ἧλος
hēlos
G2247 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A metal spike or pin, primarily used to fasten or secure objects (such as wood, leather, or metal), typically referring to a nail or stud. In broader contexts, can denote any pointed fastening device in construction or craft, and is occasionally used figuratively in ancient Greek to refer to something that stabilizes or makes secure. The central sense is that of a nail or spike as a basic fastener.
Semantic Range
metal nail, spike, stud, pin, fastening device, (rare) symbolic of securing or stabilizing
Root / Etymology
Etymology uncertain. Possibly related to a pre-Greek substrate term or a non-Indo-European borrowing, as no clear cognates exist within standard Greek roots. The word does not neatly derive from a known Greek verbal or nominal stem.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In classical Greek, ἧλος appears as early as Homer, denoting both large construction nails and smaller metal pins used in armor or furniture. The word carries a practical, material sense, usually linked with building, woodworking, or metalwork. In the Septuagint, ἧλος frequently translates Hebrew terms like מַסְמֵר (masmer) or יָתֵד (yated), referring to nails, pegs, or tent pins, underscoring its wide range of referents within crafts and construction. In the New Testament (e.g., Colossians 2:14), it refers specifically to a nail as used in crucifixion or fastening to wood. English 'nail' captures the core meaning but not the broader sense of a generic fastening spike or stud in other Greek or Hebrew contexts. The term's non-specific nature means it can occasionally appear in contexts where English prefers a more precise term, such as 'peg' or 'spike.' Cognate or related words are absent in standard Greek, making it somewhat exceptional in the lexicon.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
of uncertain affinity; a stud, i.e. spike:--nail.
Root Family
ἧλος (hēlos) — nail, spike, fastening device, that which secures
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G2247-01 |
ἥλων | elon | N GEN M PL |
nails | of metal spikes | of metal spikes | 2 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G2247-01 |
John 20:25 | ἥλων | elon | N GEN M PL |
nails | of metal spikes | of metal spikes |
G2247-01 |
John 20:25 | ἥλων | elon-2 | N GEN M PL |
nails | of metal spikes | of metal spikes |