Bible Encyclopedias
Base

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

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; 2 Kings 16:17; 2 Kings 25:13 , 2 Kings 25:16; 2 Chronicles 4:14; Jeremiah 27:19; Jeremiah 52:17 , Jeremiah 52:20; compare Ezra 3:3; Zechariah 5:11 the American Revised Version, margin). ( b ) (כּן , kēn ): pedestal in the King James Version and the Revised Version (British and American) (1 Kings 7:29 , 1 Kings 7:31 ) and in the Revised Version (British and American) only (Exodus 30:18 , Exodus 30:28; Exodus 31:9; Exodus 35:16; Exodus 38:8; Exodus 39:39; Exodus 40:11; Leviticus 8:11 ) 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 Exodus 25:31; Exodus 37:17 ) the King James Version "shaft." (d ) (יסוד , yeṣōdh ): the Revised Version (British and American) "base of altar"; the King James Version "bottom" (Exodus 29:12; Exodus 38:8; Leviticus 4:7 , Leviticus 4:18 , Leviticus 4:25 , Leviticus 4:30 , Leviticus 4:34; Leviticus 5:9; Leviticus 8:15; Leviticus 9:9 ). (e ) (גּב , gabh ): the Revised Version (British and American) "elevation," i.e. basement of altar; the King James Version "higher place" (Ezekiel 43:13 ).

(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 (2 Samuel 6:22 ): "a modest unambitious kingdom" (Ezekiel 17:14; Ezekiel 29:14 , Ezekiel 29:15 ( BDB ); Daniel 4:17 (the American Standard Revised Version "lowest")): compare shephēlāh = "lowland." (b ) (קלה , ḳālāh ): men of humble birth and station as opposed to the nobles (Isaiah 3:5 ). (c ) (בּלי־שׁם , b elı̄ -shēm ): "nameless," "of no account": "children of fools, yea, children of base men" (Job 30:8 ). (d ) The King James Version men, sons, daughters, children of Belial; literally "worthless persons"; in the American Standard Revised Version "base," except 1 Samuel 1:16 "wicked woman"; also the English Revised Version of Deuteronomy 13:13 , "base," which elsewhere retains the King James Version rendering. (e ) (ταπεινός , tapeinós ): "lowly," "humble or abject" (2 Corinthians 10:1 ); 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" (1 Corinthians 1:28 ): "base things of the world." (g ) (ἀγοραῖος , agoraı́os ): "belonging to the market-place," loafers, worthless characters (Acts 17:5 ): "certain lewd fellows of the baser sort"; the Revised Version (British and American) "certain vile fellows of the rabble."