Definition: 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.

Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this passage from 1 Kings 7:23. It’s a really interesting and somewhat surprising story! Here's the explanation in simple terms: Basically, God is creating a massive, artificial sea to wash away the sins of Israel. Let’s unpack it piece by piece: “And he made a molten sea…” : God isn't just making a normal ocean. He's creating something molten , meaning incredibly hot and thick – like lava. This is a symbolic representation of God’s cleansing power. “…ten cubits from one brim to the other: [it was] round all about, and his height [was] five cubits:” “Ten cubits” is a unit of measurement in ancient times (about 3 feet). So, he’s making a circular sea that's ten cubits wide – roughly 30 feet wide. Importantly, it's completely round . And the height of this sea was five cubits high – about 10 feet tall. “and a line of thirty cubits did compass it round about.” This adds another dimension: He creates a line (a long straight edge) that runs around the entire perimeter of the sea, measuring 30 cubits. What’s the purpose? This is a symbolic representation of God's judgment on Israel. The “sea” represents the sin and wickedness of the people. By creating this massive circular sea, God is saying: "I will wash away your sins with my cleansing power." It shows that even though they were dirty and flawed, God still wants to purify them. Important Note: This story was a very unusual thing to do in ancient times! It wasn't meant to be a literal sea, but rather a powerful symbolic act of divine judgment. --- Do you want me to: Explain another Bible verse? Discuss the historical context of this passage? Or perhaps answer any specific questions you have about it?