Smith's Bible Dictionary
Firepanone of the vessels of the temple service. (Exodus 27:3; 38:3; 2 Kings 25:15; Jeremiah 52:19) The same word is elsewhere rendered "snuff-dish," (Exodus 25:38; 37:23; Numbers 4:9) and "censer." (Leviticus 10:1; 16:12; Numbers 16:6) ff. There appear, therefore, to have been two articles so called: one, like a chafing-dish, to carry live coals for the purpose of burning incense; another, like a snuffer-dish, to be used in trimming the lamps, in order to carry the snuffers and convey away the snuff.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
FIREPANfir'-pan (machtah, "firepan," "censer," "snuffdish," from chathah, "to snatch up"):
A vessel for carrying coals. Brazen firepans were part of the furnishings of the altar of burnt offerings (Exodus 27:3; Exodus 38:3, and in Numbers 4:14, where the King James Version wrongly reads "censers," the context indicating a vessel belonging to the brazen altar).
The same word is translated "snuffdishes" in Exodus 25:38; Exodus 37:23 Numbers 4:9, where it refers to golden firepans which belonged to the golden candlestick or lamp stand, and were used to receive the burnt ends of the wicks. In 1 Kings 7:50 and 2 Chronicles 4:22, although the King James Version reads "censers," the context points to the firepans belonging to the candlestick; as also in 2 Kings 25:15 and Jeremiah 52:19, translated "firepans" in the King James Version and the Revised Version (British and American). A similar firepan designated by the same Hebrew word but translated "censer" was used to carry the burning coals upon which the incense was thrown and burned (Leviticus 10:1; Leviticus 16:12 Numbers 16:6, 17).
See CENSER.
The firepan or censer of the Hebrews was doubtless similar to the censer of the Egyptians, pictures of which have been found. It consisted of a pan or pot for the coals, which was held by a straight or slightly curved long handle. The style of censer used in recent centuries, swung by three chains, came into use about the 12th century A.D.
George Rice Hovey
Easton's Bible Dictionary
(
Exodus 27:3;
38:3), one of the vessels of the temple service (rendered "snuff-dish"
Exodus 25:38;
37:23; and "censer"
Leviticus 10:1;
16:12). It was probably a metallic cinder-basin used for the purpose of carrying live coal for burning incense, and of carrying away the snuff in trimming the lamps.
Strong's Hebrew
4289. machtah -- a fireholder, censer, snuff dish... Word Origin from chathah Definition a fireholder, censer, snuff dish NASB Word Usage
censer (3), censers (4),
firepan (3), firepans (9), trays (3).
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