Jeremiah 52:22

KJV

And a chapiter of brass [was] upon it; and the height of one chapiter [was] five cubits, with network and pomegranates upon the chapiters round about, all [of] brass. The second pillar also and the pomegranates [were] like unto these.

KJV (with Strong's)

And a chapiter {H3805} of brass {H5178} was upon it; and the height {H6967} of one {H259} chapiter {H3805} was five {H2568} cubits {H520}, with network {H7639} and pomegranates {H7416} upon the chapiters {H3805} round about {H5439}, all of brass {H5178}. The second {H8145} pillar {H5982} also and the pomegranates {H7416} were like unto these.

Complete Jewish Bible

On it was a capital of brass eight-and-three quarters feet high, with netting and pomegranates all around the capital, all of bronze; the second column was similar, also with pomegranates.

Berean Standard Bible

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.

American Standard Version

And 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.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Jeremiah 52:22 offers a meticulous, almost architectural, description of the bronze chapiters (capitals) that crowned the two monumental pillars, Jachin and Boaz, gracing the porch of Solomon's Temple. It precisely details their substantial height of five cubits and their elaborate ornamentation, featuring intricate network patterns and decorative pomegranates, all fashioned entirely from gleaming bronze. This precise accounting, embedded within the somber narrative of Jerusalem's devastating fall and the Temple's systematic plundering by Babylonian forces, serves to underscore the immense beauty, intrinsic value, and sacred significance of what was irrevocably lost, functioning as a poignant and undeniable testament to the thoroughness of divine judgment and the exacting fulfillment of prophetic warnings.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Jeremiah 52 functions as a crucial appendix to the prophetic book of Jeremiah, largely recapitulating and significantly expanding upon the historical account of Jerusalem's final siege, fall, and the subsequent exile, as previously detailed in [2 Kings 25](/2_kings/25 "2 Kings 25 - The Fall of Jerusalem and Exile"). This chapter serves as a stark, empirical confirmation of the severe prophecies of judgment delivered throughout Jeremiah's ministry, particularly those concerning the inevitable destruction of the Temple and the city itself. Verses 17-23 specifically enumerate and describe the sacred bronze articles of the Temple that were systematically broken apart and carried away as plunder by the Babylonian invaders, highlighting the complete and deliberate dismantling of what was once the glorious and central edifice of Israelite worship. The inclusion of such precise architectural and material details, even in a context of utter devastation, profoundly emphasizes the magnitude of the loss and the comprehensive nature of the divine judgment.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The calamitous events chronicled in Jeremiah 52 transpired during the final, brutal siege and ultimate fall of Jerusalem in 586 BC, orchestrated by the formidable forces of Nebuchadnezzar II of Babylon. For the ancient Israelites, the Temple was far more than a mere physical structure; it was revered as the earthly dwelling place of Yahweh's glorious presence, the very heart of their national identity, and the focal point of their religious life. Its destruction represented an unparalleled catastrophe, a cataclysmic event that symbolized the breaking of the covenant relationship and the withdrawal of divine favor, a direct consequence of generations of pervasive idolatry, social injustice, and profound unfaithfulness. The two colossal pillars, Jachin and Boaz, first described in [1 Kings 7:15-22](/1_kings/7-15 "1 Kings 7:15-22 - Construction of Solomon's Temple Pillars"), were not merely architectural elements but prominent, symbolic features embodying divine strength, stability, and God's promise to establish His people. Their plundering, along with the meticulous description of their ornate capitals, powerfully underscores the utter humiliation, desolation, and profound spiritual crisis experienced by Judah, as the very symbols of their faith, nation, and covenant relationship were desecrated and forcibly transported to a foreign, pagan land.
* **Key Themes:** Jeremiah 52:22, despite its descriptive nature, contributes significantly to several overarching themes woven throughout the book of Jeremiah and the broader corpus of prophetic literature. Firstly, it serves as a powerful and undeniable illustration of the theme of **Divine Judgment** and its absolute thoroughness; God's unwavering word of warning, faithfully delivered through the prophet Jeremiah, is now seen in its devastating and complete fulfillment. Secondly, it starkly highlights the **Transience of Earthly Glory**; even the magnificent Temple, constructed with unparalleled splendor and serving as the primary symbol of God's tangible presence and Israel's prosperity, proved not to be immune to destruction when its people persistently abandoned their covenant obligations. This meticulous detail also profoundly emphasizes the **End of an Era** for the nation of Judah, marking the cessation of centralized Temple worship and the commencement of the seventy-year Babylonian exile—a period of intense suffering, profound theological re-evaluation, and spiritual purification. Finally, the precise inventory of the plundered sacred items, including these ornate chapiters, stands as a grim and enduring testament to the **Consequences of Disobedience**, powerfully reinforcing the consistent prophetic message that faithfulness to God invariably leads to blessing and flourishing, while persistent rebellion and idolatry inevitably lead to desolation and divine chastisement, as vividly demonstrated throughout the tragic narrative of the kings of Judah (e.g., [2 Kings 24](/2_kings/24 "2 Kings 24 - Jehoiakim's Rebellion and Jehoiachin's Captivity")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **chapiter (Hebrew, _kôthereth'_):** This feminine noun (H3805) specifically denotes the capital or ornamental top part of a column or pillar. In the context of ancient Near Eastern architecture, capitals were often elaborately decorated and served both a crucial structural function, distributing weight, and a significant aesthetic purpose, signifying the grandeur, importance, and artistic sophistication of the edifice. The detailed description of the chapiters here underscores the intricate artistry, the substantial value, and the symbolic significance of these crowning elements of Solomon's Temple.
* **brass (Hebrew, _nᵉchôsheth'_):** This term (H5178) refers primarily to copper or, more commonly in biblical contexts, bronze (an alloy of copper and tin). Bronze was a highly significant and versatile metal in ancient Israel, widely employed for tools, weaponry, and especially for sacred objects within the Tabernacle and later the Temple, such as the great altar of burnt offering, the lavers, and these monumental pillars. Its pervasive presence in the Temple's foundational and decorative elements highlights their substantial, durable, and intrinsically valuable nature, providing a stark contrast to their ultimate destruction and plundering.
* **pomegranates (Hebrew, _rimmôwn'_):** This word (H7416) refers not only to the fruit of the pomegranate tree but also, as here, to artificial ornamental motifs shaped like pomegranates. In rich biblical symbolism, pomegranates frequently represented fertility, abundance, prosperity, and divine blessing. Their inclusion as elaborate decorative motifs on the Temple chapiters, as also meticulously described in [1 Kings 7:20](/1_kings/7-20 "1 Kings 7:20 - Pomegranate Decorations on Temple Pillars"), added a profound layer of symbolic richness, pointing to the life, fruitfulness, and covenant blessings associated with God's tangible presence, now tragically marred and reversed by Judah's persistent sin and the ensuing divine judgment.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And a chapiter of brass [was] upon it":** This initial clause immediately introduces the primary subject of the verse: the decorative and substantial top piece, made of "brass" (bronze), that crowned one of the two great pillars. The material itself conveys a sense of durability, value, and sacred purpose, setting the stage for the subsequent detailed description of its elaborate design and dimensions.
* **"and the height of one chapiter [was] five cubits":** This provides a precise and significant dimension, indicating the impressive scale of these capitals. Given that an ancient cubit measured approximately 18-21 inches (45-53 cm), each chapiter would have stood roughly 7.5 to 8.75 feet (2.3 to 2.7 meters) tall. This specific measurement emphasizes the monumental grandeur and imposing presence of the Temple's architecture, particularly these prominent pillars.
* **"with network and pomegranates upon the chapiters round about, all [of] brass":** This clause meticulously details the intricate and rich ornamentation of the chapiters. The "network" likely refers to an elaborate lattice-work or chain-like pattern, while the "pomegranates" were symbolic, decorative fruit motifs, likely numbering in the hundreds as indicated in other passages (e.g., [1 Kings 7:20](/1_kings/7-20 "1 Kings 7:20 - Pomegranate Decorations on Temple Pillars")). The emphatic repetition of "all [of] brass" underscores the material consistency, the sheer quantity of valuable bronze employed, and the thoroughness of the craftsmanship in these elaborate decorations.
* **"The second pillar also and the pomegranates [were] like unto these":** This concluding clause explicitly affirms the perfect symmetry and uniformity of the two great pillars, Jachin and Boaz. It confirms that the detailed description provided for the first chapiter applies equally to the second, reinforcing the meticulous craftsmanship, consistent design, and the overall harmonious grandeur of the Temple's most prominent and symbolic architectural features.

#### Literary Devices
Jeremiah 52:22 masterfully employs several literary devices to convey its profound message and underscore the gravity of the events. The most prominent is **Descriptive Detail**, where the text meticulously outlines the precise dimensions ("five cubits") and the intricate ornamentation ("network and pomegranates") of the Temple chapiters. This precise enumeration, presented within a narrative of destruction, serves to underscore the profound loss and the former glory of the Temple, making the divine judgment more tangible and emotionally impactful. **Symbolism** is also powerfully at play, particularly with the "pomegranates," which in ancient Near Eastern and biblical contexts traditionally represented fertility, life, abundance, and divine blessing. Their presence on the pillars, and their subsequent destruction and removal, symbolically highlights the tragic reversal of blessing and the profound desolation brought about by Judah's persistent sin and God's consequent judgment. Furthermore, the **Repetition** of the phrase "all [of] brass" (or bronze) serves to emphasize both the material value and the sheer quantity of precious metal that was plundered, contributing to a pervasive sense of immense national loss and highlighting the thoroughness and completeness of the Babylonian conquest.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Jeremiah 52:22, though seemingly a technical architectural description, carries profound theological weight, serving as a stark monument to the transience of even the most sacred physical structures when God's covenant people abandon their faithfulness to Him. The detailed account of the Temple's destruction, including its most ornate and symbolic elements, underscores God's absolute sovereignty, not only in bestowing blessing but also in executing righteous judgment. This event signifies the definitive end of an era where God's presence was primarily localized and confined to a physical building, thereby paving the way for a deeper, more spiritual, and pervasive understanding of His presence among His people through the indwelling Spirit. The meticulous inventory of what was lost serves as a somber and enduring testament to the severe consequences of chronic disobedience, idolatry, and covenant unfaithfulness, unequivocally demonstrating that God's word, whether of promise or warning, is always immutable, true, and ultimately effective in history.

* [1 Kings 7:15-22](/1_kings/7-15 "1 Kings 7:15-22 - Detailed Description of Solomon's Temple Pillars")
* [2 Kings 25:13-17](/2_kings/25-13 "2 Kings 25:13-17 - Babylonian Plundering of Temple Bronze Articles")
* [Lamentations 2:7](/lamentations/2-7 "Lamentations 2:7 - The Lord Has Cast Off His Altar and Abhorred His Sanctuary")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Jeremiah 52:22 profoundly invites us to reflect deeply on the true nature of security, enduring value, and where our ultimate trust should reside. The meticulous description of the Temple's unparalleled grandeur, starkly juxtaposed with its ultimate and devastating destruction, serves as a powerful and timeless reminder that even the most magnificent human achievements, the most revered sacred institutions, and the most cherished material possessions are inherently temporal and subject to decay and loss. This sobering reality challenges us to critically examine where we place our ultimate hope, derive our sense of security, and define our worth. Is our foundation built upon fleeting physical structures, accumulating material wealth, or even rigid religious traditions, or is it firmly anchored in the unchanging character, eternal promises, and sovereign will of God? The traumatic dismantling of the physical Temple compelled the exiled Israelites to profoundly re-evaluate their understanding of God's presence, shifting from a localized, tangible dwelling to a more spiritual, portable, and ultimately personal understanding that would eventually blossom into the glorious reality of the New Covenant. For believers today, this verse serves as a potent call to construct our lives upon spiritual foundations that cannot be plundered, destroyed, or diminished by earthly circumstances. It urges us to prioritize an intimate, dynamic relationship with God and to cling to the eternal truths of His Word, rather than investing our ultimate hope in the transient glories and comforts of this fallen world.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "temples" or physical symbols in my life might I be inadvertently placing too much trust in, rather than in the sovereign God alone?**
* **How does the historical transience and ultimate destruction of the physical Temple inform and reshape my contemporary understanding of God's presence and the nature of true worship today?**
* **In what specific ways do I need to critically re-evaluate my personal priorities and align them more profoundly with eternal spiritual truths rather than with temporary earthly comforts or achievements?**

### FAQ

**What was the profound significance of the two monumental pillars, Jachin and Boaz, whose chapiters Jeremiah 52:22 describes in such detail?**

Answer: The two colossal bronze pillars, majestically named Jachin ("He will establish") and Boaz ("In Him is strength"), stood not as structural supports for the Temple building itself, but as freestanding, monumental, and deeply symbolic sentinels at the porch of Solomon's Temple ([1 Kings 7:21](/1_kings/7-21 "1 Kings 7:21 - Naming of Jachin and Boaz")). Their names were likely prophetic declarations, signifying God's unwavering promise to establish His house and His people in enduring strength. Therefore, their destruction, systematic dismantling, and forcible removal by the Babylonians, as meticulously detailed in Jeremiah 52, symbolized the devastating loss of God's established presence and the apparent withdrawal of His strength from His disobedient people, marking the tragic and definitive end of an era for the nation of Judah and their covenant relationship.

**Why does the book of Jeremiah, particularly chapter 52, provide such meticulous and detailed descriptions of the Temple's plundered items?**

Answer: The meticulous detailing of the Temple's plundered sacred items, including these ornate chapiters, serves several crucial and interrelated purposes within the prophetic narrative. Firstly, it graphically illustrates the completeness, severity, and thoroughness of God's righteous judgment against Judah for their persistent idolatry, covenant unfaithfulness, and moral corruption. The destruction was not superficial but absolute, impacting even the most sacred, ornate, and symbolic elements of their worship. Secondly, it provides irrefutable historical evidence of the precise fulfillment of Jeremiah's earlier, often unpopular, prophecies (e.g., [Jeremiah 7:14](/jeremiah/7-14 "Jeremiah 7:14 - God Will Destroy the Temple Like Shiloh")), thereby demonstrating God's absolute sovereignty over history and His unwavering commitment to the efficacy of His spoken word. Lastly, this detailed inventory underscores the immense national, spiritual, and material loss suffered by Judah, emphasizing the devastating cost of rebellion against God and serving as a tangible, historical record for future generations of Israelites in exile, powerfully reminding them of what was lost and, crucially, why it was lost.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Jeremiah 52:22, by meticulously detailing the destruction of the glorious earthly Temple, powerfully foreshadows a profound and transformative shift in the very nature of God's dwelling place and the essence of true worship. The physical Temple, with its ornate bronze chapiters and symbolic pomegranates, was divinely ordained to be the tangible locus of God's presence among His covenant people, yet its ultimate destruction revealed its inherently temporary and typological nature. This cataclysmic event providentially paved the way for the advent of the ultimate and eternal Temple: Jesus Christ Himself. Jesus boldly declared, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up," explicitly referring to the temple of His own body ([John 2:19-21](/john/2-19 "John 2:19-21 - Jesus Predicts the Destruction and Raising of the Temple")). Through His sacrificial death on the cross and His triumphant resurrection, Christ became the true, living, and perfect Temple, the ultimate and singular place where God fully dwells among humanity and where true reconciliation is achieved. The elaborate bronze chapiters, once magnificent symbols of an earthly, temporal structure, are now superseded by the spiritual and eternal reality that God no longer dwells exclusively in buildings made with human hands ([Acts 7:48](/acts/7-48 "Acts 7:48 - God Does Not Dwell in Temples Made with Hands")), but rather intimately in the hearts of believers, who are collectively the mystical body of Christ and the living temple of the Holy Spirit ([1 Corinthians 3:16](/1_corinthians/3-16 "1 Corinthians 3:16 - You Are God's Temple")). The pomegranates, rich symbols of life, abundance, and fruitfulness in the Old Testament, find their ultimate and boundless fulfillment in Christ, who is the inexhaustible source of eternal life and spiritual fruitfulness for all who believe ([John 10:10](/john/10-10 "John 10:10 - Jesus Came That They May Have Life")). Ultimately, the breathtaking vision of the New Jerusalem in Revelation reveals no physical temple within its walls, "for its temple is the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb" ([Revelation 21:22](/revelation/21-22 "Revelation 21:22 - No Temple in the New Jerusalem")), signifying that in Christ, God's glorious presence is fully, eternally, and universally realized, transcending and perfecting any earthly, temporary structure.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Exodus 39:15

And they made upon the breastplate chains at the ends, [of] wreathen work [of] pure gold.

Exodus 39:18

And the two ends of the two wreathen chains they fastened in the two ouches, and put them on the shoulderpieces of the ephod, before it.

Exodus 28:14

And two chains [of] pure gold at the ends; [of] wreathen work shalt thou make them, and fasten the wreathen chains to the ouches.

Exodus 28:22

And thou shalt make upon the breastplate chains at the ends [of] wreathen work [of] pure gold.

2 Kings 25:17

The height of the one pillar [was] eighteen cubits, and the chapiter upon it [was] brass: and the height of the chapiter three cubits; and the wreathen work, and pomegranates upon the chapiter round about, all of brass: and like unto these had the second pillar with wreathen work.

1 Kings 7:16

And he made two chapiters [of] molten brass, to set upon the tops of the pillars: the height of the one chapiter [was] five cubits, and the height of the other chapiter [was] five cubits:

1 Kings 7:17

[And] nets of checker work, and wreaths of chain work, for the chapiters which [were] upon the top of the pillars; seven for the one chapiter, and seven for the other chapiter.