Pillar(monument)
Summary
Pillars in the Bible served both as architectural supports in temples and palaces and as standing stones erected to commemorate significant events, covenants, or places of divine encounter.
☩Memorial Pillars
Pillars were commonly erected as monuments to commemorate significant events. Jacob set up a pillar at Bethel after his vision of angels and anointed it with oil (Genesis 28:18), and later erected another pillar to mark his covenant with Laban (Genesis 31:45). Moses erected twelve pillars representing the twelve tribes when sealing the covenant at Sinai (Exodus 24:4). Joshua set up pillars at the Jordan crossing (Joshua 4:1-9) and at Shechem (Joshua 24:26). Rachel's burial place was marked by a pillar (Genesis 35:20). Absalom, having no son, erected a pillar to perpetuate his memory (2 Samuel 18:18). Pillars also served as road markers (Jeremiah 31:21).
☩The Temple Pillars
Solomon's temple featured two magnificent bronze pillars named Jachin ('He will establish') and Boaz ('In Him is strength'), standing at the temple entrance (1 Kings 7:13-22). These pillars were eighteen cubits high with ornate capitals of lily-work and pomegranates. They were destroyed when Nebuchadnezzar's forces broke them in pieces and carried the bronze to Babylon (2 Kings 25:13; Jeremiah 52:17-21). Solomon's palace also featured pillars in its construction (1 Kings 7:6).
☩The Pillar of Cloud and Fire
The pillar of cloud by day and fire by night symbolized God's guiding presence with Israel during the Exodus (Exodus 13:21-22). This visible manifestation of divine glory led the people through the wilderness, gave them light at night, and stood between them and the Egyptian army at the Red Sea (Exodus 14:19-24). The pillar of cloud would descend to the tent of meeting when God spoke with Moses (Exodus 33:9-10).
☩Figurative Uses
Lot's wife became a 'pillar of salt' when she looked back at Sodom (Genesis 19:26; Luke 17:32). In the New Testament, James, Cephas, and John are described as 'pillars' of the church (Galatians 2:9). The church itself is called 'a pillar and ground of the truth' (1 Timothy 3:15). In Revelation, the overcomer is promised to be made 'a pillar in the temple of my God' (Revelation 3:12).
Related Verses116 mentions
See Also
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Pillar," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. VIII (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 2.James Orr (ed.), "Pillar," in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. IV (Howard-Severance Company, 1915).