In biblical times, the needle was a small, slender tool used for sewing and mending garments. It is mentioned in the context of Jesus' teachings, specifically in the synoptic Gospels, where it serves as a metaphor to illustrate spiritual truths.

Biblical Reference:

The most notable reference to a needle in the Bible is found in the teaching of Jesus regarding wealth and the kingdom of God. In Matthew 19:24, Jesus states, "Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God" . This metaphor is also recorded in Mark 10:25 and Luke 18:25. The imagery of a camel passing through the eye of a needle is used to emphasize the difficulty for those who are attached to their wealth to enter the kingdom of heaven.

Interpretation:

The phrase "eye of a needle" has been the subject of much interpretation and discussion. Some scholars suggest that Jesus was referring to a small gate in Jerusalem known as the "Needle's Eye," through which a camel could only pass if it was stripped of its load and knelt down. This interpretation underscores the necessity of humility and the shedding of material burdens to enter God's kingdom. However, there is little historical evidence to support the existence of such a gate, and many conservative scholars maintain that Jesus was using hyperbole to convey the impossibility of salvation through human means alone, emphasizing the need for divine intervention.

Theological Significance:

The metaphor of the needle highlights the broader biblical theme of the dangers of wealth and the spiritual peril it can pose. Throughout Scripture, wealth is often portrayed as a potential obstacle to faithfulness and reliance on God. In 1 Timothy 6:10, Paul warns, "For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil" . The needle, therefore, serves as a vivid illustration of the need for believers to prioritize their spiritual well-being over material possessions.

Practical Application:

For Christians, the teaching of Jesus about the needle and the camel serves as a call to examine one's own life and priorities. It challenges believers to consider whether their attachment to material wealth hinders their relationship with God and their ability to fully commit to His purposes. The metaphor encourages a lifestyle of generosity, humility, and dependence on God's grace rather than on worldly riches.

In summary, the needle in biblical teaching is a powerful symbol used by Jesus to convey the challenges of wealth in relation to spiritual life and the kingdom of God. It serves as a reminder of the need for humility, reliance on divine grace, and the prioritization of eternal values over temporal wealth.Used only in the proverb, "to pass through a needle's eye" (Matthew 19:24; Mark 10:25; Luke 18:25). Some interpret the expression as referring to the side gate, close to the principal gate, usually called the "eye of a needle" in the East; but it is rather to be taken literally. The Hebrew females were skilled in the use of the needle (Exodus 28:39; 26:36; Judges 5:30). 1. (n.) A small instrument of steel, sharply pointed at one end, with an eye to receive a thread, -- used in sewing.

2. (n.) See Magnetic.

3. (n.) A slender rod or wire used in knitting; a knitting needle; also, a hooked instrument which carries the thread or twine, and by means of which knots or loops are formed in the process of netting, knitting, or crocheting.

4. (n.) One of the needle-shaped secondary leaves of pine trees. See Pinus.

5. (n.) Any slender, pointed object, like a needle, as a pointed crystal, a sharp pinnacle of rock, an obelisk, etc.

6. (v. t.) To form in the shape of a needle; as, to needle crystals.

7. (v. i.) To form needles; to crystallize in the form of needles.

NEEDLE

ne'-d'-l (rhaphis): The word "needle" occurs only 3 times, namely, in the reference to Christ's use of the proverb: "It is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God" (Matthew 19:24 Mark 10:25 Luke 18:25). This saying ought to be accepted in the same sense as Matthew 23:24, "Ye blind guides, that strain out the gnat, and swallow the camel!" Christ used them to illustrate absurdities. A rabbinical parallel is cited, "an elephant through a needle's eye." Some writers have attempted to show that rhaphis referred to a small gate of a walled oriental city. No evidence of such a use of the word exists in the terms applied today in Biblical lands to this opening. "Rich man" here has the connotation of a man bound up in his riches. If a man continues to trust in his earthly possessions to save him, it would be absurd for him to expect to share in the spiritual kingdom where dependence upon the King is a first requisite.

The fact that needles are not mentioned elsewhere in the Bible should not be taken to indicate that this instrument was not used. Specimens of bone and metal needles of ancient origin show that they were common household objects.

See CAMEL.

James A. Patch

4476. rhaphis -- a needle
... a needle. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: rhaphis Phonetic Spelling:
(hraf-ece') Short Definition: a needle Definition: a needle. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4476.htm - 6k

5168. trumalia -- a hole, eye (of a needle)
... a hole, eye (of a needle). Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: trumalia
Phonetic Spelling: (troo-mal-ee-ah') Short Definition: the eye of a needle ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5168.htm - 6k

956a. belone -- a needle
... belone. 956b . a needle. Transliteration: belone Short Definition: needle. Word
Origin akin to belos Definition a needle NASB Word Usage needle (1). 956, 956a ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/956a.htm - 5k

956. belos -- a needle
... a needle. Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter Transliteration: belos Phonetic Spelling:
(bel'-os) Short Definition: a missile, dart, javelin Definition: a missile, dart ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/956.htm - 5k

5169. trupema -- eye.
... Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter Transliteration: trupema Phonetic Spelling:
(troo'-pay-mah) Short Definition: a hole, the eye of a needle Definition: a hole; ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5169.htm - 6k

1976. epirapto -- to sew upon
... sew onto. From epi and the base of rhaphis; to stitch upon, ie Fasten with the needle --
sew on. see GREEK epi. see GREEK rhaphis. (epiraptei) -- 1 Occurrence. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1976.htm - 6k

4639. maaseh -- a deed, work
... bakemeat, business, deed, do(-ing), labor, thing made, ware of making, occupation,
thing offered, operation, possession, X well, ((handy-, needle-, net-))work ...
/hebrew/4639.htm - 6k

8278. serad -- perhaps plaited or braided work
... service. From sarad; stitching (as pierced with a needle) -- service. see HEBREW
sarad. 8277, 8278. serad. 8279 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/8278.htm - 6k

The Needle of the Compass of Need.
... The Need The Needle of the Compass of Need. Let us look a little at these peoples. ...
So we'll begin there. The needle of a magnetic compass always points north. ...
/.../gordon/quiet talks with world winners/the needle of the compass.htm

Acts of Peter and Andrew.
... Peter says to him: One thing I say unto thee: it is easier for a camel to go through
the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to go into the kingdom of heaven. ...
/.../unknown/acts of peter and andrew/acts of peter and andrew.htm

On Riches
... Second Series Sermon 108 On Riches. "It is easier for a camel to go through the
eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God." ...
/.../wesley/sermons on several occasions/sermon 108 on riches.htm

Of the Loving Fear of Spouses; a Continuation of the Same Subject.
... on fine white satin, which afterwards she will richly embellish with gold and silver
in suitable patterns: the work is wrought with the needle, which she ...
/.../francis/treatise on the love of god/chapter xvi of the loving.htm

The Self-Communication of God
... The load-stone attracts the needle, and the needle receives the magnetic power,
so that it can also attract other needles and draw them to the load-stone. ...
/.../eckhart/meister eckharts sermons/v the self-communication of god.htm

How Servile Fear Remains Together with Holy Love.
... Although, however, the lady we spoke of will not leave her needle in her work after
it is finished, yet as long as there remains anything to be done in it, if ...
/.../francis/treatise on the love of god/chapter xvii how servile fear.htm

In the Next Place, with Regard to the Declaration of Jesus against ...
... the next place, with regard to the declaration of Jesus against rich men, when He
said, "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/origen/origen against celsus/chapter xvi in the next.htm

On the Physical Basis of Life.
... and contrast him with the invisible animalcules"mere gelatinous specks, multitudes
of which could, in fact, dance upon the point of a needle with the same ...
/.../huxley/lay sermons addresses and reviews/vii on the physical basis.htm

A Ribband of Blue.
... best, is only relative. A needle may be a perfect needle, in every respect
adapted for the work for which it was made. It is not ...
//christianbookshelf.org/taylor/a ribband of blue/a ribband of blue.htm

His Amusements and Occupations
... The use which he made of the needle must not be forgotten. For a year and
a half, whilst at Canterbury, he went regularly for five ...
/.../murray/kalli the esquimaux christian /his amusements and occupations.htm

Needle (4 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary Used only in the proverb, "to pass through a needle's
eye" (Matthew 19:24; Mark 10:25; Luke 18:25). Some ...
/n/needle.htm - 10k

Needle-work (7 Occurrences)
Needle-work. Needlework, Needle-work. Needs . Multi-Version
Concordance Needle-work (7 Occurrences). Exodus 27:16 And ...
/n/needle-work.htm - 8k

Needle's (3 Occurrences)
...Needle's (3 Occurrences). ... Mark 10:25 It is easier for a camel to go through a needle's
eye than for a rich man to enter into the Kingdom of God." (WEB ASV BBE). ...
/n/needle's.htm - 7k

Point (106 Occurrences)
... the sharp end of a piercing instrument, as a needle or a pin. ... 5. (n.) The mark made
by the end of a sharp, piercing instrument, as a needle; a prick. ...
/p/point.htm - 40k

Easier (8 Occurrences)
... Matthew 19:24 Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through a needle's
eye, than for a rich man to enter into the Kingdom of God." (WEB KJV WEY ASV ...
/e/easier.htm - 8k

Simpler (6 Occurrences)
... Matthew 19:24 And again I say to you, It is simpler for a camel to go through a
needle's eye, than for a man with much money to go into the kingdom of God. ...
/s/simpler.htm - 8k

Stylus (2 Occurrences)
... 2. (n.) That needle-shaped part at the tip of the playing arm of phonograph which
sits in the groove of a phonograph record while it is turning, to detect the ...
/s/stylus.htm - 7k

Rich (140 Occurrences)
... Matthew 19:24 Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through a needle's
eye, than for a rich man to enter into the Kingdom of God." (WEB KJV WEY ASV ...
/r/rich.htm - 37k

Camel (13 Occurrences)
... of a rich man's entering into the kingdom, our Lord uses the proverbial expression
that it was easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle (Matthew 19 ...
/c/camel.htm - 21k

Needlework (23 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) Work executed with a needle; sewed work;
sewing; embroidery; also, the business of a seamstress. ...
/n/needlework.htm - 14k

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