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.

And he set up {H6965} the pillars {H5982} in the porch {H197} of the temple {H1964}: and he set up {H6965} the right {H3233} pillar {H5982}, and called {H7121} the name {H8034} thereof Jachin {H3199}: and he set up {H6965} the left {H8042} pillar {H5982}, and called {H7121} the name {H8034} thereof Boaz {H1162}.

He erected the columns in the hall of the temple; on erecting the right column he gave it the name "Yakhin," and on erecting the left column he named it "Bo'az."

Thus he set up the pillars at the portico of the temple. The pillar to the south he named Jachin, and the pillar to the north he named Boaz.

And he set up the pillars at 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.

Commentary

Context

1 Kings 7:21 is part of the detailed account of King Solomon's extensive building projects, following the construction of the magnificent Temple in Jerusalem. Chapter 7 specifically describes the completion of the Temple's elaborate furnishings and architectural elements. After seven years of building the main structure, as noted in 1 Kings 6:38, Solomon then focused on the intricate details and the king's own palace. The two large bronze pillars, Jachin and Boaz, stood prominently at the entrance to the Temple's porch, serving as a powerful visual and symbolic statement at the threshold of God's dwelling place among His people.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Establishment: The name Jachin (ื™ึธื›ึดื™ืŸ) means "He will establish" or "He establishes." This pillar's name declared God's promise to establish His covenant with David, the Davidic dynasty, and His people Israel. It underscored the belief that the Temple itself, and the worship conducted within it, was divinely ordained and secured.
  • Strength and Power: The name Boaz (ื‘ึนึผืขึทื–) means "In him is strength" or "By strength." This pillar's name affirmed that the strength, power, and stability of the Temple, the nation, and ultimately, the ability to worship God, came solely from God Himself. It was a reminder that human efforts are futile without divine enablement.
  • God's Enduring Presence: Placed at the entrance, these pillars served as a constant theological declaration to all who entered. They symbolized that the very foundation and continuation of Israel's relationship with God depended on His faithfulness to establish His promises and His inherent strength. This aligns with the understanding that "Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it."
  • Symbolic, Not Structural: These pillars were not primarily for structural support of the Temple building. Their immense size and prominent placement, along with their names, indicate their profound symbolic and theological significance, acting as a gateway to understanding God's character and covenant with His people.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew names given to the pillars are rich with meaning:

  • Jachin (ื™ึธื›ึดื™ืŸ - Yakhin): This name is derived from the Hebrew verb kun (ื›ึผื•ึผืŸ), meaning "to be firm, to establish, to set up." It speaks to God's active role in establishing and making secure.
  • Boaz (ื‘ึนึผืขึทื– - Bo'az): This name comes from the Hebrew phrase bo 'oz (ื‘ึผื•ึน ืขึนื–), meaning "in him is strength" or "by strength." The word 'oz (ืขึนื–) refers to strength, might, or power. It highlights that God is the source of all true strength and resilience.

Together, "He will establish in strength" or "By His strength, He will establish" conveys a foundational truth about God's character and His dealings with His people. They served as a constant reminder that the Temple and Israel's spiritual well-being were sustained not by human effort or political power, but by God's unwavering faithfulness and omnipotence.

Practical Application

For believers today, the symbolism of Jachin and Boaz remains profoundly relevant:

  • God's Faithfulness: Just as God established His covenant with Israel and provided strength for His Temple, He continues to establish and strengthen His people. We can trust that God will fulfill His promises to us, just as He did for Israel.
  • Reliance on Divine Strength: Our spiritual lives, ministries, and personal endeavors are truly fruitful only when rooted in God's strength. We are reminded that "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me."
  • A Declaration of Truth: Like the pillars at the Temple entrance, our lives can be a living declaration of God's character. As we stand firm in faith, we testify to His ability to establish and strengthen us in all circumstances.
  • The Church as God's Building: The New Testament often speaks of believers as being built together into a spiritual house (e.g., Ephesians 2:20-22). This verse reminds us that the Church, too, is established and sustained by God's power and faithfulness, not by human wisdom or might.
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Cross-References

  • 2 Chronicles 3:17 (5 votes)

    And he reared up the pillars before the temple, one on the right hand, and the other on the left; and called the name of that on the right hand Jachin, and the name of that on the left Boaz.

  • 1 Kings 6:3 (4 votes)

    And the porch before the temple of the house, twenty cubits [was] the length thereof, according to the breadth of the house; [and] ten cubits [was] the breadth thereof before the house.

  • Isaiah 9:7 (2 votes)

    Of the increase of [his] government and peace [there shall be] no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.

  • 1 Kings 7:12 (2 votes)

    And the great court round about [was] with three rows of hewed stones, and a row of cedar beams, both for the inner court of the house of the LORD, and for the porch of the house.

  • Galatians 2:9 (2 votes)

    And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we [should go] unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision.

  • Ruth 4:21 (2 votes)

    And Salmon begat Boaz, and Boaz begat Obed,

  • Ezekiel 40:48 (2 votes)

    And he brought me to the porch of the house, and measured [each] post of the porch, five cubits on this side, and five cubits on that side: and the breadth of the gate [was] three cubits on this side, and three cubits on that side.