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Jeremiah 52:20

Old Testament Major Prophet ASV (1901)

What does Jeremiah 52:20 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “The two pillars, the one sea, and the twelve brazen bulls that were under the bases, which king Solomon had made for the house of Jehovah-the brass of all these vessels was without weight.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

The two pillars, the one sea, and the twelve brazen bulls that were under the bases, which king Solomon had made for the house of Jehovah-the brass of all these vessels was without weight.
Jeremiah 52:20 — American Standard Version

Context — Jeremiah 52

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
17And the pillars of brass that were in the house of Jehovah, and the bases and the brazen sea that were in the house of Jehovah, did the Chaldeans break in pieces, and carried all the brass of them to Babylon.
18The pots also, and the shovels, and the snuffers, and the basins, and the spoons, and all the vessels of brass wherewith they ministered, took they away.
19And the cups, and the firepans, and the basins, and the pots, and the candlesticks, and the spoons, and the bowls-that which was of gold, in gold, and that which was of silver, in silver,- the captain of the guard took away.
20The two pillars, the one sea, and the twelve brazen bulls that were under the bases, which king Solomon had made for the house of Jehovah-the brass of all these vessels was without weight.
21And as for the pillars, the height of the one pillar was eighteen cubits; and a line of twelve cubits did compass it; and the thickness thereof was four fingers: it was hollow.
22And a capital of brass was upon it; and the height of the one capital was five cubits, with network and pomegranates upon the capital round about, all of brass: and the second pillar also had like unto these, and pomegranates.
23And there were ninety and six pomegranates on the sides; all the pomegranates were a hundred upon the network round about.
← Jeremiah 52:19Jeremiah 52:21 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“The two pillars, one sea, and twelve brasen bulls, etc.] The two pillars of Jachin and Boaz before mentioned, and the molten or brasen sea, with the twelve bulls or oxen the sea stood upon, (<110725>1 Kings 7:25); that [were] under the bases; or “by the bases”, as Jarchi; or rather, “that were instead of bases”f1109; for the twelve oxen were the bases on which the molten sea stood: which King Solomon had made in the house of the Lord; this is mentioned to show that these were the selfsame pillars, sea, and oxen, and other vessels, that Solomon made, that were now carried away; for though Ahaz took down the sea from off the brasen oxen, and put it on a pavement of stones, yet it seems not to…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“bulls . . . under the bases--But the bulls were not "under the bases," but under the sea (Kg1 7:25, Kg1 7:27, Kg1 7:38); the ten bases were not under the sea, but under the ten lavers. In English Version, "bases," therefore, must mean the lower parts of the sea under which the bulls were. Rather, translate, "the bulls were in the place of (that is, 'by way of'; so the Hebrew, Sa1 14:9), bases," or supports to the sea [BUXTORF]. So the Septuagint. Kg2 25:16 omits the "bulls," and has "and the bases"; so GROTIUS here reads "the bulls (which were) under (the sea) and the bases."”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“twelve brasen bulls that were under - Omitted in 2 Kings and in Jeremiah 27:19. Probably rightly, for what is said here of their being under the bases is a mistake. The bases were under the ten lavers. The Septuagint makes sense by translating it: “the twelve brasen bulls under the sea.” return to 'Top of Page'”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“two: Jer 52:17 the brass: Heb. their brass without: Kg1 7:47; Kg2 25:16; Ch1 22:14; Ch2 4:18 Jeremiah 52:21”
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Related study paths

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Sources and verification