τρυμαλιά
trymaliá
G5168 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A small opening, hole, or aperture—specifically the eye of a needle (the tiny hole through which a thread passes). In the New Testament, the term refers explicitly to the small orifice at the end of a sewing needle. By extension, it may denote any extremely small opening or passageway, especially one emphasizing its minuteness.
Semantic Range
small opening, small hole, aperture, the eye of a needle, tiny orifice
Root / Etymology
From the Greek root τρυ- ('to bore, pierce'), linked by derivation to τρύω ('to wear away'), and related to τραῦμα ('wound'), τρῖβος ('a worn track'), and τρώγω ('to gnaw'). The word denotes the result of piercing or boring. Closely related to τρύπημα (another word for 'hole' or 'opening').
Historical & Contextual Notes
The term τρυμαλιά is rare in extant Greek literature. Its New Testament usage (notably Matthew 19:24; Mark 10:25; Luke 18:25) refers specifically to the eye of a needle in the metaphor about difficulty or impossibility. In broader Hellenistic Greek, similar forms (τρύπα, τρύπημα) appear for 'hole' or 'opening'—τρυμαλιά is more technically restricted to small or precision-made orifices, especially those produced by deliberate boring or piercing. The Septuagint does not use this word; alternative terms for 'hole' or 'aperture' occur. Modern translations render the term as 'eye' (of a needle), but this does not convey the underlying imagery of a bored or deliberately fashioned tiny aperture. This imagery emphasizes narrowness and inaccessibility—key to the famous hyperbolic saying.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from a derivative of (to wear away; akin to the base of τραῦμα, τρίβος and τρώγω); an orifice, i.e. needle's eye:--eye. Compare τρύπημα.
Root Family
τρυμαλιά (trymalia) — small opening, pierced hole, aperture, eye of a needle
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G5168-01 |
τρήματος | trematos | N GEN N SG |
the eye | of a tiny opening | of a tiny opening | 2 |
G5168-02 |
τρυμαλιᾶς | trumalias | N GEN F SG |
the eye | of a tiny pierced opening | the eye | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
3 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G5168-01 |
Matthew 19:24 | τρήματος | trematos | N GEN N SG |
the eye | of a tiny opening | of a tiny opening |
G5168-02 |
Mark 10:25 | τρυμαλιᾶς | trumalias | N GEN F SG |
the eye | of a tiny pierced opening | the eye |
G5168-01 |
Luke 18:25 | τρήματος | trematos | N GEN N SG |
the eye | of a tiny opening | of a tiny opening |