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Jeremiah 52:21

Old Testament Major Prophet ASV (1901)

What does Jeremiah 52:21 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And 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.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And 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.
Jeremiah 52:21 — American Standard Version

Context — Jeremiah 52

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
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.
24And the captain of the guard took Seraiah the chief priest, and Zephaniah the second priest, and the three keepers of the threshold:
← Jeremiah 52:20Jeremiah 52:22 →
← Full Chapter 52 Jeremiah Overview

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And [concerning] the pillars, the height of one pillar [was] eighteen cubits, etc.] As in (<110715>1 Kings 7:15); said to be thirty five, (<140315>2 Chronicles 3:15); of the reconciliation of which, and a fillet of twelve cubits did compass it; a thread or line of that measure encompassed each of the pillars, (<110715>1 Kings 7:15); and the thickness thereof [was] four fingers; either of the pillar, or the fillet about it; that is, the brass of it was four fingers thick: [it was] hollow; that is, the pillar was hollow.”
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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
“eighteen cubits--but in Ch2 3:15, it is "thirty-five cubits." The discrepancy is thus removed. Each pillar was eighteen common cubits. The two together, deducting the base, were thirty-five, as stated in Ch2 3:15 [GROTIUS]. Other ways (for example, by reference to the difference between the common and the sacred cubit) are proposed: though we are not able positively to decide now which is the true way, at least those proposed do show that the discrepancies are not irreconcilable.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“The fillet means a measuring line; the pillars were 12 cubits, i. e., 18 feet, in circumference, and thus the diameter would be 5 feet 9 inches. As the brass was four fingers, i. e., scarcely four inches thick, the hollow center would be more than five feet in diameter. return to 'Top of Page'”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“52:21 Jeremiah added “and 18 feet in circumference” and the last sentence (cp. 2 Kgs 25:17).”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“concerning: Kg1 7:15-21; Kg2 25:17; Ch2 3:15-17 fillet: Heb. thread Jeremiah 52:22”
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Related study paths

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Sources and verification