Foursquare

FOURSQUARE for'-skwar (rabha`; tetragonos):

"Foursquare," meaning equal in length and breadth, not round, is the translation of rabha` (from obsolete rebha`, "four"); it occurs in the description of the altar of burnt offering (Exodus 27:1; 38:1); of the altar of incense (Exodus 30:2; 37:25); of the breastplate of the high priest (Exodus 28:16; 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, rebhi`i, "fourth"); of the new Jerusalem of John's vision (Revelation 21:16, 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."

W. L. Walker

Copyright Statement

These files are public domain.

Bibliography Information

Orr, James, M.A., D.D. General Editor. "Entry for 'FOURSQUARE'".  "International Standard Bible Encyclopedia".  1915.