Beam

Beam in the Topics

Occurs in the Authorized Version as the rendering of various Hebrew words. In 1 Sam 17:7, it means a weaver’s frame or principal beam; in Hab 2:11, a crossbeam or girder; 2 Kgs 6:2, 2 Kgs 6:5, a cross-piece or rafter of a house; 1 Kgs 7:6, an architectural ornament as a projecting step or moulding; Ezek 41:25, a thick plank. In the New Testament the word occurs only in Matt 7:3, Matt 7:4, Matt 7:5, and Luke 6:41, Luke 6:42, where it means (Gr. dokos) a large piece of wood used for building purposes, as contrasted with “mote” (Gr. karphos), a small piece or mere splinter. “Mote” and “beam” became proverbial for little and great faults.

From Easton’s Bible Dictionary (1897), by Matthew George Easton.