ἧλος (hēlos)
hēlos
nail
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun hēlos refers simply to a metal nail, appearing in Scripture only once in the New Testament at John 20:25. In this passage, the disciple Thomas declares that he will not believe Jesus has risen unless he can see the mark of the nails in his hands and put his finger where the nails were placed.
The word’s rarity in the New Testament contrasts with its presence in the Septuagint, such as Isaiah 41:7, where it describes a nail used in construction or fastening. Its singular occurrence here anchors the physical reality of the crucifixion, emphasizing that the risen Christ bore the tangible evidence of his suffering.
Translators consistently render hēlos as "nail," preserving the concrete nature of the reference. This specific detail highlights the bodily resurrection rather than a purely spiritual event, grounding the faith claim in physical history.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word hēlos appears just once in the New Testament, anchoring our faith in physical history rather than abstract ideas. When Thomas insisted on seeing the nail marks before he would believe, he was not being difficult; he was seeking a tangible connection to the man who had suffered and died. This single detail reminds us that Christianity is rooted in real events and a real body, not just spiritual feelings.
For your daily life, this offers profound comfort. The risen Jesus did not erase the scars of his suffering but kept them as proof of his victory over death. You do not have to hide your own wounds or past struggles when you come to God. He invites you to bring your whole self, including the marks of pain and failure, into his presence. His resurrection does not deny your history; it redeems it.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- nails2×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἥλων2×
Key Verses
-
John 20:25
The other disciples therefore said to him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the print of the nails, put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”
Thomas uses this specific term to demand physical proof of the crucifixion wounds, highlighting the bodily nature of the resurrection.