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.
English Standard Version (ESV)
It's easy to skim over, but the detail that the pillars were hollow is crucial. This wasn't just for show; it suggests these magnificent bronze structures were designed to be lighter and perhaps more manageable to erect, hinting at the incredible skill and ingenuity God provided to those who built His temple.
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.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Solomon is in the midst of an elaborate construction project, building a magnificent temple for God. After detailing the palace he built for himself, the narrative now shifts to describing the intricate details of the temple itself, focusing on the decorative and symbolic elements like these two bronze pillars that stood at the temple's entrance. These pillars are part of a larger description of the temple's furnishings and architecture, intended to impress and demonstrate the glory of God and the wealth of the kingdom.
These aren't just structural supports; they're loaded with meaning! Solomon's Temple was a visual sermon, and these pillars were the opening text.
In the ancient Near East, pillars often symbolized strength, presence, and even divine authority. For Solomon, choosing bronze—a metal associated with power and judgment—was deliberate. The sheer size and prominence of these pillars, standing at the entrance, immediately declared the might and glory of the God of Israel to all who approached.
What does it mean for God's presence to be powerfully present, yet also accessible? These pillars offer a clue.
The pillars were named Jachin ('He establishes') and Boaz ('In Him is strength'). Though not explicitly named in 1 Kings 7:15, their presence at the temple entrance is undeniable from other accounts. This naming suggests that God's establishment and His strength were foundational to His presence among His people in the Temple. They stood as a constant reminder that God's kingdom is both firmly rooted and powerfully defended.
Understand the original words
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ammud · Hebrew Noun
Large, free-standing structural or symbolic supports, often placed at the entrance of sacred spaces to represent stability and strength.
The detailed description of these pillars highlights the grandeur and significant symbolic value intended for the Temple. Their placement at the entrance, before the Holy Place, emphasized God's strength and establishment available to all who entered.
c. 967 BC
Solomon Begins Temple Construction
King Solomon begins the construction of the First Temple in Jerusalem, a monumental project ordained by God to be a house of worship and a symbol of His presence among His people.
c. 960 BC
Solomon's Temple Completed
After seven years of construction, the magnificent Temple in Jerusalem is finished under Solomon's reign. This marks a zenith of Israel's glory and religious devotion.
c. 960 BC— this verse
Casting of Temple Pillars
Skilled artisans, led by Hiram of Tyre, cast the elaborate bronze furnishings for the Temple, including the two imposing pillars, Jachin and Boaz, which stood at the Temple entrance.
c. 931 BC
Dividing of the Kingdom
Following Solomon's death, the unified kingdom splits into two: the Northern Kingdom of Israel and the Southern Kingdom of Judah, weakening the nation.
586 BC
Destruction of the First Temple
The Babylonian Empire, under Nebuchadnezzar II, conquers Jerusalem and destroys Solomon's Temple, marking a devastating blow to Israel's spiritual and national life.
This passage describes the wooden core covered in gold for the tabernacle's inner curtains, showing a pattern of a structural core overlaid with precious material, similar to the bronze pillars encasing a hollow space.
Exodus 37:17-20This is the account of the actual making of the bronze pillars for the Temple, directly correlating with the description in 1 Kings and offering further detail on their artistry and purpose.
Jeremiah 52:21-23This passage provides a parallel account of the dimensions and destruction of the same bronze pillars by the Babylonians, highlighting their grandeur and eventual fate.
2 Chronicles 3:15-17This passage offers another description of the bronze pillars in Solomon's Temple, reaffirming their dimensions and mentioning the names given to them, emphasizing their symbolic importance.
It's easy to skim over, but the detail that the pillars were hollow is crucial. This wasn't just for show; it suggests these magnificent bronze structures were designed to be lighter and perhaps more manageable to erect, hinting at the incredible skill and ingenuity God provided to those who built His temple.
Solomon is in the midst of an elaborate construction project, building a magnificent temple for God. After detailing the palace he built for himself, the narrative now shifts to describing the intricate details of the temple itself, focusing on the decorative and symbolic elements like these two bronze pillars that stood at the temple's entrance. These pillars are part of a larger description of the temple's furnishings and architecture, intended to impress and demonstrate the glory of God and the wealth of the kingdom.
Solomon is in the midst of an elaborate construction project, building a magnificent temple for God. After detailing the palace he built for himself, the narrative now shifts to describing the intricate details of the temple itself, focusing on the decorative and symbolic elements like these two bronze pillars that stood at the temple's entrance. These pillars are part of a larger description of the temple's furnishings and architecture, intended to impress and demonstrate the glory of God and the wealth of the kingdom.
"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." — It's easy to skim over, but the detail that the pillars were hollow is crucial. This wasn't just for show; it suggests these magnificent bronze structures were designed to be lighter and perhaps more…
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Last reviewed October 2026