| Easton's Bible Dictionary (Hebrews galgal; rendered "wheel" in Psalm 83:13, and "a rolling thing" in Isaiah 17:13; R.V. in both, "whirling dust"). This word has been supposed to mean the wild artichoke, which assumes the form of a globe, and in autumn breaks away from its roots, and is rolled about by the wind in some places in great numbers. Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) A circular frame turning about an axis; a rotating disk, whether solid, or a frame composed of an outer rim, spokes or radii, and a central hub or nave, in which is inserted the axle, -- used for supporting and conveying vehicles, in machinery, and for various purposes; as, the wheel of a wagon, of a locomotive, of a mill, of a watch, etc. 2. (n.) Any instrument having the form of, or chiefly consisting of, a wheel. 3. (n.) A spinning wheel. See under Spinning. 4. (n.) An instrument of torture formerly used. 5. (n.) A circular frame having handles on the periphery, and an axle which is so connected with the tiller as to form a means of controlling the rudder for the purpose of steering. 6. (n.) A potter's wheel. See under Potter. 7. (n.) A firework which, while burning, is caused to revolve on an axis by the reaction of the escaping gases. 8. (n.) The burden or refrain of a song. 9. (n.) A bicycle or a tricycle; a velocipede. 10. (n.) A rolling or revolving body; anything of a circular form; a disk; an orb. 11. (n.) A turn revolution; rotation; compass. 12. (v. t.) To convey on wheels, or in a wheeled vehicle; as, to wheel a load of hay or wood. 13. (v. t.) To put into a rotatory motion; to cause to turn or revolve; to cause to gyrate; to make or perform in a circle. 14. (v. i.) To turn on an axis, or as on an axis; to revolve; to more about; to rotate; to gyrate. 15. (v. i.) To change direction, as if revolving upon an axis or pivot; to turn; as, the troops wheeled to the right. 16. (v. i.) To go round in a circuit; to fetch a compass. 17. (v. i.) To roll forward. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia WHEEL hwel:
(1) 'ophan, is the usual word (Exodus 14:25, etc.). In Proverbs 20:26 Isaiah 28:27 the rollers of a threshing wagon are meant (see AGRICULTURE).
(2) galgal, "rolling thing," generally in the sense of "wheel" (Isaiah 5:28, etc.), but the Revised Version (British and American) in Ezekiel 10:2, 6, 13 has "whirling wheels," an advantageous change. The "wheel.... broken at the cistern" in Ecclesiastes 12:6 is the windlass for drawing the water, and by the figure the breakdown of the old man's breathing apparatus is probably meant. In Psalm 83:13, the King James Version has "wheel," but this translation (that of the Septuagint) is quite impossible; the Revised Version (British and American) "whirling dust" (sucked up by a miniature whirlwind) is perhaps right, but the translations proposed are end-less.
(3) gilgal, Isaiah 28:28, the roller of a threshing wagon.
(4) 'obhnayim, Jeremiah 18:3. See POTTER.
(5) pa`am, Judges 5:28, literally, "step" (so the Revised Version margin), and the sound of horses' hoofs is intended.
(6) trochos, Sirach 33:5; James 3:6 (the King James Version "course"). In the former passage, "The heart of a fool is as a cart-wheel," the changeableness of a light disposition is satirized. In James the figure is of a wheel in rotation, so that a flame starting at any point is quickly communicated to the whole. Just so an apparently insignificant sin of the tongue produces an incalculably destructive effect.
The phrase "wheel of nature" (trochos tes geneseos) is used here for "the world in progress." It is not a very natural figure and has given rise to much discussion. the King James Version accents trochos ("course") instead of trochos (" wheel"). but the language throughout is metaphorical and "course" is not a sufficiently metaphorical word. The translation "birth" for geneseos (so the Revised Version margin). i.e. "a wheel set in motion by birth." is out of the question. as the argument turns on results wider than any individual's existence. "Wheel of nature" is certainly right. But a comparison of life to a wheel in some sense or other (chiefly that of "Fortune's wheel") is common enough in Greek and Latin writers, and, indeed the exact combination trochos geneseos is found in at least one (Orphic) writer (full references in the commentaries of Mayor and W. Bauer). It would seem, then, that James had heard the phrase, and he used it as a striking figure, with entire indifference to any technical significance it might have. This supposition is preferable to that of an awkward translation from the Aramaic.
See COURSE.
Burton Scott Easton |  | Multi-Version Concordance Wheel (20 Occurrences) James 3:6 And the tongue is a fire: the world of iniquity among our members is the tongue, which defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the wheel of nature, and is set on fire by hell. (ASV BBE) 1 Kings 7:32 The four wheels were underneath the panels; and the axles of the wheels were in the base: and the height of a wheel was a cubit and half a cubit. (Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) 1 Kings 7:33 The work of the wheels was like the work of a chariot wheel: their axles, and their rims, and their spokes, and their naves, were all molten. (Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) 1 Kings 22:34 And a certain man drew his bow at a venture, and smote the king of Israel between the lower armour and the breastplate; wherefore he said unto the driver of his chariot: 'Turn thy hand, and carry me out of the host; for I am sore wounded.' (See NIV) 2 Chronicles 18:33 And a certain man drew his bow at a venture, and smote the king of Israel between the lower armour and the breastplate; wherefore he said to the driver of the chariot: 'Turn thy hand, and carry me out of the host; for I am sore wounded.' (See NIV) Psalms 83:13 O my God, make them like a wheel; as the stubble before the wind. (KJV WBS) Proverbs 20:26 A wise king winnows out the wicked, and drives the threshing wheel over them. (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Proverbs 31:19 She puts her hands to the cloth-working rod, and her fingers take the wheel. (BBE) Ecclesiastes 12:6 before the silver cord is severed, or the golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher is broken at the spring, or the wheel broken at the cistern, (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Isaiah 28:27 For the dill are not threshed with a sharp instrument, neither is a cart wheel turned over the cumin; but the dill is beaten out with a stick, and the cumin with a rod. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Jeremiah 18:3 Then I went down to the potter's house, and behold, he was making a work on the wheels. (Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV) Ezekiel 1:15 Now as I saw the living creatures, behold, one wheel on the earth beside the living creatures, for each of the four faces of it. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Ezekiel 1:16 The appearance of the wheels and their work was like a beryl: and they four had one likeness; and their appearance and their work was as it were a wheel within a wheel. (Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Ezekiel 10:6 It came to pass, when he commanded the man clothed in linen, saying, Take fire from between the whirling wheels, from between the cherubim, that he went in, and stood beside a wheel. (Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Ezekiel 10:9 I looked, and behold, four wheels beside the cherubim, one wheel beside one cherub, and another wheel beside another cherub; and the appearance of the wheels was like a beryl stone. (Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Ezekiel 10:10 As for their appearance, they four had one likeness, as if a wheel have been within a wheel. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Ezekiel 10:11 When they went, they went toward their four sides; they turned not as they went, but to the place whither the head looked they followed it; they turned not as they went. (See RSV NIV) Ezekiel 10:13 As for the wheels, they were called in my hearing, the whirling wheels. (Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Ezekiel 26:10 By reason of the abundance of his horses their dust shall cover thee: thy walls shall shake at the noise of the horsemen, and of the wheels, and of the chariots, when he shall enter into thy gates, as men enter into a city wherein is made a breach. (Root in KJV JPS BBE DBY WBS YLT) Nahum 3:2 The noise of the whip, the noise of the rattling of wheels, prancing horses, and bounding chariots, (Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) |
