Lexical Summary hélos: Nail Original Word: ἧλος Strong's Exhaustive Concordance nail. Of uncertain affinity; a stud, i.e. Spike -- nail. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. word Definition a nail NASB Translation nails (2). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 2247: ἧλοςἧλος, ἠλου, ὁ, a nail: John 20:25. ((From Homer on.)). Topical Lexicon Canonical OccurrenceJohn 20:25 supplies the sole New Testament setting for the word, appearing twice in Thomas’s declaration of conditional belief: “Unless I see the nail marks in His hands and put my finger into the nail marks… I will never believe.”. The context fixes the term permanently to the crucifixion wounds of Jesus Christ and anchors it to the historicity of His bodily resurrection. Historical Background: Nails and Roman Crucifixion First–century executions by crucifixion relied on large iron spikes driven through the victim’s wrists or hands and feet, securing the condemned to a wooden stauros. Archaeological finds—most notably the heel bone of Yehohanan, pierced by a seven-inch nail—confirm the practice. Such nails symbolized state authority and public shame; they were intended to prolong agony and display deterrence. That the Gospel writers emphasize the marks underscores both Jesus’s genuine death and the brutal means by which atonement was wrought. Prophetic and Typological Connections 1. Psalm 22:16 anticipates, “They have pierced My hands and feet,” an image fulfilled in the nail wounds Christ retained after resurrection (John 20:27). Doctrinal and Pastoral Significance • Evidence of Bodily Resurrection: The lasting marks verified continuity between the crucified and risen Lord, meeting Thomas’s demand for empirical proof and establishing a foundation for eyewitness testimony (John 20:28–29). Applications for Ministry and Worship • Preaching: The nail marks provide a concrete entry point for explaining penal substitution, bodily resurrection, and apologetic confidence. Related Concepts and Further Study Crucifixion; Resurrection Appearances; Evidences for Faith; Messianic Prophecy; Suffering Servant; Doubt and Assurance; Roman Penal Practice. Forms and Transliterations ήλοι ήλοις ήλους ηλων ήλων ἥλων elon ēlōn helon hēlōn hḗlon hḗlōnLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance John 20:25 N-GMPGRK: τύπον τῶν ἥλων καὶ βάλω NAS: the imprint of the nails, and put KJV: hands the print of the nails, and put INT: mark of the nails and put John 20:25 N-GMP |
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