1 Kings 7:20

On the capitals of both pillars, just above the rounded projection next to the network, were the two hundred pomegranates in rows encircling each capital.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The narrator records the artisans’ completion of the temple portico, detailing how the bronze pillars were finished after their lily-shaped capitals were cast. This description occurs within the chronological account of Solomon’s temple construction.

The words — כֹתָרֹת (kho.ta.rot) translates to “capitals,” denoting the crowning architectural elements of the pillars. בֶּטֶן (be.ten) means “bulge” or rounded projection, specifying the exact structural band beneath the capitals where the decorative rows were mounted.

The thread — The arrangement of pomegranates on the pillar capitals is cross-referenced in 2 Chronicles 3:16, 2 Chronicles 4:13, and 1 Kings 7:42, where parallel texts confirm the two-row encircling pattern around each capital and network.

Why it lands — The text demands observation of the precise, repetitive craftsmanship without inviting symbolic speculation. It requires the reader to note the exact placement and quantity of the decorative elements as a factual record of the building’s specifications.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

וְכֹתָרֹ֗תve./kho.ta.Rotand/ [the] capitals עַל־'al-[were] on שְׁנֵי֙she.Nei[the] two הָֽעַמּוּדִ֔יםha./'a.mu.Dimthe/ pillars גַּם־gam-also מִמַּ֙עַל֙mi./Ma.'alfrom/ above מִלְּעֻמַּ֣תmi./le./'u.Matfrom/ to/ near הַבֶּ֔טֶןha./Be.tenthe/ bulge אֲשֶׁ֖ר'a.Sherwhich לְעֵ֣בֶרle./'E.ver[was] to/ [the] side of הַשְּׂבָכָ֑הha./se.va.khahthe/ network וְהָרִמּוֹנִ֤יםve./ha./ri.mo.Nimand/ the/ pomegranates מָאתַ֙יִם֙ma.Ta.yimtwo hundred טֻרִ֣יםtu.Rimrows סָבִ֔יבsa.Viv[were] all around עַ֖ל'alon הַכֹּתֶ֥רֶתha./ko.Te.retthe/ capital הַשֵּׁנִֽית׃ha./she.Nit<the>/ second

King James Version

And 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.

Cross-references

2 Chronicles 3:16 He made interwoven chains and put them on top of the pillars. He made a hundred pomegranates and fastened them into the chainwork.
2 Chronicles 4:13 the four hundred pomegranates for the two sets of network (two rows of pomegranates for each network covering both the bowl-shaped capitals atop the pillars);
1 Kings 7:42 the four hundred pomegranates for the two sets of network (two rows of pomegranates for each network covering both the bowl-shaped capitals atop the pillars);
2 Kings 25:17 Each pillar was eighteen cubits tall. The bronze capital atop one pillar was three cubits high, with a network of bronze pomegranates all around. The second pillar, with its network, was similar.
Jeremiah 52:22 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.