H4837 H4837
Pavement or base, specifically a constructed platform or foundation made of stones
This noun appears in 2 Kings 16:17, describing King Ahaz's modifications to the temple during his reign. He removed various temple furnishings, including "the pavement of stones" from under the bronze basin. The term denotes a constructed base or platform—a paved surface providing structural support. Ahaz made these changes either to pay tribute to Assyria or to accommodate Assyrian religious practices after visiting Damascus. His altar renovations represented both political subservience and theological compromise. The pavement's removal diminished the temple's original design, symbolizing how political pressure eroded proper worship. Such architectural details in Kings often carry symbolic weight about spiritual fidelity.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Refers to a pavement, constructed base, or platform made of stones, serving as foundation or support for temple furnishings. In 2 Kings 16:17, King Ahaz removed "the pavement of stones" that supported the bronze basin (or sea) as part of his temple modifications. These changes occurred amid Assyrian political pressure and reflected both tribute payments and religious compromise. The term emphasizes constructed, paved surface—not natural ground but deliberately laid stonework. The architectural detail matters theologically: Ahaz's alterations to sacred space symbolized deeper spiritual unfaithfulness, dismantling proper worship infrastructure to accommodate foreign influence. 1×
AR["رَصِيفِ"]·ben["ফুটপাথের"]·DE["pavement-von"]·EN["pavement-of"]·FR["pavement-de"]·heb["מרצפת"]·HI["फर्श"]·ID["lantai-batu"]·IT["pavement-di"]·jav["lempengan"]·KO["포장"]·PT["pavimento-de"]·RU["мостовой"]·ES["pavimento-de"]·SW["sakafu"]·TR["döşemesinin"]·urd["فرش"]
Related Senses
H3808 1. simple negation (not) (4839×)G1722 1. locative: in, within (2442×)H1004b 1. house, dwelling, building (2015×)G3756 1. not (negation particle) (1635×)H4480a 1. source or separation (1198×)H5892b 1. city, town (1093×)G1519 1. direction: into, to, toward (1061×)H3427 1. Qal: to dwell, inhabit (937×)G1537 1. from, out of (source/origin) (886×)H8034 1. Name (designation / identifier) (856×)G3361 1. subjective negation (not) (834×)G1909 1. on, upon (spatial surface) (757×)H0369 1. existential negation: there is not (738×)H5869a 1. in the eyes/sight of (evaluative) (734×)H5650 1. Servant, attendant, subject (723×)H0408 1. prohibitive negation do-not (712×)G2443 1. so that, in order that (purpose/result) (665×)G0575 1. from (649×)G1223 1. through, by means of (582×)H3541 1. thus, so, in this manner (569×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
† מַרְצֶ֫פֶת n.f. id.;—cstr. מ׳ אֲבָנִים 2 K 16:17.