2 Kings 25:14 kjv
And the pots, and the shovels, and the snuffers, and the spoons, and all the vessels of brass wherewith they ministered, took they away.
2 Kings 25:14 nkjv
They also took away the pots, the shovels, the trimmers, the spoons, and all the bronze utensils with which the priests ministered.
2 Kings 25:14 niv
They also took away the pots, shovels, wick trimmers, dishes and all the bronze articles used in the temple service.
2 Kings 25:14 esv
And they took away the pots and the shovels and the snuffers and the dishes for incense and all the vessels of bronze used in the temple service,
2 Kings 25:14 nlt
They also took all the ash buckets, shovels, lamp snuffers, ladles, and all the other bronze articles used for making sacrifices at the Temple.
2 Kings 25 14 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Kgs 25:8 | "In the fifth month... Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard, a servant of the king of Babylon, came to Jerusalem." | Identity of the captor |
| 2 Kgs 25:13 | "Also the bronze pillars... and the bronze Sea... the Babylonians broke... carried off the bronze." | Plunder of other major bronze Temple items |
| 2 Kgs 25:15 | "The firepans and the basins, what was bronze, Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard took away." | Continued listing of removed bronze items |
| Jer 52:18 | "The pails, the shovels, the snuffers, the bowls, the censers, and all the bronze articles used in the Temple service..." | Parallel account of the Temple plunder |
| Ezra 1:7 | "King Cyrus also brought out the articles belonging to the Temple of the Lord, which Nebuchadnezzar had carried away..." | Return of Temple articles initiated |
| Ezra 1:11 | "...all the articles of gold and silver totaled 5,400. All these Sheshbazzar brought when the exiles returned..." | Documentation of returned Temple items |
| Dan 1:1-2 | "Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. And he carried off to the land of Shinar some of the articles from the temple..." | Early capture of Temple vessels for Babylon |
| Dan 5:2-3 | "While Belshazzar was drinking... he gave orders to bring in the gold and silver goblets that Nebuchadnezzar his father had taken from the temple..." | Profane use of Temple vessels by Babylonians |
| 1 Kgs 7:45 | "...the pots, the shovels, the basins. All these objects that Huram made for King Solomon for the temple of the Lord were of burnished bronze." | Original construction of these items |
| 2 Chr 4:11 | "He also made the pots, the shovels and the basins. All these objects that Huram made for King Solomon for the temple of God were of burnished bronze." | Parallel account of original construction |
| Exod 27:3 | "Make its pots for removing ashes and its shovels, its sprinkling bowls, its meat forks and its firepans—all of them are to be made of bronze." | Similar bronze items for the Tabernacle |
| Exod 38:3 | "He made all the altar’s accessories—its pots, shovels, sprinkling bowls, meat forks and firepans. All these were made of bronze." | Tabernacle parallels in material |
| Lam 1:10 | "The adversary has stretched out his hand over all her precious things; for she has seen the nations enter her sanctuary..." | Lament over the defilement of the sanctuary |
| Ps 74:6-7 | "All the carved woodwork therein they break down... They have set your sanctuary on fire; they have defiled the dwelling place of your name..." | Desecration and burning of God's sanctuary |
| Amos 2:10-12 | "I brought you up out of Egypt and led you forty years in the wilderness... But you made the Nazirites drink wine..." | God's judgment due to Israel's disobedience |
| Isa 6:13 | "But as a terebinth or an oak, whose stump remains when it is felled, so the holy seed will be the stump in the land.” | Foreshadows exile and a remnant's return |
| Lk 21:5-6 | "As some were talking about the temple, how it was adorned with noble stones and offerings, he said, “As for these things... not one stone will be left upon another." | Jesus foretelling the future destruction of the Second Temple |
| Jn 2:19-21 | "Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” ...He was speaking about the temple of his body." | The new "Temple" is Christ himself |
| Acts 7:48 | "Yet the Most High does not dwell in temples made with hands, as the prophet says..." | Spiritual nature of God's dwelling, not confined to physical structures |
| 1 Cor 3:16 | "Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you?" | Believers as the spiritual Temple |
| Heb 8:1-2 | "Now the main point of what we are saying is this: We have such a high priest, one who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, a minister in the holy places, in the true tent..." | Transition from earthly Temple to heavenly reality |
| Rev 11:1-2 | "Then I was given a reed like a measuring rod... "Go and measure the temple of God and the altar, and count those who worship there. But exclude the outer court..." | Symbolic Temple imagery in prophetic vision |
2 Kings 25 verses
2 Kings 25 14 Meaning
2 Kings 25:14 describes a specific detail of the systematic plundering of the Jerusalem Temple by Nebuchadnezzar's Babylonian forces under Nebuzaradan, captain of the guard. This verse catalogs the removal of various bronze utensils essential for daily worship and sacrificial duties within the Temple, including pots, shovels, snuffers, and dishes. Their confiscation represented a profound despoliation of the holy site, disrupting the prescribed sacrificial system and signaling the end of an era of visible Temple worship in Judah.
2 Kings 25 14 Context
2 Kings 25 describes the final, tragic events leading to the end of the Kingdom of Judah. Following King Zedekiah's rebellion against Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar launched a protracted siege against Jerusalem (v. 1-2). After two years, the city wall was breached, Zedekiah attempted to flee but was captured, witnessed his sons' execution, and was then blinded and taken captive to Babylon (v. 3-7). In the fifth month of Zedekiah's eleventh year (586 BC), Nebuzaradan, Nebuchadnezzar's captain of the guard, arrived in Jerusalem and executed the systematic destruction and plunder of the city. He burned the Temple of the Lord, the king's palace, and all the houses of Jerusalem, demolishing its walls (v. 8-10). The remaining population, except for the poorest, was deported to Babylon (v. 11-12).
Verse 14 fits precisely within this context of methodical destruction and desacralization. After detailing the demolition of major bronze elements like the pillars and the great bronze Sea (v. 13), the narrative turns to the countless smaller, but equally vital, bronze implements. Their removal signifies not just the loss of valuable metal, but the complete cessation of the Temple cult and the systematic dismantling of a central pillar of Judah's religious and national identity. This act fulfills long-standing prophecies of judgment for the nation's apostasy and covenant breaking.
2 Kings 25 14 Word analysis
- He also took away: This refers to Nebuzaradan (Hebrew: נְבוּזַרְאֲדָן, Nəḇūzaraʾdan), the chief of the guard. The Hebrew verb is nāśaʾ (נָשָׂא), meaning to lift, carry away, remove, or bear. Its use emphasizes the physical act of removal, portraying the meticulous and thorough nature of the Babylonian plunder, not just random looting.
- the pots: Hebrew: סִירֹות (sîrôṯ). These were likely large kettles or cauldrons, potentially used for cooking portions of the sacrificial offerings, especially peace offerings which were eaten by the priests and worshippers, or for handling ashes from the altar. Their removal rendered certain priestly duties impossible.
- the shovels: Hebrew: יָעִים (yāʿîm). These were tools, likely resembling scoops or shovels, specifically designed for clearing away ashes and debris from the altar of burnt offering (cf. Exod 27:3). Their confiscation signified the cessation of daily sacrifices.
- the snuffers: Hebrew: מְזַמּרוֹת (mᵉzammarōṯ). These were tools, similar to trimming shears or lamp snuffers, used for trimming the wicks of the seven lamps on the golden menorah within the Holy Place, ensuring proper light (cf. Exod 37:23). Without them, the ritual maintenance of the sacred lamp was disrupted.
- the dishes: Hebrew: מִזְרָקוֹת (mizrâqôṯ). These were bowls or basins, often used for ritual purposes such as receiving the blood of sacrifices, collecting oil for anointing, or mixing ingredients for offerings. Their removal implied an end to blood atonement rituals.
- and all the utensils of bronze: Hebrew: כּל־כּלֵי הַנְּחֹשׁת (kōl kᵉlê hannᵉḥōšeṯ). This phrase serves as a summary, indicating the comprehensive nature of the plunder. "Utensils" (כּלֵי, kᵉlê) broadly refers to vessels, implements, or articles. "Bronze" (נְּחֹשׁת, nᵉḥōšeṯ) specifies the material. While gold and silver articles were highly prized (and are mentioned separately elsewhere as taken), the sheer volume and functionality of the bronze items underscore the disruption of the ordinary, daily operations of the Temple service.
- with which they ministered: Hebrew: אֲשׁר שׁרְתוּ־בָם (ʾăšer shērᵉṯû-bām). The verb shārat (שׁרת) means to minister, serve, attend, often in a religious or priestly capacity (cf. Num 3:31, Deut 10:8). This highlights the sacred purpose of these otherwise mundane-looking tools. They were not merely household items but essential instruments for maintaining the worship of God according to divine command. Their removal directly symbolized the suspension of that commanded ministry.
- Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "He also took away... and all the utensils of bronze": This entire clause emphasizes the active and exhaustive confiscation by the Babylonians, focusing on the material (bronze) which was central to the practical operation of the Temple. This systematic stripping reflects a conqueror's thoroughness in subduing and defiling the vanquished's religious symbols.
- "the pots, the shovels, the snuffers, the dishes": This list is specific, showing the attention to detail in the inventory of items being plundered. It’s not just general theft; it’s an itemized record of liturgical tools, indicating a meticulous cataloging by the scribes who recorded these events. Each item served a distinct, vital function in the Temple rites.
- "with which they ministered": This concluding phrase is crucial. It transcends a mere list of items and defines their profound significance. These were not just bronze artifacts; they were vessels dedicated to the sacred service of the Lord. Their removal signifies the desecration of God's house and the forceful cessation of His appointed worship. This powerfully conveys the judgment against Israel – not just destruction of a building, but the suspension of the very means of maintaining their covenant relationship through prescribed rituals.
2 Kings 25 14 Bonus section
The fate of some of these very Temple vessels is mentioned in the book of Daniel, adding another layer of significance to their removal. Daniel 5 describes King Belshazzar's infamous feast where he commands that the gold and silver vessels from the Jerusalem Temple—those carried off by Nebuchadnezzar—be brought out and used for pagan revelry and drinking. This act of sacrilege, directly violating the holy purpose of the vessels and defiling them with idolatry, immediately precedes the divine handwriting on the wall and Belshazzar's demise that very night. This incident demonstrates that these seemingly mundane bronze items, along with their more precious counterparts, retained their symbolic holiness even in foreign lands, and their misuse ultimately provoked divine wrath, further validating the severity of the initial judgment depicted in 2 Kings 25:14. The details in 2 Kings, therefore, set the stage for later historical events emphasizing the ongoing spiritual ramifications of Jerusalem's fall and the sanctity of what belonged to God.
2 Kings 25 14 Commentary
2 Kings 25:14 provides a somber, pragmatic list within the tragic narrative of Jerusalem's fall. It highlights the functional disruption of Temple worship. While other verses mention the grand gold and silver vessels, this verse details the seizure of common bronze tools — the "pots," "shovels," "snuffers," and "dishes" — which were vital for the mundane yet continuous tasks of sacrifice, lamp maintenance, and cleaning within the Temple. Their removal meant the daily liturgical life could no longer continue. This act was more than mere theft; it was a deliberate act of cultural and religious effacement, dismantling the physical infrastructure of Israel's covenant relationship with God.
The meticulous recording of such seemingly ordinary implements underscores the completeness of the despoliation and the divine judgment at play. It's a reminder that no aspect of the Temple, from the magnificent pillars to the most humble bronze tools, was spared from the consequences of Israel's persistent disobedience. This plundering did not mean God's presence was confined or taken, but rather that the external, ceremonial system of worship had reached its prophesied end for that era. The destruction of the physical Temple and the removal of its instruments paved the way for a deeper, spiritual understanding of God's dwelling, ultimately pointing towards Christ as the ultimate temple and sacrifice.