Neck
NECK
The phrases to “harden the neck,” Pro 29:1, and to be “stiff- necked,” like a headstrong brute, illustrate the willful obstinacy of sinners against the instructions and commands of God. The tyrants of ancient days sometimes put their feet on the prostrate necks of princes, in token of their subjugation, trampling them in the dust. Their mischief sometimes returned upon their own heads, Jos 10:24 ; Psa 18:40 .
Fuente: American Tract Society Bible Dictionary
Neck
(usually , o’reph, as Gen 49:8; Lev 5:8; often , tsavvar’, as Gen 27:16; and same in Chald., as Dan 5:7; once the plur. cognate , Son 4:9; also, garo n’, prop. throat, Isa 3:16; or the plur. cognate, , Pro 3:22; once , maphre’keth, 1Sa 4:18; Gr. ), a part of the human frame used by the sacred writers with considerable variety and freedom in figurative expressions, though seldom in such a way as to occasion difficulty to a modern reader. With reference to the graceful ornament which a fine neck gives, especially to the female form, it is said of the spouse in the Canticles, “Thy neck is like the tower of David, builded for an armory” (Son 4:4); or, as it is again, “like a tower of ivory” (Son 7:4). The neck, however, being that part of the body through which in man, and still more in the lower animals, the life is frequently destroyed, it is sometimes taken as the representative of the animal life; hence “to lay down the neck” (Rom 16:4) is a strong expression for hazarding one’s life; to “give one the necks of one’s enemies” (2Sa 22:41) was to surrender their life into his hands; also “to reach even to the neck,” or “to the midst of the neck” (Isa 8:8; Isa 30:28), was to approach the point of overwhelming destruction, which, in Hab 3:13, takes the peculiar form of “discovering the foundation to the neck” the allusion in the last passage being to the foundation of a house, which is like the neck upon which the head rests. But by much the most common reference was to beasts of burden, which bore upon their neck the yoke whereby they did service, and as such were viewed as emblems of men in their relation either to a good or a bad, to a true or a false service. Christ invites all to “take up his yoke” (upon their neck understood), in other words, to yield themselves obediently to his authority (Mat 11:29); and a stiff or hardened neck is a familiar expression for an unpliant, rebellious spirit. In the contrary direction, many passages in the prophets convey threatenings of coming judgment by the hands of enemies under the form of laying bands or yokes upon the people’s necks (Deu 28:48; Isa 10:27; Jer 27:2). Hence putting the feet on the neck is a usual expression in the East for triumphing over a fallen foe. In the numerous battle-scenes depicted on the monuments of ancient Egypt and Assyria, we see the monarchs frequently represented treading on the necks of their enemies; and a similar practice obtained among the Hebrews. When Joshua had conquered the five kings, he said unto the captains of the men of war which went with him, Come near, put your feet upon the necks of these kings.
And they came near, and put their feet upon the necks of them” (Jos 10:24; comp. 2Sa 22:41). In India, when people are disputing, should one be a little pressed, and the other begin to triumph, the former will say, “I will tread upon thy neck, and after that beat thee.” A low caste man insulting one who is high is sure to hear some one say to the offended individual, “Put your feet on his neck.” Nor was this custom peculiar to the East: Quintus Curtius, relating the particulars of a single combat between Dioxippus, an Athenian, and Horratus, a Macedonian, says that, in the end, the former, closing with the latter, struck up his heels, and threw him with great violence on the ground; then. after taking his sword from him, he set his foot upon his neck, and was about to dash out his brains, when the king (Alexander) interposed his authority to prevent him. SEE TRIUMPH.
Fuente: Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature
Neck
used sometimes figuratively. To “lay down the neck” (Rom. 16:4) is to hazard one’s life. Threatenings of coming judgments are represented by the prophets by their laying bands upon the people’s necks (Deut. 28:48; Isa. 10:27; Jer. 27:2). Conquerors put their feet on the necks of their enemies as a sign of their subjection (Josh. 10:24; 2 Sam. 22:41).
Fuente: Easton’s Bible Dictionary
Neck
“Lay down necks,” i.e. risked their lives (Rom 16:4). Psa 18:40, “Thou hast given … necks of enemies,” i.e. made them turn their backs in flight before me (Keil); so Exo 23:27, or enabled me to put my foot on their necks, subjecting them utterly to me; as Jos 10:24; Jos 11:8; Jos 11:12; Psa 110:5. Isa 8:8, “he shall overflow, he shall reach even to the neck”: when the waters reach the neck a man is near drowning; Sennacherib’s overflowing hosts reached so far, but Jerusalem the head was not overflowed (Isa 30:28; Hab 3:13). The “stiff neck” is an image from oxen unpliant and casting the “yoke” off the neck (Act 7:51; Mat 11:29). Contrast the yoke men must wear who reject Christ’s easy yoke (Deu 28:48).
Fuente: Fausset’s Bible Dictionary
Neck
NECK.(1) In the embrace of family salutation the smooth part of the neck below the car is the part that is kissed, first on one side and then on the other (Luk 15:20). This is implied in Hebrew by the use of the dual form (Gen 46:29). (2) Prisoners and those condemned to punishment had the chain attached to a metal ring around the neck (Luk 17:2). (3) It was on the neck of the oxen that the yoke was placed in ploughing. The freedom from all other bondage, which is conferred and naturalized by the grace of Christ, is conditioned by the yoke of service to Him (Mat 11:29-30).
G. M. Mackie.
Fuente: A Dictionary Of Christ And The Gospels
Neck
NECK.The most usual words are reph and tsavvr in Heb., and trachlos in Greek. Chains upon the neck were a common ornament (Pro 1:9 etc., Eze 16:11). To fall upon one anothers neck has from old time been an affectionate form of greeting in the East (Gen 33:4 etc.). The neck under yoke meant subjection and servitude (Deu 28:48 etc.); breaking of the yoke meant deliverance (Gen 27:40, Jer 30:8). Stiff or hard of neck (Deu 31:27 etc.) signified one difficult to guide, like a hard-necked bullock in the furrow. To put the foot upon the neck of a foe, meant his utter overthrow (Jos 10:24 etc.). To put the neck to work (Neh 3:5) was a phrase equivalent to our own put a hand to.
W. Ewing.
Fuente: Hastings’ Dictionary of the Bible
Neck
nek (, cawwar, , cawwa’r, , cawwaron, , cawwa’rah, Aramaic , cawwar (Dan 5:7, Dan 5:16, Dan 5:29), , oreph, , miphreketh (1Sa 4:18); , notos, back (Baruch 2:33); occasionally the words , garon (Isa 3:16; Eze 16:11), and , gargeroth, plural of gargarah, literally, throat (Pro 1:9; Pro 3:3, Pro 3:12; Pro 6:21), are translated neck): The neck is compared with a tower for beauty (Son 4:4; Son 7:4) and is decorated with necklaces and chains (Pro 1:9; Pro 3:3, Pro 3:12; Pro 6:21, Hebrew gargeroth; Eze 16:11, Hebrew garon, throat; Dan 5:7, Dan 5:16, Dan 5:29, Hebrew cawwar). It is also the part of the body where the yoke, emblem of labor and hardship, dependence and subjection, is borne (Deu 28:48; Jer 27:8, Jer 27:11, Jer 27:12; Jer 28:14; Act 15:10). To shake off the yoke, to break the yoke, or to take it off is expressive of the regaining of independence and liberty, either by one’s own endeavors or through help from outside (Gen 27:40; Isa 10:27; Jer 28:11; Jer 30:8). Certain animals which were not allowed as food (like the firstborn which were not redeemed) were to be killed by having their necks (oreph) broken (Exo 13:13; Exo 34:20); the turtle-doves and young pigeons, which were sacrificed as sin offerings or as burnt offerings, had their heads wrung or pinched off from their necks (Lev 5:8). In 1Sa 4:18 the Hebrew word miphreketh signifies a fracture of the upper part of the spinal column caused by a fall.
It was a military custom of antiquity for the conqueror to place his foot upon the vanquished. This custom, frequently represented in sculpture on many an Egyptian temple wall, is referred to in Jos 10:24; Baruch 4:25 and probably in Rom 16:20 and Psa 110:1. Paul praises the devotion of Aquila and Priscilla, who for my life laid down their own necks (Rom 16:4). See FOOTSTOOL.
To fall on the neck of a person is a very usual mode of salutation in the East (Gen 33:4; Gen 45:14; Gen 46:29; Tobit 11:9, 13; Luk 15:20; Act 20:37). In moments of great emotion such salutation is apt to end in weeping on each other’s neck.
Readiness for work is expressed by putting one’s neck to the work (Neh 3:5). Severe punishment and calamity are said to reach to the neck (Isa 8:8; Isa 30:28).
The Lord Jesus speaks of certain persons for whom it were better to have had a millstone put around the neck and to have been drowned in the sea. The meaning is that even the most disgraceful death is still preferable to a life of evil influence upon even the little ones of God’s household (Mat 18:6; Mar 9:42; Luk 17:2).
To make the neck stiff, to harden the neck indicates obstinacy often mingled with rebellion (Exo 32:9; Exo 33:3, Exo 33:5; Exo 34:9; 2Ch 30:8; 2Ch 36:13; Neh 9:16, Neh 9:17, Neh 9:29; Psa 75:5 (the Revised Version margin insolently with a haughty neck); Pro 29:1; Jer 7:26). Compare , sklerotrachelos, stiffnecked (Act 7:51). Similarly Isaiah (Isa 48:4) speaks of the neck of the obstinate sinner as resembling an iron sinew.
Fuente: International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
Neck
is used (a) literally, Mat 18:6; Mar 9:42; Luk 17:2; of “embracing,” Luk 15:20; Act 20:37; (b) metaphorically, in Act 15:10, of “putting a yoke upon;” Rom 16:4, singular in the original, “(laid down their) neck,” indicating the figurative use of the term rather than the literal. Prisca and Aquila in some way had risked their lives for the Apostle (the phrase is found with this significance in the papyri).
Fuente: Vine’s Dictionary of New Testament Words
Neck
Gen 27:40 (b) Here we find a type of the position of servitude. The yoke on the neck indicates subjection to another. The yoke broken from the neck indicates deliverance from the condition of servitude. (See Deu 28:48; Jer 28:10; Jer 30:8; Act 15:10).
2Ch 36:13 (b) In this passage, as in many others, the stiff neck, or the hard neck, represents a rebellious spirit which refuses to bow to the will of GOD. It is equivalent to the expression we use about the horse, who “takes the bit in his teeth.” The horse refuses to be guided by the driver. So there are those who refuse to be guided by the Lord, either in their faith or in their practices. (See also Psa 75:5; Isa 48:4; Jer 17:23).
Pro 29:1 (a) That person who refuses to listen to GOD’s Word, and rejects the guidance of the Spirit will be surely punished by GOD.