King James Bible Dictionary

1. Denotes the plate of gold in the front of the high priest's mitre (Exodus 29:6; 39:30). The same Hebrew word so rendered (ne'zer) denotes the diadem worn by Saul in battle (2 Samuel 1:10), and also that which was used at the coronation of Joash (2 Kings 11:12).

2. The more general name in Hebrew for a crown is 'atarah, meaning a "circlet." This is used of crowns and head ornaments of divers kinds, including royal crowns. Such was the crown taken from the king of Ammon by David (2 Samuel 12:30). The crown worn by the Assyrian kings was a high mitre, sometimes adorned with flowers. There are sculptures also representing the crowns worn by the early Egyptian and Persian kings. Sometimes a diadem surrounded the royal head-dress of two or three fillets. This probably signified that the wearer had dominion over two or three countries. In Revelation 12:3; 13:1, we read of "many crowns," a token of extended dominion.

3. The ancient Persian crown (Esther 1:11; 2:17; 6:8) was called kether; i.e., "a chaplet," a high cap or tiara. Crowns were worn sometimes to represent honour and power (Ezekiel 23:42). They were worn at marriages (Song of Solomon 3:11; Isaiah 61:10, "ornaments;" R.V., "a garland"), and at feasts and public festivals.

The crown was among the Romans and Greeks a symbol of victory and reward. The crown or wreath worn by the victors in the Olympic games was made of leaves of the wild olive; in the Pythian games, of laurel; in the Nemean games, of parsley; and in the Isthmian games, of the pine. The Romans bestowed the "civic crown" on him who saved the life of a citizen. It was made of the leaves of the oak. In opposition to all these fading crowns the apostles speak of the incorruptible crown, the crown of life (James 1:12; Revelation 2:10) "that fadeth not away" (1 Peter 5:4, Gr. amarantinos; comp. 1:4). Probably the word "amaranth" was applied to flowers we call "everlasting," the "immortal amaranth."

Prescribed for priests
Exodus 29:6; Exodus 39:30; Leviticus 8:9

Worn by kings
2 Samuel 1:10; 2 Samuel 12:30; 2 Kings 11:12; Esther 6:8; Song of Solomon 3:11; Revelation 6:2

Worn by queens
Esther 1:11; Esther 2:17; Esther 8:15

Made of gold
Psalms 21:3; Zech 6:11

Of victory
2 Timothy 2:5

An ornament
Ezekiel 23:42; Ezekiel 16:12

Set with gems
2 Samuel 12:30; 1 Chronicles 20:2; Zech 9:16; Isaiah 62:3

Of thorns
Matthew 27:29; Mark 15:17; John 19:5

Figurative
Isaiah 28:5; 1 Corinthians 9:25; 2 Timothy 4:8; James 1:12; 1 Peter 5:4; Revelation 2:10; Revelation 3:11

Symbolic
Revelation 4:4; Revelation 4:10; Revelation 6:2; Revelation 9:7; Revelation 12:1; Revelation 12:3; Revelation 13:1; Revelation 14:14; Revelation 19:12

This ornament, which is both ancient and universal, probably originated from the fillets used to prevent the hair from being dishevelled by the wind. Such fillets are still common; they gradually developed into turbans, which by the addition of ornamental or precious materials assumed the dignity of mitres or crowns. Both the ordinary priests and the high priest wore them. The crown was a symbol of royalty, and was worn by kings, (2 Chronicles 23:11) and also by queens. (Esther 2:17) The head-dress of bridegrooms, (Ezekiel 24:17; Isaiah 61:10) Bar. 5.2, and of women, (Isaiah 3:20) a head-dress of great splendor, (Isaiah 28:5) a wreath of flowers, (Proverbs 1:9; 4:9) denote crowns. In general we must attach to it the notion of a costly turban irradiated with pearls and gems of priceless value, which often form aigrettes for feathers, as in the crowns of modern Asiatics sovereigns. Such was probably the crown which weighed (or rather "was worth") a talent, mentioned in (2 Samuel 12:30) taken by David from the king of Ammon at Rabbah, and used as the state crown of Judah. (2 Samuel 12:30) In (Revelation 12:3; 19:12) allusion is made to "many crowns" worn in token of extended dominion. The laurel, pine or parsley crowns given to victors int he great games of Greece are finely alluded to by St. Paul. (1 Corinthians 9:25; 2 Timothy 2:5) etc.

CROWN, noun [G., Latin ]

1. An ornament worn on the head by kings and sovereign princes, as a badge of imperial or regal power and dignity. Figuratively, regal power; royalty; kingly government, or executive authority.

2. A wreath or garland.

3. Honorary distinction; reward.

They do it to obtain a corruptible crown; we, an incorruptible. 1 Corinthians 9:25.

4. Honor; splendor; dignity.

The crown has fallen from our heads. Lamentations 5:16. Philippians 4:1.

A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband. Proverbs 12:4.

5. The top of the head; the top of a mountain or other elevated object. The end of an anchor, or the point from which the arms proceed.

6. The part of a hat which covers the top of the head.

7. A coin anciently stamped with the figure of a crown The English crown is five shillings sterling. The French crown is a hundred and nine cents. Other coins bear the same name.

8. Completion; accomplishment.

9. Clerical tonsure in a circular form; a little circle shaved on the top of the head, as a mark of ecclesiastical office or distinction.

10. Among jewelers, the upper work of a rose diamond.

11. In botany, an appendage to the top of a seed, which serves to bear it in the wind.

CROWN, verb transitive

1. To invest with a crown or regal ornament. Hence, to invest with regal dignity and power.

2. To cover, as with a crown; to cover the top.

And peaceful olives crowned his hoary head.

3. To honor; to dignify; to adorn.

Thou hast crowned him with glory and honor. Psalms 8:5.

4. To reward; to bestow an honorary reward or distinction on; as the victor crowned with laurel.

5. To reward; to recompense.

Shell crown a grateful and a constant flame.

6. To terminate or finish; to complete; to perfect.

7. To terminate and reward; as, our efforts were crowned with success.

Our Lord was crowned with a, in mockery by the Romans (Matthew 27:29). The object of Pilate's guard in doing this was probably to insult, and not specially to inflict pain. There is nothing to show that the shrub thus used was, as has been supposed, the spina Christi, which could have been easily woven into a wreath. It was probably the thorny nabk, which grew abundantly round about Jerusalem, and whose flexible, pliant, and round branches could easily be platted into the form of a crown. (See THORN, 3.)

(Matthew 27:29) Our Lord was crowned with thorns in mockery by the Roman soldiers. Obviously some small flexile thorny shrub is meant perhaps Capparis spinosa. "Hasselquist, a Swedish naturalist, supposes a very common plant naba or nubka of the Arabs, with many small and sharp sines; soft, round and pliant branches; leaves much resembling ivy, of a very deep green, as if in designed mockery of a victor's wreath."

Alford.

CROWNED, participle passive Invested with a crown, or with regal power and dignity; honored; dignified; rewarded with a crown, wreath, garland or distinction; recompensed; terminated; completed; perfected.

CROWNER, noun He or that which crowns or completes.

CROWNET, noun A coronet, which see. Shakspeare has used it for chief end or last purpose; but this sense is singular.

CROWN-GLASS, noun The finest sort of English window-glass.

CROWN-IMPERIAL, noun A plant of the genus Fritillaria, having a beautiful flower.

CROWNING, participle present tense Investing with a crown, or with royalty or supreme power; honoring with a wreath or with distinction; adorning; rewarding; finishing; perfecting.

CROWNING, noun

1. In architecture, the finishing of a member or any ornamental work.

2. In marine language, the finishing part of a knot, or interweaving of the strands.

CROWN-OFFICE, noun In England, an office belonging to the court of Kings Bench, of which the kings coroner or attorney is commonly master, and in which the attorney general and clerk exhibit informations for crimes and misdemeanors.

CROWN-POST, noun In building, a post which stands upright in the middle, between two principal rafters.

CROWN-SCAB, noun A scab formed round the corners of a horses hoof, a cancerous and painful sore.

CROWN-THISTLE, noun A flower.

CROWN-WHEEL, noun In a watch, the upper wheel next the balance, which drives the balance, and in royal pendulums, is called the swing-wheel.

CROWN-WORK, noun In fortification, an outwork running into the field, consisting of two demi-bastions at the extremes and an entire bastion int he middle, with curtains. It is designed to gain some hill or advantageous post, and cover the other works.