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CROWN
1. In the OT.—The word represents several Heb. terms with distinct meanings. (1) zçr, properly an edge or border, with the suggestion of a twisted or wreathed appearance. It occurs only in Ex (Exo_25:11 and frequently). It is always of gold, and in the furniture of the Tabernacle surrounds the ark, the table of shew-bread and its border, the altar of incense. RVm [Note: Revised Version margin.] gives as alternative renderings ‘rim,’ ‘moulding.’ Its purpose seems to have been ornamental merely.—(2) nçzer, properly ‘mark of separation or consecration’ (fr. nâzar ‘to separate, consecrate’; whence nâzir = ‘Nazirite’). Originally it was no more than a fillet to confine hair that was worn long (W. R. Smith, RS [Note: S Religion of the Semites.] 2 p. 483). It is used of the crown set upon the forehead of the high priest (Exo_29:6 etc.)—a plate of pure gold with the engraving ‘Holy to J″ [Note: Jahweh.] ’ (Exo_39:30, cf. Lev_8:9), and also of the crown worn by Heb. kings (2Sa_1:10, 2Ki_11:12). In both cases it was the symbol of consecration.—(3) kether, similar in meaning to (2) but without the idea of consecration, is used in Est. (Est_1:11; Est_2:17; Est_6:8) to denote the diadem of a Persian king or queen.—(4) ’atârah, the word that is most frequent and of the most general significance. It is applied to the crown worn by kings, whether Jewish (2Sa_12:30 etc.) or foreign (1Ch_20:2, Est_8:15 [cf. Est_6:8]), to the wreath worn at banquets (Isa_28:1; Isa_28:3, Eze_23:42); but also in a fig. sense, as when, e.g. a virtuous woman is called her husband’s crown (Pro_12:4), a hoary head the crown of old age (Pro_16:31), the Lord of hosts the crown of His people (Isa_28:5).—(5) qodhqôdh is the crown or top of the head, as in the expression ‘from the sole of his foot even unto his crown’ (Job_2:7); cf. Gen_49:26, Deu_33:20 etc.—The vb. ‘to crown’ is comparatively rare in the OT: ‘âtar (corresponding to (4) above) is found in Psa_8:5; Psa_65:11; Psa_103:4, Son_3:11, Isa_23:8; kathar (corresp. to (3)) in Pro_14:18; nâzar (corresponding to (2)) in Nah_3:17.
2. In the NT.—In AV [Note: Authorized Version.] ‘crown’ represents two Gr. words: (1) stephanos (whence stephanoô, ‘to crown’), (2) diadema; the former being the badge of merit or victory, the latter (found only in Rev_12:3; Rev_13:1; Rev_19:12) the mark of royalty. This distinction, though not strictly observed in LXX [Note: Septuagint.] , is properly maintained in RV [Note: Revised Version.] , where (2) is in each case rendered ‘diadem.’ The stephanos (properly ‘wreath’ = Lat. corona) was the garland given as a prize to the victors in the games (1Co_9:25; cf. 2Ti_2:5). It is the word applied to our Lord’s ‘crown of thorns’ (Mat_27:29, Mar_15:17, Joh_19:2; Joh_19:5). It is used figuratively of the ‘crown of righteousness’ (2Ti_4:8), ‘of life’ (Jam_1:12, Rev_2:10), ‘of glory’ (1Pe_5:4). St. Paul applies it to his converts as being his joy and reward (Php_4:1, 1Th_2:19); and in Rev. it is employed in various symbolical connexions (Rev_4:4; Rev_4:10; Rev_6:2; Rev_9:7; Rev_12:1; Rev_14:14).
J. C. Lambert.