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Biblical Meaning of Pillar and Pillow

The Hebrew word for "pillar," commonly עַמּוּד ('ammud), appears frequently in the Old Testament, denoting various types of upright structures [10, 11, 12, 13]. Other related terms include אַ֖יִל ('ayil) and אֵֽיל\־ ('eil-) [6, 7]. Pillars served multiple functions, from structural support to commemorative markers.

As architectural elements, pillars were used to support buildings, as seen in Samson's destruction of the Philistine temple (Judges 16:26, 29) [1]. They could be made from various materials such as marble, wood, iron, brass, or silver [4]. In the Tabernacle, pillars supported the veil and hangings (Exodus 26:32, 37) [4]. King Solomon's Temple featured two prominent pillars in its porch (1 Kings 7:15-21) [4].

Beyond their structural role, pillars often functioned as votive or monumental markers [2]. Jacob set up a stone as a pillar after his dream at Bethel (Genesis 28:18) and later erected a pillar over Rachel's grave (Genesis 35:20) [1, 2]. These memorial pillars could be single stones or heaps of stones (Genesis 31:51; Joshua 4:8, 9, 20) [4, 8]. They served to witness vows and covenants (Genesis 28:18; 31:13, 52) [4, 17]. While Moses set up twelve pillars (Exodus 24:4), later Israelite law prohibited setting up certain types of pillars, which some interpreters understand as those used in idolatrous worship, distinguishing them from pillars honoring the Lord [15, 18].

Perhaps the most significant biblical usage of "pillar" is in the "pillar of cloud by day and of fire by night" that guided the Israelites through the wilderness (Exodus 13:21-22) [9]. This divine manifestation symbolized God's presence and protection [3, 14, 16]. The cloud would rest on the Tabernacle when the Israelites encamped and would move ahead of them when they traveled [3]. This pillar is understood by some as a pre-incarnate appearance of Christ, guiding His people [14]. The continuous presence of this pillar was a testament to God's enduring mercy (Psalm 136:16) [19].

The term "pillow" in the Bible refers to objects used for resting the head. In Genesis 28:11, 18, Jacob used a stone "for his pillows" (KJV) or "under his head" (RV) [5]. Other Hebrew words are translated as "pillow" or "bolster." For instance, kebir (1 Samuel 19:13, 16) might refer to a quilt or network protecting the sleeper's head, while meraashoth' (1 Samuel 26:7, 11, 16) is accurately rendered "at his head" [5]. In Ezekiel 13:18, 20, kesathoth denotes cushions or pillows [5].

Sources

  1. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Pillar — Used to support a building (Judg. 16:26, 29); as a trophy or memorial (Gen. 28:18; 35:20; Ex. 24:4; 1 Sam. 15:12, A.V., "place," more correctly "monument," or "trophy of victory," as in 2 Sam. 18:18); of fire, by which the Divine Presence was manifested (Ex. 13:2). The "plain of the pillar" in Judg. 9:6 ought to be, as in the Revised Version, the "oak of the pillar", i.e., of the monument or stone set up by Joshua (24:26).”
  2. Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Pillar — The notion of a pillar is of a shaft or isolated pile either supporting or not supporting a roof. But perhaps the earliest application of the pillar was the votive or monumental, This in early times consisted of nothing but a single stone or pile of stones. (Genesis 28:18; 31:40) etc. The stone Ezel, (1 Samuel 20:19) was probably a terminal stone or a way-mark. The "place" set up by Saul (1 Samuel 15:12) is explained by St, Jerome to be a trophy. So also Jacob set up a pillar over Rachel's grave. (Genesis 36:20) The monolithic tombs and obelisks of Petra are ”
  3. Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Cloud, Pillar Of — The pillar of cloud by day and of fire by night that God caused to pass before the camp of the children of Israel when in the wilderness. The cloud, which became a pillar when the host moved, seems to have rested at other times on the tabernacle, whence god is said to have "come down in the pillar." (Numbers 12:5; Exodus 33:9,10) It preceded the host, apparently resting on the ark which led the way. (Exodus 13:21; 40:36) etc.; Numb 9:15-23; 10:34”
  4. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Pillars — The supports of a building -- Jdj 16:29. Things raised up as memorials -- Ge 31:51. Made of Marble. -- Es 1:6. Wood. -- 1Ki 10:12. Iron. -- Jer 1:18. Brass. -- 1Ki 7:15. Silver. -- Song 3:10. The vail and hangings of the tabernacle supported by -- Ex 26:32,37; 36:36,38. Two, placed in the temple porch -- 1Ki 7:15-21. Of memorial Sometimes of a single stone. -- Ge 28:18. Sometimes of a heap of stones. -- Jos 4:8,9,20. To witness vows. -- Ge 28:18; 31:13. To witness covenants. -- Ge 31:52. To mark the graves of the dead. -- Ge 35:20. To commemorate remarkable”
  5. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Bolster — The Hebrew word kebir, rendered "pillow" in 1 Sam. 19:13, 16, but in Revised Version marg. "quilt" or "network," probably means some counterpane or veil intended to protect the head of the sleeper. A different Hebrew word (meraashoth') is used for "bolster" (1 Sam. 26:7, 11, 16). It is rightly rendered in Revised Version "at his head." In Gen. 28:11, 18 the Authorized Version renders it "for his pillows," and the Revised Version "under his head." In Ezek. 13:18, 20 another Hebrew word (kesathoth) is used, properly denoting "cushions" or "pillows," as so ren”
  6. STEPBible TAHOT “Ezk.41.3#04=L — Hebrew tagged text (TAHOT): אֵֽיל\־ ['eil-] "[the] pillar of"”
  7. STEPBible TAHOT “Ezk.40.16#18=L — Hebrew tagged text (TAHOT): אַ֖יִל ['A.yil] "a pillar"”
  8. Genesis “May this heap be a witness, and the pillar be a witness, that I will not pass over this heap to you, and that you will not pass over this heap and this pillar to me, for harm. -- Genesis 31:52”
  9. Exodus “the pillar of cloud by day, and the pillar of fire by night, didn’t depart from before the people. -- Exodus 13:22”
  10. STEPBible TAHOT “Exo.33.10#05=L — Hebrew tagged text (TAHOT): עַמּ֣וּד ['a.Mud] "[the] pillar of"”
  11. STEPBible TAHOT “Exo.13.22#03=L — Hebrew tagged text (TAHOT): עַמּ֤וּד ['a.Mud] "[the] pillar of"”
  12. STEPBible TAHOT “Exo.33.9#06=L — Hebrew tagged text (TAHOT): עַמּ֣וּד ['a.Mud] "[the] pillar of"”
  13. STEPBible TAHOT “Exo.14.19#11=L — Hebrew tagged text (TAHOT): עַמּ֤וּד ['a.Mud] "[the] pillar of"”
  14. Exodus (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Exodus 13:21: The Lord went before them - That by the Lord here is meant the Lord Jesus, we have the authority of St. Paul to believe, Co1 10:9 : it was he whose Spirit they tempted in the wilderness, for it was he who led them through the desert to the promised rest. Pillar of a cloud - This pillar or column, which appeared as a cloud by day, and a fire by night, was the symbol of the Divine presence. This was the Shechinah or Divine dwelling place, and was the continual proof of the presence and protection of God. It was necessary that they should have a guide to direct them t”
  15. Sefaria (Jewish (Rationalist)) “Abraham Ibn Ezra on Genesis 28:17: THIS IS NONE OTHER THAN THE HOUSE OF GOD. This is a chosen place where a man in time of need will pray and his supplications will be accepted. Many ask, how could Jacob set up a pillar? 34 Deut. 16:22 prohibits setting up a pillar. However, they have forgotten that Moses set up twelve pillars. 35 Ex. 24:4. Scripture does not prohibit a pillar set up to honor the Lord. Scripture merely states, Neither shalt thou set thee up a pillar, which the Lord thy God hateth (Deut. 16:22). I will explain the latter verse when I come to it. 36 Ibn Ezra on Deut. 16:22 expla”
  16. Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 78:14: 78:14 God used a cloud and a pillar of fire to guide and protect Israel in the wilderness (Exod 13:21-22).”
  17. Genesis (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Genesis 31:49: This heap be witness,.... Agreeably to its name, which both he and Jacob gave unto it: and this pillar be witness: which was set up for the same purpose: that I will not pass over this heap to thee, and that thou shalt not pass over this heap and this pillar unto me, for harm; not that these were to be the boundaries of their respective countries; for neither of them at present were possessed of lands that reached hither, if of any at all; nor that it would be a breach of covenant to pass over or by those, from one country into another, but so as to do, or with ”
  18. Sefaria (Jewish (Kabbalistic/Philosophical)) “Ramban (Nachmanides) on Genesis 28:18: AND HE SET IT UP FOR A PILLAR. Our Rabbis have explained 52 Yerushalmi Abodah Zarah IV, 5. the difference between a pillar and an altar by saying that a pillar consists of one stone while an altar is composed of many stones. It further appears that a pillar is made for pouring libations of wine upon it and for the pouring of oil upon it, but not for sacrifices and not for offerings, whereas an altar is for bringing Burnt-offerings and Peace-offerings thereon. When Israel entered the Land, the pillar was prohibited to them 53 Deuteromony 16:22. because the”
  19. Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 136:16: To him which led his people through the wilderness,.... Where there was no path. This the Lord did by going before them in a pillar of cloud by day, and in a pillar of fire by night, to show them the way in which they should go, Exo 13:21; see Psa 78:14; for his mercy endureth for ever; among the manifold mercies of God, shown to Israel in the wilderness, this is one taken notice of by Nehemiah, Neh 9:19; that the pillar of cloud and fire, to direct them, never departed from them while in it: and this act of "leading" them not only includes the guidance of them in”
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