Bible Dictionary: Beam

Jump to: ISBE • Easton's • Webster's • Concordance • Thesaurus • Greek • Hebrew • Library • Subtopics • Terms

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Occurs in the Authorized Version as the rendering of various Hebrew words. In 1 Samuel 17:7, it means a weaver's frame or principal beam; in Habakkuk 2:11, a crossbeam or girder; 2 Kings 6:2, 5, a cross-piece or rafter of a house; 1 Kings 7:6, an architectural ornament as a projecting step or moulding; Ezek. 41:25, a thick plank. In the New Testament the word occurs only in Matthew 7:3, 4, 5, and Luke 6:41, 42, where it means (Gr. dokos) a large piece of wood used for building purposes, as contrasted with "mote" (Gr. karphos), a small piece or mere splinter. "Mote" and "beam" became proverbial for little and great faults.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

1. (n.) Any large piece of timber or iron long in proportion to its thickness, and prepared for use.

2. (n.) One of the principal horizontal timbers of a building or ship.

3. (n.) The width of a vessel; as, one vessel is said to have more beam than another.

4. (n.) The bar of a balance, from the ends of which the scales are suspended.

5. (n.) The principal stem or horn of a stag or other deer, which bears the antlers, or branches.

6. (n.) The pole of a carriage.

7. (n.) A cylinder of wood, making part of a loom, on which weavers wind the warp before weaving; also, the cylinder on which the cloth is rolled, as it is woven; one being called the fore beam, the other the back beam.

8. (n.) The straight part or shank of an anchor.

9. (n.) The main part of a plow, to which the handles and colter are secured, and to the end of which are attached the oxen or horses that draw it.

10. (n.) A heavy iron lever having an oscillating motion on a central axis, one end of which is connected with the piston rod from which it receives motion, and the other with the crank of the wheel shaft; -- called also working beam or walking beam.

11. (n.) A ray or collection of parallel rays emitted from the sun or other luminous body; as, a beam of light, or of heat.

12. (n.) Fig.: A ray; a gleam; as, a beam of comfort.

13. (n.) One of the long feathers in the wing of a hawk; -- called also beam feather.

14. (v. t.) To send forth; to emit; -- followed ordinarily by forth; as, to beam forth light.

15. (v. i.) To emit beams of light.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

BEAM

bem: The word is used to translate various Old Testament terms:

(1) gebh (1 Kings 6:9), tsela`, "a rib" (1 Kings 7:3), qurah (2 Chronicles 3:7; 2 Chronicles 34:11 Songs 1:17), all refer to constructional beams used in buildings for roofing and upper floors, main beams being carried on pillars generally of wood. The last term is used in 2 Kings 6:2, 5 ("as one was felling a beam") of trees which were being cut into logs. A related form is qarah (used of the Creator, Psalm 104:3; of building, Nehemiah 2:8; Nehemiah 3:3, 6). Yet another term, kaphim, is used in Habakkuk 2:11: "The stone shall cry out of the wall, and the beam out of the timber shall answer it"-a protest against sin made by inanimate things. The Douay version, in translating, "the timber that is between the joints of the building," suggests the use of bond timbers in buildings, similar to that used at one time in English brickwork. It probably refers to its use in mud brick buildings, although bond timbers might also be used in badly built stone walls. The Arabs of the present day use steel joints to strengthen angles of buildings.

(2) Beam, in weaving, represents two words, 'eregh (Judges 16:14, the beam of a loom to which Samson's hair was fastened; used in Job 7:6 of a weaver's shuttle), and manor (1 Samuel 17:7 2 Samuel 21:19 1 Chronicles 11:23; 1 Chronicles 20:5), of a spear-staff.

(3) In the New Testament Jesus uses the word dokos, "a rafter," in bidding the censorious person first cast the "beam" out of his own eye before attempting to remove the "mote" from another's eye (Matthew 7:3 Luke 6:41, 42).

See ARCHITECTURE; HOUSE.

Arch. C. Dickie

Greek

1385. dokos -- a beam of timber
... a beam of timber. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: dokos Phonetic
Spelling: (dok-os') Short Definition: a beam Definition: a beam or spar of ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1385.htm - 7k

4716. stauros -- an upright stake, hence a cross (the Rom. ...
... 4716 -- the crosspiece of a Roman ; the cross-beam (Latin, ) placed at the top of
the vertical member to form a capital "T." "This transverse beam was the one ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4716.htm - 8k

826. augazo -- to shine forth
... Word Origin from auge Definition to shine forth NASB Word Usage see (1). shine.
From auge; to beam forth (figuratively) -- shine. see GREEK auge. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/826.htm - 6k

2218. zugos -- a yoke
... From the root of zeugnumi (to join, especially by a "yoke"); a coupling, ie
(figuratively) servitude (a law or obligation); also (literally) the beam of the ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2218.htm - 7k

2595. karphos -- a small dry stalk
... particle (a splinter of straw or wood); "a dry stalk; a chip of wood" (Souter);
something dry and light; a " or , of the same material with the beam" (, 35). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2595.htm - 6k

2989. lampo -- to shine
... give light, shine. A primary verb; to beam, ie Radiate brilliancy (literally or
figuratively) -- give light, shine. (elampsen) -- 3 Occurrences. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2989.htm - 6k

Strong's Hebrew

6982. qorah -- a rafter, beam
... 6981, 6982. qorah. 6983 . a rafter, beam. Transliteration: qorah Phonetic
Spelling: (ko-raw') Short Definition: beam. Word Origin ...
/hebrew/6982.htm - 6k

4500. manor -- a (weaver's) beam
... 4499, 4500. manor. 4501 . a (weaver's) beam. Transliteration: manor
Phonetic Spelling: (maw-nore') Short Definition: beam. Word ...
/hebrew/4500.htm - 6k

3773. karuthah -- beam
... karuthah. 3774 . beam. Transliteration: karuthah Phonetic Spelling: (kaw-rooth-
aw') Short Definition: beam. Word Origin the same as karath, qv. beam ...
/hebrew/3773.htm - 5k

5102b. nahar -- to shine, beam
... nahar. 5103 . to shine, beam. Transliteration: nahar Short Definition: radiant.
Word Origin a prim. root Definition to shine, beam NASB Word Usage radiant (3) ...
/hebrew/5102b.htm - 5k

1356b. geb -- a beam, rafter
... geb. 1357 . a beam, rafter. Transliteration: geb Short Definition: beams. Word
Origin from gub Definition a beam, rafter NASB Word Usage beams (1). ...
/hebrew/1356b.htm - 5k

4746. meqareh -- beam work
... 4745, 4746. meqareh. 4747 . beam work. Transliteration: meqareh Phonetic
Spelling: (mek-aw-reh') Short Definition: rafters. Word ...
/hebrew/4746.htm - 6k

1356. geb -- a pit, trench, ditch
... 1355, 1356. geb. 1356a . a pit, trench, ditch. Transliteration: geb Phonetic
Spelling: (gabe) Short Definition: beam. beam, ditch, pit ...
/hebrew/1356.htm - 5k

6763. tsela -- rib, side
... chambers (10), sides (5), walls (1). beam, board, chamber, corner, leaf,
plank, rib, side chamber. Or (feminine) tsaltah {tsal-aw ...
/hebrew/6763.htm - 6k

708. ereg -- a loom
... beam, weaver's shuttle. From 'arag; a weaving; a braid; also a shuttle -- beam,
weaver's shuttle. see HEBREW 'arag. 707, 708. ereg. 709 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/708.htm - 6k

5646. ab -- perhaps a landing
... Word Origin of uncertain derivation Definition perhaps a landing NASB Word
Usage threshold (2), thresholds (1). thick beam, plant. ...
/hebrew/5646.htm - 6k

Library

Triple Beam of Glory
... Hymns of the Holy Eastern Church TRIPLE BEAM OF GLORY. tr., John Brownlie 6.5.6.5
D. I. Triple Beam of glory,. Through the darkness poured; One the Light eternal ...
/.../brownlie/hymns of the holy eastern church/triple beam of glory.htm

Triple Beam of Glory
... MORNING"NOON"NIGHT. MORNING II Triple beam of glory. 6,5,6,5. Triple beam of glory.
Through the darkness poured; One the Light eternal. In our blessed Lord: ...
/.../brownlie/hymns of the russian church/ii triple beam of glory.htm

Beam on us Brightly, Blessed Day,
... Beam on us brightly, blessed day,. LM "The Lord blessed the Seventh day and hallowed
it." " Exodus 20:11. Beam on us brightly, blessed day,. ...
/.../waring/hymns and meditations/beam on us brightly blessed.htm

November 22. "Cast the Beam Out of Thine Own Eye" (Matt. vii. 5).
... NOVEMBER 22. "Cast the beam out of thine own eye" (Matt. vii. 5). "Cast
the beam out of thine own eye" (Matthew 7:5). Greater ...
/.../simpson/days of heaven upon earth /november 22 cast the beam.htm

The Mote and the Beam
... CHAPTER 7 THE MOTE AND THE BEAM. That friend of ours has got something in
his eye! Though it is ... What is the Beam? First, however, the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/hession/the calvary road/chapter 7 the mote and.htm

On the Words of the Gospel, Matt. xviii. 15, "If Thy Brother Sin ...
... For He said that his eye is sharp to cast out a mote out of his brother's eye, who
has not a beam in his own eye. ... A mote is the beginning of a beam. ...
/.../sermons on selected lessons of the new testament/sermon xxxii on the words.htm

How Crassus came into Judea, and Pillaged the Temple; and Then ...
... He also took a beam, which was made of solid beaten gold, of the weight of three
hundred minae, each of which weighed two pounds and a half. ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 7 how crassus came.htm

Three Condensed Parables
... I to XII THREE CONDENSED PARABLES. 'And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy
brother's eye, but perceiveth not the beam that is in thine own eye? 42. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture e/three condensed parables.htm

Chapter xix.
... or from envy; therefore He has subjoined the statement: "And why beholdest thou
the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in ...
/.../augustine/our lords sermon on the mount/chapter xix 2.htm

Judging, Asking, and Giving
... what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.3. And why beholdest thou
the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture a/judging asking and giving.htm

Thesaurus

Beam (17 Occurrences)
... In 1 Samuel 17:7, it means a weaver's frame or principal beam; in Habakkuk 2:11,
a crossbeam or girder; 2 Kings 6:2, 5, a cross-piece or rafter of a house; 1 ...
/b/beam.htm - 17k

Jasho'beam (1 Occurrence)
Jasho'beam. Jashobeam, Jasho'beam. Jasho'be-am . Multi-Version
Concordance Jasho'beam (1 Occurrence). 1 Chronicles 27 ...
/j/jasho'beam.htm - 6k

Log (12 Occurrences)
... Log (12 Occurrences). Matthew 7:3 Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's
eye, but don't consider the beam that is in your own eye? (See NAS RSV). ...
/l/log.htm - 11k

Mote (6 Occurrences)
... Used by Jesus in Matthew 7:3;; Luke 6:41 in contrast with "beam," to rebuke
officiousness in correcting small faults of others, while cherishing greater ones ...
/m/mote.htm - 9k

Plank (5 Occurrences)
... Plank (5 Occurrences). Matthew 7:3 Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's
eye, but don't consider the beam that is in your own eye? (See NIV). ...
/p/plank.htm - 9k

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

Speck (6 Occurrences)
... Speck (6 Occurrences). Matthew 7:3 Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's
eye, but don't consider the beam that is in your own eye? ...
/s/speck.htm - 9k

Weaving (4 Occurrences)
... No mention of the loom is found in Scripture, but we read of the "shuttle" (Job
7:6), "the pin" of the beam (Judges 16:14), "the web" (13, 14), and "the beam...
/w/weaving.htm - 17k

Weavers (4 Occurrences)
... No mention of the loom is found in Scripture, but we read of the "shuttle" (Job
7:6), "the pin" of the beam (Judges 16:14), "the web" (13, 14), and "the beam...
/w/weavers.htm - 9k

Elhanan (4 Occurrences)
... at Gob; and Elhanan, the son of Jaare-oregim the Beth-lehemite, slew Goliath the
Gittite, the staff of whose spear was like a weaver's beam"; while in the ...
/e/elhanan.htm - 10k

Bible Concordance

Beam (17 Occurrences)

Matthew 7:3 Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but don't consider the beam that is in your own eye?
(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT)

Matthew 7:4 Or how will you tell your brother,'Let me remove the speck from your eye;' and behold, the beam is in your own eye?
(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT)

Matthew 7:5 You hypocrite! First remove the beam out of your own eye, and then you can see clearly to remove the speck out of your brother's eye.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT)

Luke 6:41 Why do you see the speck of chaff that is in your brother's eye, but don't consider the beam that is in your own eye?
(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT)

Luke 6:42 Or how can you tell your brother,'Brother, let me remove the speck of chaff that is in your eye,' when you yourself don't see the beam that is in your own eye? You hypocrite! First remove the beam from your own eye, and then you can see clearly to remove the speck of chaff that is in your brother's eye.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT ?

Judges 16:14 She fastened it with the pin, and said to him, "The Philistines are on you, Samson!" He awakened out of his sleep, and plucked away the pin of the beam, and the web.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV WBS)

1 Samuel 17:7 The staff of his spear was like a weaver's beam; and his spear's head weighed six hundred shekels of iron: and his shield bearer went before him.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

2 Samuel 21:19 There was again war with the Philistines at Gob; and Elhanan the son of Jaareoregim the Bethlehemite killed Goliath the Gittite's brother, the staff of whose spear was like a weaver's beam.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

1 Kings 7:6 And he made a porch of pillars; the length thereof was fifty cubits, and the breadth thereof thirty cubits: and the porch was before them: and the other pillars and the thick beam were before them.
(KJV JPS WBS)

2 Kings 6:2 Let us go, please, to the Jordan, and every man a beam from there, and let us make us a place there, where we may dwell." He answered, "Go!"
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS)

2 Kings 6:5 But as one was felling a beam, the axe head fell into the water. Then he cried, and said, "Alas, my master! For it was borrowed."
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS)

1 Chronicles 11:23 He killed an Egyptian, a man of great stature, five cubits high; and in the Egyptian's hand was a spear like a weaver's beam; and he went down to him with a staff, and plucked the spear out of the Egyptian's hand, and killed him with his own spear.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Ezra 6:11 Also I have made a decree, that whoever shall alter this word, let a beam be pulled out from his house, and let him be lifted up and fastened thereon; and let his house be made a dunghill for this:
(WEB JPS ASV RSV NIV)

Psalms 104:3 He lays the beams of his chambers in the waters. He makes the clouds his chariot. He walks on the wings of the wind.
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Proverbs 16:11 A just beam and balances 'are' Jehovah's, His work 'are' all the stones of the bag.
(YLT)

Ecclesiastes 8:1 Who is like the wise man? and to whom is the sense of anything clear? A man's wisdom makes his face shining, and his hard face will be changed.
(See NAS)

Habakkuk 2:11 For the stone will cry out of the wall, and the beam out of the woodwork will answer it.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS RSV NIV)

Subtopics

Beam

Beam: Weaver's

Related Terms

Jasho'beam (1 Occurrence)

Log (12 Occurrences)

Mote (6 Occurrences)

Plank (5 Occurrences)

Splinter (5 Occurrences)

Speck (6 Occurrences)

Weaving (4 Occurrences)