Jeremiah 52:21
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.

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.

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.

Majority Standard Bible
Each pillar was eighteen cubits tall and twelve cubits in circumference; each was hollow, four fingers 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.

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 Version
As 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.

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 Bible
And 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 Bible
And 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 1917
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.

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



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
1 Kings 7:15-22
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. / For the capitals on top of the pillars he made a network of lattice, with wreaths of chainwork, seven for each capital. ...

2 Chronicles 3:15-17
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. / He made interwoven chains and put them on top of the pillars. He made a hundred pomegranates and fastened them into the chainwork. / Then he set up the pillars in front of the temple, one on the south and one on the north. The pillar on the south he named Jachin, and the pillar on the north he named Boaz.

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.

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);

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);

1 Kings 7:23-26
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. / The Sea stood on twelve oxen, three facing north, three facing west, three facing south, and three facing east. The Sea rested on them, with all their hindquarters toward the center. ...

2 Chronicles 4:2-5
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, figures of oxen encircled it, ten per cubit all the way around the Sea, cast in two rows as a part of the Sea. / The Sea stood on twelve oxen, three facing north, three facing west, three facing south, and three facing east. The Sea rested on them, with all their hindquarters toward the center. ...

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:

1 Kings 7:45-46
and the pots, shovels, and sprinkling bowls. All the articles that Huram made for King Solomon in the house of the LORD were made of burnished bronze. / The king had them cast in clay molds in the plain of the Jordan between Succoth and Zarethan.


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 Twelve
Jump to Next
Circumference Compass Cord Cubits Eighteen Encompassed Fingers Four Hand Height High Hight Hollow Line Measured Pillar Pillars Round Thereof Thickness Twelve
Jeremiah 52
1. Zedekiah rebels
4. 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
The term "pillar" in the Hebrew context often refers to a structural element that is both functional and symbolic. In the ancient Near East, pillars were not only used to support buildings but also to signify strength and stability. In the context of the Temple, these pillars represented the enduring presence and strength of God among His people. The use of pillars in the Temple can be seen as a reflection of God's unchanging nature and His support for His covenant with Israel.

eighteen cubits tall
A cubit is an ancient measurement roughly equivalent to the length of a forearm, about 18 inches or 45 centimeters. Thus, each pillar stood approximately 27 feet tall. This significant height would have made the pillars a prominent feature of the Temple, visible from a distance and symbolizing the grandeur and majesty of God. The height of the pillars can also be seen as a metaphor for reaching towards heaven, indicating the connection between God and His people.

twelve cubits in circumference
The circumference of twelve cubits suggests a diameter of about four cubits, or six feet. The number twelve is often symbolic in the Bible, representing completeness or the people of God, as seen in the twelve tribes of Israel. This measurement could symbolize the encompassing nature of God's covenant with His people, suggesting that His promises and protection are all-encompassing and complete.

each was hollow
The fact that the pillars were hollow may seem surprising, but it reflects the practical engineering of the time. Hollow structures are lighter and require less material, yet can still be incredibly strong. Spiritually, this could symbolize that while God's presence is mighty and awe-inspiring, it is not burdensome. The hollowness might also suggest that true strength comes from God filling what is empty, just as He fills our lives with His Spirit.

four fingers thick
The thickness of four fingers, approximately three inches, indicates the robustness of the pillars despite their hollowness. This detail underscores the balance between strength and economy in God's creation. Spiritually, it can remind believers that God provides strength and protection that is both sufficient and efficient. The thickness also serves as a reminder of the precision and care with which God constructs His plans and purposes, ensuring they are perfectly suited to His divine will.

(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.



Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Each
הָאֶחָ֔ד (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


Links
Jeremiah 52:21 NIV
Jeremiah 52:21 NLT
Jeremiah 52:21 ESV
Jeremiah 52:21 NASB
Jeremiah 52:21 KJV

Jeremiah 52:21 BibleApps.com
Jeremiah 52:21 Biblia Paralela
Jeremiah 52:21 Chinese Bible
Jeremiah 52:21 French Bible
Jeremiah 52:21 Catholic Bible

OT Prophets: Jeremiah 52:21 As for the pillars the height (Jer.)
Jeremiah 52:20
Top of Page
Top of Page