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 7:16KJV
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1 Kings 7:16 (KJV)

What does 1 Kings 7:16 mean?

1 Kings 7:16 describes how two decorative tops, called "chapiters," were made out of cast bronze to sit on top of two pillars. Each chapiter was five cubits high, showing they were large and meant to be impressive features of the structure.

This verse is part of a detailed account of King Solomon building the temple in Jerusalem. The craftsman Hiram is making these chapiters as part of the temple’s entrance, highlighting the care and grandeur involved in the temple’s construction. The verse focuses on the size and material of these chapiters, emphasizing their importance as visible, ornamental parts of the temple’s pillars.

The Hebrew behind 1 Kings 7:16

  • חָפִתּוֹר (ḥapitōr, "chapiters"): This word refers to the decorative tops or capitals placed on pillars. Their design was a significant architectural feature, marking the pillars as special and drawing attention to the entrance.
  • נְחֹשֶׁת (nəḥōšet, "brass" or "bronze"): The material is often understood as bronze rather than modern brass, indicating a strong and valuable metal used for important temple elements.
  • קוֹמָה (qōmah, "height"): The repeated mention of the height (five cubits each) underlines the impressive scale of these chapiters, making clear they were meant to be seen and admired.

Why 1 Kings 7:16 matters

  • 1 Kings 7:16 helps the reader picture the temple’s grandeur by specifying the size and material of its prominent features, showing the value placed on beauty and craftsmanship in worship spaces.
  • The verse connects to the larger narrative of Solomon’s temple, where every detail is carefully described, underscoring the importance of each part in the overall design.
  • By mentioning both chapiters and their equal height, the verse emphasizes symmetry and order, which were important in ancient sacred architecture.

Where else these words appear

“chapiters” Hebrew H3805 · used in 12 verses

  • 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.
  • 1 Kings 7:20 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.
  • 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.

“height” Hebrew H6967 · used in 43 verses

  • Genesis 6:15 And this is the fashion which thou shalt make it of: The length of the ark shall be three hundred cubits, the breadth of it fifty cubits, and the height of it thirty cubits.
  • 1 Kings 6:10 And then he built chambers against all the house, five cubits high: and they rested on the house with timber of cedar.
  • 2 Chronicles 6:13 For Solomon had made a brasen scaffold, of five cubits long, and five cubits broad, and three cubits high, and had set it in the midst of the court: and upon it he stood, and kneeled down upon his knees before all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth his hands toward heaven,

“molten” Hebrew H3332 · used in 51 verses

  • Genesis 28:18 And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put for his pillows, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil upon the top of it.
  • Leviticus 14:26 And the priest shall pour of the oil into the palm of his own left hand:
  • 2 Kings 4:40 So they poured out for the men to eat. And it came to pass, as they were eating of the pottage, that they cried out, and said, O thou man of God, there is death in the pot. And they could not eat thereof.

“pillars” Hebrew H5982 · used in 84 verses

  • Exodus 13:21 And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night:
  • Exodus 39:33 And they brought the tabernacle unto Moses, the tent, and all his furniture, his taches, his boards, his bars, and his pillars, and his sockets,
  • 2 Kings 25:13 And the pillars of brass that were in the house of the LORD, and the bases, and the brasen sea that was in the house of the LORD, did the Chaldees break in pieces, and carried the brass of them to Babylon.