Dictionaries :: Pillar

Pillar:

used to support a building (Jdg 16:26,29); as a trophy or memorial (Gen 28:18; 35:20; Exd 24:4; 1Sa 15:12; in 2Sa 18:18); of fire, by which the Divine Presence was manifested (Exd 13:2). The "plain of the pillar" in Jdg 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 (Jos 24:26).

Pillar:

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,' Hebrew ‘a prop'"; in 2Ki 18:16 ('omenoth), the Revised Version margin "doorposts." The matstsebhoth were (1) memorial pillars, as in the "pillars" of Jacob at Bethel (Ge 28:18,22; compare Ge 31:13; 35:14), in covenant with Laban (Ge 31:45 ), at Rachel's grave (Ge 35:20); Absalom's pillar (2Sa 18:18). Such pillars were legitimate (theory of a fetishistic character is not grounded); it is predicted in Isa 19:19 that such a pillar would be set up to Yahweh at the border of Egypt. (2) Idolatrous pillars, in Canaanitish and other heathen worships. These were to be ruthlessly broken down (the King James Version "images," see above; Ex 23:24; 34:13; De 7:5, etc.; compare Le 26:1). See IMAGES. The other word, ‘ammudh, is used of the pillar of cloud and fire (see below); of the pillars of the TABERNACLE and TEMPLE (see under the word); of the two pillars JACHIN AND BOAZ (which see); poetically of the "pillars" of heaven, of earth (Job 9:6; 26:11; Ps 75:3; 99:7), etc. In the few instances of the word in the New Testament, the use is figurative. James, Cephas and John were reputed to be pillars" of the church at Jerusalem (Ga 2:9); the church is "the pillar and ground of the truth" (1Ti 3:15); he that overcomes is made "a pillar" in the temple of God (Re 3:12); a strong angel had feet "as pillars of fire" (Re 10:1).

Pillar of Cloud and Fire:

The visible manifestation of the divine presence in the journeyings of Israel at the time of the Exodus. Yahweh, it is narrated, went before the people "by day in a pillar of cloud, to lead them the way, and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light..... The pillar of cloud by day, and the pillar of fire by night, departed not from before the people" (Ex 13:21,22; compare Ex 14:19,24; Nu 14:14). When the congregation was at rest, the cloud abode over the tabernacle (Ex 40:36; Nu 9:17; 14:14). When Yahweh wished to communicate His will to Moses, the pillar descended to the door of the Tent of Meeting (Ex 33:9-11; Nu 12:5; De 31:15). These descriptions are not to be rationalistically explained; what is depicted is a true theophany. Criticism has sought to establish discrepancies between the allusions to the cloud in the JE and the P parts of the narrative, but these are not made out without straining; e.g. it is not the case that JE alone represents Yahweh as speaking with Moses in the cloud at the door of the tabernacle. The same representation is found in Ex 29:42,43, ascribed to Pillar. An acute discussion of the alleged discrepancies may be seen in H.M. Wiener, Essays in Pentateuchal Criticism, 82 ff.

Written by James Orr

Pillar: Of Solomon's Temple

1Ki 7:13-22; 2Ki 25:17

Pillar: Broken and Carried to Babylon

2Ki 25:13; Jer 52:17, 20, 21

Pillar: Of Solomon's Palaces

1Ki 7:6

Pillar: Used to Mark Roads

Jer 31:21

Pillar: Pillar of Salt

Lot's wife turned to,

Gen 19:26; Luk 17:32.

Pillar: Monuments Erected to Commemorate Events:

By Jacob, his vision of angels,

Gen 28:18; with Gen 31:13; 35:14;

his covenant with Laban,

Gen 31:45;

by Moses, the covenant between Jehovah and Israel,

Exd 24:4;

by Joshua, the crossing of the Jordan River,

Jos 4:1-9; with Deu 27:2-6; Jos 8:30;

at Shechem,

Jos 24:25-27; with Jdg 9:6;

by Samuel, the defeat of the Philistines,

1Sa 7:12;

by Absalom, to keep his name in remembrance,

2Sa 18:18.

Pillar: As

A boundary,

Jos 15:6; with Jos 18:17;

a way-mark (road sign),

1Sa 20:19;

a landmark,

2Sa 20:8; 1Ki 1:9.

Pillar: Prophecy of One in Egypt

Isa 19:19

Pillar: Monuments of Idolatry

To be destroyed,

Deu 12:3.

Pillar: Reference Concerning

See CLOUD, PILLAR OF

Pillar: Figurative:

Rev 3:12

Pillar:

"a column supporting the weight of a building," is used

(a) metaphorically, of those who bear responsibility in the churches, as of the elders in the church at Jerusalem, Gal 2:9; of a local church as to its responsibility, in a collective capacity, to maintain the doctrines of the faith by teaching and practice, 1Ti 3:15; some would attach this and the next words to the statement in ver. 16; the connection in the Eng. versions seems preferable;

(b) figuratively in Rev 3:12, indicating a firm and permanent position in the spiritual, heavenly and eternal Temple of God;

(c) illustratively, of the feet of the angel in the vision in Rev 10:1, seen as flames rising like columns of fire indicative of holiness and consuming power, and thus reflecting the glory of Christ as depicted in Rev 1:15; cp. Eze 1:7.

Pillar:

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 Israelites 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.