Topical Encyclopedia
In biblical times, the concept of a pillow was quite different from the modern understanding. Pillows in the ancient Near East were often simple and utilitarian, serving as supports for the head during rest or sleep. They were typically made from materials readily available, such as cloth stuffed with wool, straw, or other soft materials. In some cases, a stone or a piece of wood might serve as a headrest, particularly for those traveling or in more austere conditions.
Biblical References:1.
Jacob's Stone Pillow: One of the most notable references to a pillow in the Bible is found in the account of Jacob. In
Genesis 28:11, Jacob, while fleeing from his brother Esau, uses a stone as a pillow: "When he reached a certain place, he spent the night there because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones from that place, he put it under his head and lay down to sleep." This stone later becomes significant as Jacob dreams of a ladder reaching to heaven and subsequently anoints the stone, naming the place Bethel.
2.
Jesus Asleep on a Cushion: In the New Testament, a reference to a pillow is found in the account of Jesus calming the storm.
Mark 4:38 states, "But Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on the cushion. So they woke Him and said, 'Teacher, don’t You care that we are perishing?'" Here, the "cushion" or "pillow" indicates a more comfortable setting, possibly a leather or cloth cushion used on the boat.
3.
Ezekiel's Prophecy Against False Prophets: In
Ezekiel 13:18, pillows are mentioned in a metaphorical sense as part of a condemnation against false prophetesses: "This is what the Lord GOD says: 'Woe to the women who sew magic bands on all their wrists and make veils of every size for their heads in order to ensnare souls.'" The term "pillows" in some translations refers to these "magic bands" or "cushions," symbolizing deceit and false security.
Cultural and Symbolic Significance:In biblical literature, pillows can symbolize rest, comfort, and security. However, they can also represent false security or deceit, as seen in Ezekiel's prophecy. The use of a stone as a pillow by Jacob highlights the transient and humble conditions of the patriarchs, emphasizing reliance on God rather than material comforts.
Practical Use:Pillows in ancient times were not only for comfort but also served practical purposes. They could be used to elevate the head for better breathing during sleep or to provide a measure of warmth and protection from the ground. The materials used for pillows varied depending on the region and the resources available, reflecting the ingenuity and adaptability of ancient peoples in creating items for daily use.
In summary, the concept of a pillow in the Bible encompasses both the physical object used for rest and the deeper symbolic meanings associated with comfort, security, and sometimes, spiritual deception.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
n.) Anything used to support the head of a person when reposing; especially, a sack or case filled with feathers, down, hair, or other soft material.
2. (n.) A piece of metal or wood, forming a support to equalize pressure; a brass; a pillow block.
3. (n.) A block under the inner end of a bowsprit.
4. (n.) A kind of plain, coarse fustian.
5. (v. t.) To rest or lay upon, or as upon, a pillow; to support; as, to pillow the head.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
PILLOWpil'-o.
SeeBOLSTER;CUSHION.
Greek
4344. proskephalaion -- apillow... a
pillow. Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter Transliteration: proskephalaion Phonetic
Spelling: (pros-kef-al'-ahee-on) Short Definition: a
pillow or cushion Definition
...Strong's Hebrew
4763. meraashoth -- a place at the head, head place... bolster, head,
pillow. Formed like mar'ashah; properly, a headpiece, ie (plural
for adverbial) at (or as) the head-rest (or
pillow) -- bolster, head,
pillow.
...3704. keseth -- a band, fillet
...pillow. From kacah; a cushion orpillow (as covering a seat or bed) --pillow. see
HEBREW kacah. 3703, 3704. keseth. 3705 . Strong's Numbers.
3523. kabir -- (something woven) perhaps a quilt or net
...pillow. From kabar in the original sense of plaiting; a matrass (of intertwined
materials) --pillow. see HEBREW kabar. 3522, 3523. kabir. 3524 ....
7226. raashoth -- bolster
... Word Origin the same as marashah, qv. bolster From ro'sh; apillow (being for the
head) -- bolster. see HEBREW ro'sh. 7225, 7226. raashoth. 7227 ....
Library
Jesus Asleep on aPillow"And He was in the Hinder Part of the Ship...
... JESUS ASLEEP ON APILLOW"And He was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a
pillow: and they awake Him, and say unto Him, Master, carest Thou not that we...
Sleep Not
... I was recommended to try apillow of hops to obtain sleep during my late illness,
but I find now that I want a wakingpillow rather than a sleepingpillow; and...
The Toiling Christ
... THE TOILING CHRIST. 'They took Him even as He was in the ship.... And He was in
the hinder part of the ship, asleep on apillow.'"Mark 4:36, 38....
The Dream of St. Ursula
... She is some seventeen or eighteen years old, her head is turned towards us on the
pillow, the cheek resting on her hand, as if she were thinking, yet utterly...
The Value of the One
... I THE VALUE OF THE ONE. Lucy Lee laid her head on herpillow and, looking
through the silence and darkness, smiled up to God. She...
The Sleeper.
... It would seem as if the guardian angels who had been hovering round his death-pillow
had well-nigh reached the gates of glory ere the sorrowing survivors...
A Lord of the Harvest.
... There was a lot ofpillow-planning.... When night time came I went to bed to sleep.
Mypillow was this, "There is a Lord of the harvest."....
The Storm Stilled
... And He was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on apillow: and they awake Him,
and say unto Him, Master, carest Thou not that we perish? 39....
David the Outcast.
... of his warriors, and went down from the cliffs to Saul's camp, where Saul lay sleeping
in a trench, and the spear stuck in the ground by hispillow, while all...
Jacob, a Prince of God.
... One night, when he was not far on his way, he lay down to sleep, with a stone for
hispillow, on a hillside that looked toward his home, and he dreamed a...
Thesaurus
Pillow (8 Occurrences)... 2. (n.) A piece of metal or wood, forming a support to equalize pressure; a brass;
a
pillow block. 3. (n.) A block under the inner end of a bowsprit.
...PILLOW.
...Bolster (7 Occurrences)
... The Hebrew word kebir, rendered "pillow" in 1 Samuel 19:13, 16, but in Revised
Version marg.... 15. (vt) To support with a bolster orpillow. Int....
Quilt (2 Occurrences)
... 1 Samuel 19:13 And Michal took the teraphim, and laid it in the bed, and put apillow
of goats hair at the head thereof, and covered it with the clothes....
Cushion (3 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) A case or bag stuffed with some soft and elastic
material, and used to sit or recline upon; a softpillow or pad....
Teraphim (14 Occurrences)
... 1 Samuel 19:13 Michal took the teraphim, and laid it in the bed, and put apillow
of goats' hair at its head, and covered it with the clothes....
Pillows (6 Occurrences)
Idol (56 Occurrences)
... 1 Samuel 19:13 Michal took the teraphim, and laid it in the bed, and put apillow
of goats' hair at its head, and covered it with the clothes. (See NAS NIV)....
Bed (142 Occurrences)
... When one was on a journey, or watching his flock by night as a shepherd, such a
"bed" was the most natural, and often a stone would serve as apillow....
Lodged (35 Occurrences)
... sun had set. And he took one of the stones of the place, and made it his
pillow, and lay down in that place. (DBY). Genesis 31:54...
Wake (34 Occurrences)
... Mark 4:38 And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on apillow: and they
awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?...
Resources
Is it wrong to kill spiders or step on bugs? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is a prayer cloth? | GotQuestions.orgHow should a Christian view the concept of death with dignity? | GotQuestions.orgPillow: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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