King James Bible Dictionary

Used to support a building (Judges 16:26, 29); as a trophy or memorial (Genesis 28:18; 35:20; Exodus 24:4; 1 Samuel 15:12, A.V., "place," more correctly "monument," or "trophy of victory," as in 2 Samuel 18:18); of fire, by which the Divine Presence was manifested (Exodus 13:2). The "plain of the pillar" in Judges 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).

Of Solomon's temple
1 Kings 7:13-22; 2 Kings 25:17

Broken and carried to Babylon
2 Kings 25:13; Jeremiah 52:17; Jeremiah 52:20-21

Of Solomon's palaces
1 Kings 7:6

Used to mark roads
Jeremiah 31:21

Pillar of salt, Lot's wife turned to
Genesis 19:26; Luke 17:32

Monuments erected to commemorate events:

By Jacob, his vision of angels
Genesis 28:18; Genesis 31:13; Genesis 35:14

By Jacob, his covenant with Laban
Genesis 31:45

By Moses, the covenant between Jehovah and Israel
Exodus 24:4

By Joshua, the passing over Jordan
Joshua 4:1-9; Deuteronomy 27:2-6; Joshua 8:30

At Shechem
Joshua 24:25-27; Judges 9:6

By Samuel, the discomfiture of the Philistines
1 Samuel 7:12

By Absalom, to keep his name in remembrance
2 Samuel 18:18

Other purposes of:

Other purposes of:
Joshua 15:6; Joshua 18:17

As a waymark
1 Samuel 20:19

As a landmark
2 Samuel 20:8; 1 Kings 1:9

Prophecy of one in Egypt
Isaiah 19:19

Monuments of Idolatry, to be destroyed
Deuteronomy 12:3
Cloud, Pillar of

Figurative
Revelation 3:12

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 accompanying the Isr'lites on their march or as in (Solomon 3:6) and Revelation 10:1 Is plainly derived from the notion of an isolated column not supporting a roof.

PIL'LAR, noun [Latin pila, a pile, a pillar a mortar and pestle. The Latin pila denotes a heap, or things thrown, put or driven together.]

Literally, a pile or heap; hence,

1. A kind or irregular column round an insulate, but deviating from the proportions of a just column. Pillars are either too massive or too slender for regular architecture; they are not restricted to any rules, and their parts and proportions are arbitrary. A square pillar is a massive work, called also a pier or piedroit, serving to support arches. etc.

2. A supporter; that which sustains or upholds; that on which some superstructure rests. Galatians 2:9.

3. A monument raised to commemorate any person or remarkable transaction.

And Jacob set a pillar on her grave. Genesis 35:14. 2 Samuel 18:18.

4. Something resembling a pillar; as a pillar of salt. Genesis 19:26.

So a pillar of a cloud, a pillar of fire. Exodus 13:21.

5. Foundation; support. Job 9:6.

6. In ships, a square or round timber fixed perpendicularly under the middle of the beams for supporting the decks.

7. In the manege, the center of the volta, ring or manege ground, around which a horse turns. There are also pillars on the circumference or side, placed at certain distances by two and two.

or rather "oak of the pillar" (that being the real signification of the Hebrew word elon), a tree which stood near Shechem and at which the men of Shechem and the house of Millo assembled to crown Abimelech the son of Gideon. (Judges 9:6)

PIL'LARED, adjective Supported by pillars.

1. Having the form of a pillar.