Jeremiah 52 23

Jeremiah 52:23 kjv

And there were ninety and six pomegranates on a side; and all the pomegranates upon the network were an hundred round about.

Jeremiah 52:23 nkjv

There were ninety-six pomegranates on the sides; all the pomegranates, all around on the network, were one hundred.

Jeremiah 52:23 niv

There were ninety-six pomegranates on the sides; the total number of pomegranates above the surrounding network was a hundred.

Jeremiah 52:23 esv

There were ninety-six pomegranates on the sides; all the pomegranates were a hundred upon the network all around.

Jeremiah 52:23 nlt

There were 96 pomegranates on the sides, and a total of 100 pomegranates on the network around the top.

Jeremiah 52 verses

Jeremiah 52 23 meaning

Jeremiah 52:23 meticulously describes the decorative features on the capitals of the two large bronze pillars, Jachin and Boaz, located at the entrance of Solomon's Temple. It specifically notes that there were ninety-six pomegranates visible "on the sides" or the outer surface of these capitals. The verse then states that "all the pomegranates on the network" (referring to the lattice-work design on the capitals) totaled a hundred in all per capital. This precise numbering underscores the thoroughness of the destruction and plunder of the Temple by the Babylonians, fulfilling God's judgment against Judah.

Jeremiah 52 23 Context

Jeremiah chapter 52 serves as an historical appendix to the Book of Jeremiah, largely paralleling 2 Kings chapter 25. It meticulously details the final destruction of Jerusalem and its Temple, the capture of King Zedekiah, the exile of the people, and the plundering of sacred objects by the Babylonians. Verses 17-23 specifically enumerate the various bronze and precious items taken from the Temple, including the monumental bronze pillars, Jachin and Boaz. The detailed description, including the specific count of pomegranates on the pillar capitals, underscores the thoroughness of Nebuzaradan's actions, emphasizing the completeness of the judgment predicted by Jeremiah. This destruction was the ultimate consequence of Judah's unfaithfulness to God, serving as a solemn historical confirmation of the prophetic warnings.

Jeremiah 52 23 Word analysis

• וְתִּשְׁעִים וְשִׁשָּׁה (w'tish'im v'shishah) / "and ninety-six": This numerical specificity highlights the careful observation made during the Temple's dismantling. It implies a precise accounting of the valuable ornaments. The detail grounds the account in historical fact, reinforcing its reliability as a record of fulfillment of prophetic judgment.

• רִמּוֹנִים (rimmonim) / "pomegranates":

  • Original Language: Hebrew rimmonim (plural of rimmon).
  • Symbolism: Pomegranates in the ancient Near East and Israel held rich symbolic value. They represented fertility, abundance, prosperity, divine blessing, and life, often due to their numerous seeds contained within a single fruit.
  • Temple Context: They were key decorative elements on the capitals of the Temple pillars (1 Kgs 7), on the High Priest's ephod (Exod 28), and were cultivated in the land (Num 13; Deut 8). Their presence on the pillars symbolized the fruitfulness, blessings, and abundance associated with God's dwelling and the spiritual health of Israel. Their destruction signifies the stripping away of this divine favor due to apostasy.

• עַל־הַצַּד (al-ha'tzad) / "on the side":

  • This phrase refers to the observable or prominent surface of the capital. Scholars often interpret "on the side" to mean those pomegranates fully visible from a given vantage point, in contrast to those that might be obscured or integrated into the rounded, three-dimensional nature of the capital's design. This explains how "96" could be the visible count, yet the "total" was 100.

• וְכָל־הָרִמּוֹנִים (v'chol-ha'rimmonim) / "and all the pomegranates": This phrase emphasizes the inclusive total. It distinguishes the observable count (96) from the complete count (100) per capital, providing both partial and full figures.

• מֵאָה (me'ah) / "a hundred": This is the total count of pomegranates on each pillar capital's "network" section. This reconciles with other biblical accounts (2 Chron 3:16 mentioning 100 pomegranates on the network). The minor discrepancy with 1 Kings 7:20 (which mentions 200 per capital, possibly implying two rows of 100) is harmonized by considering Jeremiah 52:23 as counting a single decorative layer or network band on each capital.

• עַל־הַשְּׂבָכָה (al-ha's'vakhah) / "on the network":

  • Original Language: Hebrew s'vakhah (meaning "network," "lattice-work," "grating").
  • Architectural Element: This refers to the decorative mesh or chain-work that adorned the capitals of the pillars (1 Kgs 7:17-18). It was an elaborate ornamental feature where the pomegranates were affixed, adding to the grandeur of the Temple's entrance. Its plundering signifies the stripping of the Temple's splendor.

• "ninety-six pomegranates on the sides; all the pomegranates on the network were a hundred in all": This numerical breakdown provides meticulous detail, differentiating between those visibly counted from one perspective (96) and the total embedded within the specific decorative lattice-work of the capital (100). This specificity is characteristic of an inventory list, emphasizing the complete documentation of what was looted. This reconciliation between 96 and 100 for each capital's primary network band suggests a sophisticated design and careful accounting.

Jeremiah 52 23 Bonus section

The seemingly slight numerical difference between "ninety-six on the side" and "a hundred in all" is a subject often discussed by biblical scholars and architects studying the Temple's design. Various solutions are proposed to harmonize this with the accounts in Kings and Chronicles. A common understanding is that the 96 pomegranates represent those clearly visible on the primary outward-facing "sides" of a rounded or multi-faceted capital, while the "hundred in all" accounts for additional pomegranates, perhaps four, which were at the corners or less visible, completing a symmetric set of 100 on that specific ornamental band or tier of the capital. Furthermore, 1 Kings 7:20 mentions "two hundred" pomegranates "in rows all around" per capital, suggesting two distinct rows or layers, each potentially containing 100 pomegranates, or Jeremiah refers only to one such row. The specific detailing in Jeremiah reflects a careful on-site enumeration during the actual dismantling, providing unique and precise information that supplements the architectural specifications in the Book of Kings.

Jeremiah 52 23 Commentary

Jeremiah 52:23 is a small but profoundly significant detail within the larger narrative of Jerusalem's fall and the Temple's destruction. The meticulous count of pomegranates, down to distinguishing visible from total, is not mere architectural reporting. It underlines the exhaustive nature of Babylon's plundering and God's judgment. The pomegranates, once potent symbols of divine blessing, fruitfulness, and the beauty of holiness in Israel's worship, are now numbered among the spoils. Their removal signifies the stripping away of Judah's glory, a direct consequence of their covenant unfaithfulness. The detail provides undeniable proof that the prophets' warnings of devastation, which included the defilement and destruction of God's house, had come to pass precisely as declared. This verse, therefore, functions as a chilling witness to the fulfillment of divine judgment, emphasizing the tangible loss that resulted from spiritual decline.