θήκη
thḗkē
G2336 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A container or receptacle, especially one for holding or storing something; in particular, a scabbard or sheath for a sword or dagger. The central meaning is 'a case designed to receive or hold an object,' with context often specifying the precise referent (e.g., scabbard, chest, box, coffin, container).
Semantic Range
receptacle, container, case, chest, coffin, box; scabbard, sheath (for a blade or weapon)
Root / Etymology
From the verb τίθημι ('to put, place'), built on the root θηκ- with the feminine suffix -η.
Historical & Contextual Notes
θήκη appears rarely in classical Greek but is attested in various Greek texts from the classical through the Koine periods. Its earliest uses denote a general receptacle or container. Over time, its meaning narrows or gains specificity by context—most commonly as 'scabbard' or 'sheath' (for weapons), but also for other containers (e.g., chests, coffins, boxes) in literary and documentary sources. In the New Testament and LXX, it is specifically used for 'scabbard' or 'sheath' (John 18:11). The broader meaning of 'receptacle' is attested in other Greek sources but does not appear in canonical biblical texts. English translations typically render θήκη as 'sheath' or 'scabbard' in New Testament contexts; however, the term retains a more general sense of 'container' in other literature. The etymological connection to τίθημι emphasizes the function of a θήκη as something into which an object is placed or deposited.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from τίθημι; a receptacle, i.e. scabbard:--sheath.
Root Family
θηκ- (thḗkē) — to put, to place, to set
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G2336-01 |
θήκην | theken | N ACC F SG |
sheath | a sheath | sheath | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G2336-01 |
John 18:11 | θήκην | theken | N ACC F SG |
sheath | a sheath | sheath |