Bible Encyclopedias
Foursquare

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

fōr´skwār ( רבע , rābha‛ ; τετράγωνος , tetrágōnos ): "Foursquare," meaning equal in length and breadth, not round, is the translation of rābha‛ (from obsolete rebha‛ , "four"); it occurs in the description of the altar of burnt offering (Exodus 27:1; Exodus 38:1 ); of the altar of incense (Exodus 30:2; Exodus 37:25 ); of the breastplate of the high priest (Exodus 28:16; Exodus 39:9 ); of the panels of the gravings upon the mouth of the brazen or molten sea in Solomon's temple (1 Kings 7:31 ); of the inner court of Ezekiel's temple (Ezekiel 40:47 ); of "the holy oblation" of the city of Ezekiel's vision (Ezekiel 48:20 , rebhı̄‛ı̄ , "fourth"); of the new Jerusalem of John's vision (Revelation 21:16 , τετραγονος , tetragonos ), and conveys the idea of perfect symmetry. In the King James Version marginof 1 Kings 6:31 , we have "five-square," square being formerly used for equal-sided, as it still is in "Three-square file."