κόκκος
kokkos
seed
Lexicon Entry
Lexicon data from STEPBible TIPNR, Tyndale House, Cambridge. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
What Original Readers Understood
ExploredThe Greek word κόκκος (kokkos) is a term that refers to a seed. Its primary definition is clear and straightforward, indicating its function as a small, often fertilized, reproductive unit of a plant. With 7 occurrences in the Bible, this word is not overly abundant, but its usage suggests a range of contexts, from agricultural to metaphorical. In its literal sense, κόκκος is used to describe the seeds of various plants, such as wheat (Matthew 13:3) and thorns (Matthew 13:7). This usage highlights the word's connection to the natural world and the process of growth and development. Beyond its literal meaning, κόκκος may also be used metaphorically, as in the case of the parable of the sower, where the seed represents the message of the kingdom (Matthew 13:18-23). The significance of κόκκος lies in its ability to convey the idea of potential and growth. As a seed, it represents a small, often overlooked entity that holds the promise of future development and abundance. This idea is reflected in the word's usage in the Bible, where it is often used to describe the spread of the kingdom and the growth of faith.
Source data & methodology
Occurrences in Scripture
7 total occurrences across the text
He set another parable before them, saying, “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field;
Matthew 17:20He said to them, “Because of your unbelief. For most certainly I tell you, if you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you will tell this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.
Mark 4:31It’s like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown in the earth, though it is less than all the seeds that are on the earth,
Luke 13:19It is like a grain of mustard seed which a man took and put in his own garden. It grew and became a large tree, and the birds of the sky live in its branches.”
Luke 17:6The Lord said, “If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, you would tell this sycamore tree, ‘Be uprooted, and be planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.
John 12:24Most certainly I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains by itself alone. But if it dies, it bears much fruit.
1 Corinthians 15:37That which you sow, you don’t sow the body that will be, but a bare grain, maybe of wheat, or of some other kind.