1 Kings 7:25

²³ He also made the Sea of cast metal. It was circular in shape, measuring ten cubits from rim to rim, five cubits in height, and thirty cubits in circumference.

²⁴ Below the rim, ornamental buds encircled it, ten per cubit all the way around the Sea, cast in two rows as a part of the Sea.

The Sea stood on twelve oxen, three facing north, three facing west, three facing south, and three facing east. The Sea rested on them, with all their hindquarters toward the center.

²⁶ It was a handbreadth thick, and its rim was fashioned like the brim of a cup, like a lily blossom. It could hold two thousand baths.

²⁷ In addition, he made ten movable stands of bronze, each four cubits long, four cubits wide, and three cubits high.

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: The Sea stood on twelve oxen, three facing north, three facing west, three facing south, and three facing east. The Sea rested on them, with all their hindquarters toward the center.
KJV: It stood upon twelve oxen, three looking toward the north, and three looking toward the west, and three looking toward the south, and three looking toward the east: and the sea was set above upon them, and all their hinder parts were inward.
WEB: It stood on twelve oxen, three looking toward the north, and three looking toward the west, and three looking toward the south, and three looking toward the east; and the sea was set on them above, and all their hindquarters were inward.
ASV: It stood upon twelve oxen, three looking toward the north, and three looking toward the west, and three looking toward the south, and three looking toward the east; and the sea was set upon them above, and all their hinder parts were inward.
DARBY: It stood upon twelve oxen, three looking toward the north, and three looking toward the west, and three looking toward the south, and three looking toward the east; and the sea was above upon them, and all their hinder parts were inward.
BLB: It stood on twelve oxen, three facing toward the north, and three facing toward the west, and three facing toward the south, and three facing toward the east; and the Sea was over them, and all their hindquarters [were] inward.

ÅB: Havet sto på tolv okser; tre vendte mot nord, tre vendte mot vest, tre vendte mot syd, og tre vendte mot øst; havet hvilte på dem, og deres bakkropper vendte alle inn.
OTB: Det sto på tolv okser, tre vendt mot nord, tre vendt mot vest, tre vendt mot sør, og tre vendt mot øst; og Havet var satt på toppen av dem, og alle deres bakender vendt innover.
B1930: Havet stod på tolv okser; tre vendte mot nord, tre vendte mot vest, tre vendte mot syd, og tre vendte mot øst; havet hvilte på dem, og deres bakkropper vendte alle innefter.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Jeremiah 52:20
As for the two pillars, the Sea, the twelve bronze bulls under it, and the movable stands that King Solomon had made for the house of the LORD, the weight of the bronze from all these articles was beyond measure.
Read in context
2 Chronicles 4:4–5
The Sea stood on twelve oxen, three facing north, three facing west, three facing south, and three facing east. The Sea rested on them, with all their hindquarters toward the center.
Read in context
Matthew 28:19
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,
Read in context
Revelation 4:6–7
And before the throne was something like a sea of glass, as clear as crystal. In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures, covered with eyes in front and back.
Read in context
1 Corinthians 9:9
For it is written in the Law of Moses: “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain.” Is it about oxen that God is concerned?
Read in context
Mark 16:15–16
And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.
Read in context
Luke 24:47
and in His name repentance and forgiveness of sins will be proclaimed to all nations, beginning in Jerusalem.
Read in context
Ezekiel 1:10
The form of their faces was that of a man, and each of the four had the face of a lion on the right side, the face of an ox on the left side, and also the face of an eagle.
Read in context