Hebrew word · H134

אֶ֫דֶן

ve'adneihem

socket

A base, pedestal or socket: the solid foundation piece something stands on.

Appears 57 times in 39 verses of the Hebrew Old Testament. ·

What it means

1) base, pedestal, socket (strong, firm)

1a) pedestals of gold on which marble pillars were set

1b) pedestals of the earth, foundation of the earth

1c) pedestals, bases, or sockets on which tabernacle stood

Abridged from Brown, Driver and Briggs, A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament (1906), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of Exodus 26:19

Range of meaning

A base, pedestal or socket: the solid foundation piece something stands on. In the Bible it is used for the bases of the tabernacle's frames and pillars (Exodus 26–27, 35–40; Numbers 3–4), the foundations of the earth (Job 38:6, 'on what were its bases sunk?'), and the alabaster pillars set 'on bases of fine gold' (Song of Songs 5:15).

Against the English

KJV, WEB and YLT say 'sockets'. BSB, ESV and NIV say 'bases'. 'Socket' gets the detail that each base had a hole for the frame's peg. 'Base' gets the more basic point, that this is the solid foundation the wall stands on, and it fits the word's use in Job and the Song of Songs better.

Used elsewhere in the period

Job 38:6 uses the word for the cosmic foundations God laid. The Septuagint (the early Greek translation) usually renders it βάσις, 'base'. Where the word comes from is uncertain. The similarity to adon, 'lord', is probably just a coincidence of sound, and nothing should be built on it.

From the study of Exodus 26:37

Range of meaning

Base, pedestal, footing. Used for the bases of the tabernacle boards and pillars, for the 'bases' of the earth in creation poetry (Job 38:6), and for the pedestals of the lover's legs in Song of Songs 5:15.

Against the English

KJV 'sockets' is a fair picture: each base apparently had a slot or hole into which the tenons (pegs) of the board or post fitted (26:19). 'Bases' (BSB, NIV and others) is more general.

Used elsewhere in the period

Exod 26:19–37; 27:10–18; 38:27 (each silver base weighed one talent); Num 3:36–37; Job 38:6; Song 5:15.

From the study of Exodus 27:17

Range of meaning

A base, pedestal or footing. Used for the bases of the tabernacle's frames and posts (Exod 26–27, 35–40; Num 3–4), for the bases of the earth (Job 38:6), and for the pedestals of the lover's legs in Song 5:15.

Against the English

KJV, WEB, YLT and NASB say 'sockets'. BSB, NIV and ESV say 'bases'. 'Socket' gets across that the post fitted into something, but it can suggest a small hollow fitting. An ʾeden was a substantial footing block.

How it drifted

'Socket' in the KJV meant a hollow piece into which something fits. Modern readers often think of electrical sockets or small joint fittings, which is much smaller than a footing that holds a post upright.

Used elsewhere in the period

Exodus 38:27 says each silver base of the inner tabernacle weighed a talent (very roughly 30 kg). That gives a sense of how heavy these blocks were, though the bronze courtyard bases are not weighed in the text.

Where it appears

Exodus · 51
  1. Exodus 26:19 אַדְנֵי־ אֲדָנִ֜ים אֲדָנִ֛ים bases of, bases

    with forty silver bases under the twenty frames—two bases for each frame, one under each tenon.

    Here: Heavy foundation blocks that the frames stand in. 'Bases of silver' means bases made of silver.

  2. Exodus 26:21 אַדְנֵיהֶ֖ם אֲדָנִ֗ים אֲדָנִ֔ים bases their, bases

    and forty silver bases—two bases under each frame.

  3. Exodus 26:25 וְאַדְנֵיהֶ֣ם אֲדָנִ֑ים אֲדָנִ֗ים אֲדָנִ֔ים and bases their, bases

    So there are to be eight frames and sixteen silver bases—two under each frame.

  4. Exodus 26:32 אַדְנֵי־ bases of

    Hang it with gold hooks on four posts of acacia wood, overlaid with gold and standing on four silver bases.

  5. Exodus 26:37 אַדְנֵ֥י bases of

    Make five posts of acacia wood for the curtain, overlay them with gold, use hooks of gold, and cast five bronze bases for them.

    Here: Heavy footings or pedestals that the posts were set into, so they could stand on desert ground without being driven in. KJV calls them 'sockets'.

  6. Exodus 27:10 וְאַדְנֵיהֶ֥ם and bases their

    with twenty posts and twenty bronze bases, and silver hooks and bands on the posts.

  7. Exodus 27:11 וְאַדְנֵיהֶ֤ם and bases their

    Likewise there are to be curtains on the north side, a hundred cubits long, with twenty posts and twenty bronze bases, and with silver hooks and bands on the posts.

  8. Exodus 27:12 וְאַדְנֵיהֶ֖ם and bases their

    The curtains on the west side of the courtyard shall be fifty cubits wide, with ten posts and ten bases.

  9. Exodus 27:14 וְאַדְנֵיהֶ֖ם and bases their

    Make the curtains on one side fifteen cubits long, with three posts and three bases,

  10. Exodus 27:15 וְאַדְנֵיהֶ֖ם and bases their

    and the curtains on the other side fifteen cubits long, with three posts and three bases.

  11. Exodus 27:16 וְאַדְנֵיהֶ֖ם and bases their

    The gate of the courtyard shall be twenty cubits long, with a curtain embroidered with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and finely spun linen. It shall have four posts and four bases.

  12. Exodus 27:17 וְאַדְנֵיהֶ֖ם and bases their

    All the posts around the courtyard shall have silver bands, silver hooks, and bronze bases.

    Here: 'And their bases': heavy footings that each post stood in or on, keeping it upright on desert ground. The same word is used in Job 38:6 for the 'bases' on which God set the earth.

  13. Exodus 27:18 וְאַדְנֵיהֶ֖ם and bases their

    The entire courtyard shall be a hundred cubits long and fifty cubits wide, with curtains of finely spun linen five cubits high, and with bronze bases.

    Here: 'And their bases'. 'Their' points back to the posts of v. 17. These were heavy footings that held the upright posts, not hollow 'sockets' in the modern sense.

  14. Exodus 35:11 אֲדָנָֽיו׃ bases its

    the tabernacle with its tent and covering, its clasps and frames, its crossbars, posts, and bases;

    Here: Heavy bases cut to take the tenons (projecting pegs) at the foot of each frame and post. They were silver, two under each frame, plus bronze ones for the entrance posts (26:19–25, 37). The silver came from the half-shekel ransom paid by every counted man (30:11–16; 38:25–27).

  15. Exodus 35:17 אֲדָנֶ֑יהָ bases its

    the curtains of the courtyard with its posts and bases, and the curtain for the gate of the courtyard;

  16. Exodus 36:24 אַדְנֵי־ אֲדָנִ֜ים אֲדָנִ֛ים bases of, bases

    with forty silver bases to put under the twenty frames—two bases for each frame, one under each tenon.

  17. Exodus 36:26 אַדְנֵיהֶ֖ם אֲדָנִ֗ים אֲדָנִ֔ים bases their, bases

    and forty silver bases—two bases under each frame.

  18. Exodus 36:30 וְאַדְנֵיהֶ֣ם אֲדָנִ֑ים אֲדָנִים֙ אֲדָנִ֔ים and bases their, bases

    So there were eight frames and sixteen silver bases—two under each frame.

  19. Exodus 36:36 אַדְנֵי־ bases of

    He also made four posts of acacia wood for it and overlaid them with gold, along with gold hooks; and he cast four silver bases for the posts.

  20. Exodus 36:38 וְאַדְנֵיהֶ֥ם and bases their

    together with five posts and their hooks. He overlaid the tops of the posts and their bands with gold, and their five bases were bronze.

  21. Exodus 38:10 וְאַדְנֵיהֶ֥ם and bases their

    with twenty posts and twenty bronze bases, and with silver hooks and bands on the posts.

  22. Exodus 38:11 וְאַדְנֵיהֶ֥ם and bases their

    The north side was also a hundred cubits long, with twenty posts and twenty bronze bases. The hooks and bands of the posts were silver.

  23. Exodus 38:12 וְאַדְנֵיהֶ֖ם and bases their

    The west side was fifty cubits long and had curtains, with ten posts and ten bases. The hooks and bands of the posts were silver.

  24. Exodus 38:14 וְאַדְנֵיהֶ֖ם and bases their

    The curtains on one side of the entrance were fifteen cubits long, with three posts and three bases.

  25. Exodus 38:15 וְאַדְנֵיהֶ֖ם and bases their

    And the curtains on the other side were also fifteen cubits long, with three posts and three bases as well.

  26. Exodus 38:17 וְהָאֲדָנִ֣ים and the bases

    The bases for the posts were bronze, the hooks and bands were silver, and the plating for the tops of the posts was silver. So all the posts of the courtyard were banded with silver.

  27. Exodus 38:19 וְאַדְנֵיהֶ֥ם and bases their

    with four posts and four bronze bases. Their hooks were silver, as well as the bands and the plating of their tops.

  28. Exodus 38:27 אַדְנֵ֣י אַדְנֵ֣י אֲדָנִ֛ים לָאָֽדֶן׃ [the] bases of, bases, for <the> base

    The hundred talents of silver were used to cast the bases of the sanctuary and the bases of the veil—100 bases from the 100 talents, one talent per base.

  29. Exodus 38:30 אַדְנֵי֙ [the] bases of

    He used it to make the bases for the entrance to the Tent of Meeting, the bronze altar and its bronze grating, all the utensils for the altar,

  30. Exodus 38:31 אַדְנֵ֤י אַדְנֵ֖י [the] bases of

    the bases for the surrounding courtyard and its gate, and all the tent pegs for the tabernacle and its surrounding courtyard.

  31. Exodus 39:33 וַאֲדָנָֽיו׃ and bases its

    Then they brought the tabernacle to Moses: the tent with all its furnishings, its clasps, its frames, its crossbars, and its posts and bases;

  32. Exodus 39:40 אֲדָנֶ֗יהָ bases its

    the curtains of the courtyard with its posts and bases; the curtain for the gate of the courtyard, its ropes and tent pegs, and all the equipment for the service of the tabernacle, the Tent of Meeting;

  33. Exodus 40:18 אֲדָנָ֔יו bases its

    When Moses set up the tabernacle, he laid its bases, positioned its frames, inserted its crossbars, and set up its posts.

Numbers · 4
  1. Numbers 3:36 וַאֲדָנָ֑יו and bases its

    The duties assigned to the sons of Merari were the tabernacle’s frames, crossbars, posts, bases, and all its equipment—all the service for these items,

  2. Numbers 3:37 וְאַדְנֵיהֶ֑ם and bases their

    as well as the posts of the surrounding courtyard with their bases, tent pegs, and ropes.

  3. Numbers 4:31 וַאֲדָנָֽיו׃ and bases its

    This is the duty for all their service at the Tent of Meeting: to carry the frames of the tabernacle with its crossbars, posts, and bases,

  4. Numbers 4:32 וְאַדְנֵיהֶ֗ם and bases their

    and the posts of the surrounding courtyard with their bases, tent pegs, and ropes, including all their equipment and everything related to their use. You shall assign by name the items that they are responsible to carry.

Job · 1
  1. Job 38:6 אֲדָנֶ֣יהָ bases its

    On what were its foundations set, or who laid its cornerstone,

    Here: "Its bases": the socket-pedestals that uprights are fitted into. "Its" is feminine and points back to "the earth" in v. 4, so the earth is pictured as a structure standing on set bases.

Song of Songs · 1
  1. Song of Songs 5:15 אַדְנֵי־ bases of

    His legs are pillars of marble set on bases of pure gold. His appearance is like Lebanon, as majestic as the cedars.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.