στοιβάς
stoibás
G4746 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Layer or bed, especially of straw, rushes, or branches laid down to form a mat, resting place, or covering; by extension, refers to material (such as leafy branches or reeds) used for making beds, couches, or for covering surfaces. The term denotes the arrangement or gathering of such materials rather than a single branch or item.
Semantic Range
bed of straw or rushes, layer of branches for bedding, leafy materials laid for covering, mass of boughs or foliage spread on a surface, ground covering for ceremonial or festive occasions
Root / Etymology
From the Greek root στοιβ- (stoib-), connected to the verb στοιβάζω (stoibazō, 'to heap up, pile, stack'); ultimately related to the idea of piling up or layering. The suggested verbal root meaning 'to stamp down' or 'to step/stamp' is not directly attested but may reflect an ancient practice of tamping down bedding material.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In classical and Hellenistic Greek, στοιβάς primarily refers to a bed or layer made of straw, reeds, rushes, or leafy branches; attested in authors such as Aristophanes and Hippocrates. This material was spread on the floor for beds or couches, both in households and in less formal or outdoor settings (e.g., camps, festivals). In the Septuagint and the New Testament (e.g., Mark 11:8, Matt 21:8), it typically refers to the branches or leafy material strewn on roads or paths, especially during festive processions. Translation traditions often simplify στοιβάς as 'branch,' but the word more accurately denotes a grouped mass laid down as a substrate, not a single branch. It is distinct from κλάδος ('branch, bough') or φυλλάς ('foliage'), which denote individual parts of a plant rather than an arranged layer.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from a primary (to "step" or "stamp"); a spread (as if tramped flat) of loose materials for a couch, i.e. (by implication) a bough of a tree so employed:--branch.
Root Family
στοιβ- (stoibás) — to heap, to pile, to layer
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G4746-01 |
στιβάδας | stibadas | N ACC F PL |
branches | layers of branches | layers of branches | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G4746-01 |
Mark 11:8 | στιβάδας | stibadas | N ACC F PL |
branches | layers of branches | layers of branches |