In biblical literature, the term "splinter" is often used metaphorically to illustrate moral and spiritual lessons, particularly in the context of judgment and self-awareness. The most notable reference to a splinter is found in the teachings of Jesus Christ, where it serves as a powerful symbol of hypocrisy and the importance of self-examination.

Biblical Reference:

The primary scriptural reference to a splinter is found in the Gospel of Matthew. Jesus uses the imagery of a splinter to teach about the dangers of judging others while ignoring one's own faults:

"Why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but fail to notice the beam in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ while there is still a beam in your own eye? You hypocrite! First take the beam out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye." (Matthew 7:3-5)

In this passage, the "speck" or "splinter" represents minor faults or sins in others, while the "beam" or "log" signifies more significant sins or shortcomings in oneself. Jesus emphasizes the need for personal introspection and repentance before attempting to correct others.

Theological Implications:

The metaphor of the splinter and the beam underscores the biblical principle of humility and self-awareness. It calls believers to recognize their own imperfections and to approach others with grace and understanding. This teaching aligns with the broader biblical theme of mercy and forgiveness, as seen in other passages such as James 2:13, which states, "For judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment."

Practical Application:

In practical terms, the lesson of the splinter encourages Christians to engage in regular self-examination and to seek God's guidance in identifying and addressing their own sins. It serves as a reminder to prioritize personal spiritual growth and to extend compassion and patience to others. This teaching also cautions against the human tendency to focus on the faults of others while neglecting one's own need for repentance and transformation.

Cultural and Historical Context:

In the cultural and historical context of the New Testament, the imagery of the splinter and the beam would have been vivid and relatable to Jesus' audience. Carpentry was a common trade, and the contrast between a small splinter and a large beam would have been easily understood. This metaphor effectively communicated the absurdity of focusing on minor issues in others while ignoring significant personal failings.

Overall, the biblical use of the term "splinter" serves as a timeless reminder of the importance of humility, self-reflection, and the pursuit of righteousness in the life of a believer.1. (n.) To split or rend into long, thin pieces; to shiver; as, the lightning splinters a tree.

2. (n.) To fasten or confine with splinters, or splints, as a broken limb.

3. (v. i.) To become split into long pieces.

4. (n.) A thin piece split or rent off lengthwise, as from wood, bone, or other solid substance; a thin piece; a sliver; as, splinters of a ship's mast rent off by a shot.

2595. karphos -- a small dry stalk
... Transliteration: karphos Phonetic Spelling: (kar'-fos) Short Definition: a dry stalk,
chip of wood Definition: a dry stalk, chip of wood, twig, splinter, chaff ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2595.htm - 6k

4647. skolops -- anything pointed, spec. a stake, thorn
... [4647 () refers to a thorn (sharp splinter) or even ; in Hellenistic vernacular, ().
4647 () typically means "thorn" in the ().]. Word Origin a prim. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4647.htm - 7k

2608a. katagnumi -- to break in pieces
... Word Origin from kata and agnumi (to break, splinter) Definition to break in pieces
NASB Word Usage break (2), broke (1), broken (1). 2608, 2608a. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2608a.htm - 5k

7110b. qetseph -- probably a splinter
... 7110a, 7110b. qetseph. 7111 . probably a splinter. Transliteration: qetseph
Short Definition: stick. Word Origin from the same as ...
/hebrew/7110b.htm - 5k

7110. qetseph -- wrath
... foam, indignation, sore, wrath From qatsaph; a splinter (as chipped off); figuratively,
rage or strife -- foam, indignation, X sore, wrath. see HEBREW qatsaph. ...
/hebrew/7110.htm - 5k

Personal Notes: Relics Nearby that the Three Kings had Given to ...
... Him from Sychar. I saw him so plainly; some of his bones must be among
my relics, a little thin white splinter. His name sounds ...
/.../the life of the blessed virgin mary/xv personal notes relics nearby.htm

The Mote and the Beam
... A mote means in the Greek a little splinter, whereas a beam means a rafter.
And the Lord Jesus means by this comparison to tell ...
//christianbookshelf.org/hession/the calvary road/chapter 7 the mote and.htm

The Feast of Tabernacles.
... declares that "Jesus is the Christ the Son of the living God," and the Lord, after
commending Peter and declaring that he shall be a stone or splinter of the ...
/.../johnson/the new testament commentary vol iii john/the feast of tabernacles.htm

How a Certain Person in Ireland was Restored, when at the Point of ...
... faith therein. Then I blessed some water, and put into it a splinter of
the aforesaid oak, and gave it to the sick man to drink. He ...
/.../bede/bedes ecclesiastical history of england/chap xiii how a certain.htm

The Sermon on the Mount.
... Jesus graphically and grotesquely represents a man with a log, or rafter, in his
eye trying to take a chip or splinter out of his neighbor's eye. ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/xlii the sermon on the 7.htm

The System of the Sethians; their Triad of Infinite Principles ...
... For a very diminutive spark, a severed splinter from above like the ray of a star,
has been mingled in the much compounded waters of many (existences), [518] as ...
/.../hippolytus/the refutation of all heresies/chapter xiv the system of the.htm

To the Editors of El Espanol
... They trust not in stick nor stone, in picture nor in image, in splinter of cross
nor bone of saint, but in Christ alone"not in His mother or His brother"He ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/borrow/letters of george borrow/to the editors of el.htm

The Siege. (xxi, xxxii-xxxiv, xxxvii, xxxviii. )
... civil or military, to such a perjured Government does not even deserve to be called
constitutional pedantry, for it has not a splinter of constitutionalism to ...
//christianbookshelf.org/smith/jeremiah/3 the siege xxi xxxii-xxxiv.htm

The Two Sabbath-Controversies - the Plucking of the Ears of Corn ...
... [3581] Similarly, medical aid might be called in, if a person had swallowed a piece
of glass; a splinter might be removed from the eye, and even a thorn from ...
/.../chapter xxxv the two sabbath-controversies.htm

Fifth Sunday after Trinity Exhortation to the Fruits of Faith.
... In short, an angry heart knows no moderation and cannot equally repay, but must
make of a splinter, even a mote, a great beam, or must fan a tiny spark into a ...
/.../luther/epistle sermons vol iii/fifth sunday after trinity exhortation.htm

Splinter (5 Occurrences)
...Splinter (5 Occurrences). Matthew 7:3 And why do you look at the splinter in your
brother's eye, and not notice the beam which is in your own eye? (WEY). ...
/s/splinter.htm - 8k

Splint (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) A piece split off; a splinter. ... 7. (vt) To split
into splints, or thin, slender pieces; to splinter; to shiver. ...
/s/splint.htm - 7k

Vain (141 Occurrences)
... Luke 6:42 How can you say to your brother, 'Brother, let me take that splinter out
of your eye,' when all the while you yourself do not see the beam in your ...
/v/vain.htm - 36k

Pretender (1 Occurrence)
... Luke 6:42 How can you say to your brother, 'Brother, let me take that splinter out
of your eye,' when all the while you yourself do not see the beam in your ...
/p/pretender.htm - 7k

Notice (44 Occurrences)
... Matthew 7:3 And why do you look at the splinter in your brother's eye, and
not notice the beam which is in your own eye? (WEY NAS RSV). ...
/n/notice.htm - 19k

Instead (139 Occurrences)
... (WEB NAS RSV NIV). Luke 6:41 "And why look at the splinter in your brother's eye
instead of giving careful attention to the beam in your own? (WEY). ...
/i/instead.htm - 36k

Extract (2 Occurrences)
... to remove forcibly from a fixed position, as by traction or suction, etc.; as, to
extract a tooth from its socket, a stump from the earth, a splinter from the ...
/e/extract.htm - 8k

Mote (6 Occurrences)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. MOTE. mot (karphos): A minute piece of anything
dry or light, as straw, chaff, a splinter of wood, that might enter the eye. ...
/m/mote.htm - 9k

Beam (17 Occurrences)
... dokos) a large piece of wood used for building purposes, as contrasted
with "mote" (Gr. karphos), a small piece or mere splinter. ...
/b/beam.htm - 17k

Attention (236 Occurrences)
... (See NIV). Luke 6:41 "And why look at the splinter in your brother's eye instead
of giving careful attention to the beam in your own? (WEY NIV). ...
/a/attention.htm - 36k

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