New International Version Each pillar was eighteen cubits high and twelve cubits in circumference; each was four fingers thick, and hollow. New Living Translation Each of the pillars was 27 feet tall and 18 feet in circumference. They were hollow, with walls 3 inches thick. English Standard Version As for the pillars, the height of the one pillar was eighteen cubits, its circumference was twelve cubits, and its thickness was four fingers, and it was hollow. Berean Standard Bible Each pillar was eighteen cubits tall and twelve cubits in circumference; each was hollow, four fingers thick. Berean Literal Bible As to the pillars, eighteen cubits was the height of the one pillar, and a measuring line of twelve cubits could turn around it; its thickness was four fingers; it was hollow. King James Bible And concerning the pillars, the height of one pillar was eighteen cubits; and a fillet of twelve cubits did compass it; and the thickness thereof was four fingers: it was hollow. New King James Version Now concerning the pillars: the height of one pillar was eighteen cubits, a measuring line of twelve cubits could measure its circumference, and its thickness was four fingers; it was hollow. New American Standard Bible As for the pillars, the height of each pillar was eighteen cubits, and it was twelve cubits in circumference and four fingers in thickness, and hollow. NASB 1995 As for the pillars, the height of each pillar was eighteen cubits, and it was twelve cubits in circumference and four fingers in thickness, and hollow. NASB 1977 As for the pillars, the height of each pillar was eighteen cubits, and it was twelve cubits in circumference and four fingers in thickness, and hollow. Legacy Standard Bible As for the pillars, the height of each pillar was eighteen cubits, and it was twelve cubits in circumference and four fingers in thickness, and hollow. Amplified Bible Concerning the pillars, the height of each pillar was eighteen cubits (twenty-seven feet), and a line [an ornamental molding] of twelve cubits (eighteen feet) went around its circumference; it was four fingers thick, and [the pillar was] hollow. Berean Annotated Bible Each pillar was eighteen cubits tall and twelve cubits in circumference <27 ft high x 18 ft around / 8.2 m x 5.5 m around>; each was hollow, four fingers thick <2.9 in / 7.4 cm>. Christian Standard Bible One pillar was 27 feet tall, had a circumference of 18 feet, was hollow—four fingers thick— Holman Christian Standard Bible One pillar was 27 feet tall, had a circumference of 18 feet, was hollow—four fingers thick— American Standard Version And as for the pillars, the height of the one pillar was eighteen cubits; and a line of twelve cubits did compass it; and the thickness thereof was four fingers: it was hollow. Contemporary English Version For example, the columns were about 8 meters high and 5.5 meters around. They were hollow, but the bronze was about 75 millimeters thick. English Revised Version And as for the pillars, the height of the one pillar was eighteen cubits; and a line of twelve cubits did compass it; and the thickness thereof was four fingers: it was hollow. GOD'S WORD® Translation One pillar was 27 feet high and 18 feet in circumference. It was three inches thick and hollow. International Standard Version Each of the pillars was twelve cubits high and its circumference twelve cubits. It was hollow and about a handbreadth thick. NET Bible Each of the pillars was about 27 feet high, about 18 feet in circumference, three inches thick, and hollow. New Heart English Bible As for the pillars, the height of the one pillar was eight feet seven inches; and a line of twenty feet eight inches encircled it; and its thickness was almost three inches. It was hollow. Webster's Bible Translation And concerning the pillars, the hight of one pillar was eighteen cubits; and a fillet of twelve cubits encompassed it; and the thickness of it was four fingers: it was hollow. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleEach pillar was eighteen cubits tall and twelve cubits in circumference; each was hollow, four fingers thick. World English Bible As for the pillars, the height of the one pillar was eighteen cubits; and a line of twelve cubits encircled it; and its thickness was four fingers. It was hollow. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAs for the pillars, eighteen cubits [is] the height of the one pillar, and a cord of twelve cubits goes around it, and its thickness [is] four fingers hollow. Berean Literal Bible As to the pillars, eighteen cubits was the height of the one pillar, and a measuring line of twelve cubits could turn around it; its thickness was four fingers; it was hollow. Young's Literal Translation As to the pillars, eighteen cubits is the height of the one pillar, and a cord of twelve cubits doth compass it, and its thickness is four fingers hollow. Smith's Literal Translation And the pillars, eighteen cubits the height of the one pillar; and a thread of twelve cubits will surround it; and its thickness four fingers: it was hollow. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd concerning the pillars, one pillar was eighteen cubits high: and a cord of twelve cubits compassed it about: but the thickness thereof was four fingers, and it was hollow within. Catholic Public Domain Version Now concerning the pillars, one pillar was eighteen cubits high, and a cord of twelve cubits encircled it. Moreover, its thickness was four fingers, and the interior was hollow. New American Bible As for the pillars, each of them was eighteen cubits high and twelve cubits in diameter; each was four fingers thick and hollow inside. New Revised Standard Version As for the pillars, the height of the one pillar was eighteen cubits, its circumference was twelve cubits; it was hollow and its thickness was four fingers. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAnd as for the pillars, the height of one pillar was eighteen cubits, and a fillet of twelve cubits encircled it, and its thickness was four fingers, and it was hollow. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And those two pillars were eighteen cubits, the height of one of the pillars, and a cord of twelve cubits going around it in a circle, and its thickness was four fingers, and it was hollow inside OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917And as for the pillars, the height of the one pillar was eighteen cubits; and a line of twelve cubits did compass it; and the thickness thereof was four fingers; it was hollow. Brenton Septuagint Translation And as for the pillars, the height of one pillar was thirty-five cubits; and a line of twelve cubits compassed it round; and the thickness of it all round was four fingers. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible (Voice ▾ Musical ▾) Context The Temple Destroyed…20As for the two pillars, the Sea, the twelve bronze bulls under it, and the movable stands that King Solomon had made for the house of the LORD, the weight of the bronze from all these articles was beyond measure. 21Each pillar was eighteen cubits tall and twelve cubits in circumference; each was hollow, four fingers thick. 22The bronze capital atop one pillar was five cubits high, with a network of bronze pomegranates all around. The second pillar, with its pomegranates, was similar.… Cross References Each pillar was eighteen cubits tall 1 Kings 7:15-16 He cast two pillars of bronze, each eighteen cubits high and twelve cubits in circumference. / He also made two capitals of cast bronze to set on top of the pillars, each capital five cubits high. 2 Chronicles 3:15 In front of the temple he made two pillars, which together were thirty-five cubits high, each with a capital on top measuring five cubits. and twelve cubits in circumference; 1 Kings 7:23-24 He also made the Sea of cast metal. It was circular in shape, measuring ten cubits from rim to rim, five cubits in height, and thirty cubits in circumference. / Below the rim, ornamental buds encircled it, ten per cubit all the way around the Sea, cast in two rows as a part of the Sea. 2 Chronicles 4:2 He also made the Sea of cast metal. It was circular in shape, measuring ten cubits from rim to rim, five cubits in height, and thirty cubits in circumference. each was hollow, 1 Kings 7:46 The king had them cast in clay molds in the plain of the Jordan between Succoth and Zarethan. 2 Chronicles 4:12-13 the two pillars; the two bowl-shaped capitals atop the pillars; the two sets of network covering both bowls of the capitals atop the pillars; / the four hundred pomegranates for the two sets of network (two rows of pomegranates for each network covering both the bowl-shaped capitals atop the pillars); four fingers thick. 2 Kings 25:17 Each pillar was eighteen cubits tall. The bronze capital atop one pillar was three cubits high, with a network of bronze pomegranates all around. The second pillar, with its network, was similar. 1 Kings 7:14 He was the son of a widow from the tribe of Naphtali, and his father was a man of Tyre, a craftsman in bronze. Huram had great skill, understanding, and knowledge for every kind of bronze work. So he came to King Solomon and carried out all his work. Exodus 27:1-2 “You are to build an altar of acacia wood. The altar must be square, five cubits long, five cubits wide, and three cubits high. / Make a horn on each of its four corners, so that the horns are of one piece, and overlay it with bronze. 1 Kings 7:41-42 the two pillars; the two bowl-shaped capitals atop the pillars; the two sets of network covering both bowls of the capitals atop the pillars; / the four hundred pomegranates for the two sets of network (two rows of pomegranates for each network covering both the bowl-shaped capitals atop the pillars); 1 Kings 7:27-37 In addition, he made ten movable stands of bronze, each four cubits long, four cubits wide, and three cubits high. / This was the design of the stands: They had side panels attached to uprights, / and on the panels between the uprights were lions, oxen, and cherubim. On the uprights was a pedestal above, and below the lions and oxen were wreaths of beveled work. … 2 Chronicles 4:6 He also made ten basins for washing and placed five on the south side and five on the north. The parts of the burnt offering were rinsed in them, but the priests used the Sea for washing. 1 Kings 7:38-39 He also made ten bronze basins, each holding forty baths and measuring four cubits across, one basin for each of the ten stands. / He set five stands on the south side of the temple and five on the north, and he put the Sea on the south side, at the southeast corner of the temple. 2 Chronicles 4:14-15 the stands; the basins on the stands; / the Sea; the twelve oxen underneath the Sea; 1 Kings 7:40 Additionally, Huram made the pots, shovels, and sprinkling bowls. So Huram finished all the work that he had undertaken for King Solomon in the house of the LORD: 2 Chronicles 4:11 Additionally, Huram made the pots, shovels, and sprinkling bowls. So Huram finished the work that he had undertaken for King Solomon in the house of God: Treasury of Scripture And concerning the pillars, the height of one pillar was eighteen cubits; and a fillet of twelve cubits did compass it; and the thickness thereof was four fingers: it was hollow. concerning 1 Kings 7:15-21 For he cast two pillars of brass, of eighteen cubits high apiece: and a line of twelve cubits did compass either of them about… 2 Kings 25:17 The height of the one pillar was eighteen cubits, and the chapiter upon it was brass: and the height of the chapiter three cubits; and the wreathen work, and pomegranates upon the chapiter round about, all of brass: and like unto these had the second pillar with wreathen work. 2 Chronicles 3:15-17 Also he made before the house two pillars of thirty and five cubits high, and the chapiter that was on the top of each of them was five cubits… fillet [heb] thread Jump to Previous Circumference Compass Cord Cubits Eighteen Encompassed Fingers Four Hand Height High Hight Hollow Line Measured Pillar Pillars Round Thereof Thickness TwelveJump to Next Circumference Compass Cord Cubits Eighteen Encompassed Fingers Four Hand Height High Hight Hollow Line Measured Pillar Pillars Round Thereof Thickness TwelveJeremiah 52 1. Zedekiah rebels4. Jerusalem is besieged and taken 8. Zedekiah's sons killed, and his own eyes put out, 12. Nebuzaradan burns and spoils the city 24. He carries away the captives 28. The number of Jews carried captive 31. Evil-Merodach advances Jehoiachin Each pillar was eighteen cubits tall Each bronze pillar stood about twenty-seven feet high, giving the temple entrance an imposing display of strength and splendor. Known as Jachin and Boaz, the pillars testified that the Lord establishes and strengthens His people (1 Kings 7:21). Their removal by Babylon marked the visible collapse of Judah’s national glory, yet God’s covenant purposes were not destroyed with the temple. 1Ki 7:15-16 He cast two pillars of bronze, each eighteen cubits high… and twelve cubits in circumference; A circumference of twelve cubits made each pillar roughly four cubits, or six feet, in diameter. The massive dimensions reflected the grandeur of the house built for the worship of the holy God. Twelve also recalls the tribes of Israel, for whom the temple stood as the central place of covenant worship. 1Ki 7:23-24 He also made the Sea of cast metal. It was circular… each was hollow, The pillars were cast in bronze but made hollow, combining impressive scale with practical construction. Their craftsmanship came from the work of Hiram of Tyre under Solomon’s direction (1 Kings 7:13–16). The hollow interior did not lessen their strength; rather, the bronze casing was sufficiently substantial to endure for centuries until the Babylonian conquest. 1Ki 7:46 The king had them cast in clay molds in the plain… four fingers thick. The bronze walls were about three inches thick, showing both the value of the metal taken by the Babylonians and the durability of the original work. Even these great pillars could be broken up and carried away, demonstrating that no outward symbol of worship can preserve a people who persist in rebellion against God. 2Ki 25:17 Each pillar was eighteen cubits tall. The bronze capital… Persons / Places / Events 1. JeremiahA major prophet in the Old Testament, known for his prophecies concerning the destruction of Jerusalem and the Babylonian exile. 2. Babylon The empire responsible for the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple, as well as the exile of the Jewish people. 3. Solomon's Temple The first temple in Jerusalem, built by King Solomon, which was destroyed by the Babylonians in 586 BC. 4. Bronze Pillars Part of the temple's structure, these pillars were significant in the temple's design and symbolized strength and stability. 5. Nebuchadnezzar The Babylonian king who conquered Jerusalem and ordered the destruction of the temple. Teaching Points Symbolism of Strength and StabilityThe bronze pillars represented the strength and stability of God's presence among His people. Reflect on how God's presence provides stability in our lives today. Consequences of Disobedience The destruction of the temple serves as a reminder of the consequences of turning away from God. Consider how obedience to God can prevent spiritual downfall. God's Sovereignty in Judgment The fall of Jerusalem and the temple illustrates God's sovereignty in executing judgment. Trust in God's ultimate plan, even when facing difficult circumstances. Hope in Restoration Despite the destruction, God promised restoration and a future hope for His people. Embrace the hope of restoration through Christ in our personal lives. Value of Spiritual Foundations Just as the temple had physical pillars, our lives need strong spiritual foundations. Evaluate the strength of your spiritual foundations and seek to strengthen them through prayer and study of the Word. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Jeremiah 52:21?2. What does Jeremiah 52:21 reveal about the temple's significance in Israel's history? 3. How can understanding the temple's destruction deepen our reverence for God's holiness? 4. Connect Jeremiah 52:21 with 1 Kings 7:15-22 about the temple's construction. 5. How does the temple's destruction in Jeremiah 52:21 warn against idolatry today? 6. What lessons from Jeremiah 52:21 can guide our stewardship of God's resources? 7. How does Jeremiah 52:21 reflect the historical accuracy of the Bible's account of Solomon's Temple? 8. What does the description of the bronze pillars in Jeremiah 52:21 signify about Israel's spiritual state? 9. How does the craftsmanship in Jeremiah 52:21 demonstrate God's attention to detail in worship? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Jeremiah 52? What Does Jeremiah 52:21 Mean Each pillarJeremiah is recalling the two bronze columns originally erected by Solomon (1 Kings 7:15-22). They had names—Jachin (“He establishes”) and Boaz (“In Him is strength”)—and stood at the entrance to the temple, a daily visual of God’s stability and power for every worshiper who entered. In Jeremiah 52 they are being cataloged as the Babylonians dismantle and carry them off (2 Kings 25:13-17), proving that no earthly structure, however sacred, is immune to judgment when the people reject the Lord. Eighteen cubits tall “Eighteen cubits” comes out to about twenty-seven feet. That towering height preached a silent sermon: • The God of Israel is exalted above every earthly throne (Psalm 97:9). • His glory rises high over the heads of His people, reminding them to lift their eyes heavenward (Colossians 3:1-2). • When the pillars crashed down under Babylon’s assault, the fall illustrated Proverbs 16:18—pride goes before destruction when a nation turns from God. “Twelve cubits in circumference” A circumference of twelve cubits (roughly eighteen feet around) gave each pillar commanding presence. Twelve often signals completeness in Scripture—the tribes of Israel (Exodus 24:4), the gates of the New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:12). The size therefore spoke of God’s all-embracing covenant: every tribe could look at those huge columns and know they belonged to the Lord. Each was hollow Solomon cast them “in clay molds in the plain of the Jordan” (1 Kings 7:46). Hollowing out the center made such massive bronze pillars practical, but the detail also whispers a spiritual lesson: • Form without substance is useless. An empty shell of religion collapses when tested (Matthew 23:27-28; 2 Timothy 3:5). • God delights to fill vessels that recognize their emptiness (2 Corinthians 4:7). The hollow pillars foreshadow hearts meant to be filled with His presence. Four fingers thick The bronze walls were roughly three inches thick—sturdy enough to stand for centuries, yet not invincible. Their eventual removal shows: • Nothing man-made, however solid, can guarantee security apart from obedience to God (Psalm 127:1). • Only the Lord is an unbreakable refuge (Psalm 18:2). • For believers today, strength is found in putting on “the full armor of God” (Ephesians 6:10-11), not in physical structures or traditions. summary Jeremiah 52:21 is far more than dry measurements. Each phrase invites us to see: a God who establishes and strengthens, who calls His people to live under His towering glory, who offers complete covenant embrace, who alone can fill our hollow hearts, and whose protection is thicker than bronze yet contingent on humble faithfulness. (21-23) And concerning the pillars . . .—In 2Kings 25:16-17 we have a list abbreviated by the omission of some of the measurements and of the number and arrangement of the pomegranates. “Chapiter” is the old English word for the “capital” of a column.On a side.—The exact meaning of the Hebrew is towards a (=each) wind—i.e., there were twenty-four pomegranates on each side of the square pillars, with one at each corner, making, as in Jeremiah 52:23, one hundred in all. Hebrew Eachהָאֶחָ֔ד (hā·’e·ḥāḏ) Article | Number - masculine singular Strong's 259: United, one, first pillar וְהָעַמּוּדִ֗ים (wə·hā·‘am·mū·ḏîm) Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - masculine plural Strong's 5982: A column, a stand, platform [was] eighteen שְׁמֹנֶ֨ה (šə·mō·neh) Number - feminine singular Strong's 8083: A cardinal number, eight, eighth cubits אַמָּה֙ (’am·māh) Noun - feminine singular Strong's 520: A mother, a cubit, a door-base tall קוֹמַת֙ (qō·w·maṯ) Noun - feminine singular construct Strong's 6967: Height and twelve שְׁתֵּים־ (šə·têm-) Number - fd Strong's 8147: Two (a cardinal number) cubits אַמָּ֖ה (’am·māh) Noun - feminine singular Strong's 520: A mother, a cubit, a door-base in circumference; יְסֻבֶּ֑נּוּ (yə·sub·ben·nū) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine singular Strong's 5437: To turn about, go around, surround [each] was hollow, נָבֽוּב׃ (nā·ḇūḇ) Adjective - masculine singular Strong's 5014: To pierce, to be hollow, foolish four אַרְבַּ֥ע (’ar·ba‘) Number - feminine singular Strong's 702: Four fingers אַצְבָּע֖וֹת (’aṣ·bā·‘ō·wṯ) Noun - feminine plural Strong's 676: Something to sieze with, a finger, a toe thick. וְעָבְי֛וֹ (wə·‘ā·ḇə·yōw) Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular Strong's 5672: Density, depth, width Additonal Resources Jeremiah 52:21 Blue Letter BibleJeremiah 52:21 Bible Gateway Jeremiah 52:21 Bible.com Jeremiah 52:21 NIV |
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