Neck

Webster's Dictionary

(1): ( n.) Any part of an inanimate object corresponding to or resembling the neck of an animal

(2): ( n.) The part of an animal which connects the head and the trunk, and which, in man and many other animals, is more slender than the trunk.

(3): ( n.) The long slender part of a vessel, as a retort, or of a fruit, as a gourd.

(4): ( n.) A long narrow tract of land projecting from the main body, or a narrow tract connecting two larger tracts.

(5): ( n.) That part of a violin, guitar, or similar instrument, which extends from the head to the body, and on which is the finger board or fret board.

(6): ( n.) A reduction in size near the end of an object, formed by a groove around it; as, a neck forming the journal of a shaft.

(7): ( n.) the point where the base of the stem of a plant arises from the root.

(8): ( v. t. & i.) To kiss and caress amorously.

(9): ( v. t.) To reduce the diameter of (an object) near its end, by making a groove around it; - used with down; as, to neck down a shaft.

Vine's Expository Dictionary of NT Words

1: τράχηλος (Strong'S #5137 — Noun Masculine — trachelos — trakh'-ay-los )

is used (a) literally,  Matthew 18:6;  Mark 9:42;  Luke 17:2; of "embracing,"  Luke 15:20;  Acts 20:37; (b) metaphorically, in  Acts 15:10 , of "putting a yoke upon;"  Romans 16:4 , singular in the original, "(laid down their) neck," indicating the figurative use of the term rather than the literal. Prisca and Aquila in some way had risked their lives for the Apostle (the phrase is found with this significance in the papyri).

Fausset's Bible Dictionary

"Lay down necks," i.e. risked their lives ( Romans 16:4).  Psalms 18:40, "Thou hast given ... necks of enemies," i.e. made them turn their backs in flight before me (Keil); so  Exodus 23:27, or enabled me to put my foot on their necks, subjecting them utterly to me; as  Joshua 10:24;  Joshua 11:8;  Joshua 11:12;  Psalms 110:5.  Isaiah 8:8, "he shall overflow, he shall reach even to the neck": when the waters reach the neck a man is near drowning; Sennacherib's overflowing hosts reached so far, but Jerusalem the head was not overflowed ( Isaiah 30:28;  Habakkuk 3:13). The "stiff neck" is an image from oxen unpliant and casting the "yoke" off the neck ( Acts 7:51;  Matthew 11:29). Contrast the yoke men must wear who reject Christ's easy yoke ( Deuteronomy 28:48).

Wilson's Dictionary of Bible Types

 Genesis 27:40 (b) Here we find a type of the position of servitude. The yoke on the neck indicates subjection to another. The yoke broken from the neck indicates deliverance from the condition of servitude. (See  Deuteronomy 28:48;  Jeremiah 28:10;  Jeremiah 30:8;  Acts 15:10).

 2 Chronicles 36:13 (b) In this passage, as in many others, the stiff neck, or the hard neck, represents a rebellious spirit which refuses to bow to the will of God. It is equivalent to the expression we use about the horse, who "takes the bit in his teeth." The horse refuses to be guided by the driver. So there are those who refuse to be guided by the Lord, either in their faith or in their practices. (See also  Psalm 75:5;  Isaiah 48:4;  Jeremiah 17:23).

 Proverbs 29:1 (a) That person who refuses to listen to GOD's Word, and rejects the guidance of the Spirit will be surely punished by God.

Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible

Neck. The most usual words are ‘ôreph and tsavvâr in Heb., and trachçlos in Greek. Chains upon the neck were a common ornament (  Proverbs 1:9 etc.,   Ezekiel 16:11 ). To fall upon one another’s neck has from old time been an affectionate form of greeting in the East (  Genesis 33:4 etc.). The neck under yoke meant subjection and servitude (  Deuteronomy 28:48 etc.); breaking of the yoke meant deliverance (  Genesis 27:40 ,   Jeremiah 30:8 ). Stiff or hard of neck (  Deuteronomy 31:27 etc.) signified one difficult to guide, like a hard-necked bullock in the furrow. To put the foot upon the neck of a foe, meant his utter overthrow (  Joshua 10:24 etc.). To put the neck to work (  Nehemiah 3:5 ) was a phrase equivalent to our own ‘put a hand to.’

W. Ewing.

King James Dictionary

Neck, n. G. This word is properly the nape or vertebrae of the neck behind, and is so rendered in other languages, L. that is a knob or mass.

1. The part of an animals body which is between the head and the trunk, and connects them. In man and many other animals, this part is more slender than the trunk hence, 2. A long narrow tract of land projecting from the main body, or a narrow tract connecting two larger tracts as the neck of land between Boston and Roxbury. 3. The long slender part of a vessel,, as a retort or of a plant, as a gourd or of any instrument, as a guitar.

A stiff neck, in Scripture, denotes obstinacy in sin.

On the neck , immediately after following closely.

First by committing one sin on the neck of another.

This phrase is not much used. We more frequently say, on the heels.

To break the neck of an affair, to hinder, or to do the principal thing to prevent.

To harden the neck, to grow obstinate to be more and more perverse and rebellious.  Nehemiah 9 .

Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament

Neck. —(1) In the embrace of family salutation the smooth part of the neck below the car is the part that is kissed, first on one side and then on the other ( Luke 15:20). This is implied in Hebrew by the use of the dual form ( Genesis 46:29). (2) Prisoners and those condemned to punishment had the chain attached to a metal ring around the neck ( Luke 17:2). (3) It was on the neck of the oxen that the yoke was placed in ploughing. The freedom from all other bondage, which is conferred and naturalized by the grace of Christ, is conditioned by the yoke of service to Him ( Matthew 11:29-30).

G. M. Mackie.

Holman Bible Dictionary

 Joshua 10:24 Genesis 27:40 Deuteronomy 28:48 Isaiah 10:27 Genesis 33:4 Genesis 45:14 Luke 15:20 Exodus 32:9 Exodus 33:3 33:5

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

The phrases to "harden the neck,"  Proverbs 29:1 , and to be "stiff- necked," like a headstrong brute, illustrate the willful obstinacy of sinners against the instructions and commands of God. The tyrants of ancient days sometimes put their feet on the prostrate necks of princes, in token of their subjugation, trampling them in the dust. Their mischief sometimes returned upon their own heads,  Joshua 10:24;  Psalm 18:40 .

Easton's Bible Dictionary

 Romans 16:4 Deuteronomy 28:48 Isaiah 10:27 Jeremiah 27:2 Joshua 10:24 2 Samuel 22:41

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

nek ( צוּר , cawwār , צוּאר , cawwā'r , צוּרן , cawwārōn , צוּארה , cawwā'rāh , Aramaic צוּי , cawwar (  Daniel 5:7 ,  Daniel 5:16 ,  Daniel 5:29 ), ערף , ‛ōreph , מפרקת , miphreḳeth ( 1 Samuel 4:18 ); νῶτος , nṓtos , "back" (Baruch 2:33); occasionally the words גּרן , gārōn ( Isaiah 3:16;  Ezekiel 16:11 ), and גּרגּרות , gargerōth , plural of gargārāh , literally, "throat" ( Proverbs 1:9;  Proverbs 3:3 ,  Proverbs 3:12;  Proverbs 6:21 ), are translated "neck"): The neck is compared with a tower for beauty ( Song of Solomon 4:4;  Song of Solomon 7:4 ) and is decorated with necklaces and chains ( Proverbs 1:9;  Proverbs 3:3 ,  Proverbs 3:12;  Proverbs 6:21 , Hebrew gargerōth  ;  Ezekiel 16:11 , Hebrew gārōn , "throat";  Daniel 5:7 ,  Daniel 5:16 ,  Daniel 5:29 , Hebrew cawwār ). It is also the part of the body where the yoke, emblem of labor and hardship, dependence and subjection, is borne ( Deuteronomy 28:48;  Jeremiah 27:8 ,  Jeremiah 27:11 ,  Jeremiah 27:12;  Jeremiah 28:14;  Acts 15:10 ). "To shake off the yoke," "to break the yoke," or "to take it off" is expressive of the regaining of independence and liberty, either by one's own endeavors or through help from outside ( Genesis 27:40;  Isaiah 10:27;  Jeremiah 28:11;  Jeremiah 30:8 ). Certain animals which were not allowed as food (like the firstborn which were not redeemed) were to be killed by having their necks ( ‛ōreph ) broken ( Exodus 13:13;  Exodus 34:20 ); the turtle-doves and young pigeons, which were sacrificed as sin offerings or as burnt offerings, had their heads wrung or pinched off from their necks ( Leviticus 5:8 ). In  1 Samuel 4:18 the Hebrew word miphreḳeth signifies a fracture of the upper part of the spinal column caused by a fall.

It was a military custom of antiquity for the conqueror to place his foot upon the vanquished. This custom, frequently represented in sculpture on many an Egyptian temple wall, is referred to in  Joshua 10:24; Baruch 4:25 and probably in  Romans 16:20 and   Psalm 110:1 . Paul praises the devotion of Aquila and Priscilla, "who for my life laid down their own necks" ( Romans 16:4 ). See Footstool .

To "fall on the neck" of a person is a very usual mode of salutation in the East ( Genesis 33:4;  Genesis 45:14;  Genesis 46:29; Tobit 11:9, 13;  Luke 15:20;  Acts 20:37 ). In moments of great emotion such salutation is apt to end in weeping on each other's neck.

Readiness for work is expressed by "putting one's neck to the work" ( Nehemiah 3:5 ). Severe punishment and calamity are said to "reach to the neck" ( Isaiah 8:8;  Isaiah 30:28 ).

The Lord Jesus speaks of certain persons for whom it were better to have had a millstone put around the neck and to have been drowned in the sea. The meaning is that even the most disgraceful death is still preferable to a life of evil influence upon even the little ones of God's household ( Matthew 18:6;  Mark 9:42;  Luke 17:2 ).

To "make the neck stiff," to "harden the neck" indicates obstinacy often mingled with rebellion ( Exodus 32:9;  Exodus 33:3 ,  Exodus 33:5;  Exodus 34:9;  2 Chronicles 30:8;  2 Chronicles 36:13;  Nehemiah 9:16 ,  Nehemiah 9:17 ,  Nehemiah 9:29;  Psalm 75:5 (the Revised Version margin "insolently with a haughty neck");   Proverbs 29:1;  Jeremiah 7:26 ). Compare σκληροτράχηλος , sklērotráchēlos , "stiffnecked" ( Acts 7:51 ). Similarly Isaiah ( Isaiah 48:4 ) speaks of the neck of the obstinate sinner as resembling an iron sinew.

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

Bibliography Information McClintock, John. Strong, James. Entry for 'Neck'. Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature. https://www.studylight.org/encyclopedias/eng/tce/n/neck.html. Harper & Brothers. New York. 1870.