Crown (Easton)

DIC dictionary-entry · status:draft · license:PD

Denotes the plate of gold in the front of the high priest's mitre ( Exodus 29:6 ; 39:30 ). The same Hebrew word so rendered (ne'zer) denotes the diadem worn by Saul in battle ( 2 Samuel 1:10 ), and also that which was used at the coronation of Joash ( 2 Kings 11:12 ). The more general name in Hebrew for a crown is 'Atarah , Meaning a "circlet." This is used of crowns and head ornaments of divers kinds, including royal crowns. Such was the crown taken from the king of Ammon by David ( 2 Samuel 12:30 ). The crown worn by the Assyrian kings was a high mitre, sometimes adorned with flowers. There are sculptures also representing the crowns worn by the early Egyptian and Persian kings. Sometimes a diadem surrounded the royal head-dress of two or three fillets. This probably signified that the wearer had dominion over two or three countries. In Revelation 12:3 ; 13:1 , we read of "many crowns," a token of extended dominion. The ancient Persian crown ( Esther 1:11 ; 2:17 ; 6:8 ) was called Kether ; I.e., "a chaplet," a high cap or tiara. Crowns were worn sometimes to represent honour and power ( Ezekiel 23:42 ). They were worn at marriages ( Song of Solomon 3:11 ; Isaiah 61:10 , "ornaments;" RSV, "a garland"), and at feasts and public festivals. The crown was among the Romans and Greeks a symbol of victory and reward. The crown or wreath worn by the victors in the Olympic games was made of leaves of the wild olive; in the Pythian games, of laurel; in the Nemean games, of parsley; and in the Isthmian games, of the pine. The Romans bestowed the "civic crown" on him who saved the life of a citizen. It was made of the leaves of the oak. In opposition to all these fading crowns the apostles speak of the incorruptible crown, the crown of life ( James 1:12 ; Revelation 2:10 ) "that fadeth not away" ( 1 Peter 5:4 , Gr. amarantinos; comp 1:4). Probably the word "amaranth" was applied to flowers we call "everlasting," the "immortal amaranth."

Source

• part_of source-manifest/easton — Easton's Bible Dictionary (PD)