θρέμμα (G2353) — Greek Lexicon

θρέμμα

thrémma

G2353 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

A creature that is reared or nourished, primarily an animal bred or kept by humans, especially for agricultural purposes; often refers to livestock but can include any domesticated animal maintained through human care. In some contexts, the term can generically denote a living being or product of nurturing, but is predominantly used in reference to animals raised for use or consumption.

Semantic Range

domesticated animal, livestock, animal raised by humans, cattle, product of nurture, (rarely) fosterling or reared person

Root / Etymology

From τρέφω (trephō, 'to nourish, feed, bring up') with the suffix -μα indicating the result or product of an action, so θρέμμα is 'that which is nourished or reared.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical and Hellenistic Greek, θρέμμα is rarely attested but when used, refers to livestock or animals raised by people—typically cattle, sheep, and goats. In rural and agricultural contexts, it connotes animals maintained for farming, labor, or food. In the Septuagint and Koine Greek sources, the term continues to mean livestock or domestically raised animals, though it can on rare occasions refer to a person reared by another (i.e., a foster child or servant), though this usage is far less common. The standard English Bible translation 'cattle' narrows its meaning, as the Greek can refer to any farm-raised animal, not exclusively bovines. The meaning is distinct from terms such as κτῆνος ('beast of burden' or 'domesticated animal') and θηρίον ('wild animal, beast'), emphasizing animals that have been nourished, tamed, or bred by humans. There is little evidence that θρέμμα was commonly used for non-animal contexts in Koine or New Testament Greek.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from τρέφω; stock (as raised on a farm):--cattle.

Root Family

θρέμμα (thrémma) — that which is nourished, reared animal, livestock

Root θρέφ- to nourish, to rear, to bring up

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`G2353-01`	θρέμματα	thremmata	`N NOM N PL`	cattle	reared livestock	livestock	1

Occurrences in Scripture

1 occurrence

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`G2353-01`	John 4:12	θρέμματα	thremmata	`N NOM N PL`	cattle	reared livestock	livestock

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