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ψωμίον

psōmíon

G5596 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

A small piece or morsel of bread, especially a fragment resulting from breaking or tearing, typically used for dipping into a dish or eating with other foods; in broader usage, any small bit of food, but most often associated with bread. The term can refer to a mouthful, piece, or crumb, especially in the context of communal meals or sharing food.

Semantic Range

small piece of bread, morsel, crumb, mouthful, piece for dipping during meals

Root / Etymology

Diminutive of a derivative of the base ψώχω (psōchō, 'to rub'), with ψωμίον indicating 'a little piece (of bread)', as something rubbed or broken off. Ultimately related to the act of rubbing or breaking finer fragments. Not attested before Hellenistic Greek.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, the root ψωμ- (from ψώχω) referred to rubbing or crumbling. The diminutive ψωμίον is rare in non-biblical sources and emerges in Hellenistic and Koine usage. In the New Testament, ψωμίον specifically refers to a piece of bread used for dipping or sharing, as in the context of table fellowship (e.g., John 13:26-27, where a piece is given during a meal as a gesture of intimacy or favor). Standard translations such as 'sop' or 'morsel' reflect the English tradition but do not fully capture the cultural act of using bread as a utensil to dip or share sauce. In the Septuagint, close cognates appear for bread fragments, but ψωμίον itself is less frequent. The term highlights social aspects of mealtimes in Greco-Roman and Second Temple contexts, where bread pieces were commonly used to scoop food or signify fellowship. Not to be confused with ἄρτος (loaf/bread generally) or ψιχίον (crumb/particle), though there is semantic overlap.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

diminutive from a derivative of the base of ψώχω; a crumb or morsel (as if rubbed off), i.e. a mouthful:--sop.

Root Family

ψωμίον (psōmion) — small piece of bread, morsel, crumb, mouthful

Root ψωμ- to rub, to break off, to crumble

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G5596-01 ψωμίον psomion N ACC N SG morsel a small bread morsel morsel 4

Occurrences in Scripture

4 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G5596-01 John 13:26 ψωμίον psomion N ACC N SG morsel a small bread morsel morsel
G5596-01 John 13:26 ψωμίον psomion-2 N ACC N SG morsel a small bread morsel morsel
G5596-01 John 13:27 ψωμίον psomion N ACC N SG morsel a small bread morsel bread morsel
G5596-01 John 13:30 ψωμίον psomion N ACC N SG morsel a small bread morsel small bread morsel
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