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

12On 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.

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

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

15Then 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.

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

17Moreover, 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.

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

19The 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.

20As 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.

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

22The 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.

23Each 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 tenthבֶּעָשׂ֣וֹרH6218Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular. . .לַחֹ֔דֶשׁH2320Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine singularday of the fifthהַֽחֲמִישִׁי֙H2549Article | Number - ordinal masculine singularmonthוּבַחֹ֤דֶשׁH2320Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular-הִ֗יאH1931Pronoun - third person feminine singularin the nineteenthתְּשַֽׁע־H8672Number - feminine singular construct. . .עֶשְׂרֵ֣הH6240Number - feminine singular. . .שָׁנָ֔הH8141Noun - feminine singularyearשְׁנַת֙H8141Noun - feminine singular construct-לַמֶּ֖לֶךְH4428Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine singularof Nebuchadnezzar’sנְבוּכַדְרֶאצַּ֣רH5019Noun - proper - masculine singularreignמֶֽלֶךְ־H4428Noun - masculine singular constructover Babylonבָּבֶ֑לH894Noun - proper - feminine singularNebuzaradanנְבֽוּזַרְאֲדָן֙H5018Noun - proper - masculine singularcaptainרַב־H7227Noun - masculine singular constructof the guardטַבָּחִ֔יםH2876Noun - masculine plurala servantעָמַ֛דH5975Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular. . .לִפְנֵ֥יH6440Preposition-l | Noun - common plural constructof the kingמֶֽלֶךְ־H4428Noun - masculine singular constructof Babylonבָּבֶ֖לH894Noun - proper - feminine singularenteredבָּ֗אH935Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularJerusalemבִּירוּשָׁלִָֽם׃H3389Preposition-b | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Verse 13

Original words

He burned downוַיִּשְׂרֹ֥ףH8313Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular-אֶת־H853Direct object marker-וְאֶת־H853Conjunctive waw | Direct object markerthe houseבֵּית־H1004Noun - masculine singular constructof the LORDיְהוָ֖הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singularthe royalהַמֶּ֑לֶךְH4428Article | Noun - masculine singular-וְאֵ֨תH853Conjunctive waw | Direct object markerpalaceבֵּ֣יתH1004Noun - masculine singular constructand allכָּל־H3605Noun - masculine singular constructthe housesבָּתֵּ֧יH1004Noun - masculine plural constructof Jerusalemיְרוּשָׁלִַ֛םH3389Noun - proper - feminine singular-שָׂרַ֥ףH8313Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular-בָּאֵֽשׁ׃H784Preposition-b, Article | Noun - common singular-וְאֶת־H853Conjunctive waw | Direct object markereveryכָּל־H3605Noun - masculine singular constructsignificantהַגָּד֖וֹלH1419Article | Adjective - masculine singularbuildingבֵּ֥יתH1004Noun - masculine singular construct
Verse 14

Original words

Andוְאֶת־H853Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine plural constructthe wholeכָּל־H3605Noun - masculine singular constructarmyחֵ֣ילH2428Noun - masculine singular constructof the Chaldeansכַּשְׂדִּ֔יםH3778Noun - proper - masculine plural-אֲשֶׁ֖רH834Pronoun - relativeunderאֶת־H854Prepositionthe captainרַב־H7227Noun - masculine singular constructof the guardטַבָּחִֽים׃H2876Noun - masculine pluralbroke downנָֽתְצוּ֙H5422Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common pluralallכָּל־H3605Noun - masculine singular constructthe wallsחֹמ֥וֹתH2346Noun - feminine plural constructaroundסָבִ֑יבH5439AdverbJerusalemיְרוּשָׁלִַ֖םH3389Noun - proper - feminine singular
Verse 15

Original words

Then Nebuzaradanנְבוּזַרְאֲדָ֖ןH5018Noun - proper - masculine singularcaptainרַב־H7227Noun - masculine singular constructof the guardטַבָּחִֽים׃H2876Noun - masculine pluralcarried into exileהֶגְלָ֕הH1540Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singular[some of] the poorestוּמִדַּלּ֨וֹתH1803Conjunctive waw, Preposition-m | Noun - feminine plural constructpeopleהָעָ֜םH5971Article | Noun - masculine singularandוְֽאֶת־H853Conjunctive waw | Direct object markerthose who remainedיֶ֥תֶרH3499Noun - masculine singular construct. . .הָעָ֣ם׀H5971Article | Noun - masculine singular. . .הַנִּשְׁאָרִ֣יםH7604Article | Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine pluralin the cityבָּעִ֗ירH5892Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine singularalong withוְאֶת־H853Conjunctive waw | Direct object markerthe desertersהַנֹּֽפְלִים֙H5307Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine pluralwhoאֲשֶׁ֤רH834Pronoun - relativehad defectedנָֽפְלוּ֙H5307Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common pluraltoאֶל־H413Prepositionthe kingמֶ֣לֶךְH4428Noun - masculine singular constructof Babylonבָּבֶ֔לH894Noun - proper - feminine singular-וְאֵ֖תH853Conjunctive waw | Direct object markerand the restיֶ֣תֶרH3499Noun - masculine singular constructof the craftsmenהָֽאָמ֑וֹןH525Article | Noun - masculine singular
Verse 16

Original words

But Nebuzaradanנְבוּזַרְאֲדָ֖ןH5018Noun - proper - masculine singularcaptainרַב־H7227Noun - masculine singular constructof the guardטַבָּחִ֑יםH2876Noun - masculine pluralleft behindהִשְׁאִ֕ירH7604Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singularsome of the poorestוּמִדַּלּ֣וֹתH1803Conjunctive waw, Preposition-m | Noun - feminine plural constructof the landהָאָ֔רֶץH776Article | Noun - feminine singularto tend the vineyardsלְכֹרְמִ֖יםH3755Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine pluraland fieldsוּלְיֹגְבִֽים׃H3009Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural
Verse 17

Original words

Moreoverוְאֶת־H853Conjunctive waw | Direct object markerthe Chaldeansכַשְׂדִּ֑יםH3778Noun - proper - masculine pluralbroke upשִׁבְּר֣וּH7665Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person common pluralthe bronzeהַנְּחֹ֜שֶׁתH5178Article | Noun - feminine singularpillarsעַמּוּדֵ֨יH5982Noun - masculine plural constructandוְֽאֶת־H853Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker-לְבֵית־H1004Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct-יְהוָ֗הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singularstandsהַמְּכֹנ֞וֹתH4350Article | Noun - feminine plural-וְאֶת־H853Conjunctive waw | Direct object markerand the bronzeהַנְּחֹ֛שֶׁתH5178Article | Noun - feminine singular-אֲשֶׁ֥רH834Pronoun - relativeSeaיָ֧םH3220Noun - masculine singular construct-אֲשֶׁ֣רH834Pronoun - relativein the houseבְּבֵית־H1004Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular constructof the LORDיְהוָ֖הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singularand they carriedוַיִּשְׂא֥וּH5375Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural-אֶת־H853Direct object markerallכָּל־H3605Noun - masculine singular constructthe bronzeנְחֻשְׁתָּ֖םH5178Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine pluralto Babylonבָּבֶֽלָה׃H894Noun - proper - feminine singular | third person feminine singular
Verse 18

Original words

They alsoוְאֶת־H853Conjunctive waw | Direct object markertook awayלָקָֽחוּ׃H3947Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common pluralthe potsהַ֠סִּרוֹתH5518Article | Noun - common plural-וְאֶת־H853Conjunctive waw | Direct object markershovelsהַיָּעִ֨יםH3257Article | Noun - masculine plural-וְאֶת־H853Conjunctive waw | Direct object markerwick trimmersהַֽמְזַמְּר֜וֹתH4212Article | Noun - feminine plural-וְאֶת־H853Conjunctive waw | Direct object markersprinkling bowlsהַמִּזְרָקֹ֣תH4219Article | Noun - masculine plural-וְאֶת־H853Conjunctive waw | Direct object markerdishesהַכַּפּ֗וֹתH3709Article | Noun - feminine plural-וְאֵ֨תH853Conjunctive waw | Direct object markerand allכָּל־H3605Noun - masculine singular construct-אֲשֶׁר־H834Pronoun - relativethe articlesכְּלֵ֧יH3627Noun - masculine plural constructof bronzeהַנְּחֹ֛שֶׁתH5178Article | Noun - feminine singularused in the temple serviceיְשָׁרְת֥וּH8334Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Verse 19

Original words

-וְאֶת־H853Conjunctive waw | Direct object markerThe captainרַב־H7227Noun - masculine singular constructof the guardטַבָּחִֽים׃H2876Noun - masculine pluralalso took awayלָקַ֖חH3947Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularthe basinsהַ֠סִּפִּיםH5592Article | Noun - masculine plural-וְאֶת־H853Conjunctive waw | Direct object markercensersהַמַּחְתּ֨וֹתH4289Article | Noun - feminine plural-וְאֶת־H853Conjunctive waw | Direct object markersprinkling bowlsהַמִּזְרָק֜וֹתH4219Article | Noun - masculine plural-וְאֶת־H853Conjunctive waw | Direct object markerpotsהַסִּיר֣וֹתH5518Article | Noun - common plural-וְאֶת־H853Conjunctive waw | Direct object markerlampstandsהַמְּנֹר֗וֹתH4501Article | Noun - feminine plural-וְאֶת־H853Conjunctive waw | Direct object markerpansהַכַּפּוֹת֙H3709Article | Noun - feminine plural-וְאֶת־H853Conjunctive waw | Direct object markerand drink offering bowlsהַמְּנַקִי֔וֹתH4518Article | Noun - feminine pluralanything [made of]אֲשֶׁ֤רH834Pronoun - relativepure goldזָהָב֙H2091Noun - masculine singular. . .זָהָ֔בH2091Noun - masculine singular-וַאֲשֶׁר־H834Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - relativeor fine silverכֶּ֖סֶףH3701Noun - masculine singular. . .כָּ֑סֶףH3701Noun - masculine singular
Verse 20

Original words

As for the twoשְׁנַ֗יִםH8147Number - mdpillarsהָעַמּוּדִ֣ים׀H5982Article | Noun - masculine pluraltheאֶחָד֙H259Number - masculine singularSeaהַיָּ֤םH3220Article | Noun - masculine singularthe twelveשְׁנֵים־H8147Number - md. . .עָשָׂ֤רH6240Number - masculine singularbronzeנְחֹ֙שֶׁת֙H5178Noun - feminine singularbullsוְהַבָּקָ֞רH1241Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - masculine singularunder itתַּ֣חַתH8478Prepositionand the movable standsהַמְּכֹנ֔וֹתH4350Article | Noun - feminine plural-אֲשֶׁ֥רH834Pronoun - relativethatאֲשֶׁר־H834Pronoun - relativeKingהַמֶּ֥לֶךְH4428Article | Noun - masculine singularSolomonשְׁלֹמֹ֖הH8010Noun - proper - masculine singularhad madeעָשָׂ֛הH6213Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularfor the houseלְבֵ֣יתH1004Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular constructof the LORDיְהוָ֑הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singular. . .לֹא־H3808Adverb - Negative particlethe weightמִשְׁקָ֔לH4948Noun - masculine singularof the bronzeלִנְחֻשְׁתָּ֖םH5178Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine pluralfrom allכָּל־H3605Noun - masculine singular constructtheseהָאֵֽלֶּה׃H428Article | Pronoun - common pluralarticlesהַכֵּלִ֥יםH3627Article | Noun - masculine pluralwas beyond measureהָיָ֣הH1961Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Verse 21

Original words

Eachהָאֶחָ֔דH259Article | Number - masculine singularpillarוְהָעַמּוּדִ֗יםH5982Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - masculine plural[was] eighteenשְׁמֹנֶ֨הH8083Number - feminine singular. . .עֶשְׂרֵ֤הH6240Number - feminine singularcubitsאַמָּה֙H520Noun - feminine singulartallקוֹמָהH6967Noun - feminine singular construct. . .הָעַמֻּ֣דH5982Article | Noun - masculine singularוְח֛וּטוְח֛וּטH2339Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular constructand twelveשְׁתֵּים־H8147Number - fd. . .עֶשְׂרֵ֥הH6240Number - feminine singularcubitsאַמָּ֖הH520Noun - feminine singularin circumferenceיְסֻבֶּ֑נּוּH5437Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine singular[each] was hollowנָבֽוּב׃H5014Adjective - masculine singularfourאַרְבַּ֥עH702Number - feminine singularfingersאַצְבָּע֖וֹתH676Noun - feminine pluralthickוְעָבְי֛וֹH5672Conjunctive 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 bronzeנְחֹ֗שֶׁתH5178Noun - feminine singularcapitalוְכֹתֶ֨רֶתH3805Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singularהַכֹּתֶ֥רֶתהַכֹּתֶ֥רֶתH3805Article | Noun - feminine singularatopעָלָ֜יוH5921Preposition | third person masculine singularone [pillar]הָאַחַת֮H259Article | Number - feminine singular[was] fiveחָמֵ֣שׁH2568Number - feminine singularcubitsאַמּוֹת֒H520Noun - feminine pluralhighוְקוֹמַ֨תH6967Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular constructwith a networkוּשְׂבָכָ֨הH7639Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singularof bronzeנְחֹ֑שֶׁתH5178Noun - feminine singularpomegranatesוְרִמּוֹנִ֧יםH7416Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural-עַֽל־H5921Preposition-הַכּוֹתֶ֛רֶתH3805Article | Noun - feminine singularall aroundסָבִ֖יבH5439Adverb. . .הַכֹּ֣לH3605Article | Noun - masculine singularThe secondהַשֵּׁנִ֖יH8145Article | Number - ordinal masculine singularpillarלַֽעַמּ֥וּדH5982Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine singularwith [its] pomegranatesוְרִמּוֹנִֽים׃H7416Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural[was] similarוְכָאֵ֛לֶּהH428Conjunctive 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]וַיִּֽהְיוּ֙H1961Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine pluralninety-sixתִּשְׁעִ֥יםH8673Number - common plural. . .וְשִׁשָּׁ֖הH8337Conjunctive waw | Number - masculine singularpomegranatesהָֽרִמֹּנִ֔יםH7416Article | Noun - masculine pluralon the sidesר֑וּחָהH7307Noun - common singular | third person feminine singular[and] a total ofכָּל־H3605Noun - masculine singular constructa hundredמֵאָ֛הH3967Number - feminine singularpomegranatesהָרִמּוֹנִ֥יםH7416Article | Noun - masculine pluralwere aboveעַל־H5921Prepositionthe surroundingסָבִֽיב׃H5439Adverbnetworkהַשְּׂבָכָ֖הH7639Article | 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.