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Brazen Sea

Artifacts

What is the meaning of Brazen Sea in the Bible?

The Brazen Sea was a large bronze basin located in the eastern part of the temple court at Jerusalem, used for the ceremonial washing of priests. Biblical texts describe it as having a diameter of 10 cubits, a height of 5 cubits, and a circumference of 30 cubits, supported by twelve bronze oxen.

SIGNIFICANCE

Understanding the Brazen Sea clarifies the practical logistics of priestly hygiene and ritual purity within the Temple, illustrating the scale of Solomon's construction projects and the specific functional roles assigned to different temple furnishings in the biblical narrative.

Bible Study Quick-Reference Guide

Physical & Symbolic Reality: Physical objects and natural elements like Brazen Sea were everyday realities for biblical writers, frequently used as living metaphors for spiritual truths.
Bible Study Reflection Prompts:
  • Why did the biblical author mention Brazen Sea in this passage?
  • What cultural or historical assumption does Brazen Sea clarify?

Source Attribution

Built upon the 1915 International Standard Bible Encyclopedia and Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897). Entries have been modernized, checked for academic truthfulness, and shortened for clarity.

How to Cite This Entry

"Brazen Sea." Ancient Context Dictionary. Accessed 2026. https://ancientcontext.com/context/brazen-sea/
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