Jeremiah 52 17

Jeremiah 52:17 kjv

Also the pillars of brass that were in the house of the LORD, and the bases, and the brasen sea that was in the house of the LORD, the Chaldeans brake, and carried all the brass of them to Babylon.

Jeremiah 52:17 nkjv

The bronze pillars that were in the house of the LORD, and the carts and the bronze Sea that were in the house of the LORD, the Chaldeans broke in pieces, and carried all their bronze to Babylon.

Jeremiah 52:17 niv

The Babylonians broke up the bronze pillars, the movable stands and the bronze Sea that were at the temple of the LORD and they carried all the bronze to Babylon.

Jeremiah 52:17 esv

And the pillars of bronze that were in the house of the LORD, and the stands and the bronze sea that were in the house of the LORD, the Chaldeans broke in pieces, and carried all the bronze to Babylon.

Jeremiah 52:17 nlt

The Babylonians broke up the bronze pillars in front of the LORD's Temple, the bronze water carts, and the great bronze basin called the Sea, and they carried all the bronze away to Babylon.

Jeremiah 52 17 Cross References

VerseTextReference
Jer 52:17"The Levites carried the bronze vessels...Strong connection (Historical Parallel)
2 Ki 25:13The Babylonians took the bronze vessels, the base stands and the bronze sea.Strong connection (Synoptic Account)
2 Chron 36:18And the vessels of the house of God he carried to Babylon.Strong connection (Parallel Account)
Isa 39:6"Behold, the days are coming... when all that is in your house... shall be carried to Babylon.Strong connection (Prophetic Fulfillment)
Psa 79:1O God, the nations have invaded your inheritance; they have defiled your holy temple.Strong connection (Thematic Parallel)
Lam 1:10The enemy has desecrated all her precious things.Strong connection (Thematic Parallel)
Lam 2:7The Lord has rejected his altar; he has abhorred his sanctuary.Strong connection (Thematic Parallel)
Dan 1:2And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with some of the vessels of the house of God.Strong connection (Prophetic Foreshadowing)
Acts 7:42But God turned away and abandoned them to serve the host of heaven...Strong connection (Thematic Parallel on Judgment)
1 Cor 3:17If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him.Strong connection (Principle on Defiling God's Temple)
1 Cor 6:19Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit?Strong connection (New Testament Application)
Heb 9:4...where were the golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant...Strong connection (Temple Symbolism)
Rev 18:12...cargoes of gold, silver, jewels, pearls, fine linen, purple cloth, silk, scarlet cloth, all kinds of scented wood, all kinds of articles of ivory, all kinds of articles of precious wood, bronze, iron, and marble.Strong connection (Thematic Parallel on Worldly Loss)
Eze 22:26Her priests have violated my law and profaned my holy things.Strong connection (Thematic Parallel on Priestly Failure)
Nah 2:9Take spoil of silver, take spoil of gold! There is no end of treasure, or abundance of every precious article.Strong connection (Judgment Prophecy)
Jer 27:16...and to all the Levites, "Hear the word of the Lord, O remnant of Israel...Strong connection (Contextual Reference)
Jer 28:3"the vessels of the house of the Lord that are to be carried off to Babylon.Strong connection (Contextual Reference)
Jer 28:14for I have put a yoke of iron on the neck of all these nations...Strong connection (Thematic Parallel on Subjugation)
Josh 6:19but the silver and gold, and vessels of bronze and iron, are holy to the Lord; they are to go into the treasury of the Lord.Strong connection (Contrast with Temple Vessels)
Jer 50:37"A sword is upon their horses and upon their chariots, and upon all the mixed troops in the midst of her, and they shall become like women.Strong connection (Consequences of Judgment)

Jeremiah 52 verses

Jeremiah 52 17 Meaning

This verse records the destruction of the Temple vessels by the Babylonians under Nebuchadnezzar. It highlights the profanation of sacred items and the completeness of the judgment that fell upon Jerusalem due to its sin. The "bronze vessels" represent not just functional Temple equipment but also symbols of God's presence and the people's covenant relationship. Their removal signifies a stripping away of outward religious ceremony, reflecting an inner spiritual desolation.

Jeremiah 52 17 Context

Jeremiah 52 serves as a historical appendix to the book, detailing the final destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple by the Babylonians. This chapter recounts the fall of Zedekiah, the capture and deportation of the remaining people, and the looting and destruction of the Temple. Verse 17 specifically describes the removal of the bronze items by Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, fulfilling prophecies of judgment that spanned much of Jeremiah's ministry. The historical context is one of extreme national disaster and spiritual consequence for Israel's persistent disobedience.

Jeremiah 52 17 Word Analysis

  • And (וְ – wə): A common conjunction, here linking the actions of Nebuzaradan to the preceding descriptions of destruction.

  • the Levites (הַלְוִיִּם – halwiyyim): Refers to the tribe of Levi, designated for service in the sanctuary. Their role here might imply they were present as captives or the context for whose property is being taken.

  • carried (נָשָׂא – nasa'): To lift, carry, bear. In this context, it signifies the taking away and transporting of the items.

  • the bronze vessels (כְּלֵי־הַנְּחֹשֶׁת – kəlei-hannehoshet): The implements made of bronze, specifically those used in the Temple's service and decoration.

  • and the bronze stands (וְכַנְּבָלֹת – wəkannəbalot): Usually translated as "booths" or "towers," but here likely referring to the elaborate bronze stands or bases that supported the large basins (the "sea").

  • and the bronze sea (וְאֶת־יָם הַנְּחֹשֶׁת – wə'et-yam hannehoshet): The great bronze laver commissioned by Solomon, used by the priests for washing.

  • Group analysis: The verse describes the systematic removal of significant Temple equipment, including both portable vessels and foundational structures like the stands and the Sea. This reflects a deliberate act of plundering and desecration by the conquering Babylonians, marking the complete subjugation and desolation of the sanctuary. The mention of bronze, a valuable metal in antiquity, underscores the material loss, but more importantly, the spiritual loss it represented to the people of God.

Jeremiah 52 17 Bonus Section

The detailed listing of the bronze vessels and furniture in this chapter, mirroring descriptions in 1 Kings and 2 Chronicles, emphasizes the extent of the loss. These were not mere objects but sacred artifacts associated with God’s covenant presence and the efficacy of His worship. The removal of these items had profound theological implications for the exiles, leading them to a deeper understanding of sin, judgment, and the necessity of true repentance and reliance on God alone, rather than on physical structures or ceremonies. The prophetic warnings regarding the Temple's destruction throughout Jeremiah's ministry find their devastating conclusion here.

Jeremiah 52 17 Commentary

This verse marks the tangible evidence of God's judgment through the Babylonian invasion. The destruction and removal of the Temple's bronze furnishings, from smaller vessels to the great Sea, symbolize the departure of God's glory and presence from His dwelling place. It's a stark consequence of Israel's covenant unfaithfulness and idolatry. This event underscores the truth that outward religious performance without inner obedience is empty and leads to divine judgment. The items, once sacred and dedicated to God's service, became spoils of war, a testament to their disobedience.