Focused Passage

Jeremiah 52:12-23

Jerusalem Fallen, the Temple Burned, and Hope Preserved in Exile

The chapter moves from Zedekiah’s evil and rebellion, to Jerusalem’s siege and famine, to Zedekiah’s capture and humiliation, to the burning of the temple and city, to the carrying away of temple treasures, to the execution of leaders and deportation of survivors, and finally to Jehoiachin’s release and honored provision in Babylon.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

12 On the tenth day of the fifth month, in the nineteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar’s reign over Babylon, Nebuzaradan captain of the guard, a servant of the king of Babylon, entered Jerusalem.

13 He burned down the house of the LORD, the royal palace, and all the houses of Jerusalem—every significant building.

14 And the whole army of the Chaldeans under the captain of the guard broke down all the walls around Jerusalem.

15 Then Nebuzaradan captain of the guard carried into exile some of the poorest people and those who remained in the city, along with the deserters who had defected to the king of Babylon and the rest of the craftsmen.

16 But Nebuzaradan captain of the guard left behind some of the poorest of the land to tend the vineyards and fields.

17 Moreover, the Chaldeans broke up the bronze pillars and stands and the bronze Sea in the house of the LORD, and they carried all the bronze to Babylon.

18 They also took away the pots, shovels, wick trimmers, sprinkling bowls, dishes, and all the articles of bronze used in the temple service.

19 The captain of the guard also took away the basins, censers, sprinkling bowls, pots, lampstands, pans, and drink offering bowls—anything made of pure gold or fine silver.

20 As for the two pillars, the Sea, the twelve bronze bulls under it, and the movable stands that King Solomon had made for the house of the LORD, the weight of the bronze from all these articles was beyond measure.

21 Each pillar was eighteen cubits tall and twelve cubits in circumference; each was hollow, four fingers thick.

22 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.

23 Each capital had ninety-six pomegranates on the sides, and a total of a hundred pomegranates were above the surrounding network.

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 12

Original words

On the tenth בֶּעָשׂ֣וֹר H6218 Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular . . . לַחֹ֔דֶשׁ H2320 Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine singular day of the fifth הַֽחֲמִישִׁי֙ H2549 Article | Number - ordinal masculine singular month וּבַחֹ֤דֶשׁ H2320 Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular - הִ֗יא H1931 Pronoun - third person feminine singular in the nineteenth תְּשַֽׁע־ H8672 Number - feminine singular construct . . . עֶשְׂרֵ֣ה H6240 Number - feminine singular . . . שָׁנָ֔ה H8141 Noun - feminine singular year שְׁנַת֙ H8141 Noun - feminine singular construct - לַמֶּ֖לֶךְ H4428 Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine singular of Nebuchadnezzar’s נְבוּכַדְרֶאצַּ֣ר H5019 Noun - proper - masculine singular reign מֶֽלֶךְ־ H4428 Noun - masculine singular construct over Babylon בָּבֶ֑ל H894 Noun - proper - feminine singular Nebuzaradan נְבֽוּזַרְאֲדָן֙ H5018 Noun - proper - masculine singular captain רַב־ H7227 Noun - masculine singular construct of the guard טַבָּחִ֔ים H2876 Noun - masculine plural a servant עָמַ֛ד H5975 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular . . . לִפְנֵ֥י H6440 Preposition-l | Noun - common plural construct of the king מֶֽלֶךְ־ H4428 Noun - masculine singular construct of Babylon בָּבֶ֖ל H894 Noun - proper - feminine singular entered בָּ֗א H935 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular Jerusalem בִּירוּשָׁלִָֽם׃ H3389 Preposition-b | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Verse 13

Original words

He burned down וַיִּשְׂרֹ֥ף H8313 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker - וְאֶת־ H853 Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker the house בֵּית־ H1004 Noun - masculine singular construct of the LORD יְהוָ֖ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular the royal הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ H4428 Article | Noun - masculine singular - וְאֵ֨ת H853 Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker palace בֵּ֣ית H1004 Noun - masculine singular construct and all כָּל־ H3605 Noun - masculine singular construct the houses בָּתֵּ֧י H1004 Noun - masculine plural construct of Jerusalem יְרוּשָׁלִַ֛ם H3389 Noun - proper - feminine singular - שָׂרַ֥ף H8313 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular - בָּאֵֽשׁ׃ H784 Preposition-b, Article | Noun - common singular - וְאֶת־ H853 Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker every כָּל־ H3605 Noun - masculine singular construct significant הַגָּד֖וֹל H1419 Article | Adjective - masculine singular building בֵּ֥ית H1004 Noun - masculine singular construct
Verse 14

Original words

And וְאֶת־ H853 Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine plural construct the whole כָּל־ H3605 Noun - masculine singular construct army חֵ֣יל H2428 Noun - masculine singular construct of the Chaldeans כַּשְׂדִּ֔ים H3778 Noun - proper - masculine plural - אֲשֶׁ֖ר H834 Pronoun - relative under אֶת־ H854 Preposition the captain רַב־ H7227 Noun - masculine singular construct of the guard טַבָּחִֽים׃ H2876 Noun - masculine plural broke down נָֽתְצוּ֙ H5422 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural all כָּל־ H3605 Noun - masculine singular construct the walls חֹמ֥וֹת H2346 Noun - feminine plural construct around סָבִ֑יב H5439 Adverb Jerusalem יְרוּשָׁלִַ֖ם H3389 Noun - proper - feminine singular
Verse 15

Original words

Then Nebuzaradan נְבוּזַרְאֲדָ֖ן H5018 Noun - proper - masculine singular captain רַב־ H7227 Noun - masculine singular construct of the guard טַבָּחִֽים׃ H2876 Noun - masculine plural carried into exile הֶגְלָ֕ה H1540 Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singular [some of] the poorest וּמִדַּלּ֨וֹת H1803 Conjunctive waw, Preposition-m | Noun - feminine plural construct people הָעָ֜ם H5971 Article | Noun - masculine singular and וְֽאֶת־ H853 Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker those who remained יֶ֥תֶר H3499 Noun - masculine singular construct . . . הָעָ֣ם׀ H5971 Article | Noun - masculine singular . . . הַנִּשְׁאָרִ֣ים H7604 Article | Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine plural in the city בָּעִ֗יר H5892 Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine singular along with וְאֶת־ H853 Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker the deserters הַנֹּֽפְלִים֙ H5307 Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural who אֲשֶׁ֤ר H834 Pronoun - relative had defected נָֽפְלוּ֙ H5307 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural to אֶל־ H413 Preposition the king מֶ֣לֶךְ H4428 Noun - masculine singular construct of Babylon בָּבֶ֔ל H894 Noun - proper - feminine singular - וְאֵ֖ת H853 Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker and the rest יֶ֣תֶר H3499 Noun - masculine singular construct of the craftsmen הָֽאָמ֑וֹן H525 Article | Noun - masculine singular
Verse 16

Original words

But Nebuzaradan נְבוּזַרְאֲדָ֖ן H5018 Noun - proper - masculine singular captain רַב־ H7227 Noun - masculine singular construct of the guard טַבָּחִ֑ים H2876 Noun - masculine plural left behind הִשְׁאִ֕יר H7604 Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singular some of the poorest וּמִדַּלּ֣וֹת H1803 Conjunctive waw, Preposition-m | Noun - feminine plural construct of the land הָאָ֔רֶץ H776 Article | Noun - feminine singular to tend the vineyards לְכֹרְמִ֖ים H3755 Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural and fields וּלְיֹגְבִֽים׃ H3009 Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural
Verse 17

Original words

Moreover וְאֶת־ H853 Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker the Chaldeans כַשְׂדִּ֑ים H3778 Noun - proper - masculine plural broke up שִׁבְּר֣וּ H7665 Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person common plural the bronze הַנְּחֹ֜שֶׁת H5178 Article | Noun - feminine singular pillars עַמּוּדֵ֨י H5982 Noun - masculine plural construct and וְֽאֶת־ H853 Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker - לְבֵית־ H1004 Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct - יְהוָ֗ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular stands הַמְּכֹנ֞וֹת H4350 Article | Noun - feminine plural - וְאֶת־ H853 Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker and the bronze הַנְּחֹ֛שֶׁת H5178 Article | Noun - feminine singular - אֲשֶׁ֥ר H834 Pronoun - relative Sea יָ֧ם H3220 Noun - masculine singular construct - אֲשֶׁ֣ר H834 Pronoun - relative in the house בְּבֵית־ H1004 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct of the LORD יְהוָ֖ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular and they carried וַיִּשְׂא֥וּ H5375 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker all כָּל־ H3605 Noun - masculine singular construct the bronze נְחֻשְׁתָּ֖ם H5178 Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine plural to Babylon בָּבֶֽלָה׃ H894 Noun - proper - feminine singular | third person feminine singular
Verse 18

Original words

They also וְאֶת־ H853 Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker took away לָקָֽחוּ׃ H3947 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural the pots הַ֠סִּרוֹת H5518 Article | Noun - common plural - וְאֶת־ H853 Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker shovels הַיָּעִ֨ים H3257 Article | Noun - masculine plural - וְאֶת־ H853 Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker wick trimmers הַֽמְזַמְּר֜וֹת H4212 Article | Noun - feminine plural - וְאֶת־ H853 Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker sprinkling bowls הַמִּזְרָקֹ֣ת H4219 Article | Noun - masculine plural - וְאֶת־ H853 Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker dishes הַכַּפּ֗וֹת H3709 Article | Noun - feminine plural - וְאֵ֨ת H853 Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker and all כָּל־ H3605 Noun - masculine singular construct - אֲשֶׁר־ H834 Pronoun - relative the articles כְּלֵ֧י H3627 Noun - masculine plural construct of bronze הַנְּחֹ֛שֶׁת H5178 Article | Noun - feminine singular used in the temple service יְשָׁרְת֥וּ H8334 Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Verse 19

Original words

- וְאֶת־ H853 Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker The captain רַב־ H7227 Noun - masculine singular construct of the guard טַבָּחִֽים׃ H2876 Noun - masculine plural also took away לָקַ֖ח H3947 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular the basins הַ֠סִּפִּים H5592 Article | Noun - masculine plural - וְאֶת־ H853 Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker censers הַמַּחְתּ֨וֹת H4289 Article | Noun - feminine plural - וְאֶת־ H853 Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker sprinkling bowls הַמִּזְרָק֜וֹת H4219 Article | Noun - masculine plural - וְאֶת־ H853 Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker pots הַסִּיר֣וֹת H5518 Article | Noun - common plural - וְאֶת־ H853 Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker lampstands הַמְּנֹר֗וֹת H4501 Article | Noun - feminine plural - וְאֶת־ H853 Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker pans הַכַּפּוֹת֙ H3709 Article | Noun - feminine plural - וְאֶת־ H853 Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker and drink offering bowls הַמְּנַקִי֔וֹת H4518 Article | Noun - feminine plural anything [made of] אֲשֶׁ֤ר H834 Pronoun - relative pure gold זָהָב֙ H2091 Noun - masculine singular . . . זָהָ֔ב H2091 Noun - masculine singular - וַאֲשֶׁר־ H834 Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - relative or fine silver כֶּ֖סֶף H3701 Noun - masculine singular . . . כָּ֑סֶף H3701 Noun - masculine singular
Verse 20

Original words

As for the two שְׁנַ֗יִם H8147 Number - md pillars הָעַמּוּדִ֣ים׀ H5982 Article | Noun - masculine plural the אֶחָד֙ H259 Number - masculine singular Sea הַיָּ֤ם H3220 Article | Noun - masculine singular the twelve שְׁנֵים־ H8147 Number - md . . . עָשָׂ֤ר H6240 Number - masculine singular bronze נְחֹ֙שֶׁת֙ H5178 Noun - feminine singular bulls וְהַבָּקָ֞ר H1241 Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - masculine singular under it תַּ֣חַת H8478 Preposition and the movable stands הַמְּכֹנ֔וֹת H4350 Article | Noun - feminine plural - אֲשֶׁ֥ר H834 Pronoun - relative that אֲשֶׁר־ H834 Pronoun - relative King הַמֶּ֥לֶךְ H4428 Article | Noun - masculine singular Solomon שְׁלֹמֹ֖ה H8010 Noun - proper - masculine singular had made עָשָׂ֛ה H6213 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular for the house לְבֵ֣ית H1004 Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct of the LORD יְהוָ֑ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular . . . לֹא־ H3808 Adverb - Negative particle the weight מִשְׁקָ֔ל H4948 Noun - masculine singular of the bronze לִנְחֻשְׁתָּ֖ם H5178 Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine plural from all כָּל־ H3605 Noun - masculine singular construct these הָאֵֽלֶּה׃ H428 Article | Pronoun - common plural articles הַכֵּלִ֥ים H3627 Article | Noun - masculine plural was beyond measure הָיָ֣ה H1961 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Verse 21

Original words

Each הָאֶחָ֔ד H259 Article | Number - masculine singular pillar וְהָעַמּוּדִ֗ים H5982 Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - masculine plural [was] eighteen שְׁמֹנֶ֨ה H8083 Number - feminine singular . . . עֶשְׂרֵ֤ה H6240 Number - feminine singular cubits אַמָּה֙ H520 Noun - feminine singular tall קוֹמָה H6967 Noun - feminine singular construct . . . הָעַמֻּ֣ד H5982 Article | Noun - masculine singular וְח֛וּט וְח֛וּט H2339 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct and twelve שְׁתֵּים־ H8147 Number - fd . . . עֶשְׂרֵ֥ה H6240 Number - feminine singular cubits אַמָּ֖ה H520 Noun - feminine singular in circumference יְסֻבֶּ֑נּוּ H5437 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine singular [each] was hollow נָבֽוּב׃ H5014 Adjective - masculine singular four אַרְבַּ֥ע H702 Number - feminine singular fingers אַצְבָּע֖וֹת H676 Noun - feminine plural thick וְעָבְי֛וֹ H5672 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular

BSB notes

  • Each pillar was approximately 27 feet high and 18 feet in circumference (8.2 meters high and 5.5 meters in circumference).
  • 4 fingers is approximately 2.9 inches or 7.4 centimeters.
Verse 22

Original words

The bronze נְחֹ֗שֶׁת H5178 Noun - feminine singular capital וְכֹתֶ֨רֶת H3805 Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular הַכֹּתֶ֥רֶת הַכֹּתֶ֥רֶת H3805 Article | Noun - feminine singular atop עָלָ֜יו H5921 Preposition | third person masculine singular one [pillar] הָאַחַת֮ H259 Article | Number - feminine singular [was] five חָמֵ֣שׁ H2568 Number - feminine singular cubits אַמּוֹת֒ H520 Noun - feminine plural high וְקוֹמַ֨ת H6967 Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular construct with a network וּשְׂבָכָ֨ה H7639 Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular of bronze נְחֹ֑שֶׁת H5178 Noun - feminine singular pomegranates וְרִמּוֹנִ֧ים H7416 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural - עַֽל־ H5921 Preposition - הַכּוֹתֶ֛רֶת H3805 Article | Noun - feminine singular all around סָבִ֖יב H5439 Adverb . . . הַכֹּ֣ל H3605 Article | Noun - masculine singular The second הַשֵּׁנִ֖י H8145 Article | Number - ordinal masculine singular pillar לַֽעַמּ֥וּד H5982 Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine singular with [its] pomegranates וְרִמּוֹנִֽים׃ H7416 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural [was] similar וְכָאֵ֛לֶּה H428 Conjunctive waw, Preposition-k | Pronoun - common plural

BSB notes

  • 5 cubits is approximately 7.5 feet or 2.3 meters.
Verse 23

Original words

[Each capital had] וַיִּֽהְיוּ֙ H1961 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural ninety-six תִּשְׁעִ֥ים H8673 Number - common plural . . . וְשִׁשָּׁ֖ה H8337 Conjunctive waw | Number - masculine singular pomegranates הָֽרִמֹּנִ֔ים H7416 Article | Noun - masculine plural on the sides ר֑וּחָה H7307 Noun - common singular | third person feminine singular [and] a total of כָּל־ H3605 Noun - masculine singular construct a hundred מֵאָ֛ה H3967 Number - feminine singular pomegranates הָרִמּוֹנִ֥ים H7416 Article | Noun - masculine plural were above עַל־ H5921 Preposition the surrounding סָבִֽיב׃ H5439 Adverb network הַשְּׂבָכָ֖ה H7639 Article | Noun - feminine singular

Berean Standard Bible (BSB): CC0 Public Domain Scripture text. Focused passages are drawn from the same reader contract as the full chapter. Reference sources explains external study-link sources.