The Meaning of 2 Kings 25:13 Explained

2 Kings 25:13

KJV: 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.

YLT: And the pillars of brass that are in the house of Jehovah, and the bases, and the sea of brass, that is in the house of Jehovah, have the Chaldeans broken in pieces, and bear away their brass to Babylon.

Darby: And the brazen pillars that were in the house of Jehovah, and the bases, and the brazen sea that was in the house of Jehovah, the Chaldeans broke in pieces, and carried the brass thereof to Babylon.

ASV: And the pillars of brass that were in the house of Jehovah, and the bases and the brazen sea that were in the house of Jehovah, did the Chaldeans break in pieces, and carried the brass of them to Babylon.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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. 

What does 2 Kings 25:13 Mean?

Context Summary

2 Kings 25:13-21 - The Temple Despoiled
The Temple, after 420 years of varying fortune, was burned to the ground, and the remainder of its treasures carried off. A few years after, Nebuchadnezzar set up an image of gold on the plains of Dura, Daniel 3:1. It has been suggested that this image was probably made from the metal removed from the Holy City; and this may have been an additional reason for the refusal of the Jews to worship as the king demanded.
We have no information respecting the disposition of the Ark. It may have been hidden by Jeremiah or by some other pious priest, who took the precaution of conveying it and the sacred documents it contained to a place of safety. How wonderful it would be if, in the restoration of the Jews to their ancient city-an event that may be near at hand-remains of the Ark of the Covenant should yet be discovered in connection with the vast subterranean vaults beneath the Temple site!
These tragic events are a powerful commentary upon the ancient text that sin is a reproach to any people, Proverbs 14:34. Let modern cities and civilizations beware; for if God spared not the natural branches, neither will He spare those which have been grafted in among them. See Romans 11:18-25. [source]

Chapter Summary: 2 Kings 25

1  Jerusalem is besieged
4  Zedekiah taken, his sons slain, his eyes put out
8  Nebuzaradan defaces the city, exiles the remnant, except a few poor laborers;
13  and carries away the treasures
18  The nobles are slain at Riblah
22  Gedaliah, who was over those who remained, being slain, the rest flee into Egypt
27  Evil-Merodach advances Jehoiachin in his court

What do the individual words in 2 Kings 25:13 mean?

And the pillars bronze that [were] in the house of Yahweh and the carts Sea the bronze in the house broke in pieces the Chaldeans and carried - their bronze to Babylon
וְאֶת־ עַמּוּדֵ֨י הַנְּחֹ֜שֶׁת אֲשֶׁ֣ר בֵּית־ יְהוָ֗ה וְֽאֶת־ הַמְּכֹנ֞וֹת יָ֧ם הַנְּחֹ֛שֶׁת בְּבֵית־ שִׁבְּר֣וּ כַשְׂדִּ֑ים וַיִּשְׂא֥וּ אֶת־ נְחֻשְׁתָּ֖ם בָּבֶֽלָה

עַמּוּדֵ֨י  the  pillars 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: עַמּוּד  
Sense: pillar, column.
הַנְּחֹ֜שֶׁת  bronze 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: נְחֹשֶׁת 
Sense: copper, bronze.
אֲשֶׁ֣ר  that  [were] 
Parse: Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
בֵּית־  in  the  house 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: בַּיִת 
Sense: house.
יְהוָ֗ה  of  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
הַמְּכֹנ֞וֹת  the  carts 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine plural
Root: מְכֹונָה  
Sense: fixed resting place, base, pedestal.
יָ֧ם  Sea 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: יָם  
Sense: sea.
הַנְּחֹ֛שֶׁת  the  bronze 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: נְחֹשֶׁת 
Sense: copper, bronze.
בְּבֵית־  in  the  house 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: בַּיִת 
Sense: house.
שִׁבְּר֣וּ  broke  in  pieces 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: שָׁבוּר 
Sense: to break, break in pieces.
כַשְׂדִּ֑ים  the  Chaldeans 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine plural
Root: כַּשְׂדִּים  
Sense: a territory in lower Mesopotamia bordering on the Persian Gulf.
וַיִּשְׂא֥וּ  and  carried 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: נָשָׂא  
Sense: to lift, bear up, carry, take.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
נְחֻשְׁתָּ֖ם  their  bronze 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, third person masculine plural
Root: נְחֹשֶׁת 
Sense: copper, bronze.
בָּבֶֽלָה  to  Babylon 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular, third person feminine singular
Root: בָּבֶל  
Sense: Babel or Babylon, the ancient site and/or capital of Babylonia (modern Hillah) situated on the Euphrates.