τράχηλος G5137
The neck or throat; the front and sides of the neck, used both literally and in figurative expressions of burden or affection.
Designates the neck as a physical body part, appearing in the NT in two vivid contexts. First, in the millstone sayings (Matt 18:6; Mark 9:42; Luke 17:2), a heavy stone is hung 'around the neck' before drowning — a grim image of judgment. Second, in the parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15:20), the father 'fell on his neck' in an embrace of welcome — the same body part now a site of tender reunion. In Acts 15:10, Peter speaks of placing a 'yoke upon the neck' of Gentile believers. Spanish 'cuello,' French 'cou,' and German 'Hals' all render it straightforwardly as the anatomical neck.
Senses
1. sense 1 — The neck or throat — the anatomical front and sides of the neck. Used literally but in highly figurative contexts: a millstone hung around the neck as an image of catastrophic judgment (Matt 18:6; Mark 9:42; Luke 17:2), the father falling on the prodigal's neck in joyful embrace (Luke 15:20), and the metaphorical yoke placed on the neck of Gentile converts (Acts 15:10). Spanish 'cuello,' French 'cou,' German 'Hals' all render it uniformly, confirming a single consistent referent across the tradition. 7×
AR["رِقابِ", "عُنُقَهُمَا", "عُنُقِ", "عُنُقِهِ"]·ben["গলা", "গলায়", "ঘাড়ে"]·DE["Hals", "τράχηλον"]·EN["neck"]·FR["cou"]·heb["צַוַּאר", "צַוָּאר", "צַוָּארוֹ", "שֶׁל-"]·HI["गर्दन", "गले"]·ID["leher", "lehernya"]·IT["collo", "trachelon"]·jav["gulu", "gulunipun", "jangga"]·KO["목", "목-위에", "목-을", "목에", "목을"]·PT["pescoço"]·RU["выю", "которым", "шеи", "шею"]·ES["cuello"]·SW["shingo"]·TR["boynuna", "boynunun", "boyun", "boyunlarını"]·urd["گردن"]
Related Senses
H7200 1. Qal: to see, perceive (1257×)G4771 2. you (singular address) (1077×)H8085 1. Qal: hear, perceive aurally (921×)H0859a 1. you (2nd person masculine singular pronoun) (743×)H0398 1. eat (consume food) (697×)H4191 1. die (Qal: natural/general death) (645×)G3708 1. see, perceive visually (419×)G0191 1. hear, perceive sound (360×)H???? 3. (352×)G3708 2. behold, look (exclamatory) (256×)H7272 1. foot (body part) (236×)H8354 1. drink, consume liquid (209×)H3205 1. Qal active: bear/give birth (female subject) (204×)H3205 2. Qal active: beget/father (male subject) (198×)H2421 1. Qal: live, be alive (177×)H8085 2. Qal: listen, heed, pay attention (172×)H2416a 1. alive, living (state/attribute) (146×)H2416e 1. life, lifespan, lifetime (145×)G2198 1. be alive, have life (133×)H8193 1. lip, lips (body part) (123×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
τράχηλος [ᾰ], ὁ, Doric dialect τράχᾱλος Refs 4th c.BC+: irregular plural τράχηλα Refs 3rd c.BC+:—neck, throat, Refs 5th c.BC+; distinguished from αὐχήν by Refs 5th c.BC+ being, accusative to Refs, the whole neck and throat, αὐχήν the back part of the neck in human beings, the upper part in animals; this difference is observed in Refs 2nd c.AD+; but αὐχήν in LXX+5th c.BC+, NT, and Papyrus τ. is…