Jeremiah 52:21 kjv
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.
Jeremiah 52:21 nkjv
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.
Jeremiah 52:21 niv
Each pillar was eighteen cubits high and twelve cubits in circumference; each was four fingers thick, and hollow.
Jeremiah 52:21 esv
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.
Jeremiah 52:21 nlt
Each of the pillars was 27 feet tall and 18 feet in circumference. They were hollow, with walls 3 inches thick.
Jeremiah 52 21 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Jer 52:19 | And the basins and the firepans and the bowls and the cups and the spoons, and all the vessels of bronze wherewith they ministered, took he (Nebuzaradan). | Partial echo, continues the description of captured temple vessels. |
| Isa 46:1-2 | Bel bows down, Nebo stoops, their idols are on beasts and cattle; your baggage will be heavy, a burden on the weary. They stoop, they bow down together; they cannot save the burden, but themselves go into captivity. | Directly relates to the impotence of idols. |
| Jer 10:3-5 | For the customs of the peoples are vanity. For one cuts a tree from the forest, the work of the hands of a workman with an axe. They adorn it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with hammer and nails so that it cannot move. They are like a palm tree, stiff, and they cannot speak; they must be carried, because they cannot walk. Be not afraid of them, for they do not evil, nor is it in them to do good. | Highlights the material and inanimate nature of idols. |
| Psa 115:4-7 | Their idols are silver and gold, the work of human hands. They have mouths, but do not speak; they have eyes, but do not see; they have ears, but do not hear; they have noses, but do not smell; they have hands, but do not feel; they have feet, but do not walk; they make no sound in their throat. | Directly parallels the inability of idols to function or save. |
| Hos 2:16-17 | And it shall come to pass on that day, declares the LORD, that you will call me 'My Husband,' and no longer call me 'My Baal.' For I will remove the names of the Baals from her mouth, and they shall be called by their own names no more. | The breaking of chains signifies the removal of "Baal" (lord/master). |
| Isa 44:17-19 | And the rest of it he makes into a god, his idol; and falls down to it and worships it, and prays to it and says, "Deliver me, for you are my god." They do not know, nor do they understand; for he has smeared their eyes to keep them from seeing and their hearts to keep them from understanding. | Contrasts human helplessness with the false claim of divine power in idols. |
| Rev 9:20 | The rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands, nor did they turn from their idols of gold and of silver and of bronze and of stone and of wood, which can neither see, nor hear, nor walk, nor repent. | Echoes the materiality and inability of idols in the New Testament. |
| Jer 13:23 | Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard its spots? Then also you can do good who are accustomed to do evil. | Implies a fundamental inability of the people to change their idolatrous ways without divine intervention. |
| 2 Kings 25:14-15 | And they carried off all the vessels of the temple of the LORD, and the vessels of the king, and carried them to Babylon. And they took all the soldiery from Jerusalem and carried off the priests and the prophets, the princes of Judah. | Provides the historical event that this verse describes, highlighting the completeness of the plunder. |
| Deut 4:28 | And there you will serve gods, the work of human hands, wood and stone, which neither see, nor hear, nor eat, nor smell. | Foretells the consequence of disobedience: serving idols. |
| Ezek 8:10 | So I went in and saw, and there was portrayed every form of creeping things and animals, and all the idols of the house of Israel, drawn on the wall all around. | Depicts the pervasive idolatry within the Temple precincts themselves. |
| Jer 7:18, 30 | The sons gather wood, the fathers kindle the fire, and the women knead dough, to make cakes for the queen of heaven... because of the evil that the house of Israel and the house of Judah have done to provoke me to anger, by burning incense to Baal... | Shows specific idolatrous practices involving "queen of heaven," linking to materials of worship. |
| 1 Cor 10:14 | Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. | Direct New Testament exhortation against idolatry. |
| Dan 5:23 | But you have lifted yourself up against the Lord of heaven. And they have brought the vessels of his house before him, and you and your nobles, your wives, and your concubines have drunk wine from them, and you have praised the gods of silver and gold, of bronze and iron, of wood and stone, which do not see or hear or know, but you have honored the God in whose hand are your breath, and in whose hands are all your ways. | Parallel incident where temple vessels are desecrated with idolatry. |
| Jer 50:37 | A sword is upon their horses and upon their chariots, and upon all the foreign troops in her midst, and they shall become women; a sword is upon her treasures, and they shall be plundered. | Similar imagery of conquest and plunder applied to military strength and wealth. |
| Jer 52:11 | And he put out the eyes of Zedekiah and bound him in fetters of bronze and brought him to Babylon. | Part of the larger narrative of Jerusalem's fall and the king's humiliation, linking to the "bronze" mentioned. |
| Jer 17:1-2 | "The sin of Judah is written with a pen of iron; with a point of diamond it is engraved; it is inscribed on the table of their heart and on the horns of their altars, while their children remember their altars and their Asherim, by the green trees on the high hills, over every spread wing. Every sign of idolatry is deeply ingrained. | Highlights the deep-rooted nature of Judah's sin, including idolatry. |
| 2 Chron 36:18-19 | He also carried off to Babylon all the vessels of the house of God, great and small, and the treasures of the house of the LORD, and the treasures of the king, and of his officials. And they burned the house of God and broke down the wall of Jerusalem. | Repeats the account of the destruction and plunder, reinforcing the context. |
| Isa 2:8 | Their land is filled also with idols; they bow down to the work of their hands, to the product of their own fingers. | General statement about widespread idolatry. |
| Psa 97:7 | Be ashamed, all ye gods: worship him, all ye angels. | Prophetic call for the destruction of idols and worship of God. |
Jeremiah 52 verses
Jeremiah 52 21 Meaning
The bronze, silver, and gold chains that adorned the idolatrous images are now broken and taken away as spoil. This signifies the utter destruction and humiliation of the idols and the complete subjugation of those who worshipped them.
Jeremiah 52 21 Context
Jeremiah 52 provides a historical appendix to the prophecies of Jeremiah, recounting the final destruction of Jerusalem and the deportation of its people to Babylon. This specific verse describes the actions of Nebuzaradan, captain of the guard for Nebuchadnezzar, during the sacking of the city. It follows the detailing of the plunder of the Temple, focusing on the desecration and capture of materials used for idolatrous worship by the Judeans themselves. This chapter serves as a stark, historical confirmation of God's judgment on Judah for their persistent sin, particularly their turning to idols despite Jeremiah's warnings. The destruction of these cherished idolatrous items represents the final removal of what Judah had relied upon instead of God.
Jeremiah 52 21 Word Analysis
Chains:
- Hebrew: qĕlaʿîm (קְלָעִים)
- Meaning: Chains, nets, curtains.
- Analysis: Refers to decorative chains or adornments used for the idols. This word can also mean curtains or hangings, suggesting the idols might have been adorned in a manner resembling ornate drapery, or perhaps these were protective coverings for them. The connection to adornment aligns with verses describing idols being decorated with precious metals (Jer 10:4, Psa 115:4). The "chains" being broken signifies bondage or enslavement to sin and ultimately to foreign powers, now being removed as spoils of war.
bronze:
- Hebrew: nechosheth (נְחשֶׁת)
- Meaning: Bronze, copper.
- Analysis: A common metal used for cultic objects and weaponry. Its mention signifies the valuable and tangible nature of these idolatrous accouterments. The repurposing of these sacred (to idolaters) items into spoil emphasizes their transformation from objects of veneration to mere loot, stripped of any divine power they were thought to possess. This same metal was used for the base of the pillars in Solomon's Temple, highlighting a perversion or misuse of even sacred Temple elements in idolatrous contexts (2 Kings 25:13, 17).
silver:
- Hebrew: kaseph (כֶּסֶף)
- Meaning: Silver.
- Analysis: Another precious metal denoting wealth and beauty often associated with idolatry (Isa 46:6). Its capture represents the material loss and humiliation of the idol worshippers.
gold:
- Hebrew: zāhāḇ (זָהָב)
- Meaning: Gold.
- Analysis: The most precious metal, signifying ultimate value and glory attributed to idols. The capture of gold emphasizes the ultimate vanity of relying on material wealth and human artistry for divine power or protection (Isa 2:8, Dan 5:4).
Word Group Analysis: The explicit mention of bronze, silver, and gold chains collectively underscores the material investment and perceived worth placed upon these idols by the people of Judah. It speaks to their syncretistic worship, potentially incorporating elements or decorations used in the worship of other deities or even attempting to mimic heavenly glory, ultimately proving futile against Babylonian might. This collection of materials represents the extent of their apostasy.
Jeremiah 52 21 Bonus Section
The prophet Jeremiah consistently warned against idolatry, portraying it as a deep betrayal of God's covenant. The meticulous detailing of these specific spoils—chains of bronze, silver, and gold—reinforces how pervasively and materially idolatry had infiltrated Judah's religious practices. This act of plundering symbolizes the breaking of all false connections and dependencies that led the people away from genuine worship. It serves as a tangible representation of the prophecy that the objects of their affection and devotion would be turned into something captured and disgraced. This parallels other accounts in scripture where conquering armies despoil enemy religious objects, signifying the triumph of their own gods (or lack thereof).
Jeremiah 52 21 Commentary
Nebuzaradan’s actions here are symbolic of divine judgment. The idols, meant to be revered and, according to their devotees, powerful, are stripped of their valuable adornments. These "chains" represent the entanglements and perceived security that idolatry offered, which have now been broken. What the people held dear and trusted in as representations of divine power became nothing more than spoil in the hands of their conquerors. This act strips away the veneer of false religion, exposing the ultimate impotence of idols and the folly of placing faith in them rather than the LORD of hosts. The plunder of these sacred (to idolaters) items highlights the thoroughness of God’s judgment on their accumulated sin of apostasy.