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σῖτος

sîtos

G4621 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

Edible grain, particularly cultivated cereal grains suitable for grinding into flour for food; most commonly refers to wheat in Greek literature and especially in Koine and biblical contexts, but can, by extension, refer to grain in general, including barley.

Semantic Range

wheat, edible grain, cereal grain (generic), supply of grain, food made from grain

Root / Etymology

of uncertain derivation; the etymology of σῖτος is not clearly established, though attestations exist from Mycenaean Greek (si-to, Linear B). No clear relation to other Indo-European roots has been demonstrated.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, σῖτος referred to any cereal grain, but wheat (Triticum spp.) was the standard referent when context did not specify otherwise. Barley (κριθή) is also a staple grain but normally named separately in Greek texts, distinguishing it from σῖτος. In the Septuagint, σῖτος consistently renders Hebrew terms for grain, especially when denoting wheat or generic grain suitable for bread (e.g., דָּגָן dagan). The New Testament typically employs σῖτος to mean wheat, which was the primary bread grain in late Second Temple Judea and the eastern Mediterranean. The English translation 'corn' in older versions is archaic and misleading, as it refers to cereal grain in general and not maize. σῖτος is distinct from σπέρμα (seed) and καρπός (fruit/crop) in Greek agricultural vocabulary. The term may also include a plural use to denote a supply, crop, or harvest of grain. The semantic range narrowed toward wheat in Koine Greek due to the staple nature of bread in the diet but retained some generality for other grains in certain contexts. The modern English term 'wheat' captures its primary NT meaning, but 'grain' is often more accurate for the wider Greco-Roman usage.

Translation Consistency

primary "grain" 14 occurrences

σῖτος most often denotes edible grain (commonly wheat but generically cereals). "Grain" is the natural, unmarked English term that covers wheat, barley, and grain products, matches the typical usage in the SILEX range, and aligns with the majority of existing renderings.

✓ All renderings match approved senses

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

of uncertain derivation; grain, especially wheat:--corn, wheat.

Root Family

σῖτος (sitos) — grain for food, especially wheat

Root σῖτ- grain for food, especially wheat

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G4621-01 σῖτον siton N ACC M SG wheat grain (food grain) grain 9
G4621-02 σίτου sitou N GEN M SG of wheat of grain of grain 5

Occurrences in Scripture

14 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G4621-01 Matthew 3:12 σῖτον siton N ACC M SG wheat grain (food grain) grain
G4621-02 Matthew 13:25 σίτου sitou N GEN M SG wheat of grain of grain
G4621-01 Matthew 13:29 σῖτον siton N ACC M SG wheat grain (food grain) grain
G4621-01 Matthew 13:30 σῖτον siton N ACC M SG wheat grain (food grain) grain
G4621-01 Mark 4:28 σῖτον siton N ACC M SG grain grain (food grain) grain
G4621-01 Luke 3:17 σῖτον siton N ACC M SG wheat grain (food grain) grain
G4621-01 Luke 12:18 σῖτον siton N ACC M SG grain grain (food grain) grain
G4621-02 Luke 16:7 σίτου sitou N GEN M SG of wheat of grain of grain
G4621-01 Luke 22:31 σῖτον siton N ACC M SG wheat grain (food grain) grain
G4621-02 John 12:24 σίτου sitou N GEN M SG wheat of grain of grain
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