2 Chronicles 3:10 - Exposition

Image work . The word in the Hebrew text ( צַעֲצֻעִים ) translated thus in our Authorized Version is a word unknown. Gesenius traces it to "an unused" Hebrew root צוַע , of Arabic derivation (meaning "to carry on the trade of a goldsmith"), and offers to translate it "statuary" work with the Vulgate ( opus statuarium ) . The parallel ( 1 Kings 6:23 ) gives simply "wood of oil" (not "olive," Nehemiah 8:15 ), i.e. the oleaster tree wood. It is obvious that some of the characters of these words would go some way to make the other unknown word. But it must be confessed that our text shows no external indications of a corrupt reading.