Hebrew word · H4219
מִזְרָק
mizrak
bowl
A large bowl or basin, from the verb zaraq, 'to toss, throw, splash (a liquid in quantity)'. In the sanctuary it caught the blood of a sacrifice so the priest could dash it against the sides of the altar (compare Leviticus 1:5, 11; 3:2, where zaraq is the verb).
Appears 32 times in 32 verses of the Hebrew Old Testament. ·
What it means
1) bowl, basin
1a) bowl (for wine)
1b) basin (vessel for throwing or tossing a liquid)
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 Jeremiah 52:18
- Range of meaning
A large bowl or basin, from the verb zaraq, 'to toss, throw, splash (a liquid in quantity)'. In the sanctuary it caught the blood of a sacrifice so the priest could dash it against the sides of the altar (compare Leviticus 1:5, 11; 3:2, where zaraq is the verb). The word could also mean a large drinking bowl (Amos 6:6, 'who drink wine from bowls').
- Against the English
KJV 'bowls' and WEB 'basins' are accurate. BSB and NIV 'sprinkling bowls' borrow a name from the action, but 'sprinkling' suggests a few drops flicked from a finger. That is a different Hebrew verb (hizzah), used for a different rite (e.g. Leviticus 4:6).
- How it drifted
English Bibles have long used 'sprinkle' for both zaraq and hizzah, so readers merged two distinct actions.
- Used elsewhere in the period
Exodus 27:3 and 38:3 list mizraqot among the bronze altar tools. 1 Kings 7:40, 45 has Hiram making them. Numbers 7 lists silver mizraqot as tribal gifts. The Greek Septuagint usually renders the word phialē, 'broad bowl'.
From the study of Numbers 7:84
- Range of meaning
A basin or bowl, literally a 'tossing vessel,' from zaraq, 'to throw or splash.' It was used to catch the blood of sacrifices and dash it against the altar (Lev 1:5, 11; 3:2). It also appears as a bowl for wine (Amos 6:6).
- Against the English
'Bowl' (KJV, BSB, WEB) is correct but hides what the vessel was for. NIV's 'sprinkling bowls' brings that out.
- Used elsewhere in the period
It is listed among the altar utensils in Exod 27:3 and 38:3 (bronze) and among the temple vessels in 1 Kgs 7:40, 50.
From the study of Numbers 7:43
- Range of meaning
A bowl or basin. It comes from zaraq, "to toss, splash, dash (liquid)," the verb for throwing blood against the altar (Lev 1:5, 11). In the sanctuary it is the vessel that catches and dispenses blood. Elsewhere it is a wine bowl at feasts (Amos 6:6).
- Against the English
"Bowl" (BSB, KJV, WEB, YLT) is correct but generic. The Hebrew name says what the vessel is for: a sprinkling or tossing basin. Older renderings like "basin" or "sprinkling bowl" keep more of that.
- Used elsewhere in the period
Listed among the bronze altar's utensils (Exod 27:3; 38:3) and among Solomon's temple vessels (1 Kgs 7:40, 45, 50). The Septuagint renders it φιάλη, a broad, shallow libation bowl.
Where it appears
Exodus · 2
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Exodus 27:3 וּמִזְרְקֹתָ֔יו and bowls its
Make all its utensils of bronze—its pots for removing ashes, its shovels, its sprinkling bowls, its meat forks, and its firepans.
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Exodus 38:3 הַמִּזְרָקֹ֔ת the bowls
He made all the altar’s utensils of bronze—its pots, shovels, sprinkling bowls, meat forks, and firepans.
Numbers · 15
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Numbers 4:14 הַמִּזְרָקֹ֔ת the bowls
and place on it all the vessels used to serve there: the firepans, meat forks, shovels, and sprinkling bowls—all the equipment of the altar. They are to spread over it a covering of fine leather and insert the poles.
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Numbers 7:13 מִזְרָ֤ק a bowl
His offering was one silver platter weighing a hundred and thirty shekels, and one silver bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel and filled with fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering;
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Numbers 7:19 מִזְרָ֤ק a bowl
The offering he presented was one silver platter weighing a hundred and thirty shekels, and one silver bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel and filled with fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering;
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Numbers 7:25 מִזְרָ֤ק a bowl
His offering was one silver platter weighing a hundred and thirty shekels, and one silver bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel and filled with fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering;
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Numbers 7:31 מִזְרָ֤ק a bowl
His offering was one silver platter weighing a hundred and thirty shekels, and one silver bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel and filled with fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering;
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Numbers 7:37 מִזְרָ֤ק a bowl
His offering was one silver platter weighing a hundred and thirty shekels, and one silver bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel and filled with fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering;
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Numbers 7:43 מִזְרָ֤ק a bowl
His offering was one silver platter weighing a hundred and thirty shekels, and one silver bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel and filled with fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering;
Here: A bowl or basin. The name comes from zaraq, "to toss or splash," because altar priests used these bowls to throw sacrificial blood against the altar. Here it holds a grain offering.
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Numbers 7:49 מִזְרָ֤ק a bowl
His offering was one silver platter weighing a hundred and thirty shekels, and one silver bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel and filled with fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering;
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Numbers 7:55 מִזְרָ֤ק a bowl
His offering was one silver platter weighing a hundred and thirty shekels, and one silver bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel and filled with fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering;
Here: A bowl. The word comes from a verb meaning 'to toss or splash', and these bowls were normally used to catch blood and dash it against the altar. Here, though, it is filled with flour.
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Numbers 7:61 מִזְרָ֤ק a bowl
His offering was one silver platter weighing a hundred and thirty shekels, and one silver bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel and filled with fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering;
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Numbers 7:67 מִזְרָ֤ק a bowl
His offering was one silver platter weighing a hundred and thirty shekels, and one silver bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel and filled with fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering;
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Numbers 7:73 מִזְרָ֤ק a bowl
His offering was one silver platter weighing a hundred and thirty shekels, and one silver bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel and filled with fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering;
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Numbers 7:79 מִזְרָ֤ק a bowl
His offering was one silver platter weighing a hundred and thirty shekels, and one silver bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel and filled with fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering;
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Numbers 7:84 מִֽזְרְקֵי־ bowls of
So these were the offerings from the leaders of Israel for the dedication of the altar when it was anointed: twelve silver platters, twelve silver bowls, and twelve gold dishes.
Here: From zaraq, 'to toss or splash.' These are the basins used to catch sacrificial blood and dash it against the altar (Lev 1:5). Each weighed 70 shekels (about 0.8 kg) and in the gifts was filled with flour and oil (v. 13).
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Numbers 7:85 הַמִּזְרָ֣ק the bowl
Each silver platter weighed a hundred and thirty shekels, and each silver bowl seventy shekels. The total weight of the silver articles was two thousand four hundred shekels, according to the sanctuary shekel.
1 Kings · 3
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1 Kings 7:40 הַמִּזְרָק֑וֹת the bowls
Additionally, Huram made the pots, shovels, and sprinkling bowls. So Huram finished all the work that he had undertaken for King Solomon in the house of the LORD:
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1 Kings 7:45 הַמִּזְרָק֗וֹת the bowls
and the pots, shovels, and sprinkling bowls. All the articles that Huram made for King Solomon in the house of the LORD were made of burnished bronze.
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1 Kings 7:50 וְהַמִּזְרָק֛וֹת and the bowls
the pure gold basins, wick trimmers, sprinkling bowls, ladles, and censers; and the gold hinges for the doors of the inner temple (that is, the Most Holy Place) as well as for the doors of the main hall of the temple.
2 Kings · 2
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2 Kings 12:13 מִזְרָקוֹת֙ bowls
However, the money brought into the house of the LORD was not used for making silver basins, wick trimmers, sprinkling bowls, trumpets, or any articles of gold or silver for the house of the LORD.
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2 Kings 25:15 הַמִּזְרָק֗וֹת the bowls
The captain of the guard also took away the censers and sprinkling bowls—anything made of pure gold or fine silver.
1 Chronicles · 1
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1 Chronicles 28:17 וְהַמִּזְרָק֛וֹת and the bowls
the weight of the pure gold for the forks, sprinkling bowls, and pitchers; the weight of each gold dish; the weight of each silver bowl;
2 Chronicles · 3
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2 Chronicles 4:8 מִזְרְקֵ֥י bowls of
Additionally, he made ten tables and placed them in the temple, five on the south side and five on the north. He also made a hundred gold bowls.
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2 Chronicles 4:11 הַמִּזְרָק֑וֹת ס the bowls
Additionally, Huram made the pots, shovels, and sprinkling bowls. So Huram finished the work that he had undertaken for King Solomon in the house of God:
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2 Chronicles 4:22 וְהַמִּזְרָק֛וֹת and the bowls
the wick trimmers, sprinkling bowls, ladles, and censers of pure gold; and the gold doors of the temple: the inner doors to the Most Holy Place as well as the doors of the main hall.
Nehemiah · 1
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Nehemiah 7:70 מִזְרָק֣וֹת bowls
Some of the heads of the families contributed to the project. The governor gave to the treasury 1,000 darics of gold, 50 bowls, and 530 priestly garments.
Jeremiah · 2
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Jeremiah 52:18 הַמִּזְרָקֹ֣ת the bowls
They also took away the pots, shovels, wick trimmers, sprinkling bowls, dishes, and all the articles of bronze used in the temple service.
Here: Large basins for catching the blood of sacrifices and then dashing it against the altar. The name comes from zaraq, 'to toss, splash'.
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Jeremiah 52:19 הַמִּזְרָק֜וֹת the bowls
The captain of the guard also took away the basins, censers, sprinkling bowls, pots, lampstands, pans, and drink offering bowls—anything made of pure gold or fine silver.
Amos · 1
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Amos 6:6 בְּמִזְרְקֵי֙ in bowls of
You drink wine by the bowlful and anoint yourselves with the finest oils, but you fail to grieve over the ruin of Joseph.
Here: 'In basins of'. A mizraq is a large basin, and everywhere else in the Bible it is an altar vessel used to splash sacrificial blood. Drinking wine from one points to huge quantities, and probably also to the misuse of a vessel with sacred associations.
Zechariah · 2
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Zechariah 9:15 כַּמִּזְרָ֔ק like <the> bowl
The LORD of Hosts will shield them. They will destroy and conquer with slingstones; they will drink and roar as with wine. And they will be filled like sprinkling bowls, drenched like the corners of the altar.
Here: 'Like the basin.' This was the temple vessel that caught a sacrificed animal's blood so the priest could dash it against the altar. Its name comes from zaraq, 'to toss, dash'.
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Zechariah 14:20 כַּמִּזְרָקִ֖ים [will be] like the bowls
On that day, HOLY TO THE LORD will be inscribed on the bells of the horses, and the cooking pots in the house of the LORD will be like the sprinkling bowls before the altar.
Here: 'Like the tossing-bowls': the basins that caught sacrificial blood so it could be dashed against the altar. The name comes from the verb 'to toss, splash'. They were among the most sacred vessels and were often made of silver or gold.
Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.