a2c) to prepare

1a2d) to make (an offering)

1a2e) to attend to, put in order

1a2f) to observe, celebrate

1a2g) to acquire (property)

1a2h) to appoint, ordain, institute

1a2i) to bring about

1a2j) to use

1a2k) to spend, pass

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be done

1b2) to be made

1b3) to be produced

1b4) to be offered

1b5) to be observed

1b6) to be used

1c) (Pual) to be made

עָשָׂה (a.sah) — to press.

(Piel) to press, squeeze

עָשָׂה (a.sah) — to make.

: make(OBJECT)

1) to do, fashion, accomplish, make

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to do, work, make, produce

1a1a) to do

1a1b) to work

1a1c) to deal (with)

1a1d) to act, act with effect, effect

1a2) to make

1a2a) to make

1a2b) to produce

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms — Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine singular
Hc/Vqw3ms
and he made for it a rim of a hand breadth all around and he made a molding of gold for rim its all around
זֵר־zer- a molding of H2213 Noun common · masculine singular construct
10× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word refers to a border or molding, like the decorative edge on a building or a crown on a king's head, as described in the book of Exodus where the Israelites built the tabernacle. The KJV translates it as 'crown'.
Amplified meaning
crown, decorative edge
Tyndale gloss
border
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

זֵר (zer) refers to a circlet or border, originating from the idea of something that presses or binds. It encompasses meanings related to a crown or moulding, indicating a decorative or structural element. The term is linked to the concept of scattering, as noted in Strong's entries.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

זֵר n.m. circlet, border (orig. that which presses, binds)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2213 זֵר circlet, border (orig. that which presses, binds)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2213 zer zare

from 2237 (in the sense of scattering); a chaplet (as spread

around the top), i.e. (specifically) a border

moulding:--crown.

see HEBREW for 02237

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

זֵר (zer) — border.

border, moulding, circlet

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular construct
HNcmsc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ov:

(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.

English usagewhat the translators’ English meant
Webster's Dictionary (1828), Webster's Unabridged (1913), Webster's Dictionary (1806)

OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]

1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.

I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.

For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.

It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.

Lamentations 3:1.

The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.

Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.

That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.

Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…

and he made for it a rim of a hand breadth all around and he made a molding of gold for rim its all around
זָהָ֛בza.Hav gold H2091 Noun common · masculine singular absolute
389× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Gold is a valuable metal, also used to describe something yellow or brilliant, like oil or a clear sky. It is often mentioned in the Bible as a precious resource.
Amplified meaning
valuable, precious
Tyndale gloss
gold
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

זָהָב (zahab) means gold and is derived from an unused root that conveys the idea of shimmering. It encompasses various aspects of gold, including its value as a precious metal, its use as a measure of weight, and its figurative brilliance. The term appears in contexts related to wealth, merchandise, and gifts.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

זָהָב 385 n.m. gold

= gold-ore, gold in raw state

gold as wealth

gold as spoil of war

gold as merchandise

gold as costly gift

gold as material

gold described by its source

gold defined by var. adj. and pts.

as measure of weight and value

= golden oil, from colour

often named with

the chief vbs. used

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2091 זָהָב gold

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2091 zahab zaw-hawb'

from an unused root meaning to shimmer; gold, figuratively,

something gold-colored (i.e. yellow), as oil, a clear sky:--

gold(-en), fair weather.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

זָהָב (za.hav) — gold.

1) gold

1a) as precious metal

1b) as a measure of weight

1c) of brilliance, splendour (fig.)

Aramaic equivalent: de.hav (דְּהַב "gold" H1722)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absolute
HNcmsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

gold (zahabh; chrusos):

1. Terms:

No metal has been more frequently mentioned in Old Testament writings than gold, and none has had more terms applied to it. Among these terms the one most used is zahabh. The Arabic equivalent, dhahab, is still the common name for gold throughout Palestine, Syria and Egypt. With zahabh frequently occur other words which, translated, mean "pure" (Ex 25:11), "refined" (1Ch 28:18), "finest" (1Ki 10:18), "beaten" (1Ki 10:17), "Ophir" (Ps 45:9).

Other terms occurring are: paz, "fine gold" (Job 28:17;

Gold

(1.) Heb. zahab, so called from its yellow colour (Ex. 25:11; 1 Chr. 28:18; 2 Chr. 3:5).

(2.) Heb. segor, from its compactness, or as being enclosed or treasured up; thus precious or “fine gold” (1 Kings 6:20; 7:49).

(3.) Heb. paz, native or pure gold (Job 28:17; Ps. 19:10; 21:3, etc.).

(4.) Heb. betzer, “ore of gold or silver” as dug out of the mine (Job 36:19, where it means simply riches).

Smith's Bible Dictionary

Gold was known from the very earliest times. (Genesis 2:11) It was at first used chiefly for ornaments, etc. (Genesis 24:22) Coined money was not known to the ancients till a comparatively late period; and on the Egyptian tombs gold is represented as being weighed in rings for commercial purposes. Comp. (Genesis 43:21) Gold was extremely abundant in ancient times, (1 Chronicles 22:14; 2 Chronicles 1:15; 9:9; Daniel 3:1; Nahum 2:9) but this did not depreciate its value, because of the enormous quantities consumed by…

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

A well-known valuable metal, found in many parts of the world, and obtained anciently in Ophir, Job 28:16; Parvaim, 2Ch 3:6; Sheba, and Raamah, Eze 27:22. Job alludes to gold in various forms, Job 22:24 28:15-19. Abraham was rich in it, and female ornaments were early made of it, Ge 13:2 24:22,35. It is spoken of throughout Scripture; and the use of it among and ancient Hebrews, in its native and mixed state, and for the same purposes as at present, was very common. The Ark of the Covenant was overlaid with pure gold; the mercy seat, the vessels and utensils belonging to the tabernacle, and those also of the house of…

and he made for it a rim of a hand breadth all around and he made a molding of gold for rim its all around
לְמִסְגַּרְתּ֖וֹle.mis.gar.To for rim its H4526 Preposition · noun common feminine singular construct · suffix
17× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word means a border or perimeter of a region, like the edge of a city or a mountain. It is used in the Bible to describe the borders of Israel in Numbers 34:7-12 and the strongholds of God in Psalm 31:2-4. The word can also refer to a secure or fortified place.
Amplified meaning
perimeter, surrounding edge
Tyndale gloss
perimeter
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מִסְגֶּ֫רֶת (misgereth) refers to a border or rim, as well as a fastness or stronghold. It is derived from the root meaning to enclose, indicating something that serves as a margin or boundary. The term appears in contexts related to borders and strongholds, highlighting its use in describing enclosed spaces.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מִסְגֶּ֫רֶת n.f. 1. border, rim. 2. fastness

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4526 מִסְגֶּ֫רֶת 1. border, rim. 2. fastness

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4526 micgereth mis-gheh'-reth

from 5462; something enclosing, i.e. a margin (of a region,

of a panel); concretely, a stronghold:--border, close place,

hole.

see HEBREW for 05462

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מִסְגֶּ֫רֶת (mis.ge.ret) — perimeter.

1) border, fastness, rim

1a) border, rim

1b) fastness

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | N-fs | Suff — Preposition · noun common feminine singular construct · suffix
HR/Ncfsc/Sp3ms
and he made for it a rim of a hand breadth all around and he made a molding of gold for rim its all around
סָבִֽיב׃sa.Viv all around H5439 Noun common · both singular absolute
336× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word describes something that surrounds or encompasses, like a circle or neighborhood, and can also mean around or about, as in on every side. It is used to describe physical locations and proximity. The KJV translates it as about or circuit.
Tyndale gloss
around
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

סָבִיב (cabiyb) primarily means 'around' and is used as a noun, adverb, and preposition. It denotes a circle, neighbors, or the surrounding area, often implying a sense of being on every side or in a circuit. The entries consistently emphasize its usage in contexts of proximity and encirclement.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

סָבִיב 336 subst., used mostly as adv. and prep., circuit, round about

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5439 סָבִיב subst., used mostly as adv. and prep., circuit, round about

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5439 cabiyb saw-beeb'

or (feminine) cbiybah {seb-ee-baw'}; from 5437; (as noun) a

circle, neighbour, or environs; but chiefly (as adverb, with

or without preposition) around:--(place, round) about,

circuit, compass, on every side.

see HEBREW for 05437

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

סָבִיב (sa.viv) — around.

: around/border

subst

1) places round about, circuit, round about

adv

2) in a circuit, a circuit, round about

prep

3) in the circuit, from every side

סָבִיב (sa.viv) — around: side.

: side

subst

1) places round about, circuit, round about

adv

2) in a circuit, a circuit, round about

prep

3) in the circuit, from every side

סָבִיב (sa.viv) — around: whole.

: whole

subst

1) places round about, circuit, round about

adv

2) in a circuit, a circuit, round about

prep

3) in the circuit, from every side

סָבִיב (sa.viv) — around: neighours.

: neighours

subst

1) places round about, circuit, round about

adv

2) in a circuit, a circuit, round about

prep

3) in the circuit, from every side

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-cs — Noun common · both singular absolute
HNcbsa
Sources on this page. Lexicons and dictionaries imported from the CrossWire SWORD modules — Abbott-Smith, Strong's, Dodson, the Intermediate Liddell-Scott-Jones, Robinson and Packard, Webster and Cawdrey. Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament (Harper, 1889 — Grimm’s Wilke’s Clavis Novi Testamenti, translated, revised and enlarged by Joseph Henry Thayer) is public domain and is set here from the Internet Archive page scan greekenglishlex00grim; it is uncorrected OCR, marked as such on the entry itself, and the Strong’s numbers — which Thayer’s own edition does not carry — were matched by lemma against the other modules on this page. Trench’s Synonyms of the New Testament (Macmillan, 1880) and Moulton and Milligan’s Vocabulary of the Greek Testament (Hodder & Stoughton, 1930, which entered the United States public domain on 1 January 2026) are set from Internet Archive page scans synonymsofnewtes00treniala and vocabularyofgree00mouluoft, and are likewise uncorrected OCR matched to Strong’s numbers by lemma. Trench treats a group of words at once, so the same essay stands on the page of each word it compares. The Mounce Concise Greek-English Dictionary is © 1993 and is used here by permission for non-commercial use, www.teknia.com/greek-dictionary. The full Liddell-Scott-Jones and the Hebrew word data (TAHOT) come from STEPBible.org, CC BY 4.0. Brown-Driver-Briggs is the OpenScriptures digitisation, public domain. Syntax analysis is the Nestle 1904 Lowfat treebank (biblicalhumanities.org); the concordance and morphology are built from the tagged Nestle 1904 text. Septuagint occurrences use the Open Scriptures Septuagint lemma index, derived from CCAT (University of Pennsylvania) and the Rahlfs 1935 dataset by Eliran Wong, CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 — used here on a non-commercial ministry site. Greek of Josephus and Barnabas from the Perseus Digital Library, CC BY-SA 4.0. Commentaries and the Ante-Nicene Fathers are public-domain texts hosted on this site. Everyday Greek from the Duke Databank of Documentary Papyri, CC BY 3.0, with dates and provenance from the Heidelberger Gesamtverzeichnis. Philo and the Apostolic Fathers from Open Greek and Latin (First1KGreek), CC BY-SA 4.0. The apparatus and the fifth Greek column are the SBL Greek New Testament, © 2010 SBL and Logos Bible Software, CC BY 4.0. The Latin is the Clementine Vulgate (public domain); the Syriac New Testament is the ETCBC edition (MIT licence). The Hebrew behind the Greek is computed here from the Septuagint index and TAHOT, not taken from any aligned edition. The translation spread and the per-word edition marks come from the Translators Amalgamated Greek NT (STEPBible, CC BY 4.0); clause roles from the Nestle 1904 Lowfat treebank (CC BY-SA 4.0); place identifications and their confidence from OpenBible.info Bible Geocoding (CC BY 4.0), with map tiles © OpenStreetMap contributors. Gospel parallels are computed here from shared uncommon vocabulary, not taken from any printed harmony. Cross references are the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge and the subject headings are Nave’s Topical Bible, both public domain. Works under Creative Commons licences are used unchanged apart from markup removal.

Everything we make is available for free because of a generous community of supporters.

Donate