Bible Dictionaries
Hearth

Holman Bible Dictionary

A depression in a floor, sometimes bricked to retain heat (Jeremiah 36:23 ), used for cooking food (Isaiah 30:14 ). KJV used hearth to translate four Hebrew terms. Modern translations retain hearth at Isaiah 30:14 . Elsewhere modern translations substituted other terms: furnace (NRSV), oven (REB), or glowing embers (NIV) at Psalm 102:3; brazier (REB, NAS, NRSV) or firepot (NIV) at Jeremiah 36:22-23; blazing pot (NRSV), brazier (REB), or firepot (NAS, NIV) at Zechariah 12:6 . The altar hearth of Ezekiel 43:15-16 refers to the upper part of the altar upon which the sacrifice was burnt (compare Leviticus 6:9 ). See Cooking and Heating .