International Standard Bible Encyclopedia: Base

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International Standard Bible Encyclopedia: Base


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bās:

(1) Substantive from Latin basis, Greek βάσις, básis, a foundation. (a) (מכונה, mekhōnāh): the fixed resting-place on which the lavers in Solomon's temple were set (1 Ki 7:27-43; ; , ; ; ; , ; compare ; the American Revised Version, margin). (b) (כּן, kēn): pedestal in the King James Version and the Revised Version (British and American) (, ) and in the Revised Version (British and American) only (, ; ; ; ; ; ; ) of the base of the laver of the tabernacle (the King James Version “foot”). (c) (ירך, yārēkh): “base of candlestick” (the Revised Version (British and American) of ; ) the King James Version “shaft.” (d) (יסוד, yeṣōdh): the Revised Version (British and American) “base of altar”; the King James Version “bottom” (; ; , , , , ; ; ; ). (e) (גּב, gabh): the Revised Version (British and American) “elevation,” i.e. basement of altar; the King James Version “higher place” ().

(2) Adjective from French bas - low, or Welsh bâs - “shallow”: of lowly birth or station, of voluntary humility and of moral depravity. (a) (שׁפל, shāphāl, שפל, shephal): of David's self-humiliation (): “a modest unambitious kingdom” (; , (BDB); (the American Standard Revised Version “lowest”)): compare shephēlāh = “lowland.” (b) (קלה, ḳālāh): men of humble birth and station as opposed to the nobles (). (c) (בּלי־שׁם, belı̄-shēm): “nameless,” “of no account”: “children of fools, yea, children of base men” (). (d) The King James Version men, sons, daughters, children of Belial; literally “worthless persons”; in the American Standard Revised Version “base,” except “wicked woman”; also the English Revised Version of , “base,” which elsewhere retains the King James Version rendering. (e) (ταπεινός, tapeinós): “lowly,” “humble or abject” (); the Revised Version (British and American), “lowly”; so Paul's enemies said he appeared when present in the church at Corinth. (f) (ἀγενής, agenḗs): “of low birth,” “of no account” (): “base things of the world.” (g) (ἀγοραῖος, agoraı́os): “belonging to the market-place,” loafers, worthless characters (): “certain lewd fellows of the baser sort”; the Revised Version (British and American) “certain vile fellows of the rabble.”