Overview
The Bible addresses pillars across 42 verses, drawn from both the Old and New Testaments. These passages cluster most in 1 Kings, Exodus and Genesis. Closely related themes include Pillar, Hiram, Stones and Temple, the First. Figures whose stories touch this theme include Jacob, Joshua, Laban and Rachel.
Key Bible verses about pillars
Old Testament
Genesis
But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.
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.
I am the God of Bethel, where thou anointedst the pillar, and where thou vowedst a vow unto me: now arise, get thee out from this land, and return unto the land of thy kindred.
And Laban said to Jacob, Behold this heap, and behold this pillar, which I have cast betwixt me and thee;
This heap be witness, and this pillar be witness, that I will not pass over this heap to thee, and that thou shalt not pass over this heap and this pillar unto me, for harm.
And Jacob set a pillar upon her grave: that is the pillar of Rachel's grave unto this day.
Exodus
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:
He took not away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people.
And Moses wrote all the words of the LORD, and rose up early in the morning, and builded an altar under the hill, and twelve pillars, according to the twelve tribes of Israel.
And thou shalt hang it upon four pillars of shittim wood overlaid with gold: their hooks shall be of gold, upon the four sockets of silver.
And thou shalt make for the hanging five pillars of shittim wood, and overlay them with gold, and their hooks shall be of gold: and thou shalt cast five sockets of brass for them.
And he made thereunto four pillars of shittim wood, and overlaid them with gold: their hooks were of gold; and he cast for them four sockets of silver.
And the five pillars of it with their hooks: and he overlaid their chapiters and their fillets with gold: but their five sockets were of brass.
Joshua
And the children of Israel did so as Joshua commanded, and took up twelve stones out of the midst of Jordan, as the LORD spake unto Joshua, according to the number of the tribes of the children of Israel, and carried them over with them unto the place where they lodged, and laid them down there.
And Joshua set up twelve stones in the midst of Jordan, in the place where the feet of the priests which bare the ark of the covenant stood: and they are there unto this day.
And those twelve stones, which they took out of Jordan, did Joshua pitch in Gilgal.
That all the people of the earth might know the hand of the LORD, that it is mighty: that ye might fear the LORD your God for ever. for ever: Heb. all days
1 Kings
For he cast two pillars of brass, of eighteen cubits high apiece: and a line of twelve cubits did compass either of them about. cast: Heb. fashioned
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:
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.
And he made the pillars, and two rows round about upon the one network, to cover the chapiters that were upon the top, with pomegranates: and so did he for the other chapiter.
And the chapiters that were upon the top of the pillars were of lily work in the porch, four cubits.
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.
And he set up the pillars in the porch of the temple: and he set up the right pillar, and called the name thereof Jachin: and he set up the left pillar, and called the name thereof Boaz. Jachin: that is, He shall establish Boaz: that is, In it is strength
And the king made of the almug trees pillars for the house of the LORD, and for the king's house, harps also and psalteries for singers: there came no such almug trees, nor were seen unto this day. pillars: or, rails: Heb. a prop
Job
Song of Solomon
He made the pillars thereof of silver, the bottom thereof of gold, the covering of it of purple, the midst thereof being paved with love, for the daughters of Jerusalem.
His legs are as pillars of marble, set upon sockets of fine gold: his countenance is as Lebanon, excellent as the cedars.
New Testament
Revelation
Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.
And I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud: and a rainbow was upon his head, and his face was as it were the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire:
People in the Bible and pillars
Biblical figures whose stories intersect with this theme.
In the Bible dictionary
Studying pillars for yourself
- Begin with Genesis 19:26, then read the passages below in canonical order.
- Compare how 1 Kings, Exodus and Genesis each treat the theme.
- Consider the lives of Jacob, Joshua and Laban and how their stories intersect with it.
- Widen the study to related themes: Pillar, Hiram, Stones and Temple, the First.
Frequently asked questions
What does the Bible say about pillars?
The Bible addresses pillars across 42 verses, drawn from both the Old and New Testaments. These passages cluster most in 1 Kings, Exodus and Genesis. Closely related themes include Pillar, Hiram, Stones and Temple, the First. Figures whose stories touch this theme include Jacob, Joshua, Laban and Rachel.
How many Bible verses are about pillars?
The Bible references pillars in 42 verses (King James Version).
Where does the Bible first mention pillars?
In canonical order, the first of these passages is Genesis 19:26: “But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.”
Which people in the Bible are associated with pillars?
Jacob, Joshua, Laban, Rachel and Moses.
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