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στάχυς

stáchys

G4719 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

A head or ear of grain, specifically the part of a cereal plant (such as wheat or barley) that contains the seeds arranged along the stalk. The term primarily denoted the grain-bearing ear, emphasizing its prominence or maturity, especially when ripe and ready for harvest. It could refer generally to the ear of any cultivated grain but most often to that of wheat or barley.

Semantic Range

head of grain, ear of wheat, ear of barley, ripe grain cluster, grain-bearing part of the stalk

Root / Etymology

From the base στᾰ́- (standing, erect), related to ἵστημι ('to stand'). The term likely refers to the standing, vertical aspect of the grain head as it matures on the stalk. No indication of a Semitic or non-Greek origin; the formation is native to Greek.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical and Hellenistic Greek, στάχυς is widely attested with reference to the agricultural context of grain production, describing the portion of the plant that develops above the stem and houses the grains. The term appears frequently in Greek literature (e.g., Homer, Herodotus) and agricultural treatises, and is not limited to a particular species unless specified contextually. In the Septuagint, it is used to translate Hebrew terms for the heads of grain, especially in narratives concerned with harvest or famine (e.g., Genesis 41:5, 22). In the New Testament, such as Mark 2:23, it appears when describing disciples plucking ears of grain on the Sabbath. English translations typically render it as 'ear of corn' or 'head of grain,' but modern readers should understand that 'corn' in older English refers to cereal grains in general, not specifically maize. The word does not carry symbolic or metaphorical senses in Koine; its meaning remains agricultural and concrete.

Translation Consistency

primary "ear" 3 occurrences

στάχυς primarily denotes the ear or head of a cereal plant (e.g. an ear of wheat or barley). “Ear” matches common biblical and English usage (“ear of grain”/“ear of wheat”), is specific to the grain-bearing part (more precise than the broader term “grain”), and will render naturally and consistently across contexts.

Alternatives (2 occurrences):
"grain head" (2x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from the base of ἵστημι; a head of grain (as standing out from the stalk):--ear (of corn).

Root Family

στάχυς (stachys) — head of grain, standing grain cluster, ripe ear

Root σταχ- to stand, to be upright

Word Forms

3 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G4719-01 στάχυας stachuas N ACC M PL heads of grain standing grain heads ears of grain 3
G4719-02 στάχυϊ stachui N DAT M SG ear to a grain head grain head 1
G4719-03 στάχυν stachun N ACC M SG ear a grain-head grain head 1

Occurrences in Scripture

5 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G4719-01 Matthew 12:1 στάχυας stachuas N ACC M PL heads of grain standing grain heads ears of grain
G4719-01 Mark 2:23 στάχυας stachuas N ACC M PL heads of grain standing grain heads ears of grain
G4719-03 Mark 4:28 στάχυν stachun N ACC M SG ear a grain-head grain head
G4719-02 Mark 4:28 στάχυϊ stachui N DAT M SG ear to a grain head grain head
G4719-01 Luke 6:1 στάχυας stachuas N ACC M PL heads of grain standing grain heads ears of grain
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