Neck
Culture & SocietyWhat is the meaning of Neck in the Bible?
The neck is compared with a tower for beauty, decorated with jewelry, and is the part of the body where the yoke, emblem of labor and hardship, dependence and subjection, is borne. It is also associated with salutations, punishment, and obstinacy.
SIGNIFICANCE
Recognizing the neck as a symbol of both vulnerability and strength clarifies metaphors regarding servitude, authority, and physical endurance found in biblical narratives.
Bible Study Quick-Reference Guide
Ancient Cultural Lens: Avoid applying 21st-century Western assumptions to Neck. Examine how first-century or Near Eastern listeners understood this practice within their daily social dynamics.
Bible Study Reflection Prompts:
- Why did the biblical author mention Neck in this passage?
- What cultural or historical assumption does Neck clarify?
Related Topics
Source Attribution
Built upon the 1915 International Standard Bible Encyclopedia and Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897). Entries have been modernized, checked for academic truthfulness, and shortened for clarity.
How to Cite This Entry
"Neck." Ancient Context Dictionary. Accessed 2026. https://ancientcontext.com/context/neck/