Topical Encyclopedia
In biblical times, basins were essential household and religious items used for various purposes, including washing, sacrificial rituals, and offerings. The Hebrew word often translated as "basin" is "kiyyor," which can refer to a large bowl or laver. Basins are mentioned throughout the Old and New Testaments, serving both practical and symbolic roles in the life and worship of the Israelites.
Old Testament Usage1.
Tabernacle and Temple Worship: Basins were integral to the worship practices in the Tabernacle and later in the Temple. In
Exodus 30:18, God commands Moses to make a bronze basin for washing: "You are to make a bronze basin with a bronze stand for washing. Place it between the Tent of Meeting and the altar, and put water in it." This basin was used by the priests for ceremonial washing before they entered the Tent of Meeting or approached the altar, symbolizing purification and holiness.
2.
Sacrificial Rituals: Basins were also used in the sacrificial system. In
Exodus 27:3, instructions are given for making utensils for the altar, including basins: "Make all its utensils of bronze—its pots to remove the ashes, and its shovels, sprinkling bowls, meat forks, and firepans." These basins were used to hold the blood of sacrifices, which was then sprinkled on the altar as part of the atonement process.
3.
Solomon's Temple: In
1 Kings 7:38, Solomon's Temple included ten bronze basins: "He made ten bronze basins—each holding forty baths and measuring four cubits across—one basin for each of the ten stands." These basins were part of the elaborate furnishings of the Temple, underscoring the importance of ritual purity and preparation in worship.
New Testament Usage1.
The Last Supper: In the New Testament, basins are mentioned in the context of the Last Supper.
John 13:5 describes Jesus using a basin to wash the disciples' feet: "After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to dry them with the towel that was wrapped around Him." This act of humility and service by Jesus set an example for His followers, emphasizing servanthood and love.
2.
Symbol of Cleansing: The use of a basin in the New Testament continues the theme of cleansing and purification. The act of foot washing by Jesus not only served a practical purpose but also symbolized spiritual cleansing and the forgiveness of sins.
Symbolism and SignificanceBasins in the Bible symbolize purification, preparation, and service. They are associated with the cleansing necessary to approach God, both in the physical sense for the priests and in the spiritual sense for all believers. The use of basins in religious rituals underscores the holiness required in worship and the need for atonement and forgiveness. In the New Testament, the basin becomes a symbol of humility and service, as demonstrated by Jesus' actions at the Last Supper.
Overall, basins in the biblical narrative highlight the importance of purity, preparation, and service in the life of faith, reflecting the broader themes of holiness and redemption that run throughout Scripture.
Smith's Bible Dictionary
BasinAmong the smaller vessels for the tabernacle or temple service, many must have been required to receive from the sacrificial victims the blood to be sprinkled for purification. The "basin" from which our Lord washed the disciples' feet was probably deeper and larger than the hand-basin for sprinkling.
Easton's Bible Dictionary
Or Bason.
(1.) A trough or laver (Hebrews aggan') for washing (Exodus 24:6); rendered also "goblet" (Cant. 7:2) and "cups" (Isaiah 22:24).
(2.) A covered dish or urn (Hebrews k'for) among the vessels of the temple (1 Chronicles 28:17;Ezra 1:10;8:27).
(3.) A vase (Hebrews mizrak) from which to sprinkle anything. A metallic vessel; sometimes rendered "bowl" (Amos 6:6;Zechariah 9:15). The vessels of the tabernacle were of brass (Exodus 27:3), while those of the temple were of gold (2 Chronicles 4:8).
(4.) A utensil (Hebrews saph) for holding the blood of the victims (Exodus 12:22); also a basin for domestic purposes (2 Samuel 17:28).
The various vessels spoken of by the names "basin, bowl, charger, cup, and dish," cannot now be accurately distinguished.
The basin in which our Lord washed the disciples' feet (John 13:5) must have been larger and deeper than the hand-basin.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
n.) A hollow vessel or dish, to hold water for washing, and for various other uses.
2. (n.) The quantity contained in a basin.
3. (n.) A hollow vessel, of various forms and materials, used in the arts or manufactures, as that used by glass grinders for forming concave glasses, by hatters for molding a hat into shape, etc.
4. (n.) A hollow place containing water, as a pond, a dock for ships, a little bay.
5. (n.) A circular or oval valley, or depression of the surface of the ground, the lowest part of which is generally occupied by a lake, or traversed by a river.
6. (n.) The entire tract of country drained by a river, or sloping towards a sea or lake.
7. (n.) An isolated or circumscribed formation, particularly where the strata dip inward, on all sides, toward a center; -- especially applied to the coal formations, called coal basins or coal fields.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
BASIN; BASONba'-s'-n.
1. The Terms Used and Their Meaning:
The American Standard Revised Version has "basin," the King James Version and the Revised Version (British and American) "bason," the preferred spelling of the English revisers. In the Appendix to the Revised Old Testament the American Revisers (section viii) say, "The modern spelling is preferred for the following words"; then follow among others "basin" for "bason"; but no similar statement appears in the Appendix to the Revised New Testament. The Hebrew word so rendered in English Versions of the Bible is chiefly used for the large bowl of bronze (the King James Version "brass") employed by the priests to receive the blood of the sacrificial victims (Exodus 27:3; compareExodus 29:161 Kings 7:45, etc.). It is found only once in secular use (Amos 6:6, "drink wine in bowls"), if the text there is correct; the Septuagint has it otherwise. SeeBOWL. The "basins" ofExodus 12:222 Samuel 17:28 were probably of earthenware.
2. Of Various Materials and Forms:
While the priests' bowls were of bronze, similar bowls or basins of silver were presented by the princes of the congregation, according toNumbers 7:13; and those spoken of in1 Kings 7:50 as destined for Solomon's temple were of gold (compare1 Chronicles 28:17).
3. The Typical Ewer of the East:
(1) The well-known eastern mode of washing the hands was and is by pouring water on the hands, not by dipping them in water, an act, of course, calling for the aid of an attendant. Elisha "poured water on the hands of Elijah" (2 Kings 3:11; see Kitto's note in Pictorial Bible 2, II, 330). A disciple came to be known as "one who poured water on the hands of another." Such was beyond question the prevailing custom among the ancient Hebrews, as it was, and is, among eastern peoples in general. They incline to look with disgust, if not with horror, upon our western practice of washing face and hands in water retained in a basin.
(2) The typical vessel of the East used in such ablutions has a long spout, not unlike our large coffee-pot (see Kitto, Pict. Biblical, II, 331, note). While the English Versions of the Bible unfortunately often suggests nothing like such pouring, the Hebrew expresses it, e.g. in1 Samuel 25:41, where we have the Qal of rachats compare Kennedy in 1-vol HDB, and HDB, articles "Bath," "Bathing." Kennedy shows that "affusion," "pouring on" of water, was meant in many cases where we read "bathe" or "wash" in Enoch glish Versions. Lane (Mod. Egypt, chapter v) says: "A servant brings him a basin and ewer (called Tsisht and ibreek) of tinned copper or brass. The first has a cover with holes, with a raised receptacle for the soap; and the water is poured upon the hands and passes through the ewer into the space below; so that when the basin is brought to a second person the water with which the former has washed is not seen."
4. A Basin of a Unique Sort:
(1) A wash-basin of a special sort was used by Jesus for washing the disciples' feet (seeJohn 13:5). The Greek is nipter eita ballei hudor eis ton niptera, translated the Revised Version (British and American), "then he poureth water into the basin." This word nipter is not found elsewhere in the New Testament, nor in the Septuagint, nor, indeed, in Greek profane literature. But fortunately the general sense is here made plain by the context and by comparison of the cognate verbs niptein and n izein. It evidently denotes an article, not necessarily a vessel, specifically suited to the use of washing a part of the body, e.g. the hands or the feet, and hence is used with the article, "the basin," the Revised Version (British and American). It is doubtful, therefore, if "basin," or "bason," conveys a true idea of either the oriental article here meant or the scene portrayed. The fact that, according to the custom of the day, the position of the disciples here was reclining, precludes the possibility of the use of a "basin" of our sort, in the way we are accustom edition to, i.e. for immersing the feet in the water, in whole or in part.
(2) So it is likely that the nipter was a jug, or ewer, with a dish, saucer, or basin placed under it and combined with it to catch the dripping water. We know from other sources that such a vessel was kept in the Jewish house regularly for ordinary handwashings, etc. (seeMatthew 15:2Mark 7:3), and for ceremonial ablutions. Hence, it would naturally be ready here in the upper room as a normal part of the preparation of the "goodman of the house" for his guests (the King James VersionMark 14:14Luke 22:12), and so it is distinguished by the Greek article ton. Jesus Himself used the nipter, standing, doubtless, to impress upon His disciples the lessons of humility, self-abasement and loving service which He ever sought to impart and illustrate.
(3) Our conclusion, we may say with George Farmer in DCG, article "Bason," is that nipter was not simply one large basin, but the set of ewer and basin combined, such a set as was commonly kept in the Jewish house for the purpose of cleansing either the hands or the feet by means of affusion. The Arabic Tisht, authorities tell us, is the exact rendering of nipter, and it comes from a root which means "to pour," or "rain slightly." (SeeAnton Tien, reviser of the Arabic prayer-book, author of Arabic and Mod. Greek Grammars, etc., quoted in DCG, article "Bason.")
George B. Eager
Greek
3537. nipter -- abasin... a
basin. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: nipter Phonetic Spelling:
(nip-tare') Short Definition: a
basin Definition: a
basin for washing hands
...Strong's Hebrew
5592a. saph -- abasin, goblet... 5592, 5592a. saph. 5592b . a
basin, goblet. Transliteration: saph Short
Definition:
basin. Word Origin of uncertain derivation Definition
...101. aggan -- a bowl,basin
... 100, 101. aggan. 102 . a bowl,basin. Transliteration: aggan Phonetic Spelling:
(ag-gawn') Short Definition: basins....basin, cup, goblet....
3595. kiyyor -- pot,basin
kiyyor or kiyyor. 3594, 3595. kiyyor or kiyyor. 3596 . pot,basin. Transliteration:
kiyyor or kiyyor Phonetic Spelling: (kee-yore') Short Definition: laver...
4219. mizraq -- bowl,basin
... 4218, 4219. mizraq. 4220 . bowl,basin. Transliteration: mizraq Phonetic
Spelling: (miz-rawk') Short Definition: bowl. Word Origin...
105. agartal -- abasin, basket
... agartal. 106 . abasin, basket. Transliteration: agartal Phonetic Spelling:
(ag-ar-tawl') Short Definition: dishes.... Of uncertain derivation; abasin -- charger...
1543. gullah -- abasin, bowl
... 1542, 1543. gullah. 1544 . abasin, bowl. Transliteration: gullah Phonetic
Spelling: (gool-law') Short Definition: bowls. Word Origin...
4699. metsullah -- abasin or hollow
... 4698, 4699. metsullah. 4700 . abasin or hollow. Transliteration: metsullah
Phonetic Spelling: (mets-ool-law') Short Definition: ravine....
5592. caph -- abasin, goblet
... caph. 5592a . abasin, goblet. Transliteration: caph Phonetic Spelling: (saf)
Short Definition: bason. bason, bowl, cup, door post, gate, post, threshold...
3220. yam -- sea
... in noisy surf) or large body of water; specifically (with the article), the
Mediterranean Sea; sometimes a large river, or an artificalbasin; locally, the...
4518. menaqqith -- a sacrificial bowl
... bowl. From naqah; a sacrificialbasin (for holding blood) -- bowl. see HEBREW
naqah. 4517, 4518. menaqqith. 4519 . Strong's Numbers.
Library
Moab is My Washpot
... MOAB, which had threatened Israel, was to be so completely subdued, and become so
utterly contemptible as to be likened to a washpot orbasin in which men wash...
Meditation vii. The Washing of the Feet.
... Meanwhile Jesus, in the vestibule, told John to take abasin, and James a pitcher
filled with water, with which they followed him into the room, where the major...
The Right to the Ordinary Safeguards of Good Health
... It will be warm enough in just a minute.". The hot water was ladled into thebasin,
and Mrs. Wong looked inquiringly around the room. I poked my sister....
The Choice of Gideon was a Figure of Our Lord's Incarnation, The
... dryness and moistening of the fleece was signified the falling away of the Jews
and the calling of the Gentiles, by the water received in abasin the washing...
The Foot-Washing.
... Then He poureth water into thebasin, and began to wash the disciples' feet,
and to wipe them with the towel wherewith He was girded....
Continues the Same Subject, Explaining by a Comparison in what...
... two basins are filled in different ways; the one with water from a distance flowing
into it through many pipes and waterworks, while the otherbasin is built...
An Appeal to the History of Creation True Meaning of the Term...
... On the other hand, [6321] if we were to make such a statement as this, for example,
"In the beginning the potter made abasin or a water-jug," the word...
Of the Second Coming of Christ, Or, the Fountain with Three Rills
... [49] Probably Ruysbroeck had here in mind such a "fountain" or lavabo as was to
be seen in almost any fourteenth century cloister: a cistern orbasin fed by a...
The Escape from Egypt
... You shall also take a bunch of hyssop and dip it in the blood that is in thebasin
and strike the lintel and the two door posts with the blood that is in the...
The Project of French Empire and Evangelization --Its Wide and...
... not so much by the prowess of her soldiers as by her craft in diplomacy with savage
tribes, France was to assert and make good her title to thebasin of the St...
Thesaurus
Basin (37 Occurrences)... (4.) A utensil (Hebrews saph) for holding the blood of the victims (Exodus
12:22); also a
basin for domestic purposes (2 Samuel 17:28).
...Bread-basin (2 Occurrences)
Bread-basin. Bread, Bread-basin. Bread-basins . Multi-Version
Concordance Bread-basin (2 Occurrences). Deuteronomy 28...
Washing-basin (1 Occurrence)
Washing-basin. Washing, Washing-basin. Washings . Multi-Version
Concordance Washing-basin (1 Occurrence). Leviticus...
Bason (3 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (n.) Abasin. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia.
BASIN; BASON. ba'-s'-n. 1. The Terms Used and Their Meaning...
Weighing (39 Occurrences)
... Numbers 7:13 and his offering was one silver dish, the weight thereof was a hundred
and thirty shekels, one silverbasin of seventy shekels, after the shekel...
Plate (34 Occurrences)
... Numbers 7:13 And his offering was one silver plate, a hundred and thirty shekels
in weight, one silverbasin of seventy shekels, by the scale of the holy place...
Scale (38 Occurrences)
... Numbers 7:13 And his offering was one silver plate, a hundred and thirty shekels
in weight, one silverbasin of seventy shekels, by the scale of the holy place...
Laver (13 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary (Hebrews kiyor), a "basin" for boiling in, a "pan" for
cooking... Noah Webster's Dictionary. 1. (n.) A vessel for washing; a largebasin....
Basins (33 Occurrences)
... 1 Kings 7:38 He made ten basins of brass: onebasin contained forty baths; and every
basin was four cubits; and on every one of the ten bases onebasin....
Baths (8 Occurrences)
... 1 Kings 7:38 He made ten basins of brass: onebasin contained forty baths; and every
basin was four cubits; and on every one of the ten bases onebasin....
Resources
What is a laver in the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgWhat was the significance of the bronze laver? | GotQuestions.orgWhat was the significance of the anointed priest? | GotQuestions.orgBasin: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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