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Bible Encyclopedias
Pillar
Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature
or is a term frequently occurring in the Scriptures, especially of the O.T., where it is used in different senses, and as the rendering of several Heb. and Gr. words, which need to be distinguished both in their meaning and application.
I. Original Words so Translated. —
1. From the root נָצִב , natsdb, to station, come the following: מִצֵּבָה, Matstsebâ h (rendered "pillar" everywhere in Genesis, and in Exodus 24:4; Deuteronomy 12:3; Isaiah 19:19; elsewhere "image"), a column or image of stone; מִצֶּבֶת, matstsebeth, a monumental" pillar" (Genesis 35:14; Genesis 35:20; 2 Samuel 18:18), once the trunk or stump of a tree ("substance," Isaiah 6:13); מֻצָּב, mutstsab, according to some a military post (as in Isaiah 29:3, "mount"), or garrison, according to others a terminal mark (Judges 9:6); נְצַיב, netsib, a statue (only Genesis 19:26, "pillar"), or military officer or garrison (as elsewhere rendered).
2. From other roots: עִמּוּד, ammnud, lit. something upright (from עָמִד, to stand), a column (the usual word for "pillar," and invariably so rendered in the A. V., but meaning an elevated stand or platform in 2 Kings 11:14; 2 Kings 23:3); מַסְעָד, mis'dd, a support (from סָעִד, to prop), a balustrade (only 1 Kings 10:12); מָצוּק, matsuk, a column (from צוּק, to set up) as a support (fig. 1 Samuel 2:8), or tropically a crag (" situate," 1 Samuel 14:5); אֹמְנָה omenah (from אָמִן , to stay up), a column (only 2 Kings 18:16); and תַּימְרָה, timerah, a column, in the form of an artificial palm-tree (Song of Solomon 3:6; Joel 2:30 [Heb. 3; 3]).
3. In the N.T.: only στύλος, a column or support (Gal. 2, 9; 1 Tim. 3, 15; Revelation 3:12; Revelation 10:1).
II. Uses. — The essential notion of a pillar is that of a shaft or isolated pile, either supporting or not supporting a roof.
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