Greek word · G4338

προσηλόω

prosēloō

to nail

To fasten with nails, nail to.

Appears once in the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

προσ-ηλόω -ῶ

[in LXX: 3Ma.4:9 * ;]

to nail to: with accusative and dative, figuratively, Colossians 2:14.†

(AS)

From G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of Colossians 2:14

Range of meaning

To fasten with nails, nail to.

Against the English

All versions say 'nailing'. The issue is not the gloss but what picture lies behind it.

Used elsewhere in the period

Used only here in the New Testament. It is used elsewhere in Greek for nailing up a person or object; Philo uses it of people metaphorically 'nailed' to the body or to passions. Writers on crucifixion describe victims as nailed to the cross, and the Gospels mention the charge notice (Latin titulus) placed above Jesus (John 19:19).

Similar words

Where it appears

Colossians · 1

  1. Colossians 2:14 προσηλώσας having nailed

    having canceled the debt ascribed to us in the decrees that stood against us. He took it away, nailing it to the cross!

    Here: Used only here in the New Testament. It names how the removal happened: the bond was fastened to the cross where Jesus was executed. Its force is spent and its claim answered there.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.