חִשֻּׁר (chish.shur)
chish.shur
hub
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The noun chishshur refers specifically to the central hub or nave of a wheel, the solid core where the spokes converge. It appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, in the detailed description of the bronze stands crafted for Solomon’s Temple (1 Kings 7:33). The term highlights the structural integrity of these massive vessels, emphasizing how the design relied on this central point to hold the radial spokes together and support the weight of the basins above.
While modern wheels often feature a hollow center or a flat disc, the ancient chishshur was likely a solid, cylindrical block. This distinction matters because it reflects the engineering of the time, where durability depended on a dense core rather than lightweight construction. The word itself is rare, appearing nowhere else in Scripture, which makes this single reference in Kings all the more significant for understanding the craftsmanship described in the temple’s architecture.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word chishshur refers to the solid center of a wheel, the hub where every spoke meets. In 1 Kings 7:33, this term describes the bronze stands built for Solomon’s Temple. These massive vessels held water for ritual washing, and their design required immense strength. The hub was not just a part; it was the core that held everything together.
When we think about our own lives, we often focus on the spokes—the visible activities, relationships, and duties that rotate around us. But the hub is what keeps the wheel from falling apart. It is the quiet center of stability. For believers, this points to Christ as the central point where all things hold together. Without a firm center, our efforts scatter.
This ancient detail reminds us that true strength comes from being anchored. When life feels chaotic or your schedule seems overwhelming, look to the center. Rest in the One who holds your world together. Your stability does not come from spinning faster, but from staying connected to the source of your peace.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- and/ hubs/ their1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- וְ/חִשֻּׁרֵי/הֶ֖ם1×
Key Verses
-
I Kings 7:33
The work of the wheels was like the work of a chariot wheel. Their axles, their rims, their spokes, and their hubs were all of cast metal.
This verse uses chishshur to describe the cast metal hubs of the temple's bronze stands, highlighting their structural role in supporting the large basins.