ξύλον (xulon)
xulon
wood
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 18 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun xylon simply means wood, but in Scripture it often refers to a specific object made from that material rather than the raw substance itself. In the Gospels, it frequently describes the implements used by soldiers to arrest Jesus, such as clubs or staffs (Matthew 26:47; Mark 14:43). This usage highlights the physical reality of the violence inflicted on him, grounding the narrative in tangible, everyday items.
Its most significant theological weight appears when xylon refers to the cross. In Acts and Peter’s letters, Jesus is described as being "hung on a tree" (Acts 5:30; 1 Peter 2:24). This phrasing deliberately echoes Deuteronomy 21, where a criminal’s body hung on wood was considered cursed. By using this term, the New Testament writers emphasize that Christ bore the full weight of that curse on our behalf.
The word also appears in Revelation to describe the "tree of life," linking back to Genesis and Isaiah. Here, xylon represents restoration and eternal sustenance rather than judgment. Translators must carefully choose between "wood," "cross," or "tree" depending on context, as the Greek term covers all three concepts without distinguishing them grammatically.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word xylon reminds us that faith is not an abstract idea but something grounded in real history. When the Gospels describe soldiers coming with clubs to arrest Jesus, they show a God who entered into the messy, painful reality of human violence. He did not avoid the physical world; He walked through it, bearing the weight of our brokenness in His own body.
This same word carries profound hope when used to describe the cross. By calling the cross a "tree," the New Testament writers connect Jesus’ death to ancient promises of redemption. He took upon Himself the curse meant for us, turning an instrument of shame into the source of our healing. The wood that signaled judgment became the means of our restoration.
Finally, this word points toward eternal life. In Revelation, the "tree of life" stands as a promise of full restoration in God’s presence. It invites us to look beyond our current struggles to a future where every tear is wiped away and we dwell forever with our Creator.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 18 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- tree7×
- clubs4×
- wood2×
- a tree;2×
- wood,1×
- stocks.1×
- clubs?1×
- a tree.1×
- [was a] tree1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ξύλου5×
- ξύλων4×
- ξύλον4×
- ξύλου·2×
- ξύλῳ1×
- ξύλων;1×
- ξύλου.1×
- ξύλον.¶1×
- ξύλα,1×
Key Verses
-
Acts 5:30
The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you killed, hanging him on a tree.
This verse explicitly links Jesus’ death on the cross to the Old Testament concept of being "hung on a tree," emphasizing that He bore the curse of the law in our place.
-
I Peter 2:24
He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live to righteousness. You were healed by his wounds.
Peter uses this term to highlight the substitutionary nature of Christ’s sacrifice, stating that He bore our sins directly in His body on the tree so we might live righteously.
-
Matthew 26:47
While he was still speaking, behold, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and elders of the people.
Here the word describes the clubs brought by the crowd, grounding the arrest of Jesus in the tangible reality of physical violence and human hostility.
-
Revelation of John 22:2
in the middle of its street. On this side of the river and on that was the tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruits, yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
This occurrence connects back to Genesis, describing the tree of life in the New Jerusalem as a symbol of eternal healing and sustenance for the nations.