מְבַשְּׁלָה
𐤌𐤁𐤔𐤋𐤄
mᵉbashshᵉlâh
H4018 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A cooking stove, fireplace, or hearth—specifically a construction or place designed for boiling, cooking, or preparing food by heating. As used in the Hebrew Bible, the term refers to a domestic fixture or installation for boiling or stewing food, not a general oven or open fire, but a more specific locale or apparatus for such culinary purposes.
Semantic Range
cooking hearth, boiling-place, cooking stove, fireplace for boiling/stewing, domestic cooking installation
Root / Etymology
From the root בָּשַׁל (bashal), meaning 'to boil, cook, ripen.' The word מְבַשְּׁלָה is a feminine noun formation with the mem prefix, commonly marking a place associated with the root action; thus, 'place of boiling/cooking.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
מְבַשְּׁלָה appears only once in the Hebrew Bible (Zechariah 14:21), referring to cooking hearths in the temple precinct. The context suggests not a professional or industrial kitchen, but domestic-style or common-use cooking installations appropriated for sacred use. The term is specific to boiling and stewing, distinguishing it from ovens (תנור, tannur) used for baking. While English versions may translate as 'cooking pot' or 'kettle,' the Hebrew indicates a stationary place or structure for cooking rather than a portable vessel. This nuance is important: the מְבַשְּׁלָה is not the same as the vessel itself (סִיר, sir), but the place or apparatus where such vessels would be employed. Over time, the precise construction and appearance of such hearths may have changed, but the lexical sense remains tied to the location or fixture for boiling/cooking, not the act or the implement alone.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from בָּשַׁל; a cooking hearth; boiling-place.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
בשל (b-sh-l) — to boil, to cook, to ripen
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4018-01 |
וּ/מְבַשְּׁל֣וֹת | umevashelot | HC/Ncfpa |
and cooking places | and boiling-hearths | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4018-01 |
Ezekiel 46:23 | וּ/מְבַשְּׁל֣וֹת | umevashelot | HC/Ncfpa |
and cooking places | and boiling-hearths |