τράχηλος (trάⱪaʸlos) — neck / to risk one’s life

Form 1

Part of speech: noun, m.

Inflections: τράχηλος; -ου

Related lemmas: τραχηλίζομαι

Sense 1: neck

Semantic entry: 8.25

Semantic domains: Body, Body Parts, and Body Products

Subdomains: Parts of the Body

Notes: τράχηλος also occurs in the NT in certain idiomatic expressions, for example, ‘to fall on the neck of someone’ (OET LUK 15:20 and OET ACT 20:37) in the sense of ‘to embrace’ (34.64: ἐπιπίπτω), and ‘to put down their necks’ (OET ROM 16:4) meaning ‘to risk their lives’ (21.8: τράχηλος / 21.8: ὑποτίθημι). It is rare indeed that one can translate such idioms literally, since ‘to fall on the neck of someone’ may readily suggest a murderous attack, and ‘to risk one’s neck’ may be simply meaningless, since the custom of beheading as a means of execution may be relatively unknown.

Show passage in OET: MAT 18:6

OET-RV MAT 18:6

6 “But anyone who causes one of these little ones who believe in me to stumble, it would have been better for that person if a heavy stone had been hung around their neck and they’d been sunk in the deep lake.

OET-LV MAT 18:6

6 But whoever wishfully may _stumble one of_ the these _little ones which believing in me, it _is _benefitting for _him that a_ heavy _grinding _stone may _be _hanged around the neck of _him, and may _be _sunk in the depth of _the sea.

Show passage in OET: MRK 9:42

OET-RV MRK 9:42

42 “But anyone who causes a young person to falter from their trust in me, it would be better if they were thrown into the sea with a heavy weight tied around their neck.

OET-LV MRK 9:42

42 And whoever wishfully may _stumble one of_ the these _little ones which believing in me, it _is better for _him rather if a_ heavy _grinding _stone is _hung _around around the neck of _him, and he _has _been _throw into the sea.

Jump to OET MAT 18:6 section.

Jump to OET MRK 9:42 section.

All 6 recorded passages for this sense

MAT: OET MAT 18:6

MRK: OET MRK 9:42

LUK: OET LUK 15:20 · OET LUK 17:2

ACT: OET ACT 15:10 · OET ACT 20:37

Sense 2: to risk one’s life

Semantic entry: 21.8

Semantic domains: Danger, Risk, Safe, Save

Subdomains: Expose Oneself to Danger

Definition: (an idiom, literally: to put down the neck) willingly and purposely to expose oneself to extreme danger and risk

Notes: In some instances one can translate this expression in OET ROM 16:4 as ‘who showed they were willing to die in order that I could live’ or ‘in order to help me continue to live, they almost died.’

Collocations: τράχηλον ὑποτίθημι

Show passage in OET: ROM 16:4

OET-RV ROM 16:4

4 who risked their lives to save mine. It’s not just me who’s thankful for them, but also all the assemblies of the non-Jews

OET-LV ROM 16:4

4 who for the life of _me, the of _themselves neck laid _down, to _whom not I only am _giving _thanks, but also all the assemblies of _the pagans,

Jump to OET ROM 16:4 section.

UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament