1 Kings 7 · Verse 15

1 Kings 7:15

For he cast two pillars of brass, of eighteen cubits high apiece: and a line of twelve cubits did compass either of them about.

1 Kings 7:15, King James Version

1 Kings 7:15 in other translations

BSB	He cast two pillars of bronze, each eighteen cubits high and twelve cubits in circumference.
WEB	For he fashioned the two pillars of bronze, eighteen cubits high apiece; and a line of twelve cubits encircled either of them.
ASV	For he fashioned the two pillars of brass, eighteen cubits high apiece: and a line of twelve cubits compassed either of them about.
YLT	And he formeth the two pillars of brass; eighteen cubits is the height of the one pillar, and a cord of twelve cubits doth compass the second pillar.
DARBY	And he formed the two pillars of brass; the height of one pillar was eighteen cubits, and a line of twelve cubits encompassed the second pillar.
BBE	He it was who made the two brass pillars; the first pillar was eighteen cubits high, and a line of twelve cubits went round it; and the second was the same.
Webster	For he cast two pillars of brass, each of eighteen cubits high: and a line of twelve cubits did encompass each of them.

What does 1 Kings 7:15 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 1 Kings 7:15-22

15-22. two pillars of brass of eighteen cubits high--They were made of the brass (bronze) which was taken from the king of Zobah (1Ch 18:8). In 2Ch 3:15 they are said to have been thirty-five cubits high. There, however, their joint lengths are given; whereas here the length of the pillars is given separately. Each pillar was seventeen and a half cubits long, which is stated, in round numbers, as eighteen. Their dimensions in English measure are as follows: The pillars without the capitals measured thirty-two and a half feet long, and seven feet diameter; and if hollow, as Whiston, in his translation of Josephus, thinks (Jr 52:21), the metal would be about three and a half inches thick; so that the whole casting of one pillar must have been from sixteen to twenty tons. The height of the capitals was eight and three-fourths feet; and, at the same thickness of metal, would not weigh less than seven or eight tons each. The nature of the workmanship in the finishing of these capitals is described (1Ki 7:17-22). The pillars, when set up, would stand forty feet in height [Napier, Metal].

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 15 He cast two pillars - eighteen cubits high - That is, about thirty feet in English measure. A line of twelve cubits - In circumference. It would be difficult even now to procure a founder who could cast such massive pillars, whether solid or hollow.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 1 Kings 7:13-47

The two brazen pillars in the porch of the temple, some think, were to teach those that came to worship, to depend upon God only, for strength and establishment in all their religious exercises. "Jachin," God will fix this roving mind. It is good that the heart be established with grace. "Boaz," In him is our strength, who works in us both to will and to do. Spiritual strength and stability are found at the door of…

Read the full comment on 1 Kings 7:13-47 →

1 Kings 7:15 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וַיָּ֛צַרvai.Ya.tzarand he fashionedH6696

אֶת\־'et-<obj.>H853

שְׁנֵ֥יshe.Nei[the] twoH8147

הָעַמּוּדִ֖יםha.'a.mu.Dimthe pillarsH5982

נְחֹ֑שֶׁתne.Cho.shetbronzeH5178

שְׁמֹנֶ֨הshe.mo.Neh[was] eight-H8083

עֶשְׂרֵ֜ה'es.RehteenH6240

אַמָּ֗ה'a.Mahcubit[s]H520

קוֹמַת֙ko.Mat[the] height ofH6967

הָעַמּ֣וּדha.'a.Mudthe pillarH5982

הָאֶחָ֔דha.'e.Chad<the> oneH259

וְחוּט֙ve.Chutand a line ofH2339

שְׁתֵּים\־she.teim-two [plus]H8147

עֶשְׂרֵ֣ה'es.RehtenH6240

אַמָּ֔ה'a.Mahcubit[s]H520

יָסֹ֖בya.Soit went roundH5437

אֶת\־'et-<obj.>H853

הָעַמּ֥וּדha.'a.Mudthe pillarH5982

הַשֵּׁנִֽי\׃ha.she.Ni<the> secondH8145

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for 1 Kings 7:15

Jeremiah 52:21
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.
1 Kings 7:21
And he set up the pillars in the porch of the temple: and he set up the right pillar, and called the name thereof Jachin: and he set up the left pillar, and called the name thereof Boaz.
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. And he made chains, as in the oracle, and put them on the heads of the pillars; and made an hundred pomegranates, and put them on the chains. And he reared up the pillars before the temple, one on the right hand, and the other on the left; and called the name of that on the right hand Jachin, and the name of that on the left Boaz.
Jeremiah 52:13
And burned the house of the Lord, and the king’s house; and all the houses of Jerusalem, and all the houses of the great men, burned he with fire:
2 Kings 25:16-17
The two pillars, one sea, and the bases which Solomon had made for the house of the Lord; the brass of all these vessels was without weight. 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.
1 Kings 7:41
The two pillars, and the two bowls of the chapiters that were on the top of the two pillars; and the two networks, to cover the two bowls of the chapiters which were upon the top of the pillars;
2 Chronicles 4:12-22
To wit, the two pillars, and the pommels, and the chapiters which were on the top of the two pillars, and the two wreaths to cover the two pommels of the chapiters which were on the top of the pillars; And four hundred pomegranates on the two wreaths; two rows of pomegranates on each wreath, to cover the two pommels of the chapiters which were upon the pillars. He made also bases, and lavers made he upon the bases; One sea, and twelve oxen under it. …

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

cast. Heb. fashioned. two pillars.
21; 2Ki 25:16,17; 2Ch 3:15-17; 4:12-22; Jer 52:21-13
eighteen cubits.That is, nearly thirty feet, English measure. But in the parallel place in Chronicles, these pillars are said to thirty-five cubits high. Tremellius reconciles this difference by observing, that the common cubit was but one-half of the cubit of the sanctuary; so that eighteen of the one would make thirty-six of the other; from which, if we deduct one cubit for the base, there will remain thirty-five. Notwithstanding the names of these pillars, they seem to have supported no part of the building, and appear to have been formed for ornament; and were no doubt also emblematical. The right pillar was called {Jachin,} which signifies, "He will establish;" while that on the left was named {Boaz,} "In it is strength." Some think they were intended for memorials of the pillars and cloud of fire, which led Israel through the wilderness; but Henry supposes them designed for memorandums to the priests and others that came to worship at God's door. 1st. To depend upon God only, and not upon any sufficiency of their own, for strength and establishment in all their religious exercises. 2nd. It was a memorandum to them of the strength and establishment of the temple of God among them. When the temple was destroyed, particular notice is taken of the breaking up and carrying away of these brazen pillars, 2 Ki 25:13, 17, which had been the tokens of its establishment, and would have been still so, if they had not forsaken God.

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

1 Kings 7:14
He was a widow’s son of the tribe of Naphtali, and his father was a man of Tyre, a worker in brass: and he was filled with wisdom, and understanding, and cunning to work all works in brass. And he came to king Solomon, and wrought all his work.
1 Kings 7:15
For he cast two pillars of brass, of eighteen cubits high apiece: and a line of twelve cubits did compass either of them about.
1 Kings 7:16
And he made two chapiters of molten brass, to set upon the tops of the pillars: the height of the one chapiter was five cubits, and the height of the other chapiter was five cubits:

Read all of 1 Kings 7

1 Kings 7:15 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Y vació dos columnas de bronce, la altura de cada cual era de diez y ocho codos: y rodeaba á una y á otra columna un hilo de doce codos.
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	Et il forma les deux colonnes d’airain: une colonne avait 18 coudées de hauteur, et un fil de douze coudées faisait le tour de l’autre colonne.
German Elberfelder 1871	Und er bildete die zwei Säulen von Erz: achtzehn Ellen die Höhe der einen Säule, und ein Faden von zwölf Ellen umfaßte die andere Säule.
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Et finxit duas columnas æreas, decem et octo cubitorum altitudinis columnam unam: et linea duodecim cubitorum ambiebat columnam utramque.