Encyclopedia entry
Crown
Disambiguation
The source enumerates 3 distinct subjects under Crown. Jump to one below, or read in order.
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).
Crown (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.
Crown (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.”
Also from Smith's (1884) +−
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.
In the Bible
75
Verses where Crown is named. Berean Standard Bible (public domain).
- 1 Chronicles 20:2
Then David took the crown from the head of their king. It was found to weigh a talent of gold and was set with precious stones, and it was placed on David’s head. And David took a great amount of plunder from the city.
- 1 Corinthians 9:25
Everyone who competes in the games trains with strict discipline. They do it for a crown that is perishable, but we do it for a crown that is imperishable.
- 1 Kings 7:31
The opening to each stand inside the crown at the top was one cubit deep, with a round opening like the design of a pedestal, a cubit and a half wide. And around its opening were engravings, but the panels of the stands were square, not round.
- 1 Peter 5:4
And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.
- 1 Thessalonians 2:19
After all, who is our hope, our joy, our crown of boasting, if it is not you yourselves in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming?
- 2 Chronicles 23:11
Then Jehoiada and his sons brought out the king’s son, put the crown on him, presented him with the Testimony, and proclaimed him king. They anointed him and shouted, “Long live the king!”
+69 more verses naming Crown.
Scripture on Crown
65
See all 65 +−
- Revelation 12Exodus 29Exodus 30Deuteronomy 332 Samuel 12 Kings 112 Chronicles 23Esther 1Esther 2Song of Solomon 3Isaiah 3Zechariah 6John 191 Corinthians 92 Timothy 2James 11 Peter 5Revelation 2Genesis 49Exodus 39Leviticus 8Leviticus 212 Samuel 141 Kings 71 Chronicles 20Esther 6Esther 8Job 2Job 19Job 31Psalms 21Psalms 65Psalms 89Psalms 132Proverbs 1Proverbs 4Proverbs 11Proverbs 12Proverbs 14Proverbs 16Proverbs 17Proverbs 27Isaiah 62Jeremiah 2Jeremiah 13Jeremiah 48Lamentations 5Ezekiel 16Ezekiel 21Ezekiel 23Ezekiel 24Zechariah 9Matthew 27Mark 15Philippians 41 Thessalonians 22 Timothy 4Revelation 3Revelation 6Revelation 14
Crown references
19
Voices on Crown
20
Surfaced by name match — accuracy varies by title clarity.
Sources · Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897) · Smith's Bible Dictionary (1884)
Public-domain text. Modernized only where archaic spelling impedes reading; original facts preserved. Verify against an authoritative modern reference before quoting.