βοτάνη
botánē
G1008 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Plant vegetation, especially grass or fodder suitable for grazing animals; in broader contexts, may refer to any edible plant, green herb, or vegetation as a source of nourishment.
Semantic Range
herbage, pasture, grass, vegetation, edible plant, food plant, vegetation suitable for grazing, metaphor for productive growth
Root / Etymology
Derived from the verb βόσκω (boskō), meaning 'to feed, to pasture, to graze.' The noun βοτάνη indicates what is used for grazing or feeding, especially by animals. Cognate with Latin 'botanum,' possibly via Greek influence. The etymology centers on the act of feeding or pasture, not on medical or culinary herbs per se.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In classical Greek, βοτάνη refers broadly to any plant, grass, or green vegetation, often those suitable for animal consumption, primarily pasture plants. It was a general term for grass or food plants, in contrast to more specific words for edible or medicinal herbs, such as ἄνηϑον (anēthon, 'dill') or φύλλον (phyllon, 'leaf'). In the Septuagint, βοτάνη is used for the Hebrew עֵשֶׂב (eseb), meaning 'herb, grass, green plant,' especially in creation accounts for vegetation provided as food for living creatures. In the New Testament (e.g., Hebrews 6:7), βοτάνη is used metaphorically for productive vegetation, contrasting fruitful, useful plants with thorns. Standard English translations often restrict βοτάνη to 'herb,' but its semantics includes the wider range of forage plants. The term does not specifically denote culinary or medicinal herbs, but rather vegetation as sustenance, particularly for animals. It is less specialized than later botanical terms.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from βόσκω; herbage (as if for grazing):--herb.
Root Family
βοταν- (botánē) — plant, fodder, pasture, herbage
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G1008-01 |
βοτάνην | botanen | N ACC F SG |
vegetation | pasture herbage | vegetation | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G1008-01 |
Hebrews 6:7 | βοτάνην | botanen | N ACC F SG |
vegetation | pasture herbage | vegetation |