And all the vessels of the house of God, great and small, and the treasures of the house of the LORD, and the treasures of the king, and of his princes; all these he brought to Babylon.

2 CHRONICLES 36:18KJV
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2 Chronicles 36:18 (KJV)

What does 2 Chronicles 36:18 mean?

2 Chronicles 36:18 describes how the Babylonians took all the valuable items from the temple of God, both large and small, as well as the treasures belonging to the temple, the king, and his officials, and carried them away to Babylon. This verse shows the complete plundering of Jerusalem’s most sacred and royal possessions during the Babylonian conquest.

The writer of 2 Chronicles is recounting the fall of Jerusalem to Babylon. The verse focuses on the loss suffered by the people of Judah, highlighting that nothing was spared—everything from the temple and the royal treasury was taken. This event marked the end of the kingdom’s independence and the beginning of exile for many of its people.

The Hebrew behind 2 Chronicles 36:18

  • "Vessels" (כֵּלִים, kelim): This word refers to all kinds of objects used in the temple, from large items like altars to small utensils. The verse emphasizes that both "great" (גָּדוֹל, gadol) and "small" (קָטֹן, qaton) items were taken, showing the thoroughness of the plundering.
  • "Treasures" (אוֹצָר, otzar): This term means stored wealth or valuables. The verse repeats it to stress that both the temple’s and the king’s treasures were seized, underlining the total loss.
  • "House" (בַּיִת, bayit): Used for both the "house of God" (the temple) and the "house of the LORD," this word connects the sacred space to the national identity of Judah.
  • "Brought" (בּוֹא, bo): This verb means to bring or carry away, making clear that these items were physically removed and taken to Babylon, not just destroyed.

Why 2 Chronicles 36:18 matters

  • This verse clarifies that the Babylonian conquest was not just a military defeat but a spiritual and cultural loss, as even the sacred objects were taken.
  • It connects to the larger narrative of 2 Chronicles 36, which explains why Judah went into exile and sets up the story of the return from Babylon later in the Bible.
  • The detail about both "great and small" items being taken shows that the destruction was complete—no part of the temple’s or the king’s wealth was left behind.

Where else these words appear

“treasures” Hebrew H214 · used in 70 verses

  • Deuteronomy 28:12 The LORD shall open unto thee his good treasure, the heaven to give the rain unto thy land in his season, and to bless all the work of thine hand: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, and thou shalt not borrow.
  • 1 Chronicles 29:8 And they with whom precious stones were found gave them to the treasure of the house of the LORD, by the hand of Jehiel the Gershonite.
  • Isaiah 2:7 Their land also is full of silver and gold, neither is there any end of their treasures; their land is also full of horses, neither is there any end of their chariots:

“small” Hebrew H6996 · used in 100 verses

  • Genesis 1:16 And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also.
  • 1 Samuel 15:17 And Samuel said, When thou wast little in thine own sight, wast thou not made the head of the tribes of Israel, and the LORD anointed thee king over Israel?
  • 2 Chronicles 31:15 And next him were Eden, and Miniamin, and Jeshua, and Shemaiah, Amariah, and Shecaniah, in the cities of the priests, in their set office, to give to their brethren by courses, as well to the great as to the small: