Genesis 31:45 — Word Study
WLCוַיִּקַּ֥ח יַעֲקֹ֖ב אָ֑בֶן וַיְרִימֶ֖הָ מַצֵּבָֽה׃
BSASo JacobYaʻăqôb [the son of Isaac, a key figure] picked outlâqach▸ a stoneʼeben [rock, weight, or precious gem] and set it uprûwm▸ [exalted, lifted] as a pillarmatstsêbâh [monument, memorial, or with an altar]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| וַיִּקַּ֥ח | and he took | Verb, Qal, sequential imperfect third person masculine singular |
| יַעֲקֹ֖ב | Jacob | Noun proper masculine |
| אָ֑בֶן | a stone | Noun common, feminine singular absolute |
| וַיְרִימֶ֖הָ | and he raised up it | Verb hiphil sequential imperfect third person masculine singular, suffix |
| מַצֵּבָֽה׃ | a pillar | Noun common, feminine singular absolute |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | So Jacob picked out a stone and set it up as a pillar, |
| KJV | And Jacob took a stone, and set it up for a pillar. |
| ASV | And Jacob took a stone, and set it up for a pillar. |
| YLT | And Jacob taketh a stone, and lifteth it up [for] a standing pillar; |
| WEB | Jacob took a stone, and set it up for a pillar. |
| BBE | Then Jacob took a stone and put it up as a pillar. |
Where they part company is מַצֵּבָה — see How Translations Differ.
The sentence has a main clause followed by a subordinate phrase that describes the action taken with the stone.
5 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
subjectיַעֲקֹב
verbלָקַח
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Genesis 31:45
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — Jacob's Covenant with Labangenerated
Genesis 31:45 describes Jacob's actions as he makes a covenant with Laban. After taking a stone, Jacob sets it up as a pillar, marking the agreement between them. This act is significant as it establishes a physical reminder of their commitment to one another, similar to other covenant markers found throughout the Bible, such as in Genesis 28:18–22.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Genesis 28:18–22 | Early the next morning, Jacob took the stone that he had placed under his head, and he set it up as a pillar. He poured oil on top of it, |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 1 reference, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — מַצֵּבָה, ma.tze.Vahgenerated
The word מַצֵּבָה (*maṣṣēbā*) refers to a pillar or monument, often associated with memorializing significant events. It can denote a standing stone or a memorial, indicating something that is established or set up.
In this context, Jacob's raising of the pillar serves as a memorial to the covenant made with Laban, marking a significant moment in their relationship. The act of setting up a pillar is a common practice in ancient Near Eastern cultures to commemorate important events.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The finite verb וַיִּקַּ֥ח, and he took, governs the main action of the verse, with two phrases hanging off it: a direct object indicating what was taken and a second verb phrase describing what was done with it.
The structure emphasizes Jacob's action of taking a stone and then raising it, showing a clear sequence of events that highlights the importance of this act in the context of the covenant.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates וַיִּקַּ֥ח as λαβὼν, meaning having taken, which aligns closely with the Hebrew meaning. This choice reflects a straightforward rendering of the action without additional interpretive layers.
For מַצֵּבָה, the Greek word στήλην is used, which also means pillar. This choice reinforces the idea of establishing a physical marker for the covenant.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Genesis 31:45 recounts how Jacob took a stone and set it up as a pillar to mark a covenant with Laban. This action serves as a memorial of their agreement, reflecting a common practice in the ancient world to commemorate significant events.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
Jacob's setting up of a pillar signifies the establishment of a covenant with Laban, marking a physical reminder of their agreement.
The stone is described as a pillar because it serves as a monument or memorial, often used in ancient cultures to commemorate important events.
Covenants in the Old Testament are significant as they represent agreements between God and His people or between individuals, often marked by physical symbols like pillars or altars.
This event relates to other covenant-making events, such as those involving Abraham and Moses, where physical markers are established to signify the promises made.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- What are some ways I can remember significant commitments in my life?
- How do physical symbols, like Jacob's pillar, help us remember important events?
- What does it mean to me to establish memorials or reminders of my promises?
- How can I apply the practice of making covenants in my relationships today?
Commentators on this verse — 5 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Genesis 31:45 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleAnd Jacob took a stone, and set it up [for] a pillar. To show his readiness to agree to the motion, he immediately took a large stone that lay upon the mount, and set it up on one end, to be a
Read John Gill on Genesis 31 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryAnd Jacob took a stone, and set it up for a pillar. No JFB commentary on these verses.
Read Robert Jamieson on Genesis 31 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleIn testimony of his compliance with Laban’ s proposal, and his entering into this covenant. See .
Read Matthew Poole on Genesis 31 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsGenesis 31:45 And Jacob took a stone, and set it up [for] a pillar.Ver. 45. A stone.] Or stones, as Genesis 31:46.
Read John Trapp on Genesis 31 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges45. Jacob] The name “Jacob” is here almost certainly a gloss. We should read either “and he took a stone,” or “and Laban took a stone.” In Genesis 31:51 Laban says that he set up the pillar or maṣ ?ṣ ?êbah. Laban erects the pillar; Jacob makes the heap of stones. a pillar] Heb. maṣ ?ṣ ?êbah. As Jacob had done at Bethel, Genesis 28:18.
Read Cambridge on Genesis 31 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
So Jacob picked out a stone and set it up as a pillar,
Jacob took a stone, and set it up for a pillar.
So Jacob picked out a stone and set it up as a pillar,
So Jacob took a stone and set it up as a memorial pillar.
Tyndale line
And Jacob took a stone, and set it up for a pillar.
And Jacob took a stone, and set it up for a pillar.
And Jacob took a stone, and set it up for a pillar.
And Jacob took a stone, and set it up for a pillar.
Then tooke Iaakob a stone, and set it vp as a pillar:
Strictly literal
And Jacob took a stone, and set it up [for] a pillar.
And Jacob taketh a stone, and lifteth it up [for] a standing pillar;
And Jacob takes a stone, and lifts it up [for] a standing pillar;
And Jacob took a stone, and set it up for a pillar.
So Jacob took a stone and set it up as a pillar.
From the Latin
And Jacob took a stone, and set it up for a title:
Simplified
Jacob took a stone and set it upright as a pillar.
Then Jacob took a stone and put it up as a pillar.
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text reads וַיִּקַּ֥ח יַעֲקֹ֖ב אָ֑בֶן וַיְרִימֶ֖הָ מַצֵּבָֽה׃, and the Septuagint matches all five words, indicating agreement in the core elements of the text. However, the Samaritan Pentateuch differs slightly with the word ירמה (be high) instead of וַיְרִימֶ֖הָ.
וַיִּקַּ֥ח יַעֲקֹ֖ב אָ֑בֶן וַיְרִימֶ֖הָ מַצֵּבָֽה׃
5 of the 5 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
ויקח יעקב אבן וירמה מצבה
1 word differs from the Masoretic Text: ירמה (be high)
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Genesis 31:45
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
The Hebrew word לָקַח (*laqach*) means 'to take' and encompasses a wide range of actions, including to receive, seize, capture, and carry away. It can refer to taking something in hand, taking a wife, or even taking vengeance. The verb has various forms indicating different nuances, such as being taken away or captured.
לָקַח 965 vb. take
Qal
take, take in hand
take and carry along with oneself
take from, or out of
take, carry away
take away from, so as to deprive of
esp. take away life
take to or for a person
take up, upon = put upon
= fetch
take = lead, conduct (with or without contact)
take = capture, seize
take = carry off
in phr. take vengeance
Niph.
be captured, of ark
be taken away, removed
be taken, brought unto
Pu.
be taken from, out of
= be stolen from
be taken captive
be taken away, removed
Hoph.
be taken, brought unto
be taken out of
be taken away from
Hithp. lit. fire taking hold of itself, of lightning
base
H3947 לָקַח take .. take, take in hand
. take and carry along with oneself
. . take from, or out of
. take, carry away
. take away from, so as to deprive of
. esp. take away life
. take to or for a person
. take up, upon = put upon
. = fetch
. take = lead, conduct (with or without contact)
. take = capture, seize
. take = carry off
. in phr. take vengeance
. . be captured, of ark
. be taken away, removed
. be taken, brought unto
. . be taken from, out of
. = be stolen from
. be taken captive
. be taken away, removed
. . be taken, brought unto
. be taken out of
. be taken away from
. lit. fire taking hold of itself, of lightning
3947 laqach law-kakh'
a primitive root; to take (in the widest variety of
applications):--accept, bring, buy, carry away, drawn, fetch,
get, infold, X many, mingle, place, receive(-ing), reserve,
seize, send for, take (away, -ing, up), use, win.
לָקַח (la.qach) — to take: take.
: take
1) to take, get, fetch, lay hold of, seize, receive, acquire, buy, bring, marry, take a wife, snatch, take away
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to take, take in the hand
1a2) to take and carry along
1a3) to take from, take out of, take, carry away, take away
1a4) to take to or for a person, procure, get, take possession of, select, choose, take in marriage, receive, accept
1a5) to take up or upon, put upon
1a6) to fetch
1a7) to take, lead, conduct
1a8) to take, capture, seize
1a9) to take, carry off 1a10) to take (vengeance)
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to be captured
1b2) to be taken away, be removed
1b3) to be taken, brought unto
1c) (Pual)
1c1) to be taken from or out of
1c2) to be stolen from
1c3) to be taken captive
1c4) to be taken away, be removed
1d) (Hophal)
1d1) to be taken unto, be brought unto
1d2) to be taken out of
1d3) to be taken away
1e) (Hithpael)
1e1) to take hold of oneself
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms — Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine singularHc/Vqw3ms
יַעֲקֹב (i.e. *Ya`aqob*) refers to Jacob, a key figure in the Old Testament. The word is derived from a root meaning 'heel-catcher' or 'supplanter.' Jacob is the son of Isaac and Rebekah, brother of Esau, and father of the twelve tribes of Israel. He is also known as Israel, highlighting his significance in biblical history.
יַעֲקֹב 344, יַעֲקוֹב 6 n.pr.m. et gent. Jacob, son of Isaac and Rebekah, father of tribes of Isr.
as n.pr.m.
as n.pr.gent.
base
H3290 יַעֲקֹב, יַעֲקוֹב Jacob
3290 Ya`aqob yah-ak-obe'
from 6117; heel-catcher (i.e. supplanter); Jaakob, the
Israelitish patriarch:--Jacob.
see HEBREW for 06117
יַעֲקֹב (ya.a.qov) — Jacob.
A man living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.25.26;
son of: Isaac (H3327) and Rebekah (H7259);
brother of: Esau (H6215); married to Rachel (H7354), Leah (H3812), Zilpah (H2153) and Bilhah (H1090A);
father of: Reuben (H7205), Simeon (H8095), Levi (H3878), Judah (H3063), Dan (H1835H), Naphtali (H5321), Gad (H1410), Asher (H0836), Issachar (H3485), Zebulun (H2074), Dinah (H1783), Joseph (H3130) and Benjamin (H1144); also called Jacob frequently
Another name of yis.ra.el (יִשְׂרָאֵל "Israel" H3478)
§ Jacob = "heel holder" or "supplanter"
son of Isaac, grandson of Abraham, and father of the 12 patriarchs of the tribes of Israel
N-proper — Noun proper masculineHNpm
Jacob
One who follows on another’s heels; supplanter, (Gen. 25:26; 27:36; Hos. 12:2-4), the second born of the twin sons of Isaac by Rebekah. He was born probably at Lahai-roi, when his father was fifty-nine and Abraham one hundred and fifty-nine years old. Like his father, he was of a quiet and gentle disposition, and when he grew up followed the life of a shepherd, while his brother Esau became an enterprising hunter. His dealing with Esau, however, showed much mean selfishness and cunning (Gen. 25:29-34).
When Isaac was about 160 years of age, Jacob and his mother conspired to deceive the aged patriarch (Gen. 27), with the view of procuring the transfer of the birthright to himself. The birthright secured to him who…
(supplanter), the second son of Isaac and Rebekah. He was born with Esau, probably at the well of Lahai-roi, about B.C. 1837. His history is related in the latter half of the book of Genesis. He bought the birthright from his brother Esau, and afterward acquired the blessing intended for Esau, by practicing a well-known deceit on Isaac. (Jacob did not obtain the blessing because of his deceit, but in spite of it. That which was promised he would have received in some good way; but Jacob and his mother, distrusting God’s promise, sought the promised blessing in a wrong way, and received with it trouble and sorrow. --ED.) Jacob, in his 78th year, was sent from the family home to avoid his brother, and to seek a wife among his kindred in Padan-aram. As he passed through Bethel, God appeared to him. After the lapse of twenty-one years he returned from Padan-aram with two wives, two…
Son of Isaac and Rebekah, and twin-brother to Esau. As at his birth he held his brother’s heel, he was called Jacob, that is, the heelholder, one who comes behind and catches the heel of his adversary, a supplanter, Ge 25:26. This was a king of predictive intimation of his future conduct in life. Jacob was meek and peaceable, living a shepherd life at home. Esau was more turbulent and fierce, and passionately fond of hunting. Isaac was partial to Esau, Rebekah to Jacob. Jacob having taken advantage of his brother’s absence and his father’s infirmity to obtain the blessing of the birthright, or primogeniture, was compelled to fly into Mesopotamia to avoid the consequences of his brother’s wrath, Ge 27:1-28:22. On his journey the Lord appeared to him in a dream, (see LADDER,)…
that supplants, undermines; the heel
The Hebrew word אֶ֫בֶן (*eben*) means 'stone' and encompasses various types, including common stones, precious stones, and stones used as weights or tools. It can also refer to metaphorical uses, such as a hardened heart or sinking in water. The entries highlight its physical and symbolic significance, with no notable disagreements among lexicons.
אֶ֫בֶן 274 n.f. stone
in natural state
stone, as material
precious stone, gen. with modifying word
stone containing metal, = ore
a weight, as orig. stone
plummet
objects like stone
in sim. (mostly poet.) of sinking in water
In topogr. terms
base
H68 אֶ֫בֶן stone . in natural state
. stone, as material
. precious stone, gen. with modifying word
. stone containing metal, = ore
. a weight, as orig. stone
. plummet
. objects like stone
. in sim. (mostly poet.) of sinking in water
. In topogr. terms
68 'eben eh'-ben
from the root of 1129 through the meaning to build; a
stone:--+ carbuncle, + mason, + plummet, (chalk-, hail-,
head-, sling-)stone(-ny), (divers) weight(-s).
see HEBREW for 01129
אֶ֫בֶן (e.ven) — stone.
: stone
1) stone (large or small)
1a) common stone (in natural state)
1b) stone, as material
1b1) of tablets
1b2) marble, hewn stones
1c) precious stones, stones of fire
1d) stones containing metal (ore), tool for work or weapon
1e) weight
1f) plummet (stones of destruction) also made of metal
1g) stonelike objects, eg hailstones, stony heart, ice
1h) sacred object, as memorial Samuel set up to mark where God helped Israel to defeat the Philistines
1i) (simile)
1i1) sinking in water, motionlessness
1i2) strength, firmness, solidity
1i3) commonness
1j) (metaph)
1j1) petrified with terror
1j2) perverse, hard heart
אֶ֫בֶן (e.ven) — stone: weight.
: weight
1) stone (large or small)
1a) common stone (in natural state)
1b) stone, as material
1b1) of tablets
1b2) marble, hewn stones
1c) precious stones, stones of fire
1d) stones containing metal (ore), tool for work or weapon
N-fs — Noun common · feminine singular absoluteHNcfsa
Stone
Stones were commonly used for buildings, also as memorials of important events (Gen. 28:18; Josh. 24:26, 27; 1 Sam. 7:12, etc.). They were gathered out of cultivated fields (Isa. 5:2; comp. 2 Kings 3:19). This word is also used figuratively of believers (1 Pet. 2:4, 5), and of the Messiah (Ps. 118:22; Isa. 28:16; Matt. 21:42; Acts 4:11, etc.). In…
The allusion in Re 2:17 may be to the practice at the Olympic games of giving the successful competitor a white stone, inscribed with his name and the value of his prize; or to the mode of balloting with black and white stones on the question of the acquittal of an accused person, or his admission to certain privileges; if the stones deposited in the urn by the judges were all white, the decision was favorable. In early ages, flint-stone knives were in common use, instead of steel, Ex 4:25 Jos 5:2.
It was also customary to raise a heap or mound of stones in commemoration of any remarkable event, Ge 31:46 Jos 4:5-7 7:26 8:29…
רוּם (ruwm) is a Hebrew verb meaning to be high or exalted, covering a range of actions such as rising, lifting, and promoting. It can refer to physical elevation, like raising an ark or setting up a throne, as well as figurative exaltation, particularly in relation to God. The word also has a related form, רָמַם (ramam), which means to be wormy.
רוּם vb. be high, exalted, rise
Qal
be high, lit. rock (in fig.)
esp. of י׳
be raised, uplifted
be lifted, rise, of ark
Pō‛lēl
raise, rear, children
cause tree to grow
lift up
exalt, extol, acc. י׳
Pō‛lal be lift up
Hiph.
raise, rear, c. acc., hand
raise poor
lift up voice
(take into one's hand and) lift, take up, stone
set up, erect, stone
set on high, throne
lift up, exalt, c. acc. pers.
lift up and take away, remove
lift off and present, contribute, offer
Hoph. be taken off from; be abolished
Hithpō‛l. and he shall exalt and magnify himself above, etc.; I will raise myself
base
[רָמַם] vb. denom. be wormy;—Ex 16:20
ref
H7311a רוּם be high, exalted, rise .. . be high, lit. rock (in fig.)
. esp. of י׳
. be raised, uplifted
. be lifted, rise, of ark
.. . raise, rear, children
. cause tree to grow
. lift up
. exalt, extol, acc. י׳
.be lift up
. . . . raise, rear, c. acc., hand
. raise poor
. lift up voice
. (take into one's hand and) lift, take up, stone
. set up, erect, stone
. set on high, throne
. lift up, exalt, c. acc. pers.
. lift up and take away, remove
. lift off and present, contribute, offer
. be taken off from; be abolished
. and he shall exalt and magnify himself above, etc.; I will raise myself
H7311b רָמַם vb. denom. be wormy
7311 ruwm room
a primitive root; to be high actively, to rise or raise (in
various applications, literally or figuratively):--bring up,
exalt (self), extol, give, go up, haughty, heave (up), (be,
lift up on, make on, set up on, too) high(-er, one), hold up,
levy, lift(-er) up, (be) lofty, (X a-)loud, mount up, offer
(up), + presumptuously, (be) promote(-ion), proud, set up,
tall(-er), take (away, off, up), breed worms.
רוּם (rum) — to exalt.
1) to rise, rise up, be high, be lofty, be exalted
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to be high, be set on high
1a2) to be raised, be uplifted, be exalted
1a3) to be lifted, rise
1b) (Polel)
1b1) to raise or rear (children), cause to grow up
1b2) to lift up, raise, exalt
1b3) to exalt, extol
1c) (Polal) to be lifted up
1d) (Hiphil)
1d1) to raise, lift, lift up, take up, set up, erect, exalt, set on high
1d2) to lift up (and take away), remove
1d3) to lift off and present, contribute, offer, contribute
1e) (Hophal) to be taken off, be abolished
1f) (Hithpolel) to exalt oneself, magnify oneself
Aramaic equivalent: rum (רוּם "to rise" H7313)
רָמַם (ra.mam) — be rotten.
(Qal) to be rotten, be wormy
Conj | V-Hiphil-ConsecImperf-3ms | Suff — Verb hiphil sequential imperfect third person masculine singular · suffixHc/Vhw3ms/Sp3fs
מַצֵּבָה (maṣṣēbā) refers to a pillar or a memorial stone, often associated with altars. It can also denote a stump or a standing image, potentially an idol. The word is derived from a participle form indicating something that is stationed or set up.
מַצֵּבָה, מַצֶּ֫בֶת n.f. pillar, maṣṣēbā, stump
base
H4676 מַצֵּבָה, מַצֶּ֫בֶת pillar, maṣṣēbā, stump
4676 matstsebah mats-tsay-baw'
feminine (causatively) participle of 5324; something
stationed, i.e. a column or (memorial stone); by analogy, an
idol:--garrison, (standing) image, pillar.
see HEBREW for 05324
מַצֵּבָה (mats.tse.vah) — pillar.
1) pillar, mastaba, stump
1a) pillar
1a1) as monument, personal memorial
1a2) with an altar
1b)(Hoph) stock, stump (of tree)
N-fs — Noun common · feminine singular absoluteHNcfsa
pil'-ar (matstsebhah, `ammudh; stulos): In a good many cases the Revised Version (British and American) substitutes "pillars" for the King James Version "images" (matstsebhoth, Ex 34:13; De 7:5; 1Ki 14:23, etc.). In Ge 19:26, where "pillar of salt" is given, the word is netsibh; in 1Sa 2:8 it is matsuq; while in most other single uses the Revised Version margin gives variant renderings, as in Jud 9:6 (mutstsabh), the Revised Version margin "garrison"; in 1Ki 10:12 (mic`adh), the Revised Version margin "`a railing,'…
Pillar
Used to support a building (Judg. 16:26, 29); as a trophy or memorial (Gen. 28:18; 35:20; Ex. 24:4; 1 Sam. 15:12, A.V., “place,” more correctly “monument,” or “trophy of victory,” as in 2 Sam. 18:18); of fire, by which the Divine Presence was manifested (Ex. 13:2). The “plain of the pillar” in Judg. 9:6 ought to be, as in the Revised Version, the “oak of the pillar”, i.e., of the monument or stone set up by Joshua (24:26).
The notion of a pillar is of a shaft or isolated pile either supporting or not supporting a roof. But perhaps the earliest application of the pillar was the votive or monumental, This in early times consisted of nothing but a single stone or pile of stones. (Genesis 28:18; 31:40) etc. The stone Ezel, (1 Samuel 20:19) was probably a terminal stone or a way-mark. The "place" set up by Saul (1 Samuel 15:12) is explained by St, Jerome to be a trophy. So also Jacob set up a pillar over Rachel’s grave. (Genesis 36:20) The monolithic tombs and obelisks of Petra are instances of similar usage. Lastly, the figurative use of the term "pillar," in reference to the cloud and fire…
Sometimes means a monumental column, Ge 35:20 2Sa 18:18; or a column of cloud or smoke, Ex 13:21 Jud 20:40. The stately column which adorns and supports the front of a temple, Jud 16:25-30 Job 9:6 26:11, illustrates the position of prophets, Jer 1:18, apostles, Ga 2:9, believers, Re 3:12, and the church itself, respecting the truth, 1Ti 3:15.