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κόκκος

kókkos

G2848 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

A kernel or seed; primarily refers to a single grain or seed (such as of wheat, barley, or mustard), often as the smallest discrete unit of agricultural produce. May also refer to a granular particle or pellet in non-agricultural contexts (e.g., a particle of sand or medicine), but most commonly in Koine Greek to an individual seed, especially when emphasizing singularity, minuteness, or the potential for growth.

Semantic Range

grain, seed, kernel of wheat or other cereals, small berry (especially for red dye), small particle, pellet, granular unit

Root / Etymology

Appears to be a primary Greek word; related to the root κόκκ- found in κόκκος. No secure Indo-European etymology; possibly of Pre-Greek/Mediterranean substrate origin. Cognate with Latin coccum ('berry, kermes insect'), but loan relationships are unclear.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical and Hellenistic Greek, κόκκος most often refers to a small grain or seed, sometimes specifically the berry of the kermes insect used for dye. In the Septuagint and New Testament, it is most frequently used of a mustard seed (κόκκος σινάπεως)—emphasizing both the seed's minute size and, metaphorically, the idea of small beginnings with great potential. English translations often render it as 'grain' or 'seed.' The term may also refer to small red berries or, metonymically, a granular particle, but in basic usage denotes an individual seed. In later usage and scientific/medical texts, κόκκος may refer to any small granular particle or bead. The English 'corn' is a traditional rendering but potentially misleading, as English 'corn' refers to maize in American English, while here it means 'grain' in the generic sense. See also related term σπόρος (seed, sowing); κόκκος is more specific for an individual grain than the generic σπόρος, which can refer to the concept of seed/offspring more broadly.

Translation Consistency

primary "seed" 6 occurrences

'Seed' is the most natural, common English word covering the primary senses of κόκκος: a single kernel or seed (including mustard seed imagery), the smallest discrete agricultural unit, and by extension a small particle. It matches typical Koine usage and the majority of prior renderings, while remaining broad enough to cover 'kernel' and 'grain' senses.

Alternatives (1 occurrence):
"grain" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

apparently a primary word; a kernel of seed:--corn, grain.

Root Family

κόκκ- (kókkinos) — red, crimson, scarlet

Root κόκκ- grain, seed, kernel, berry
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
G2847 κόκκινος crimson-colored

Word Forms

3 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G2848-01 κόκκῳ kokko N DAT M SG grain to a seed to a seed 3
G2848-02 κόκκον kokkon N ACC M SG grain a seed a seed 3
G2848-03 κόκκος kokkos N NOM M SG grain a seed grain 1

Occurrences in Scripture

7 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G2848-01 Matthew 13:31 κόκκῳ kokko N DAT M SG to a grain to a seed to a seed
G2848-02 Matthew 17:20 κόκκον kokkon N ACC M SG a grain a seed a seed
G2848-01 Mark 4:31 κόκκῳ kokko N DAT M SG grain to a seed to a seed
G2848-01 Luke 13:19 κόκκῳ kokko N DAT M SG grain to a seed a seed
G2848-02 Luke 17:6 κόκκον kokkon N ACC M SG grain a seed a seed
G2848-03 John 12:24 κόκκος kokkos N NOM M SG grain a seed grain
G2848-02 1 Corinthians 15:37 κόκκον kokkon N ACC M SG grain a seed a seed
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