In biblical times, the concept of a pillow was quite different from the modern understanding. Pillows in the ancient Near East were often simple and utilitarian, serving as supports for the head during rest or sleep. They were typically made from materials readily available, such as cloth stuffed with wool, straw, or other soft materials. In some cases, a stone or a piece of wood might serve as a headrest, particularly for those traveling or in more austere conditions.

Biblical References:

1. Jacob's Stone Pillow: One of the most notable references to a pillow in the Bible is found in the account of Jacob. In Genesis 28:11, Jacob, while fleeing from his brother Esau, uses a stone as a pillow: "When he reached a certain place, he spent the night there because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones from that place, he put it under his head and lay down to sleep." This stone later becomes significant as Jacob dreams of a ladder reaching to heaven and subsequently anoints the stone, naming the place Bethel.

2. Jesus Asleep on a Cushion: In the New Testament, a reference to a pillow is found in the account of Jesus calming the storm. Mark 4:38 states, "But Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on the cushion. So they woke Him and said, 'Teacher, don’t You care that we are perishing?'" Here, the "cushion" or "pillow" indicates a more comfortable setting, possibly a leather or cloth cushion used on the boat.

3. Ezekiel's Prophecy Against False Prophets: In Ezekiel 13:18, pillows are mentioned in a metaphorical sense as part of a condemnation against false prophetesses: "This is what the Lord GOD says: 'Woe to the women who sew magic bands on all their wrists and make veils of every size for their heads in order to ensnare souls.'" The term "pillows" in some translations refers to these "magic bands" or "cushions," symbolizing deceit and false security.

Cultural and Symbolic Significance:

In biblical literature, pillows can symbolize rest, comfort, and security. However, they can also represent false security or deceit, as seen in Ezekiel's prophecy. The use of a stone as a pillow by Jacob highlights the transient and humble conditions of the patriarchs, emphasizing reliance on God rather than material comforts.

Practical Use:

Pillows in ancient times were not only for comfort but also served practical purposes. They could be used to elevate the head for better breathing during sleep or to provide a measure of warmth and protection from the ground. The materials used for pillows varied depending on the region and the resources available, reflecting the ingenuity and adaptability of ancient peoples in creating items for daily use.

In summary, the concept of a pillow in the Bible encompasses both the physical object used for rest and the deeper symbolic meanings associated with comfort, security, and sometimes, spiritual deception.1. (n.) Anything used to support the head of a person when reposing; especially, a sack or case filled with feathers, down, hair, or other soft material.

2. (n.) A piece of metal or wood, forming a support to equalize pressure; a brass; a pillow block.

3. (n.) A block under the inner end of a bowsprit.

4. (n.) A kind of plain, coarse fustian.

5. (v. t.) To rest or lay upon, or as upon, a pillow; to support; as, to pillow the head.

PILLOW

pil'-o.

See BOLSTER; CUSHION.

4344. proskephalaion -- a pillow
... a pillow. Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter Transliteration: proskephalaion Phonetic
Spelling: (pros-kef-al'-ahee-on) Short Definition: a pillow or cushion Definition ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4344.htm - 6k4763. meraashoth -- a place at the head, head place
... bolster, head, pillow. Formed like mar'ashah; properly, a headpiece, ie (plural
for adverbial) at (or as) the head-rest (or pillow) -- bolster, head, pillow. ...
/hebrew/4763.htm - 6k

3704. keseth -- a band, fillet
... pillow. From kacah; a cushion or pillow (as covering a seat or bed) -- pillow. see
HEBREW kacah. 3703, 3704. keseth. 3705 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/3704.htm - 6k

3523. kabir -- (something woven) perhaps a quilt or net
... pillow. From kabar in the original sense of plaiting; a matrass (of intertwined
materials) -- pillow. see HEBREW kabar. 3522, 3523. kabir. 3524 . ...
/hebrew/3523.htm - 6k

7226. raashoth -- bolster
... Word Origin the same as marashah, qv. bolster From ro'sh; a pillow (being for the
head) -- bolster. see HEBREW ro'sh. 7225, 7226. raashoth. 7227 . ...
/hebrew/7226.htm - 5k

Jesus Asleep on a Pillow"And He was in the Hinder Part of the Ship ...
... JESUS ASLEEP ON A PILLOW"And He was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a
pillow: and they awake Him, and say unto Him, Master, carest Thou not that we ...
//christianbookshelf.org/spurgeon/till he come/jesus asleep on a pillowand.htm

Sleep Not
... I was recommended to try a pillow of hops to obtain sleep during my late illness,
but I find now that I want a waking pillow rather than a sleeping pillow; and ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 17 1871/sleep not.htm

The Toiling Christ
... THE TOILING CHRIST. 'They took Him even as He was in the ship.... And He was in
the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow.'"Mark 4:36, 38. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture d/the toiling christ.htm

The Dream of St. Ursula
... She is some seventeen or eighteen years old, her head is turned towards us on the
pillow, the cheek resting on her hand, as if she were thinking, yet utterly ...
//christianbookshelf.org/ruskin/saint ursula/ii the dream of st.htm

The Value of the One
... I THE VALUE OF THE ONE. Lucy Lee laid her head on her pillow and, looking
through the silence and darkness, smiled up to God. She ...
/.../carpenter/the angel adjutant of twice born men/i the value of the.htm

The Sleeper.
... It would seem as if the guardian angels who had been hovering round his death-pillow
had well-nigh reached the gates of glory ere the sorrowing survivors ...
//christianbookshelf.org/macduff/memories of bethany/vi the sleeper.htm

A Lord of the Harvest.
... There was a lot of pillow-planning. ... When night time came I went to bed to sleep.
My pillow was this, "There is a Lord of the harvest.". ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/gordon/quiet talks on service/a lord of the harvest.htm

The Storm Stilled
... And He was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake Him,
and say unto Him, Master, carest Thou not that we perish? 39. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture d/the storm stilled.htm

David the Outcast.
... of his warriors, and went down from the cliffs to Saul's camp, where Saul lay sleeping
in a trench, and the spear stuck in the ground by his pillow, while all ...
/.../lathbury/childs story of the bible/chapter xxii david the outcast.htm

Jacob, a Prince of God.
... One night, when he was not far on his way, he lay down to sleep, with a stone for
his pillow, on a hillside that looked toward his home, and he dreamed a ...
/.../lathbury/childs story of the bible/chapter v jacob a prince.htm

Pillow (8 Occurrences)
... 2. (n.) A piece of metal or wood, forming a support to equalize pressure; a brass;
a pillow block. 3. (n.) A block under the inner end of a bowsprit. ...PILLOW. ...
/p/pillow.htm - 9k

Bolster (7 Occurrences)
... The Hebrew word kebir, rendered "pillow" in 1 Samuel 19:13, 16, but in Revised
Version marg. ... 15. (vt) To support with a bolster or pillow. Int. ...
/b/bolster.htm - 12k

Quilt (2 Occurrences)
... 1 Samuel 19:13 And Michal took the teraphim, and laid it in the bed, and put a pillow
of goats hair at the head thereof, and covered it with the clothes. ...
/q/quilt.htm - 7k

Cushion (3 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) A case or bag stuffed with some soft and elastic
material, and used to sit or recline upon; a soft pillow or pad. ...
/c/cushion.htm - 9k

Teraphim (14 Occurrences)
... 1 Samuel 19:13 Michal took the teraphim, and laid it in the bed, and put a pillow
of goats' hair at its head, and covered it with the clothes. ...
/t/teraphim.htm - 13k

Pillows (6 Occurrences)

/p/pillows.htm - 8k

Idol (56 Occurrences)
... 1 Samuel 19:13 Michal took the teraphim, and laid it in the bed, and put a pillow
of goats' hair at its head, and covered it with the clothes. (See NAS NIV). ...
/i/idol.htm - 29k

Bed (142 Occurrences)
... When one was on a journey, or watching his flock by night as a shepherd, such a
"bed" was the most natural, and often a stone would serve as a pillow. ...
/b/bed.htm - 52k

Lodged (35 Occurrences)
... sun had set. And he took one of the stones of the place, and made it his
pillow, and lay down in that place. (DBY). Genesis 31:54 ...
/l/lodged.htm - 16k

Wake (34 Occurrences)
... Mark 4:38 And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they
awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? ...
/w/wake.htm - 17k

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