corner Summary and Overview

The angle of a house (Job 1:19) or a street (Prov. 7:8). "Corners" in Neh. 9:22 denotes the various districts of the promised land allotted to the Israelites. In Num. 24:17, the "corners of Moab" denotes the whole land of Moab. The "corner of a field" (Lev. 19:9; 23:22) is its extreme part, which was not to be reaped. The Jews were prohibited from cutting the "corners," i.e., the extremities, of the hair and whiskers running round the ears (Lev. 19:27; 21:5). The "four corners of the earth" in Isa. 11:12 and Ezek. 7:2 denotes the whole land. The "corners of the streets" mentioned in Matt. 6:5 means the angles where streets meet so as to form a square or place of public resort. The corner gate of Jerusalem (2 Kings 14:13; 2 Chr. 26:9) was on the north-west side of the city. Corner-stone (Job 38:6; Isa. 28:16), a block of great importance in binding together the sides of a building. The "head of the corner" (Ps. 118:22, 23) denotes the coping, the "coign of vantage", i.e., the topstone of a building. But the word "corner stone" is sometimes used to denote some person of rank and importance (Isa. 28:16). It is applied to our Lord, who was set in highest honour (Matt. 21:42). He is also styled "the chief corner stone" (Eph. 2:20; 1 Pet. 2:6-8). When Zechariah (10:4), speaking of Judah, says, "Out of him came forth the corner," he is probably to be understood as ultimately referring to the Messiah as the "corner stone." (See TEMPLE, SOLOMON'S T0003612.)

The "corner" of the field was not allowed, #Le 19:9| to be wholly reaped. It formed a right of the poor to carry off what was so left, and this was a part of the maintenance from the soil to which that class were entitled. Under the scribes, minute legislation fixed one-sixtieth as the portion of a field which was to be left for the legal "corner." The proportion being thus fixed, all the grain might be reaped, and enough to satisfy the regulation subsequently separated from the whole crop. This "corner" was, like the gleaning, tithe-free.

COR'NER . According to the Mosaic law, it was forbidden to reap the corners of the field, so that there might be gleanings for the poor. Lev 19:9; Jer 23:22. The "corner of the house-top," Prov 21:9, is a narrow place exposed to sun and rain, contrasted with the wide room or house below. The word "corner" in the phrase "corners of Moab," or of any other country. Num 24:17; Jer 48:45, means the length and breadth of the country, and also of the world. "Corner of a bed," Am 3:12, the corner of a room, was on the elevated part (used by night for a bed or couch), and contained the most honorable seat. See Bed. In the passage last cited it figuratively denotes the most proud and luxurious of the Israelites in Samaria. In Zech 10:4 the word "corner" is used to denote either the corner-stone or the most conspicuous part of a building, and evidently refers to Christ, Matt 21:42, where he is mentioned as "the head" (or chief ) "of the corner," though the Jews, in erecting the temple of their faith, rejected him as unfit for so important a place. Corner-stone. Job 38:6. A massive stone placed at the foundation in the corner of a building, and binding the two walls together. Christ is called " the Corner-stone of the Church" because he gives strength and unity to the whole structure of God's house. Comp. Eph 2:20; 1 Pet 2:6; Matt 21:42; Rom 9:32-33; 1 Cor 1:23.

A merciful provision of the law left the grainers of the fields and whatever crop was on them to be enjoyed by the poor (Leviticus 19:9). So also gleanings of fields and fruit trees (Leviticus 23:22; Deuteronomy 24:19-21). Such regulations diminished, much the amount of poverty. In David's time only 500 or 600 in debt or distress joined him out of all Judaea (1 Samuel 21:11). Later the prophets constantly complain of the rich defrauding the poor (Isaiah 3:14-15; Isaiah 10:2; Amos 5:11).