the Week of Proper 28 / Ordinary 33
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Bible Dictionaries
Crown
Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary
or is a term properly taken for a cap of state worn on the heads of sovereign princes, as a mark of regal dignity. In Scripture there is frequent mention made of crowns; and the use of them seems to have been very common among the Hebrews. The high priest wore a crown, which was girt about his mitre, or the lower part of his bonnet, and was tied about his head. On the forepart was a plate of gold, with these words engraved on it: "Holiness to the Lord," Exodus 28:36; Exodus 29:6 . New-married persons of both sexes wore crowns upon their wedding day, Sonh of Solomon Exodus 3:11; and, alluding to this custom, it is said that when God entered into covenant with the Jewish nation, he put a beautiful crown upon their head, Ezekiel 16:12 . The first crowns were no more than a bandelet drawn round the head, and tied behind, as we see it still represented on medals, &c. Afterward, they consisted of two bandelets; by degrees, they took branches of trees of divers kinds, &c; at length they added flowers; and Claudius Saturninus says there was not any plant of which crowns had not been made.
There was always a difference, either in matter or form, between the crowns of kings and great men, and those of private persons. The crown of a king was generally a white fillet bound about his forehead, the extremities whereof being tied behind the head, fell back on the neck. Sometimes they were made of gold tissue, adorned with jewels. That of the Jewish high priest, which is the most ancient of which we have any description, was a fillet of gold placed upon his forehead, and tied with a ribbon of a hyacinth colour, or azure blue. The crown, mitre, and diadem, royal fillet and tiara, are frequently confounded. Crowns were bestowed on kings and princes, as the principal marks of their dignity. David took the crown of the king of the Ammonites from off his head; the crown weighed a talent of gold, and was moreover enriched with jewels, 2 Samuel 12:30; 1 Chronicles 20:2 . The Amalekite who valued himself on killing Saul, brought this prince's crown unto David, 2 Samuel 1:10 . The crown was placed upon the head of young King Josiah, when he was presented to the people, in order to be acknowledged by them, 2 Chronicles 23:11 . Baruch says that the idols of the Babylonians wore golden crowns, Bar_6:9 . Queens, too, wore diadems among the Persians. King Ahasuerus honoured Vashti with this mark of power; and, after her divorce, the same favour was granted to Esther 2:17 . The elders, in Revelation 4:10 , are said to "cast their crowns before the throne." The allusion is here to the tributary kings dependent upon the Roman emperors. Herod took off his diadem in the presence of Augustus, till ordered to replace it. Tiridates did homage to Nero by laying the ensigns of royalty at the foot of his statue.
Pilate's guard platted a crown of thorns, and placed it on the head of Jesus Christ, Matthew 27:29 , with an intention to insult him, under the character of the king of the Jews. See THORN. In a figurative sense, a crown signifies honour, splendour, or dignity, Lamentations 5:16; Php_4:1; and is also used for reward, because conquerors, in the Grecian games, were crowned, 1 Corinthians 9:25 .
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Watson, Richard. Entry for 'Crown'. Richard Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary. https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/eng/wtd/c/crown.html. 1831-2.
