Crown

(1.) Denotes the plate of gold in the front of the high priest’s mitre (Ex. 29:6; 39:30). The same Hebrew word so rendered (ne’zer) denotes the diadem worn by Saul in battle (2 Sam. 1:10), and also that which was used at the coronation of Joash (2 Kings 11:12). (2.) The more general name in Hebrew for a crown is ’atarah, meaning a “circlet.” This is used of crowns and head ornaments of divers kinds, including royal crowns. Such was the crown taken from the king of Ammon by David (2 Sam. 12:30). The crown worn by the Assyrian kings was a high mitre, sometimes adorned with flowers. There are sculptures also representing the crowns worn by the early Egyptian and Persian kings. Sometimes a diadem surrounded the royal head-dress of two or three fillets. This probably signified that the wearer had dominion over two or three countries. In Rev. 12:3; 13:1, we read of “many crowns,” a token of extended dominion. (3.) The ancient Persian crown (Esther 1:11; 2:17; 6:8) was called kether; i.e., “a chaplet,” a high cap or tiara. Crowns were worn sometimes to represent honour and power (Ezek. 23:42). They were worn at marriages (Cant. 3:11; Isa. 61:10, “ornaments;” R.V., “a garland”), and at feasts and public festivals. The crown was among the Romans and Greeks a symbol of victory and reward. The crown or wreath worn by the victors in the Olympic games was made of leaves of the wild olive; in the Pythian games, of laurel; in the Nemean games, of parsley; and in the Isthmian games, of the pine. The Romans bestowed the “civic crown” on him who saved the life of a citizen. It was made of the leaves of the oak. In opposition to all these fading crowns the apostles speak of the incorruptible crown, the crown of life (James 1:12; Rev. 2:10) “that fadeth not away” (1 Pet. 5:4, Gr. amarantinos; comp. 1:4). Probably the word “amaranth” was applied to flowers we call “everlasting,” the “immortal amaranth.”

This ornament, which is both ancient and universal, probably originated from the fillets used to prevent the hair from being dishevelled by the wind. Such fillets are still common; they gradually developed into turbans, which by the addition of ornamental or precious materials assumed the dignity of mitres or crowns. Both the ordinary priests and the high priest wore them. The crown was a symbol of royalty, and was worn by kings, (2 Chronicles 23:11) and also by queens. (Esther 2:17) The head-dress of bridegrooms, (Ezekiel 24:17; Isaiah 61:10) Bar. 5:2, and of women, (Isaiah 3:20) a head-dress of great splendor, (Isaiah 28:5) a wreath of flowers, (Proverbs 1:9; 4:9) denote crowns. In general we must attach to it the notion of a costly turban irradiated with pearls and gems of priceless value, which often form aigrettes for feathers, as in the crowns of modern Asiatics sovereigns. Such was probably the crown which weighed (or rather “was worth”) a talent, mentioned in (2 Samuel 12:30) taken by David from the king of Ammon at Rabbah, and used as the state crown of Judah. (2 Samuel 12:30) In (Revelation 12:3; 19:12) allusion is made to “many crowns” worn in token of extended dominion. The laurel, pine or parsley crowns given to victors int he great games of Greece are finely alluded to by St. Paul. (1 Corinthians 9:25; 2 Timothy 2:5) etc.

CROWN. 2 Kgs 11:12. Anciently the crown or diadem was only a headband, Eze 16:12, or a ribbon or fillet, made of silk or linen, surrounding the head, and probably connected behind. Crowns arose probably from the natural custom of wearing wreaths of flowers on occasions of joy and festivity, or else from the custom of binding the hair to prevent its dishevelment by the wind. Ex 28:36-37; Ex 29:6. We find it represented on ancient medals. Newly married persons of both sexes wore crowns. Comp. Song of Solomon 3:11 with Eze 16:12. It was usually a badge of royalty or princely distinction. It was sometimes of pure gold, and was worn by kings, 2 Chr 23:11; Matt 27:29, and sometimes in battle. 2 Sam 1:10; 2 Sam 12:30. The weight, in the last passage, denotes the value, and not the Crowns. (After Ayre.) 1. Crown of Upper Egypt. 2. Crown of Upper and Lower Egypt United, 3. Assyrian Crown, from Nineveh Marbles. 4. Laurel Crown. 5. Crown of Herod the Great. 6. Crown of Aretas, King of Arabia. gravity, of the crown. Afterward the shape and size were changed, and costly ornaments appended to it. 2 Sam 12:30. It was worn by queens. Esth 2:17. It was customary for a king to wear as many crowns as he had kingdoms. Rev 19:12. The word is figuratively used by the sacred writers to denote honor, Prov 12:4, prosperity, Lam 5:16, eternal life, and blessedness. 1 Pet 5:4. The inscription on the crown of the high priest, Ex 39:30, was significant of his sacred office and functions. Such inscriptions have sometimes been placed on the crowns of princes and heroes to indicate some splendid action or service. Paul uses the custom of giving crowns of laurel or parsley to the victors in the Greek games to furnish an illustration of the difference between the honor of earthly distinction and that which comes from following Christ. In Rev 17:5 allusion seems to be made to the crown of the Jewish high priest, whose raiment is described as having the colors and ornaments of the sacred vestments. It is said that the word mystcrium ("mystery") was formerly engraven on the papal crown, and was erased in the time of Julius III. The "crown of thorns" worn by Christ, Matt 27:29, was probably made of a common Arabian plant, called ??uabk??, which has "many small and sharp spines, soft, round, pliant branches, leaves much resembling ivy, of a very deep green, as if in designed mockery of a victor's wreath."-Hasselquist, quoted in Ayre: Treasury of Bible Knowledge. The soldiers plaited the wreath for Christ rather as an insult than to cause him suffering.

CROWN. 2 Kgs 11:12. Anciently the crown or diadem was only a headband, Eze 16:12, or a ribbon or fillet, made of silk or linen, surrounding the head, and probably connected behind. Crowns arose probably from the natural custom of wearing wreaths of flowers on occasions of joy and festivity, or else from the custom of binding the hair to prevent its dishevelment by the wind. Ex 28:36-37; Ex 29:6. We find it represented on ancient medals. Newly married persons of both sexes wore crowns. Comp. Song of Solomon 3:11 with Eze 16:12. It was usually a badge of royalty or princely distinction. It was sometimes of pure gold, and was worn by kings, 2 Chr 23:11; Matt 27:29, and sometimes in battle. 2 Sam 1:10; 2 Sam 12:30. The weight, in the last passage, denotes the value, and not the Crowns. (After Ayre.) 1. Crown of Upper Egypt. 2. Crown of Upper and Lower Egypt United, 3. Assyrian Crown, from Nineveh Marbles. 4. Laurel Crown. 5. Crown of Herod the Great. 6. Crown of Aretas, King of Arabia. gravity, of the crown. Afterward the shape and size were changed, and costly ornaments appended to it. 2 Sam 12:30. It was worn by queens. Esth 2:17. It was customary for a king to wear as many crowns as he had kingdoms. Rev 19:12. The word is figuratively used by the sacred writers to denote honor, Prov 12:4, prosperity, Lam 5:16, eternal life, and blessedness. 1 Pet 5:4. The inscription on the crown of the high priest, Ex 39:30, was significant of his sacred office and functions. Such inscriptions have sometimes been placed on the crowns of princes and heroes to indicate some splendid action or service. Paul uses the custom of giving crowns of laurel or parsley to the victors in the Greek games to furnish an illustration of the difference between the honor of earthly distinction and that which comes from following Christ. In Rev 17:5 allusion seems to be made to the crown of the Jewish high priest, whose raiment is described as having the colors and ornaments of the sacred vestments. It is said that the word mystcrium ("mystery") was formerly engraven on the papal crown, and was erased in the time of Julius III. The "crown of thorns" worn by Christ, Matt 27:29, was probably made of a common Arabian plant, called ??uabk??, which has "many small and sharp spines, soft, round, pliant branches, leaves much resembling ivy, of a very deep green, as if in designed mockery of a victor's wreath."-Hasselquist, quoted in Ayre: Treasury of Bible Knowledge. The soldiers plaited the wreath for Christ rather as an insult than to cause him suffering.

Part of speech: noun (n.)

p. p. of Crow. [Obs.]

Part of speech: noun (n.)

1. A wreath or garland, or any ornamental fillet encircling the head, especially as a reward of victory or mark of honorable distinction; hence, anything given on account of, or obtained by, faithful or successful effort; a reward. "An olive branch and laurel crown." Shak. They do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptiblle. 1 Cor. ix. 25. Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. Rev. ii. 10.

2. A royal headdress or cap of sovereignty, worn by emperors, kings, princes, etc.

3. The person entitled to wear a regal or imperial crown; the sovereign; -- with the definite article. Parliament may be dissolved by the demise of the crown. Blackstone. Large arrears of pay were due to the civil and military servants of the crown. Macaulay.

4. Imperial or regal power or dominion; sovereignty. There is a power behind the crown greater than the crown itself. Junius.

5. Anything which imparts beauty, splendor, honor, dignity, or finish. The hoary head is a crown of glory, if it be found in the way of righteousness. Prov. xvi. 31. A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband. Prov. xvi. 4.

6. Highest state; acme; consummation; perfection. Mutual love, the crown of all our bliss. Milton.

7. The topmost part of anything; the summit. The steepy crown of the bare mountains. Dryden.

8. The topmost part of the head (see Illust. of Bird.); that part of the head from which the hair descends toward the sides and back; also, the head or brain. From toe to crown he'll fill our skin with pinches. Shak. Twenty things which I set down: This done, I twenty more-had in my crown. Bunyan.

9. The part of a hat above the brim.

10. The part of a tooth which projects above the gum; also, the top or grinding surface of a tooth.

11. The vertex or top of an arch; -- applied generally to about one third of the curve, but in a pointed arch to the apex only.

12. Same as Corona.

13. That part of an anchor where the arms are joined to the shank.

14. The rounding, or rounded part, of the deck from a level line. (c) pl.

15. The bights formed by the several turns of a cable. Totten.

16. The upper range of facets in a rose diamond.

17. The dome of a furnace.

18. The area inclosed between two concentric perimeters.

19. A round spot shaved clean on the top of the head, as a mark of the clerical state; the tonsure.

20. A size of writing paper. See under Paper.

21. A coin stamped with the image of a crown; hence,a denomination of money; as, the English crown, a silver coin of the value of five shillings sterling, or a little more than $1.20; the Danish or Norwegian crown, a money of account, etc., worth nearly twenty-seven cents.

22. An ornaments or decoration representing a crown; as, the paper is stamped with a crown. Crown of aberration (Astron.), a spurious circle around the true circle of the sun. -- Crown antler (Zoöl.), the topmost branch or tine of an antler; also, an antler having a cuplike top, with tines springing from the rim. -- Crown bar, one of the bars which support the crown sheet of steam-boiler furnace. -- Crown glass. See under Glass. -- Crown imperial. (Bot.) See in the Vocabulary. -- Crown jewels, the jewels appertaining to the sovereign while wearing the crown. [Eng.] "She pawned and set to sale the crown jewels." Milton. -- Crown land, land belonging to the crown, that is, to the sovereign. -- Crown law, the law which governs criminal prosecutions. [Eng.] -- Crown lawyer, one employed by the crown, as in criminal cases. [Eng.] -- Crown octavo. See under Paper. -- Crown office. See in the Vocabulary. -- Crown paper. See under Paper. -- Crown piece. See in the Vocabulary. -- Crown Prince, the heir apparent to a crown or throne. -- Crown saw. See in the Vocabulary. -- Crown scab (Far.), a cancerous sore formed round the corners of a horse's hoof. -- Crown sheet, the flat plate which forms the top of the furnace or fire box of an internally fired steam boiler. -- Crown shell. (Zoöl.) See Acorn-shell. -- Crown side. See Crown office. -- Crown tax (Eccl. Hist.), a golden crown, or its value, which was required annually from the Jews by the king of Syria, in the time of the Maccabees. 1 Macc. x. 20. -- Crown wheel. See in the Vocabulary. -- Crown work. See in the Vocabulary. -- Pleas of the crown (Engl. law), criminal actions.

Part of speech: verb (v.)

1. To cover, decorate, or invest with a crown; hence, to invest with royal dignity and power. Her who fairest does appear, Crown her queen of all the year. Dryden. Crown him, and say, "Long live our emperor." Shak.

2. To bestow something upon as a mark of honor, dignity, or recompense; to adorn; to dignify. Thou . . . hast crowned him with glory and honor. Ps. viii. 5.

3. To form the topmost or finishing part of; to complete; to consummate; to perfect. Amidst the grove that crowns yon tufted hill. Byron. One day shall crown the alliance. Shak. To crown the whole, came a proposition. Motley.

4. To cause to round upward; to make anything higher at the middle than at the edges, as the face of a machine pulley.

5. To effect a lodgment upon, as upon the crest of the glacis, or the summit of the breach. To crown a knot (Naut.), to lay the ends of the strands over and under each other.