Topical Encyclopedia
The term "platted" is an archaic English word that appears in the context of the Bible, specifically in the New Testament. It is derived from the Old English word "plat," which means to braid or weave. In biblical usage, "platted" refers to the act of braiding or intertwining, often in the context of making a crown or wreath.
Biblical Context:The most notable occurrence of the term "platted" is found in the account of the Passion of Jesus Christ. In the Gospel of Matthew, the Roman soldiers mockingly crown Jesus with a crown of thorns. The Berean Standard Bible translates this event as follows:
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Matthew 27:29 : "And they twisted together a crown of thorns, set it on His head, and put a staff in His right hand. And they knelt down before Him to mock Him, saying, 'Hail, King of the Jews!'”
In this passage, the act of "plaiting" or "plaiting together" a crown of thorns is a symbolic gesture of mockery and scorn. The soldiers' actions were intended to ridicule Jesus' claim to kingship by giving Him a painful and humiliating crown, in stark contrast to the regal crowns worn by earthly kings.
Symbolism and Interpretation:
From a theological perspective, the platted crown of thorns holds deep significance. It represents the suffering and humiliation that Jesus endured on behalf of humanity. The thorns, a result of the curse from the Fall of Man (Genesis 3:18), symbolize the sin and brokenness of the world. By wearing this crown, Jesus takes upon Himself the curse and the consequences of sin, fulfilling His role as the suffering servant prophesied inIsaiah 53.
The act of plaiting the crown of thorns also serves as a poignant reminder of the contrast between earthly power and the true kingship of Christ. While the soldiers intended to mock, the crown of thorns became a symbol of Jesus' sacrificial love and His victory over sin and death through His crucifixion and resurrection.
Historical and Cultural Background:
In the ancient Roman world, crowns were often used to signify victory, honor, or royalty. The laurel wreath, for example, was awarded to victors in athletic competitions and military commanders. The soldiers' choice to plait a crown of thorns for Jesus was a deliberate inversion of this tradition, highlighting the irony of their mockery.
The use of thorns in the crown also reflects the harshness and brutality of Roman punishment. Thorns were readily available and would have been a painful and degrading material to use for such a purpose. This act of cruelty underscores the depth of Jesus' suffering and the extent of His humility.
Conclusion:
The term "platted," though archaic, carries significant weight in the biblical narrative. It encapsulates the themes of suffering, mockery, and redemption that are central to the Passion of Christ. Through the platted crown of thorns, believers are reminded of the profound love and sacrifice of Jesus, who bore the sins of the world and triumphed over them through His death and resurrection.Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
(imp. & p. p.) of Plat.Library
Of the Mockery which He Sustained at the Hands of Pilate's Cohort...
... And when they hadplatted a crown of thorns, they put it upon His head, and a reed
in His right hand: and they bowed the knee before Him, and mocked Him, saying...
Synoptical Table
... 29 ?? And when they hadplatted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and
a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him...
The Seed of the Woman, and the Seed of the Serpent
... No, they were now dead to God, and became earthly, sensual, devilish: therefore,
instead of applying to God for mercy, "they sewed orplatted fig-leaves...
Crucified, Dead and Buried
... And they clothed him with purple, andplatted a crown of thorns, and put it about
his head, and began to salute him: "Hail, King of the Jews!"....
Jesus Sentenced
... 'Then Pilate therefore took Jesus, and scourged Him. And the soldiersplatted a
crown of thorns, and put it on His head, and they put on Him a purple robe....
Christ and Pilate: the True King and his Counterfeit
... And they clothed Him with purple, andplatted a crown of thorns, and put it about
His head, 18. And began to salute Him, Hail, King of the Jews! 19....
Matt. xxvii. 27-29.
... common hall, [3091] and gathered unto him the whole band of soldiers; and they stripped
Him, and put on Him a purple robe; and when they hadplatted a crown of...
John Chapter xix. 1-16.
... it. "And the soldiers," he says, "platted a crown of thorns, and put it
on His head, and they clothed Him with a purple robe. And...
The Trial Before Pilate Resumed.
... And theyplatted a crown of thorns and put it upon his head, and a reed in his right
hand; and they kneeled down before him, and mocked him, saying: "Hail...
Third Stage of the Roman Trial. Pilate Reluctantly Sentences Him...
... Blood spurted at the first blow.] 2 And the soldiersplatted a crown of thorns,
and put it on his head, and arrayed him in a purple garment; 3 and they came...
Thesaurus
Platted (3 Occurrences)...Platted (3 Occurrences).
... (KJV ASV WBS). Mark 15:17 And they clothed him with purple,
and
platted a crown of thorns, and put it about his head, (KJV WBS).
...Plating (13 Occurrences)
Platter (20 Occurrences)
Robe (142 Occurrences)
... (BBE). John 19:2 And the soldiersplatted a crown of thorns, and put it on his head,
and they put on him a purple robe, (KJV BBE DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)....
Plaiting (3 Occurrences)
... a braiding, a knot; an elaborate gathering of the hair into knots; emploke, "outward
adorning of plaiting the hair" (1 Peter 3:3). Compare "platted" (crown of...
Bowed (150 Occurrences)
... Matthew 27:29 And when they hadplatted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his
head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and...
Bulrush (3 Occurrences)
... the rendering of a word which denotes "belonging to a marsh," from the nature of
the soil in which it grows (Isaiah 18:2). It was sometimesplatted into ropes...
Crown (94 Occurrences)
... It was probably the thorny nabk, which grew abundantly round about Jerusalem, and
whose flexible, pliant, and round branches could easily beplatted into the...
Arrayed (46 Occurrences)
... (KJV WBS). John 19:2 And the soldiersplatted a crown of thorns, and put it
on his head, and arrayed him in a purple garment; (ASV RSV)....
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