Lectionary Calendar
Monday, October 7th, 2024
the Week of Proper 22 / Ordinary 27
Attention!
Tired of seeing ads while studying? Now you can enjoy an "Ads Free" version of the site for as little as 10¢ a day and support a great cause!
Click here to learn more!

Bible Dictionaries
Obelisk

Holman Bible Dictionary

Search for…
or
1 2 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z
Prev Entry
Obeisance, Do
Next Entry
Obil
Resource Toolbox
Additional Links
(ahb' eh lihssk) Stone pillar used in worship, especially of the Egyptian sun god Amun-Ra. Four-sided and made from one stone, obelisks tapered to the top, where a pyramid rested. They apparently symbolized the rays of the rising sun and the hope of the Pharaoh for rejuvenation and new vitality. At times, they were used in tombs to represent hope for resurrection. A four thousand-year-old obelisk still stands in modern Matariyeh, ancient On. Another has been transplanted to Central Park in New York City. Many obelisks were built from about 1550 to about 1100 B.C. Some were more than 100 feet tall. The Hebrew term translated obelisks at Jeremiah 43:13 (NAS, NRSV, RSV) means pillar or standing stone (“sacred stone,” NIV, REB). The Egyptian context suggests the pillars were in fact obelisks, perhaps dedicated to the sun-god Ra. See on .

Bibliography Information
Butler, Trent C. Editor. Entry for 'Obelisk'. Holman Bible Dictionary. https://www.studylight.org/​dictionaries/​eng/​hbd/​o/obelisk.html. 1991.
 
adsfree-icon
Ads FreeProfile