from another form of the base of ξέστης; timber (as fuel or material); by implication, a stick, club or tree or other wooden article or substance:--staff, stocks, tree, wood.
Transliteration:xýlon
Pronunciation:xoo'-lon
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek noun `{{G3586}}` (xýlon) primarily denotes "wood" or "timber" in its raw or processed form. Its semantic range extends from this fundamental material to objects made of wood. Specifically, it can refer to:
1. **Timber or Lumber:** Wood as a building material or for fuel.
2. **A Stick or Branch:** A piece of wood, often small or broken off.
3. **A Club or Staff:** A larger piece of wood used as a weapon, tool, or walking aid.
4. **A Tree:** The living plant itself, from which wood is derived.
5. **Wooden Instruments of Punishment:** Such as "stocks" or, most significantly, the "cross" or "gallows" on which criminals were executed.
The word's flexibility allows it to describe both the general substance and specific items crafted from it, carrying a range of connotations from the mundane to the deeply symbolic.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
`{{G3586}}` appears frequently in the New Testament, illustrating its diverse applications:
* **As Wood/Timber:** In [[1 Corinthians 3:12]], Paul uses xýlon metaphorically to describe materials for building on the foundation of Christ, contrasting it with more precious substances. This highlights its common, yet less durable, nature.
* **As a Staff/Club:** When Jesus is arrested, the crowd comes with "swords and clubs" (xýlon) to seize Him, as noted in [[Matthew 26:47]], [[Mark 14:43]], and [[Luke 22:52]]. Here, xýlon signifies a crude weapon, emphasizing the violent and unjust nature of His arrest.
* **As a Tree:** The "tree of life" (xýlon zōēs) is mentioned in [[Revelation 2:7]] and [[Revelation 22:2]], [[Revelation 22:14]], [[Revelation 22:19]], recalling the Genesis narrative and pointing to the restoration of paradise and eternal life. This usage highlights its natural, living aspect and its association with divine provision.
* **As Stocks:** In [[Acts 16:24]], Paul and Silas are put into "the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks" (xýlon). This use denotes a specific wooden instrument of confinement and punishment, underscoring the physical suffering endured by the apostles.
* **As the Cross:** Most profoundly, xýlon is used to refer to the cross on which Jesus was crucified. This is seen in [[Acts 5:30]] ("God of our fathers raised Jesus, whom you murdered by hanging him on a tree"), [[Acts 10:39]] ("whom they put to death by hanging him on a tree"), [[Galatians 3:13]] ("Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, 'Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree'"), and [[1 Peter 2:24]] ("He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness"). This specific usage deliberately evokes the Old Testament curse associated with hanging on a tree.
### Related Words & Concepts
The semantic field of `{{G3586}}` intersects with several key terms and theological concepts:
* **Hebrew Equivalents:** The primary Old Testament counterpart is `{{H6086}}` ('ets), which likewise means "tree" or "wood" and is used in [[Deuteronomy 21:23]] concerning the curse of one hanged on a tree. Another related term is `{{H4294}}` (maqqel), referring to a "rod" or "staff."
* **Greek Synonyms/Related Terms:**
* `{{G4716}}` (stauros): The more specific term for the "cross" as an upright stake or pole used for crucifixion. While stauros refers to the *structure*, xýlon emphasizes the *material* of the cross, often with a specific theological nuance.
* `{{G4464}}` (rhabdos): "Rod" or "staff," often associated with authority or discipline.
* **Key Concepts:**
* **Curse and Redemption:** The explicit link to [[Deuteronomy 21:23]] in [[Galatians 3:13]] transforms the xýlon from a mere instrument of death into the very means by which Christ bore the curse for humanity, achieving redemption.
* **Life and Death:** Contrasted in the "tree of life" (symbolizing eternal life) and the "tree" of the cross (symbolizing death and curse).
* **Humiliation and Exaltation:** The xýlon of the cross represents the ultimate humiliation and ignominy, yet it is through this very instrument that God achieved His greatest act of salvation and Christ's subsequent exaltation.
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{G3586}}` is primarily concentrated in its application to the cross of Christ. By referring to the cross as a "tree" (xýlon), the New Testament authors intentionally draw a profound connection to the Old Testament law in [[Deuteronomy 21:23]], which states, "Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree."
* **Christ Bearing the Curse:** This usage emphasizes that Jesus, though sinless, became a curse for us on the xýlon of the cross ([[Galatians 3:13]]). He fully entered into humanity's fallen condition, bearing the divine judgment against sin, thereby liberating believers from the curse of the law. This highlights the substitutionary nature of His atonement.
* **The Shame of the Cross:** The term xýlon for the cross underscores the ignominy and public shame associated with crucifixion, a form of execution reserved for the lowest criminals. It prevents any romanticization of the cross, reminding us of its brutal reality and the depth of Christ's condescension.
* **Transformation of a Symbol:** What was an instrument of death and a symbol of curse is transformed by Christ's sacrifice into the means of life, forgiveness, and blessing. The xýlon becomes the central point of salvation history, where divine justice and divine love perfectly converge.
* **The Tree of Life Restored:** In Revelation, the "tree of life" (xýlon zōēs) in the New Jerusalem signifies the ultimate restoration of fellowship with God, access to eternal life, and the reversal of the curse brought by sin. This contrasts sharply with the curse-bearing tree of Golgotha, yet both are xýlon, showing the divine narrative arc from fall to redemption.
### Summary
The Greek word `{{G3586}}` (xýlon) is a versatile term encompassing "wood," "timber," "stick," "club," "staff," and "tree." While it describes mundane objects like building materials or instruments of punishment, its most profound theological significance lies in its use to refer to the cross of Christ. By designating the cross as a "tree," New Testament authors deliberately invoke the Old Testament curse associated with hanging on a xýlon. This highlights Christ's substitutionary sacrifice, where He became a curse for humanity, thereby redeeming us from the law's condemnation. This instrument of death and shame is thus transformed into the means of salvation and eternal life. Furthermore, xýlon also refers to the "tree of life" in Revelation, symbolizing the restoration of paradise and unending communion with God, completing the biblical narrative from the tree of knowledge to the tree of life, all through the pivotal xýlon of the cross.
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