I Kings 7:17-22 · Bible study
1 Kings 7:17-22 Commentary: Jachin and Boaz Pillars Study
Hebrew · 9 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Explore the symbolic pillars Jachin and Boaz at Solomon's temple, their ornate capitals, and their meaning for faith.
Research Summary
- Meaning: The two bronze pillars at the temple porch, named Jachin and Boaz, symbolize God's establishment and strength.
- Key words: Jachin (יָכִין, "he will establish"), Boaz (בֹּעַז, "in strength"), pillar (עַמּוּד), capital (כֹּתֶרֶת), pomegranate (רִמּוֹן), lily (שׁוּשַׁן).
- Main debate: Whether the Hebrew "seven" (שִׁבְעָה) for the nets on each capital is a scribal confusion with the word "net" (שְׂבָכָה).
- Theological theme: God establishes and strengthens His dwelling place and His people.
- Best use: Study of temple symbolism, sermon on God's faithfulness, or reflection on beauty in worship.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
17For the capitals on top of the pillars he made a network of lattice, with wreaths of chainwork, seven for each capital.
18Likewise, he made the pillars with two rows of pomegranates around each grating to cover each capital atop the pillars.
19And the capitals atop the pillars in the portico were shaped like lilies, four cubits high.
20On the capitals of both pillars, just above the rounded projection next to the network, were the two hundred pomegranates in rows encircling each capital.
21Thus 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.
22And the tops of the pillars were shaped like lilies. So the work of the pillars was completed.
WEB World English Bible 2000
17There were nets of checker work and wreaths of chain work for the capitals which were on the top of the pillars: seven for the one capital, and seven for the other capital.
18So he made the pillars; and there were two rows of pomegranates around the one network, to cover the capitals that were on the top of the pillars; and he did so for the other capital.
19The capitals that were on the top of the pillars in the porch were of lily work, four cubits.
20There were capitals above also on the two pillars, close by the belly which was beside the network. There were two hundred pomegranates in rows around the other capital.
21He set up the pillars at the porch of the temple. He set up the right pillar and called its name Jachin; and he set up the left pillar and called its name Boaz.
22On the tops of the pillars was lily work. So the work of the pillars was finished.
KJV King James Version 1769
17And 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.
18And he made the pillars, and two rows round about upon the one network, to cover the chapiters that were upon the top, with pomegranates: and so did he for the other chapiter.
19And the chapiters that were upon the top of the pillars were of lily work in the porch, four cubits.
20And the chapiters upon the two pillars had pomegranates also above, over against the belly which was by the network: and the pomegranates were two hundred in rows round about upon the other chapiter.
21And 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.
22And upon the top of the pillars was lily work: so was the work of the pillars finished.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
17There were nets of checker-work, and wreaths of chain-work, for the capitals which were upon the top of the pillars; seven for the one capital, and seven for the other capital.
18So he made the pillars; and there were two rows round about upon the one network, to cover the capitals that were upon the top of the pillars: and so did he for the other capital.
19And the capitals that were upon the top of the pillars in the porch were of lily-work, four cubits.
20And there were capitals above also upon the two pillars, close by the belly which was beside the network: and the pomegranates were two hundred, in rows round about upon the other capital.
21And 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.
22And upon the top of the pillars was lily-work: so was the work of the pillars finished.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
17Nets of net-work, wreaths of chain-work are for the chapiters that are on the top of the pillars, seven for the one chapiter, and seven for the second chapiter.
18And he maketh the pillars, and two rows round about on the one net-work, to cover the chapiters that are on the top, with the pomegranates, and so he hath made for the second chapiter.
19And the chapiters that are on the top of the pillars are of lily-work in the porch, four cubits;
20and the chapiters on the two pillars also above, over-against the protuberance that is beside the net; and the pomegranates are two hundred, in rows round about on the second chapiter.
21And he raiseth up the pillars for the porch of the temple, and he raiseth up the right pillar, and calleth its name Jachin, and he raiseth up the left pillar, and calleth its name Boaz;
22and on the top of the pillars is lily-work; and the work of the pillars is completed.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
17[and] nets of checker-work, wreaths of chain-work, for the capitals which were upon the top of the pillars; seven for the one capital and seven for the other capital.
18And he made pomegranates, namely two rows round about upon the one network, to cover the capitals that were upon the top of the pillars; and so he did for the other capital.
19And the capitals that were upon the top of the pillars were of lily-work [as] in the porch, four cubits.
20And the capitals upon the two pillars, above also, close to the enlargement which was behind the network, had two hundred pomegranates in rows round about, [also] on the other capital.
21And he set up the pillars for the porch of the temple; and he set up the right pillar, and called its name Jachin; and he set up the left pillar, and called its name Boaz.
22And upon the top of the pillars was lily-work; and the work of the pillars was finished.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
17And a kind of network, and chain work wreathed together with wonderful art. Both the chapiters of the pillars were cast: seven rows of nets were on one chapiter, and seven nets on the other chapiter.
18And he made the pillars, and two rows round about each network to cover the chapiters, that were upon the top, with pomegranates: and in like manner did he to the other chapiter.
19And the chapiters that were upon the top of the pillars, were of lily work, in the porch of four cubits.
20And again there were other chapiters on the top of the pillars above, according to the measure of the pillar over against the network: and of pomegranates there were two hundred, in rows round about the other chapiter.
21And he set up the two pillars in the porch of the temple: and when he had set up the pillar on the right hand, he called the name thereof Jachin: in like manner he set up the second pillar, and called the name thereof Booz.
22And upon the tops of the pillars he made lily work: so the work of the pillars was finished.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · I Kings 7:17
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators broadly agree that the two bronze pillars named Jachin and Boaz stood at the porch of Solomon's temple as freestanding, emblematic structures. Adam Clarke observes that they "seem to have supported no part of the building" and were primarily symbolic. The names, Jachin meaning "He will establish" and Boaz meaning "in strength", together declare God's power to establish His house firmly, as Jamieson-Fausset-Brown note. The ornate capitals, decorated with network, chainwork, pomegranates in two rows, and four cubits of lily work, reflect the beauty and care of God's dwelling place. There is, however, a debated textual issue: the Hebrew says "seven" nets for each capital, but the Septuagint reads "a net" for each, leading Barnes and the Cambridge Bible to suggest that "seven" may be a scribal confusion with the word "net." Despite this, the overall significance of the pillars as symbols of God's establishment and strength is undisputed.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- Textual confusion view: The Hebrew 'seven' may be a scribal error for 'net', based on Septuagint evidence and similar-looking words (Barnes, Cambridge).
- Traditional reading: The Masoretic text is accepted as is, with 'seven' referring to the number of ornamental wreaths (Gill, Matthew Henry).
What is clear: The two pillars stood at the temple porch, were named Jachin and Boaz, and were richly ornamented to declare God's establishment and strength.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Number of nets on each capital | The Hebrew text reads 'seven' for each capital. | Some scholars (Barnes, Cambridge Bible) argue that 'seven' may be a scribal confusion with the word 'net' (sĕbākāh), and the Septuagint supports 'a net' instead of 'seven'. |
| Location of the pillars | The pillars were set up at the porch (ūlām) of the temple. | Whether they stood within the porch (Cambridge Bible) or in front of it (Gill, Jarchi) is debated. |
| Symbolic meaning of the names | Jachin means 'He will establish' and Boaz means 'in strength'. | Whether the names refer to God establishing the temple itself, the Davidic dynasty, or his people generally. Some also see a link to the biblical figures Jachin and Boaz. |
| Height of the capitals (5 cubits vs 3 cubits) | 1 Kings 7:16 says 5 cubits; 2 Kings 25:17 says 3 cubits. | Keil suggests the 3 cubits in 2 Kings is a textual error (resh/gimel confusion). Others propose that 3 cubits refers only to the ornate part, excluding a base (Poole). |
| Function of the pillars | The pillars were decorative and symbolic, not load-bearing. | Adam Clarke says they supported no part of the building; Jamieson-Fausset-Brown sees them as symbolic of the spiritual kingdom. Some earlier interpreters thought they held up the porch roof, but modern consensus favors freestanding. |
Historical & Cultural Context
Solomon's temple, described in 1 Kings 6, 7, was built with lavish materials and skilled craftsmanship, much of it overseen by Hiram of Tyre, a bronze worker filled with "wisdom and understanding and skill" (1 Kings 7:14). The two pillars, cast in the Jordan valley (1 Kings 7:46), were massive: each eighteen cubits high (about 27 feet) and twelve cubits in circumference (about 18 feet). Their capitals added five cubits each, decorated with intricate network, chainwork, pomegranates, and lily work. The pomegranate motif appears on the high priest's robe (Exodus 28:33, 34) and on the temple's bronze sea (1 Kings 7:24), symbolizing fruitfulness and blessing. The lily work, four cubits high, may reflect the flowering of God's presence.
The pillars stood at the porch (Hebrew ūlām), likely on either side of the entrance, functioning as monumental markers. In ancient Near Eastern architecture, such free-standing pillars were common gate guardians, often inscribed with names or dedications. The names Jachin and Boaz served as declarations: "He will establish" and "in strength." Their location before the house of God would remind every worshiper that the Lord establishes and strengthens His covenant people. Keil and Delitzsch note that the pillars were hollow, the bronze being four finger-breadths thick (Jeremiah 52:21). The completion of the pillars is emphasized in verse 22: "So was the work of the pillars finished," echoing the pattern of creation where God completes what He begins.
Textual Notes
The supplied commentaries note two significant textual issues. First, in verse 17 the Hebrew word "seven" (שִׁבְעָה) may be a scribal confusion with the word "net" (שְׂבָכָה). Barnes states that the Septuagint reads "A net for the one chapiter and a net for the other chapiter," which is likely the original. The Cambridge Bible also notes the conjunction "And" has no Hebrew counterpart, suggesting text loss. Second, in verse 18 the Masoretic text reads "upon the top of the pomegranates" where the context requires "upon the top of the pillars", a confusion of the similar Hebrew words for "pomegranates" (רִמֹּנִים) and "pillars" (עַמּוּדִים), as Keil and Delitzsch observe. These variants are reflected in the translations and critical editions.
Reception History
Throughout church history, the pillars Jachin and Boaz have been seen as symbols of God's covenant faithfulness. Early Christian writers such as Theodoret of Cyrus viewed them as types of the church, established by divine strength. In the Latin tradition, the names were often translated as "Firmitas" (strength) and "Stabilitas" (stability). The pillars also appear in later Jewish and Masonic symbolism as emblems of wisdom and strength. Protestant commentators from the Reformation onwards have emphasized their role as theological statements: God establishes and strengthens his kingdom. The detailed description has been used to illustrate that no detail in God's house is insignificant, and that beauty and craftsmanship honour the Lord.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- God Establishes His House (Jachin): The name of the right pillar means "He will establish." This reminds us that God himself secures his dwelling place among his people.
- God Strengthens His People (Boaz): The left pillar's name, "in strength," declares that God is the source of all staying power for his covenant community.
- God's Work Is Beautiful and Complete: From the lily work to the finished statement in verse 22, the passage underscores that what God begins, he brings to beautiful completion.
Five-point outline
- The Foundation: Jachin, God establishes (v.21).
- The Strength: Boaz, Strength is in him (v.21).
- The Beauty: The network, chainwork, pomegranates, and lilies show that God's house is adorned with glory (vv.17-20).
- The Permanence: The work of the pillars was finished (v.22).
- The Witness: These pillars stood at the entrance, testifying to all who entered that God is the one who establishes and strengthens (v.21).
Illustration hooks
- The cornerstone ceremony of a new church, where a stone is laid with words like "established in faith", a tangible reminder of God's promises.
- A massive gate with two inscribed pillars on either side (e.g., the Brandenburg Gate, though different context), showing how entrances can declare a message.
- An artisan crafting a fine piece of furniture, spending hours on details that most will never examine, demonstrating that God delights in hidden beauty.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Why does the Bible spend so many verses describing these pillars? What is the spiritual lesson?
- Are these pillars only symbolic, or did they actually hold up part of the porch?
- How do the names Jachin and Boaz point to God's character and to Christ?
Leading a Discussion
These pillars could have been simply functional, but instead they are named and decorated with exquisite detail. This passage invites reflection on why beauty, stability, and testimony matter in worship. As you read through 1 Kings 7:17-22, consider what the pillars declare about the God who dwells in the temple.
Discussion questions
- What do the specific details of the pillars, network, pomegranates, lilies, tell you about God's values?
- If you had walked into the temple in Solomon's day, what would you have thought as you passed between Jachin and Boaz?
- How does the finished work of the pillars (v.22) encourage you in your own spiritual journey?
- What does it mean for a church today to have "Jachin and Boaz" at its entrance? What truths should mark our gathering?
- How do you think the names of these pillars relate to the later words of Jesus about building his church (Matthew 16:18)?
- In what areas of your life do you need God to "establish" you? In what areas do you need "strength"?
- Why might the Bible include such extensive description of temple furnishings? What does that suggest about God's attention to detail in your own life?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Exodus 28:14 | and two chains of pure gold; you shall make them like cords of braided work. You shall put the braided chains on the settings. |
| Exodus 28:22 | You shall make on the breastplate chains like cords, of braided work of pure gold. |
| Exodus 28:24 | You shall put the two braided chains of gold in the two rings at the ends of the breastplate. |
| Exodus 28:25 | The other two ends of the two braided chains you shall put on the two settings, and put them on the shoulder straps of the ephod in its forepart. |
| Exodus 39:15 | They made on the breastplate chains like cords, of braided work of pure gold. |
| Exodus 39:18 | The other two ends of the two braided chains they put on the two settings, and put them on the shoulder straps of the ephod, in its front. |
| II Kings 25:17 | The height of the one pillar was eighteen cubits, and a capital of bronze was on it. The height of the capital was three cubits, with network and pomegranates on the capital around it, all of bronze; and the second pillar with its network was like these. |
| I Kings 6:18 | There was cedar on the house within, carved with buds and open flowers. All was cedar. No stone was visible. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
8 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke emphasizes that the pillars Jachin and Boaz were purely symbolic, not structural. Despite their names meaning "He shall establish" and "in strength," they supported no part of the building itself. Their significance lies entirely in what they represent.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes notes that pomegranates were a common Assyrian ornament and questions whether they carried symbolic meaning or were simply a beautiful natural form. He also observes that the names Jachin and Boaz likely mean "God will establish in strength," reflecting the temple's firm foundation.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The Cambridge Bible Schools commentary argues that the bronze pillars Jachin and Boaz were ornamental, not structural, and stood within the temple porch. The names themselves point to God: Jachin means "He will establish" and Boaz means "in Him is strength
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill interprets the names Jachin and Boaz as pointing to Christ himself, not to the nobility of David's line. Jachin means God will establish believers entering His temple, and Boaz directs them to Christ, in whom their strength lies. The pillars thus offer encouragement to the weak.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB explains that the names Jachin and Boaz were symbolic: they pointed not to the physical temple's strength, since both pillars were later destroyed, but to the enduring stability of God's spiritual kingdom. He also reconciles the different height measurements in Kings and Chronicles by noting one passage gives the pillars' joint length while the other gives each separately.
Keil & Delitzsch OT Commentary Protestant 1876
Keil-Delitzsch resolve the apparent discrepancy in pillar height between 1 Kings and 2 Chronicles by tracing it to a scribal confusion of Hebrew numeral letters. They argue both pillars were eighteen cubits tall, with five-cubit capitals decorated in two tiers: chain-work and pomegranates on the lower cubit, lily-work on the upper four.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange insists the two pillars Jachin and Boaz are not imitations of heathen symbols but uniquely Israelite monuments. Their names declare that Jehovah's dwelling is now firmly established and that this house possesses divine strength and durability. He argues the lily and pomegranate carvings are meaningful symbols of holiness and the law, not mere ornamentation.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Matthew Henry interprets the brass pillars Jachin and Boaz as visible emblems of the temple's stability, teaching that God establishes the church and it stands in His strength. The pomegranates and lily work decorating them symbolise the fruitfulness and beauty that should adorn God's house.