STRONGS NT 2574: κάμιλοςκάμιλος, καμιλου, ὁ, a cable; the reading of certain manuscripts in Matthew 19:24 and Luke 18:25 (see Tdf.s notes). The word is found only in Suidas (1967 c.) and the Schol. on Aristophanes reap. (1030): "κάμιλος τό παχύ σχοινίον διά τοῦ ἰ." Cf. Passow (or Liddell and Scott), under the word; (WH's Appendix, p. 151b).

The camel, native to the arid Near East, was indispensable for travel, trade, and subsistence. Its ability to carry heavy loads across long distances without water made it a symbol of stamina and provision. In the Old Testament, ownership of many camels marked prosperity (Genesis 24:10; Job 1:3). By the first century the animal was a familiar sight on the roads that linked Judea with the wider Roman and Nabataean worlds; thus Jesus and John could reference it without explanation.

Symbol of Wealth and Burden Bearing

Because a camel towered above other beasts and transported valuable cargo, it naturally illustrated abundance and, at times, encumbrance. In the Gospels the word pictures both the sheer size of earthly possessions and the unwieldy weight they impose on the soul. Its largeness provides a ready contrast to a “gnat” (Matthew 23:24) or to the “eye of a needle” (Matthew 19:24; Mark 10:25; Luke 18:25). The image presses listeners to consider how material gain, though useful, can hinder entrance into the kingdom of God when it eclipses wholehearted trust in the Lord.

Lesson on Wealth and Salvation

Matthew 19:24 records Jesus’ startling comparison: “Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” The same saying is repeated verbatim in Mark 10:25 and Luke 18:25, underscoring its importance. Far from offering a riddle about a small city gate, Jesus uses deliberate hyperbole: the largest commonly known animal versus the smallest everyday aperture. The impossibility forces the disciples to ask, “Who then can be saved?” (Matthew 19:25). The answer, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26), moves the focus from human merit or resourcefulness to divine grace. The camel therefore serves as a visual aid that exposes self-reliance and magnifies the necessity of God’s intervention in salvation.

Image of Religious Blindness

In Matthew 23:24 Jesus rebukes the scribes and Pharisees, “You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel.” The leaders’ meticulous tithing of garden herbs (vs. 23) contrasted with their neglect of justice, mercy, and faithfulness. By picturing someone scrupulously filtering a tiny insect from wine yet gulping down a camel, Jesus unmasks hypocrisy: major sins are tolerated while trivial ceremonial concerns are paraded as virtue. The camel here highlights the colossal inconsistency of valuing outward minutiae over inward righteousness.

Prophetic Lifestyle of John the Baptist

Matthew 3:4 and Mark 1:6 describe John’s attire: “John himself wore a garment of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey.” The coarse camel-hair cloak evokes the rugged mantle of Elijah (2 Kings 1:8), signaling prophetic continuity. Living beyond the comforts of society, John models repentance and detachment from worldly excess. The camel, ordinarily a sign of commerce and journeying, becomes in his clothing an emblem of ascetic witness—calling Israel to prepare the way of the Lord through humble simplicity.

Historical Reception

Early Christian commentators unanimously read the “camel and needle” saying as deliberate exaggeration, not as a literal scenario alleviated by a small gate. Origen, Chrysostom, Augustine, and later Reformers viewed it as a hard word meant to drive hearers to divine dependency. Medieval monastic writers cited John’s camel-hair garment to defend voluntary poverty, while Puritan preachers turned Matthew 23:24 into a warning against moral casuistry. Across centuries the camel has remained an arresting figure warning both rich and religious of the dangers of misplaced confidence.

Practical Ministry Applications

1. Stewardship: Possessions are gifts to be used for kingdom purposes, not trusted for security.
2. Priorities: Churches must avoid elevating minor traditions above foundational doctrines of grace and justice.
3. Simplicity: John’s example encourages believers—especially leaders—to model contentment and integrity in lifestyle.
4. Evangelism: The seeming impossibility of a camel through a needle underscores the miracle of every conversion, fostering prayerful dependence on God when witnessing to those of influence.

Theological Implications

The camel texts converge on a single truth: human efforts—whether financial, ritual, or ascetic—cannot bridge the gap to divine righteousness. Only God can accomplish what the largest beast cannot achieve by squeezing through the smallest opening. At the same time, genuine faith, once granted, bears fruit in proportional commitment: relinquishing idols, embracing justice, and living prophetically in a material world. Thus Strong’s Greek 2574, though signifying a common animal, anchors uncommon lessons on grace, repentance, and authentic discipleship.