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.

1 KINGS 7:20KJV
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1 Kings 7:20 (KJV)

What does 1 Kings 7:20 mean?

1 Kings 7:20 describes the decoration on the tops of two pillars made for Solomon’s temple. The verse places rows of pomegranate-shaped ornaments around the rounded part of each pillar’s top, near a network of interwoven metalwork.

The “belly” is the bulging part of a pillar’s top. The verse continues the description of the ornamentation from verse 19 and gives a count of two hundred pomegranates around the “other chapiter,” or pillar top.

The Hebrew behind 1 Kings 7:20

  • “chapiters” — כֹּתֶרֶת (koteret): The word means a capital, the decorated top of a pillar. The verse describes parts fitted above the pillars rather than decorations running down their shafts.
  • “belly” — בֶּטֶן (beten): The word can mean a belly or a rounded, projecting part. Here the KJV uses the image of a belly to describe the shape beside the network.

Why 1 Kings 7:20 matters

  • The pomegranates were part of an arranged design, not scattered ornaments. The verse says they were “in rows round about” the pillar top.
  • The two pillars belonged to the temple entrance. In verse 21, the pillars are set up at the porch and given the names Jachin and Boaz, placing these decorated tops where people approaching the building would see them.

Where else these words appear

“chapiters” Hebrew H3805 · used in 12 verses

  • 1 Kings 7:16 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 7:19 And the chapiters that were upon the top of the pillars were of lily work in the porch, four cubits.
  • 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.

“network” Hebrew H7639 · 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 7:42 And four hundred pomegranates for the two networks, even two rows of pomegranates for one network, to cover the two bowls of the chapiters that were upon the pillars;
  • 2 Chronicles 4:13 And four hundred pomegranates on the two wreaths; two rows of pomegranates on each wreath, to cover the two pommels of the chapiters which were upon the pillars.

“rows” Hebrew H2905 · used in 20 verses

  • Exodus 28:17 And thou shalt set in it settings of stones, even four rows of stones: the first row shall be a sardius, a topaz, and a carbuncle: this shall be the first row.
  • Exodus 39:12 And the third row, a ligure, an agate, and an amethyst.
  • 1 Kings 7:12 And the great court round about was with three rows of hewed stones, and a row of cedar beams, both for the inner court of the house of the LORD, and for the porch of the house.

“pomegranates” Hebrew H7416 · used in 25 verses

  • Exodus 28:33 And beneath upon the hem of it thou shalt make pomegranates of blue, and of purple, and of scarlet, round about the hem thereof; and bells of gold between them round about:
  • 1 Samuel 14:2 And Saul tarried in the uttermost part of Gibeah under a pomegranate tree which is in Migron: and the people that were with him were about six hundred men;
  • Song of Solomon 6:7 As a piece of a pomegranate are thy temples within thy locks.