CROCODILE to CUCKOO
Contents
CROCODILE
See DRAGON
CROSS
in the New Testament the instrument of crucifixion, and hence used for the crucifixion of Christ itself (Eph. 2:16; Heb. 12:2; 1 Cor. 1:17, 18; Gal. 5:11; 6:12, 14; Phil. 3:18). The word is also used to denote any severe affliction or trial (Matt. 10:38; 16:24; Mark 8:34; 10:21).
The forms in which the cross is represented are these:
1. The crux simplex (I), a "single piece without transom."
2. The crux decussata (X), or St. Andrew's cross.
3. The crux commissa (T), or St. Anthony's cross.
4. The crux immissa (t), or Latin cross, which was the kind of cross on which our Saviour died. Above our Lord's head, on the projecting beam, was placed the "title."
After the conversion, so-called, of Constantine the Great (B.C. 313), the cross first came into use as an emblem of Christianity. He pretended at a critical moment that he saw a flaming cross in the heavens bearing the inscription, "In hoc signo vinces", i.e., By this sign thou shalt conquer, and that on the following night Christ himself appeared and ordered him to take for his standard the sign of this cross.
In this form a new standard, called the Labarum, was accordingly made, and borne by the Roman armies. It remained the standard of the Roman army till the downfall of the Western empire. It bore the embroidered monogram of Christ, i.e., the first two Greek letters of his name, X and P (chi and rho), with the Alpha and Omega.
Jesus crucified on Mt 27:32; Mr 15:21; Lk 23:26; Ac 2:23, 36; 4:10; 1Co 1:23; 2:2, 8; Eph 2:16; Php 2:8; Col 1:20; 2:14; Heb 12:2
Carried by .Simon Mt 27:32; Mr 15:21; Lk 23:26 .Jesus Jn 19:17
FIGURATIVE Mt 10:38; 16:24; Mr 8:34; 10:21; Lk 9:23; 14:27; 1Co 1:17, 18; Ga 5:11; 6:14; Php 3:18 .
See CRUCIFIXION
See SELF-DENIAL
CROSS-QUESTIONING
General scriptures concerning Pr 20:5
See WITNESS
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).
(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.
(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 (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;). Probably the word "amaranth" was applied to flowers we call "everlasting," the "immortal amaranth."
Prescribed for priests Ex 29:6; 39:30; Le 8:9
Worn by kings 2Sa 1:10; 12:30; 2Ki 11:12; Es 6:8; So 3:11; Re 6:2
By queens Es 1:11; 2:17; 8:15
Made of gold Ps 21:3; Zec 6:11
Of victory 2Ti 2:5
An ornament Eze 23:42; 16:12
Set with gems 2Sa 12:30; 1Ch 20:2; Zec 9:16; Isa 62:3
Of thorns Mt 27:29; Mr 15:17; Jn 19:5
FIGURATIVE Isa 28:5; 1Co 9:25; 2Ti 4:8; Jas 1:12; 1Pe 5:4; Re 2:10; 3:11
SYMBOLICAL Re 4:4, 10; 6:2; 9:7; 12:1, 3; 13:1; 14:14; 19:12
Crown of thorns our Lord was crowned with a, in mockery by the Romans (Matt. 27:29). The object of Pilate's guard in doing this was probably to insult, and not specially to inflict pain. There is nothing to show that the shrub thus used was, as has been supposed, the spina Christi, which could have been easily woven into a wreath. It was probably the thorny nabk, which grew abundantly round about Jerusalem, and whose flexible, pliant, and round branches could easily be platted into the form of a crown.
(See THRONE
CRUCIFIXION
a common mode of punishment among heathen nations in early times. It is not certain whether it was known among the ancient Jews; probably it was not. The modes of capital punishment according to the Mosaic law were, by the sword (Ex. 21), strangling, fire (Lev. 20), and stoning (Deut. 21:1 all).
This was regarded as the most horrible form of death, and to a Jew it would acquire greater horror from the curse in Deut. 21:23.
This punishment began by subjecting the sufferer to scourging. In the case of our Lord, however, his scourging was rather before the sentence was passed upon him, and was inflicted by Pilate for the purpose, probably, of exciting pity and procuring his escape from further punishment (Luke 23:22; John 19:1).
The condemned one carried his own cross to the place of execution, which was outside the city, in some conspicuous place set apart for the purpose. Before the nailing to the cross took place, a medicated cup of vinegar mixed with gall and myrrh (the sopor) was given, for the purpose of deadening the pangs of the sufferer. Our Lord refused this cup, that his senses might be clear (Matt. 27:34).
The spongeful of vinegar, sour wine, posca, the common drink of the Roman soldiers, which was put on a hyssop stalk and offered to our Lord in contemptuous pity (Matt. 27:48; Luke 23:36), he tasted to allay the agonies of his thirst (John 19:29). The accounts given of the crucifixion of our Lord are in entire agreement with the customs and practices of the Roman in such cases.
He was crucified between two "malefactors" (Isa. 53:12; Luke 23:32), and was watched by a party of four soldiers (John 19:23; Matt. 27:36, 54), with their centurion. The "breaking of the legs" of the malefactors was intended to hasten death, and put them out of misery (John 19:31); but the unusual rapidity of our Lord's death (Jn 19:33) was due to his previous sufferings and his great mental anguish. The omission of the breaking of his legs was the fulfilment of a type (Ex. 12:46). He literally died of a broken heart, a ruptured heart, and hence the flowing of blood and water from the wound made by the soldier's spear (John 19:34).
Our Lord uttered seven memorable words from the cross, namely,
(1) Luke 23:34;
(2) Lk 23:43;
(3) John 19:26;
(4) Matt. 27:46, Mark 15:34;
(5) John 19:28;
(6) Jn 19:30;
(7) Luke 23:46.
The reproach of Ga 3:13; 5:11
Of Jesus.
Of two criminals Mt 27:38 Of disciples, foretold Mt 23:34
See CROSS
FIGURATIVE Ro 6:6; Ga 2:20; 5:24; 6:14
CRUELTY
INSTANCES OF .Of Sarah to Hagar Ge 16:6; 21:9-14 .Egyptians to the Israelites Ex 5:6-18 .Peninnah to Hannah 1Sa 1:4-7; 2:3 .Of Jews to Jesus Mt 26:67; 27:28-31 .Soldiers to Jesus Lk 22:64; Jn 19:3 .In war Isa 13:16, 18 .
See ANIMALS, CRUELTY TO
See KINDNESS
See LOVE
See MALICE
See PRISONERS OF WAR
CRUSE
a utensil; a flask or cup for holding water (1 Sam. 26:11, 12, 16; 1 Kings 19:6) or oil (1 Kings 17:12, 14, 16). In 1 Kings 14:3 the word there so rendered means properly a bottle, as in Jer. 19:1, 10, or pitcher.
In 2 Kings 2:20, a platter or flat metal saucer is intended. The Hebrew word here used is translated "dish" in Heb 21:13; "pans," in 2 Chr. 35:13; and "bosom," in Prov. 19:24; 26:15 (R.V., "dish").
A vessel for liquids 1Sa 26:11; 1Ki 14:3; 2Ki 2:20
CRYSTAL
A precious stone Job 28:17; Eze 1:22; Re 4:6; 21:11; 22:1
CUBIT
Heb. 'ammah; i.e., "mother of the arm," the fore-arm, is a word derived from the Latin cubitus, the lower arm.
It is difficult to determine the exact length of this measure, from the uncertainty whether it included the entire length from the elbow to the tip of the longest finger, or only from the elbow to the root of the hand at the wrist.
The probability is that the longer was the original cubit. The common computation as to the length of the cubit makes it Heb 20.24 inches for the ordinary cubit, and 21.888 inches for the sacred one.
This is the same as the Egyptian measurements.
A rod or staff the measure of a cubit is called in Judg. 3:16 gomed, which literally means a "cut," something "cut off." The LXX. and Vulgate render it "span."
A measure of distance Ge 6:16; Deut 3:11; Eze 40:5; 43:13; Re 21:17
Who can add to his height Mt 6:27; Lk 12:25
CUCKOO
(Heb. shahaph), from a root meaning "to be lean; slender." This bird is mentioned only in Lev. 11:16 and Deut. 14:15 (R.V., "seamew").
Some have interpreted the Hebrew word by "petrel" or "shearwater" (Puffinus cinereus), which is found on the coast of Syria; others think it denotes the "sea-gull" or "seamew." The common cuckoo (Cuculus canorus) feeds on reptiles and large insects.
It is found in Asia and Africa as well as in Europe. It only passes the winter in Palestine. The Arabs suppose it to utter the cry Yakub, and hence they call it tir el-Yakub; i.e., "Jacob's bird."
(A bird)
Forbidden as food Le 11:16; Deut 14:15