Topical Encyclopedia
In biblical literature, the term "corner" holds significant symbolic and literal meanings, often representing strength, stability, and prominence. The concept of a "corner" is used in various contexts throughout the Scriptures, both in the Old and New Testaments.
1.
Architectural Significance: In ancient construction, the cornerstone was the principal stone placed at the corner of a building, serving as a guide for the entire structure. It was crucial for the stability and alignment of the edifice. This is reflected in passages such as
Isaiah 28:16, where the Lord declares, "See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation; the one who believes will never be shaken."
2.
Symbol of Christ: The cornerstone metaphor is profoundly applied to Jesus Christ in the New Testament. He is described as the cornerstone of the Church, the foundation upon which believers are built. In
Ephesians 2:20, Paul writes, "built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the cornerstone." Similarly,
1 Peter 2:6-7 refers to Christ as the cornerstone, quoting Isaiah and emphasizing His rejection by men but chosen and precious to God.
3.
Corner in Prophecy: The imagery of the corner is also used in prophetic literature to denote leadership and strength. In
Zechariah 10:4, it is written, "From Judah will come the cornerstone, from him the tent peg, from him the battle bow, from him every ruler." This passage highlights the messianic expectation tied to the tribe of Judah, from which the ultimate leader, the Messiah, would arise.
4.
Corners in Ritual and Law: The corners of fields were significant in the Mosaic Law, where landowners were instructed not to harvest the corners of their fields completely. This practice was part of the provision for the poor and the sojourner, as seen in
Leviticus 19:9, "When you reap the harvest of your land, you are not to reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest."
5.
Corners in Judgment: The corners of the earth are sometimes used metaphorically to describe the totality of God's judgment or the extent of His dominion. In
Revelation 7:1, the four corners of the earth are mentioned in the context of the angels holding back the winds, symbolizing God's control over the entire world.
6.
Corners in Worship: The corners of the altar in the tabernacle and temple held particular importance in the sacrificial system. The horns of the altar, located at its corners, were places of refuge and mercy, as seen in
1 Kings 1:50, where Adonijah sought asylum by grasping the horns of the altar.
The concept of the corner, therefore, is rich with theological and practical implications, serving as a metaphor for Christ, a principle of justice and mercy, and a symbol of God's comprehensive authority and care.
Smith's Bible Dictionary
CornerThe "corner" of the field was not allowed, (Leviticus 19:9) to be wholly reaped. It formed a right of the poor to carry off what was so left, and this was a part of the maintenance from the soil to which that class were entitled. Under the scribes, minute legislation fixed one-sixtieth as the portion of a field which was to be left for the legal "corner." The proportion being thus fixed, all the grain might be reaped, and enough to satisfy the regulation subsequently separated from the whole crop. This "corner" was, like the gleaning, tithe-free.
Easton's Bible Dictionary
The angle of a house (
Job 1:19) or a street (
Proverbs 7:8). "Corners" in
Nehemiah 9:22 denotes the various districts of the promised land allotted to the Israelites. In
Numbers 24:17, the "corners of Moab" denotes the whole land of Moab. The "corner of a field" (
Leviticus 19:9;
23:22) is its extreme part, which was not to be reaped. The Jews were prohibited from cutting the "corners," i.e., the extremities, of the hair and whiskers running round the ears (
Leviticus 19:27;
21:5). The "four corners of the earth" in Isaiah 11:12 and
Ezek. 7:2 denotes the whole land. The "corners of the streets" mentioned in
Matthew 6:5 means the angles where streets meet so as to form a square or place of public resort.
The corner gate of Jerusalem (2 Kings 14:13;2 Chronicles 26:9) was on the north-west side of the city.
Corner-stone (Job 38:6;Isaiah 28:16), a block of great importance in binding together the sides of a building. The "head of the corner" (Psalm 118:22, 23) denotes the coping, the "coign of vantage", i.e., the topstone of a building. But the word "corner stone" is sometimes used to denote some person of rank and importance (Isaiah 28:16). It is applied to our Lord, who was set in highest honour (Matthew 21:42). He is also styled "the chief corner stone" (Ephesians 2:20;1 Peter 2:6-8). When Zechariah (10:4), speaking of Judah, says, "Out of him came forth the corner," he is probably to be understood as ultimately referring to the Messiah as the "corner stone." (seeTEMPLE, SOLOMON'S.)
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
n.) The point where two converging lines meet; an angle, either external or internal.
2. (n.) The space in the angle between converging lines or walls which meet in a point; as, the chimney corner.
3. (n.) An edge or extremity; the part farthest from the center; hence, any quarter or part.
4. (n.) A secret or secluded place; a remote or out of the way place; a nook.
5. (n.) Direction; quarter.
6. (n.) The state of things produced by a combination of persons, who buy up the whole or the available part of any stock or species of property, which compels those who need such stock or property to buy of them at their own price; as, a corner in a railway stock.
7. (v. t.) To drive into a corner.
8. (v. t.) To drive into a position of great difficulty or hopeless embarrassment; as, to corner a person in argument.
9. (v. t.) To get command of (a stock, commodity, etc.), so as to be able to put one's own price on it; as, to corner the shares of a railroad stock; to corner petroleum.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
CORNERkor'-ner (miqtsoa`, pe'ah, pinnah; arche, gonia, akrogoniaios): InExodus 26:24Ezekiel 41:22;Ezekiel 46:21, 22, miqtsoa`, "angle" is translated "corner"; pe'ah, "side," "quarter" and pinnah "corner," "front," "chief," are more frequently so translated, e.g.Exodus 25:26Leviticus 19:9Jeremiah 9:26;Jeremiah 25:23; andExodus 27:21 Kings 7:34;Psalm 118:22Isaiah 28:16 ("corner-stone");Jeremiah 51:26. Other words are kanaph, "wing" (Isaiah 11:12Ezekiel 7:2); katheph, "shoulder" (2 Kings 11:11 the King James Version, twice); pa`am, "foot" (Exodus 25:12 the King James Version); zawiyoth, "corner-stones" (Psalm 144:12Zechariah 9:15, translated "corners"). For "corner" the Revised Version (British and American) has "side" (Exodus 36:25), "corner-stone" (Zechariah 10:4), also for "stay" (Isaiah 19:13); instead of "teacher removed into a corner" (Isaiah 30:20), "be hidden," "hide themselves"; for "corners" we have "feet" (Exodus 25:121 Kings 7:30); "ribs" (Exodus 30:4;Exodus 37:27); for "divide into corners" (Nehemiah 9:22), "allot after their portions"; for "into corners" (Deuteronomy 32:26), "afar"; the words to Israel (Isaiah 41:9) "called thee from the chief men 'atsilim thereof" are rendered by the Revised Version (British and American) "called thee from the corners thereof" (of the earth).
In the New Testament we have gonia ("angle," "corner"), "in the corners of the streets" (Matthew 6:5), "the head of the corner" (Matthew 21:42), "the four corners of the earth" (Revelation 7:1;Revelation 20:8); arche ("a beginning") (Acts 10:11;Acts 11:5); "chief corner stone" (Ephesians 2:201 Peter 2:6), is a translation of akrogoniaios ("at the extreme angle").
W. L. Walker
CORNER GATE
kor'-ner gat.
SeeJERUSALEM.
GATE, CORNER, FOUNTAIN, HORSE, SUR
SeeJERUSALEM.
Greek
204. akrogoniaios -- at the extreme angle orcorner... at the extreme angle or
corner. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: akrogoniaios
Phonetic Spelling: (ak-rog-o-nee-ah'-yos) Short Definition: in the
corner...1137. gonia -- an angle, acorner
... an angle, acorner. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: gonia Phonetic
Spelling: (go-nee'-ah) Short Definition: acorner, a secret place Definition...
2768. keras -- a horn
... Neuter Transliteration: keras Phonetic Spelling: (ker'-as) Short Definition: a horn
Definition: (a) a horn, (b) a horn-like projection at thecorner of an altar...
2776. kephale -- the head
... Noun, Feminine Transliteration: kephale Phonetic Spelling: (kef-al-ay') Short
Definition: the head Definition: (a) the head, (b) met: acorner stone, uniting...
4611. Siloam -- Siloam, a pool in Jer.
... Siloam Phonetic Spelling: (sil-o-am') Short Definition: Siloam Definition: Siloam,
a spring within the walls, in the south-eastcorner of Jerusalem....
4484. Rhegion -- Rhegium, a city in southern Italy
... Noun, Neuter Transliteration: Rhegion Phonetic Spelling: (hrayg'-ee-on) Short
Definition: Rhegium Definition: Rhegium, a city in the south-westcorner of Italy...
2791. Kilikia -- Cilicia, a province of Asia Minor
... ik-ee'-ah) Short Definition: Cilicia Definition: Cilicia, a Roman province between
the Taurus range of mountains and the coast in the south-eastcorner of Asia...
2899. kraspedon -- a border, tassel
... Noun, Neuter Transliteration: kraspedon Phonetic Spelling: (kras'-ped-on) Short
Definition: the fringe, edge Definition: the fringe, edge,corner, tassel....
5588. psithuristes -- a whisperer
... a backbiter, quietly (secretly) destroying another person's character -- ie covertly,
not out in the open, but rather operating "in acorner." See 5587 ()....
4419. pterugion -- a little wing, hence (anything like a wing) a...
... pinnacle. Neuter of a presumed derivative of pterux; a winglet, ie (figuratively)
extremity (topcorner) -- pinnacle. see GREEK pterux....
Strong's Hebrew
6438. pinnah -- acorner... 6437, 6438. pinnah. 6439 . a
corner. Transliteration: pinnah Phonetic
Spelling: (pin-naw') Short Definition:
corner. Word Origin
...2106. zavith -- acorner
... 2105, 2106. zavith. 2107 . acorner. Transliteration: zavith Phonetic
Spelling: (zaw-veeth') Short Definition:corner. Word Origin...
4740. miqtsoa -- acorner buttress
... 4741 . acorner buttress. Transliteration: miqtsoa or miqtsoa or miqtsoah
Phonetic Spelling: (mak-tso'-ah) Short Definition: corners....
6285. peah --corner, side
... 6284, 6285. peah. 6286 .corner, side. Transliteration: peah Phonetic Spelling:
(pay-aw') Short Definition: side....corner, end, quarter, side....
4742. mequtsah --corner
... mequtsah. 4743 .corner. Transliteration: mequtsah Phonetic Spelling:
(mek-oots-aw') Short Definition:corner. Word Origin from qatsa, qv.corner...
6434. pen --corner
... 6433, 6434. pen. 6435 .corner. Transliteration: pen Phonetic Spelling: (pane)
Short Definition:corner. Word Origin the same as pinnah, qv.corner...
7106b. qatsa -- perhaps tocorner
... 7106a, 7106b. qatsa. 7107 . perhaps tocorner. Transliteration: qatsa
Short Definition: corners. Word Origin denominative verb from...
3670. kanaph -- to be cornered or thrust into acorner
... 3669b, 3670. kanaph. 3671 . to be cornered or thrust into acorner.
Transliteration: kanaph Phonetic Spelling: (kaw-naf') Short Definition: hide....
678. atsil -- a side,corner, a chief
... 677, 678. atsil. 679 . a side,corner, a chief. Transliteration: atsil
Phonetic Spelling: (aw-tseel') Short Definition: nobles....
3671. kanaph -- wing, extremity
... Word Origin from an unused word Definition wing, extremity NASB Word Usage bird*
(1),corner (1), corners (4), covering (1), each other (1), edge (5), edges (1...
Library
A Blessed LibraryCorner.
... A Passion for Winning Men: The Motive-power of Service. (Mark vi:30-34.)
A Blessed LibraryCorner. I think I might tell you best...
'The ChiefCorner-Stone'
... EPHESIANS 'THE CHIEFCORNER-STONE'. 'Built upon the foundation of the apostles
and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the chief...
When Diamond Got Round theCorner of the Hay...
... Chapter 2 When Diamond got round thecorner of the hay? When Diamond got
round thecorner of the hay, for a moment he hesitated....
Christ theCorner-Stone.
... CHRIST; HIS CHARACTER AND OFFICES. 254. " Christ theCorner-Stone. 254.
SM Watts. Christ theCorner-Stone. 1 See what a living...
On Laying theCorner-Stone of a Church. 1 this Stone to Thee in...
... 696. " On Laying theCorner-stone of a Church. 1 This stone to thee in faith we
lay. 696. LM Montgomery. On Laying theCorner-stone of a Church....
But in thisCorner Called England, at this End of the Century...
... Chapter 22 But in thiscorner called England, at this end of the century?
But in thiscorner called England, at this end of the...
The Evolution of Early Congregationalism the Stone which the...
... IN CONNECTICUT CHAPTER I THE EVOLUTION OF EARLY CONGREGATIONALISM The stone which
the builders rejected is become the head of thecorner."Psalm cxviii....
The Girdle of the City. Nehemiah 3
... beginning of the circumference was from 'the sheep-gate.' That, we suppose, was
seated on the south part, yet but little removed from thatcorner, which looks...
Some Miscellaneous Matters Respecting the Face of the Land.
... For such was the care and diligence of the Fathers of the Traditions, concerning
tithing corn and fruits, concerning leaving acorner for the poor, concerning...
Of the Two Sons who were Commanded by their Father to Go into his...
... And He beheld them, and said, What is this then that is written, The stone which
the builders rejected, the same is become the head of thecorner?" [1152] How...
Thesaurus
Corner (60 Occurrences)... whole land of Moab. The "
corner of a field" (Leviticus 19:9; 23:22) is its
extreme part, which was not to be reaped. The Jews were
...Corner-stone (10 Occurrences)
Corner-stone. Cornerstone,Corner-stone. Cornerstones . Int. Standard
Bible EncyclopediaCORNER-STONE. kor'-ner ston (pinnah...
Corner-gate (3 Occurrences)
Corner-gate.Corner-columns,Corner-gate.Corner-pillars . Multi-Version
ConcordanceCorner-gate (3 Occurrences). 2 Kings 14:13...
Corner-columns (1 Occurrence)
Corner-columns.Corner,Corner-columns.Corner-gate . Multi-Version
ConcordanceCorner-columns (1 Occurrence). Psalms 144:12 That...
Corner-pillars (1 Occurrence)
Corner-pillars.Corner-gate,Corner-pillars. Corners . Multi-Version
ConcordanceCorner-pillars (1 Occurrence). Psalms...
Corner-stones (2 Occurrences)
Corner-stones. Cornerstones,Corner-stones. Cornet . Multi-Version
ConcordanceCorner-stones (2 Occurrences). Psalms...
Cornerstone (13 Occurrences)
... Standard Bible EncyclopediaCORNER-STONE.... (2) Old Testament references.-The Hebrew
word pinnah, "corner," is found or implied in every occurrence of this idea....
Builders (24 Occurrences)
... Matthew 21:42 Jesus said to them, "Did you never read in the Scriptures,'The stone
which the builders rejected, the same was made the head of thecorner....
Capstone (7 Occurrences)
... Matthew 21:42 Jesus said to them, "Did you never read in the Scriptures,'The stone
which the builders rejected, the same was made the head of thecorner....
Hananel (4 Occurrences)
... In Jeremiah 31:38 it is foretold "that the city shall be built to Yahweh from the
tower of Hananel unto the gate of thecorner"-apparently the whole stretch of...
Resources
What did it mean to spread the corner of your garment over someone? | GotQuestions.orgWhat was/is the importance of the gates of Jerusalem? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is a prayer closet? | GotQuestions.orgCorner: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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