1 Kings 7:15 He cast two pillars of bronze, each eighteen cubits high and twelve cubits in circumference.

◄ 1 Kings 7:15 ►

New International Version
He cast two bronze pillars, each eighteen cubits high and twelve cubits in circumference.

New Living Translation
Huram cast two bronze pillars, each 27 feet tall and 18 feet in circumference.

English Standard Version
He cast two pillars of bronze. Eighteen cubits was the height of one pillar, and a line of twelve cubits measured its circumference. It was hollow, and its thickness was four fingers. The second pillar was the same.

Berean Standard Bible
He cast two pillars of bronze, each eighteen cubits high and twelve cubits in circumference.

King James Bible
For he cast two pillars of brass, of eighteen cubits high apiece: and a line of twelve cubits did compass either of them about.

New King James Version
And he cast two pillars of bronze, each one eighteen cubits high, and a line of twelve cubits measured the circumference of each.

New American Standard Bible
He fashioned the two pillars of bronze; eighteen cubits was the height of each pillar, and a line of twelve cubits measured the circumference of both.

NASB 1995
He fashioned the two pillars of bronze; eighteen cubits was the height of one pillar, and a line of twelve cubits measured the circumference of both.

NASB 1977
And he fashioned the two pillars of bronze; eighteen cubits was the height of one pillar, and a line of twelve cubits measured the circumference of both.

Legacy Standard Bible
And he fashioned the two pillars of bronze; eighteen cubits was the height of one pillar, and a line of twelve cubits measured the circumference of both.

Amplified Bible
He cast the two pillars of bronze; the one pillar was eighteen cubits high, and a [measuring] line of twelve cubits measured the circumference of both.

Christian Standard Bible
He cast two bronze pillars, each 27 feet high and 18 feet in circumference.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
He cast two hollow bronze pillars: each 27 feet high and 18 feet in circumference.

American Standard Version
For he fashioned the two pillars of brass, eighteen cubits high apiece: and a line of twelve cubits compassed either of them about.

Contemporary English Version
Hiram made two bronze columns eight meters tall and almost two meters across.

English Revised Version
For he fashioned the two pillars of brass, of eighteen cubits high apiece: and a line of twelve cubits compassed either of them about.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
He made two bronze pillars. Each was 27 feet high and 18 feet in circumference.

Good News Translation
Huram cast two bronze columns, each one 27 feet tall and 18 feet in circumference, and placed them at the entrance of the Temple.

International Standard Version
He fashioned two bronze pillars, each one eighteen cubits high, with a circumference of twelve cubits.

Majority Standard Bible
He cast two pillars of bronze, each eighteen cubits high and twelve cubits in circumference.

NET Bible
He fashioned two bronze pillars; each pillar was 27 feet high and 18 feet in circumference.

New Heart English Bible
For he cast the two pillars of bronze, thirty-one feet was the height of one pillar; and a line of twenty feet and eight inches could encompass the one pillar, and its thickness hollowed out was almost three inches; and so was the second pillar.

Webster's Bible Translation
For he cast two pillars of brass, each of eighteen cubits high: and a line of twelve cubits did encompass each of them.

World English Bible
For he fashioned the two pillars of bronze, eighteen cubits high apiece; and a line of twelve cubits encircled either of them.

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
And he forms the two pillars of bronze; eighteen cubits [is] the height of the first pillar, and a cord of twelve cubits goes around the second pillar.

Young's Literal Translation
And he formeth the two pillars of brass; eighteen cubits is the height of the one pillar, and a cord of twelve cubits doth compass the second pillar.

Smith's Literal Translation
And he formed two pillars of brass, eighteen cubits the height of the one pillar: and a thread of twelve cubits will surround the two pillars.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
And he cast two pillars in brass, each pillar was eighteen cubits high: and a line of twelve cubits compassed both the pillars.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And he cast two columns of brass. Each column was eighteen cubits in height, and a line of twelve cubits encompassed both columns.

New American Bible
He fashioned two bronze columns, each eighteen cubits high and twelve cubits in circumference.

New Revised Standard Version
He cast two pillars of bronze. Eighteen cubits was the height of the one, and a cord of twelve cubits would encircle it; the second pillar was the same.

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
He cast two pillars of brass; the height of each pillar was eighteen cubits and the circumference was twelve cubits.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And he formed two pillars of brass. The height of one pillar was eighteen cubits, and a cord of twelve cubits would wrap around it, and likewise for the other pillar.

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
Thus he fashioned the two pillars of brass, of eighteen cubits high each; and a line of twelve cubits did compass it about; [and so] the other pillar.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And he cast the two pillars for the porch of the house: eighteen cubits was the height of each pillar, and a circumference of fourteen cubits encompassed it, even the thickness of the pillar: the flutings were four fingers wide, and thus was the other pillar formed.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

The Work of Hiram
…14He was the son of a widow from the tribe of Naphtali, and his father was a man of Tyre, a craftsman in bronze. Huram had great skill, understanding, and knowledge for every kind of bronze work. So he came to King Solomon and carried out all his work. 15He cast two pillars of bronze, each eighteen cubits high and twelve cubits in circumference. 16He also made two capitals of cast bronze to set on top of the pillars, each capital five cubits high.…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

2 Chronicles 3:15-17
In front of the temple he made two pillars, which together were thirty-five cubits high, each with a capital on top measuring five cubits. / He made interwoven chains and put them on top of the pillars. He made a hundred pomegranates and fastened them into the chainwork. / Then he set up the pillars in front of the temple, one on the south and one on the north. The pillar on the south he named Jachin, and the pillar on the north he named Boaz.

Jeremiah 52:21-23
Each pillar was eighteen cubits tall and twelve cubits in circumference; each was hollow, four fingers thick. / The bronze capital atop one pillar was five cubits high, with a network of bronze pomegranates all around. The second pillar, with its pomegranates, was similar. / Each capital had ninety-six pomegranates on the sides, and a total of a hundred pomegranates were above the surrounding network.

Exodus 27:3
Make all its utensils of bronze—its pots for removing ashes, its shovels, its sprinkling bowls, its meat forks, and its firepans.

2 Chronicles 4:12-13
the two pillars; the two bowl-shaped capitals atop the pillars; the two sets of network covering both bowls of the capitals atop the pillars; / the four hundred pomegranates for the two sets of network (two rows of pomegranates for each network covering both the bowl-shaped capitals atop the pillars);

2 Kings 25:17
Each pillar was eighteen cubits tall. The bronze capital atop one pillar was three cubits high, with a network of bronze pomegranates all around. The second pillar, with its network, was similar.

Jeremiah 27:19-22
For this is what the LORD of Hosts says about the pillars, the sea, the bases, and the rest of the articles that remain in this city, / which Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon did not take when he carried Jeconiah son of Jehoiakim king of Judah into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon, along with all the nobles of Judah and Jerusalem. / Yes, this is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says about the articles that remain in the house of the LORD, in the palace of the king of Judah, and in Jerusalem: ...

2 Chronicles 4:11
Additionally, Huram made the pots, shovels, and sprinkling bowls. So Huram finished the work that he had undertaken for King Solomon in the house of God:

Exodus 38:17
The bases for the posts were bronze, the hooks and bands were silver, and the plating for the tops of the posts was silver. So all the posts of the courtyard were banded with silver.

2 Chronicles 4:16
and the pots, shovels, meat forks, and all the other articles. All these objects that Huram-abi made for King Solomon for the house of the LORD were of polished bronze.

2 Chronicles 4:2
He also made the Sea of cast metal. It was circular in shape, measuring ten cubits from rim to rim, five cubits in height, and thirty cubits in circumference.

2 Chronicles 4:19
Solomon also made all the furnishings for the house of God: the golden altar; the tables on which was placed the Bread of the Presence;

2 Chronicles 4:6
He also made ten basins for washing and placed five on the south side and five on the north. The parts of the burnt offering were rinsed in them, but the priests used the Sea for washing.

2 Chronicles 4:7
He made ten gold lampstands according to their specifications and placed them in the temple, five on the south side and five on the north.

2 Chronicles 4:8
Additionally, he made ten tables and placed them in the temple, five on the south side and five on the north. He also made a hundred gold bowls.

2 Chronicles 4:9
He made the courtyard of the priests and the large court with its doors, and he overlaid the doors with bronze.

Treasury of Scripture

For he cast two pillars of brass, of eighteen cubits high apiece: and a line of twelve cubits did compass either of them about.

cast [heb] fashioned

1 Kings 7:21
And he set up the pillars in the porch of the temple: and he set up the right pillar, and called the name thereof Jachin: and he set up the left pillar, and called the name thereof Boaz.

2 Kings 25:16,17
The two pillars, one sea, and the bases which Solomon had made for the house of the LORD; the brass of all these vessels was without weight…

2 Chronicles 3:15-17
Also he made before the house two pillars of thirty and five cubits high, and the chapiter that was on the top of each of them was five cubits…

2 Kings 25:13,17
And 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, did the Chaldees break in pieces, and carried the brass of them to Babylon…

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Apiece Brass Bronze Cast Circumference Compass Cubits Eighteen Either Encircled Encompass Encompassed Fashioned Fingers Four Height High Hollow Line Measured Pillar Pillars Round Second Thickness Twelve

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1 Kings 7

1. The building of Solomon's house
2. Of the house of Lebanon
6. Of the porch of pillars
7. Of the porch of judgment
8. Of the house for Pharaoh's daughter
13. Hiram's work of the two pillars,
23. Of the molten sea
27. Of the ten bases
38. Of the ten lavers
40. and all the vessels

Berean Study Bible

He cast
The phrase "He cast" refers to the process of creating the pillars, which involved pouring molten bronze into molds. This method was a common ancient technique for creating large metal structures. The casting of these pillars signifies the skill and craftsmanship involved in the construction of the temple, reflecting the glory and majesty intended for God's house. The Hebrew root for "cast" is "יָצַק" (yatsaq), which conveys the idea of pouring or forming, emphasizing the deliberate and careful creation of these significant structures.

two pillars of bronze
The "two pillars of bronze" were named Jachin and Boaz, as noted later in the text. Bronze, an alloy of copper and tin, was a symbol of strength and durability. In the context of the temple, these pillars represented stability and permanence, qualities attributed to God's eternal nature. The use of bronze also reflects the wealth and resources available to Solomon, as well as the importance of the temple as a central place of worship.

each eighteen cubits high
A "cubit" is an ancient measurement roughly equivalent to the length of a forearm, about 18 inches or 45 centimeters. Thus, each pillar stood approximately 27 feet or 8.2 meters tall. The height of the pillars would have made them prominent features of the temple, visible from a distance and serving as a testament to the grandeur of the structure. The number eighteen, in biblical numerology, can symbolize bondage or oppression, but here it may simply denote the impressive stature of the pillars.

and twelve cubits in circumference
The circumference of twelve cubits, approximately 18 feet or 5.5 meters, indicates the substantial size of the pillars. The number twelve often represents completeness or the people of Israel, as seen in the twelve tribes. This measurement could symbolize the encompassing nature of God's covenant with His people, as the pillars stood at the entrance to the temple, inviting all of Israel to worship.

each was hollow
The fact that the pillars were "hollow" suggests a practical approach to construction, reducing the weight and amount of bronze required while maintaining the appearance of solidity. This detail highlights the ingenuity and resourcefulness in the temple's design. Spiritually, the hollowness could symbolize the idea that true strength and beauty come from within, reflecting the inner spiritual life rather than mere outward appearances.

four fingers thick
The thickness of "four fingers" (approximately 3 inches or 7.5 centimeters) indicates the robustness of the pillars despite their hollow nature. The number four often represents universality or completeness in the Bible, as seen in the four corners of the earth. This detail underscores the comprehensive strength and support provided by these pillars, mirroring the foundational role of faith and God's presence in the life of believers.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(15-22) With regard to the two pillars, Jachin ("He shall establish") and Boaz ("In it is strength"), the text gives no account of their destination, except that they were set up in the porch of the Temple (1Kings 7:21). Mr. Fergusson considers that they were supports to the roof of the vestibule; and if this were thirty cubits high, the twenty-seven cubits of each pillar, allowing for the slope of the roof to the apex, would suit well enough. But the absence of all reference to their position as parts of the building, and the entire separation of the description of their fabrication from the account of the building itself, rather favoured the other supposition, that they were isolated pillars set up in front of the porch as symbolic monuments, conveying the idea of Psalms 46, "God is our hope and strength;" "God is in the midst of her, therefore shall she not be removed." It is particularly noticed (2Kings 25:13-16; Jeremiah 52:17; Jeremiah 52:20-23) that they were broken up by the Chaldaeans. on the capture of Jerusalem, and the brass carried away. The description is exceedingly elaborate, and, except in one or two parts, clear enough. The shaft of each pillar was twenty-seven feet high, and its diameter something less than six feet. Josephus says that it was hollow, but of considerable thickness. Above the shaft was a chapiter (or capital) of great proportionate size (seven and a half feet high), covered with a net-work and festoons of metal-work, and ornamented with two rows of pomegranates, a hundred in each row. Over these again was "lily-work" of six feet in height--probably some conventionalised foliage, technically known by that name, like the "honeysuckle ornament" in classical architecture, or the conventional "dog-tooth" or "ball-flower" of Gothic. The whole height, even if there were no base or plinth below, would be twenty-seven cubits, or forty feet and a half. In the Dict. of the Bible (TEMPLE) is given a drawing of a pillar at Persepolis, which bears a considerable resemblance to the general description here given, but, being executed in stone, is far less elaborate in ornamentation. The whole style of the narrative shows that these were regarded as monuments of the highest artistic skill, and well known to all, as from their position they would be constantly before the eyes both of priests and people. There was, so far as can be seen, nothing to correspond to them in the Tabernacle.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 15. - For he cast two pillars of brass [The process of casting, as practised by the ancients, receives considerable illustration from the paintings of Thebes (see Wilkinson, "Anc. Egypt." 2 pp. 234, 256; Kitto, "Daily Bib. Illus." Sol. and Kings, pp. 72, 73)], of eighteen cubits high apiece [Heb. eighteen cubits was the height of the one column. This was the height of the shaft (cf. 2 Kings 25:17; Jeremiah 52:21). To this must be added the capital (vers. 16, 19), which measured five (or, according to some, nine) cubits, and probably the pedestal. The pillars were hollow, the metal being four finger breadths thick (Jeremiah 52:21). In 2 Chronicles 3:15 the height is given as thirty-five cubits - a discrepancy which has been variously explained. According to some writers (e.g., Abravanel, Movers, Wordsworth), this represents the total length of the two pillars (each pillar consequently being 17.5 cubits) - an idea which, perhaps, finds some slight support in the word employed אָרֶך length. Here it is ׃תהגךךה קומָה By others it has been supposed that the total height of base, column, and capital was thirty-five cubits, which, if not incredible, is very improbable. Others think it a part of that systematic reduplication of the heights of edifices by the chronicler, of which we have already had an instance in ch. 6. (where see note). But the true explanation would seem to be that, by a clerical error, thirty-five (לה) has been substituted in the text for eighteen (יח). So Keil and Bahr]: and a line [or thread] of twelve cubits did compass either of them [Heb. the second column] about. [It must not be supposed, from the fact that the height of the one column is given, and the circumference of the other, that they were dissimilar in height and breadth or girth. There has probably been an accidental abbreviation of the full expression, "Eighteen cubits was the height of the one pillar, and eighteen cubits was the height of the other pillar; and a line of twelve cubits compassed the one pillar, and a line of twelve cubits compassed the other pillar." It is just possible, however, that the peculiarity results from the actual system of measurement employed in this case. As they were castings, it would be needless to measure both pillars, and so the length may have been ascertained from the first, and the breadth from the second. The columns would thus be about twenty-seven feet high, and about six feet in diameter.]

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

He cast
וַיָּ֛צַר (way·yā·ṣar)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6696: To confine, bind, besiege

two
שְׁנֵ֥י (šə·nê)
Number - mdc
Strong's 8147: Two (a cardinal number)

pillars
הָעַמּוּדִ֖ים (hā·‘am·mū·ḏîm)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 5982: A column, a stand, platform

of bronze,
נְחֹ֑שֶׁת (nə·ḥō·šeṯ)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 5178: Copper, something made of that metal, coin, a fetter, base

each
הָאֶחָ֔ד (hā·’e·ḥāḏ)
Article | Number - masculine singular
Strong's 259: United, one, first

eighteen
שְׁמֹנֶ֨ה (šə·mō·neh)
Number - feminine singular
Strong's 8083: A cardinal number, eight, eighth

cubits
אַמָּ֗ה (’am·māh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 520: A mother, a cubit, a door-base

high
קוֹמַת֙ (qō·w·maṯ)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 6967: Height

and twelve
שְׁתֵּים־ (šə·têm-)
Number - fd
Strong's 8147: Two (a cardinal number)

cubits
אַמָּ֔ה (’am·māh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 520: A mother, a cubit, a door-base

in circumference.
וְחוּט֙ (wə·ḥūṭ)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 2339: A string, a measuring tape

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OT History: 1 Kings 7:15 For he fashioned the two pillars (1Ki iKi i Ki 1 Kg 1kg)