Bible Dictionary
PIN
A pin was a peg or slender rod of wood or metal used in weaving, hanging objects, or securing the curtains and cords of a tent, including the tabernacle.
Definition
A pin is a cylindrical peg or slender rod of wood or metal. It may be used in weaving, for hanging objects, or as a tent-pin for securing curtains and cords. A tent-pin was sharpened at one end and shaped at the other for attaching cords.
Biblical Usage
A pin appears in the account of Delilah fastening Samson’s hair, in references to hanging objects, and in descriptions of the tabernacle’s tent-pins. Jael used a tent-pin against Sisera. The actions of driving in and pulling out a tent-pin supplied technical expressions for pitching and breaking camp.
Historical Background
The tabernacle used pins of the type employed for securing tent structures. The supplied material connects the term with a Hebrew root meaning to drive in a peg.
Related Figures
Historical Bible Dictionaries
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>(yathedh, from yathadh, "to drive in a peg"(?)): A cylindrical piece of wood or metal (e.g. brass, Ex 27:19) such as that used by weavers in beating up the woof in the loom (Jud 16:14, where Delilah fastened Samson's hair with the "pin"); or as a peg for hanging (Eze 15:3; compare Isa 22:23 f; Ezr 9:8); or as a tent-pin, such as those used in the tabernacle (Ex 27:19; 35:18; 38:20,31; 39:40; Nu 3:37; 4:32; Jud 4:21, where the King James Version translates "nail," the Revised Version (British and American) "tent-pin"; compare Jud 5:26, where Hebrew has the same word, English Versions of the Bible "nail"). The tent-pin, like that of today, was probably sharpened at one end (Jud 4:21) and so shaped at the other as to permit the attaching of the cords so frequently mentioned in the same connection (Ex 35:18; 39:40; Nu 3:37; 4:32; compare Isa 33:20). From the acts of driving in the tent-pin (Taqa`) and pulling it out (nasa') are derived the technical Hebrew terms for pitching a tent and for breaking camp.</p><p>See also CRISPING PINS (Isa 3:22, the Revised Version (British and American) "satchels"); STAKE.</p><p>Nathan Isaacs</p>