Base

(1) Substantive from Latin basis, Greek basis, a foundation. (a) (mekhonah): the fixed resting-place on which the lavers in Solomon's temple were set (1 Ki 7:27-43; 2 Ki 16:17; 25:13,16; 2 Ch 4:14; Jer 27:19; 52:17,20; compare Ezr 3:3; Zec 5:11 the American Revised Version, margin). (b) (ken): pedestal in the King James Version and the Revised Version (British and American) (1 Ki 7:29,31) and in the Revised Version (British and American) only (Ex 30:18,28; 31:9; 35:16; 38:8; 39:39; 40:11; Lev 8:11) of

the base of the laver of the tabernacle (the King James Version "foot"). (c) (yarekh): "base of candlestick" (the Revised Version (British and American) of Ex 25:31; 37:17) the King James Version "shaft." (d) (yecodh): the Revised Version (British and American) "base of altar"; the King James Version "bottom" (Ex 29:12; 38:8; Lev 4:7,18,25,30,34; 5:9; 8:15; 9:9). (e) (gabh): the Revised Version (British and American) "elevation," i.e. basement of altar; the King James Version "higher place" (Ezek 43:13).

(2) Adjective from French bas--low, or Welsh bas--"shallow": of lowly birth or station, of voluntary humility and of moral depravity. (a) (shaphal, shephal): of David's self-humiliation (2 Sam 6:22): "a modest unambitious kingdom" (Ezek 17:14; 29:14,15 (BDB); Dan 4:17 (the American Standard Revised Version "lowest")): compare shephelah = "lowland." (b) (qalah): men of humble birth and station as opposed to the nobles (Isa 3:5). (c) (beli-shem): "nameless," "of no account": "children of fools, yea, children of base men" (Job 30:8). (d) the King James Version men, sons, daughters, children of Belial; literally "worthless persons"; in the American Standard Revised Version "base," except 1 Sam 1:16 "wicked woman"; also the English Revised Version of Dt 13:13, "base," which elsewhere retains the King James Version rendering. (e) (tapeinos): "lowly," "humble or abject" (2 Cor 10:1); the Revised Version (British and American), "lowly"; so Paul's enemies said he appeared when present in the church at Corinth. (f) (agenes): "of low birth," "of no account" (1 Cor 1:28): "base things of the world." (g) (agoraios): " belonging to the market-place," loafers, worthless characters (Acts 17:5): "certain lewd fellows of the baser sort"; the Revised Version (British and American) "certain vile fellows of the rabble."

T. Rees