Brief Overview of σῖτος (Strong’s G4621: sitos)

Strong’s G4621: A masculine noun denoting wheat or grain, particularly in its harvested form. Essential staple in ancient Mediterranean life, frequently used metaphorically in biblical teachings about spiritual harvest, judgment, and God’s provision for His people’s needs.

U- Unveiling the Word

Σῖτος represents a fundamental element of ancient life, being the primary grain crop of the Mediterranean world. In the New Testament, it appears in contexts ranging from literal sustenance to metaphorical teachings about God’s kingdom. Jesus and the apostles used wheat imagery extensively to illustrate spiritual truths about harvest, judgment, and divine provision. The early church understood σῖτος as both literal daily bread and a symbol of spiritual nourishment. Today, it continues to remind us of God’s faithful provision and the reality of spiritual harvest.

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N – Necessary Information

• Greek Word: σῖτος, sitos, SEE-tos
• Detailed Pronunciation: σῖ (see) τος (tos) – stress on first syllable
• Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine

Etymology:

• Primary root word in Greek
• No compound elements
• Ancient Indo-European origin
• Related to agricultural terminology

D – Defining Meanings

• Wheat (the plant or grain)
• Grain (generally)
• Food (by extension)

Translation Options:

• Wheat – specific to the cereal crop
• Grain – broader agricultural meaning
• Corn – older English usage (as in KJV)

E – Exploring Similar Words

• κόκκος (kokkos, KOK-kos) – See G2848: Grain or seed
• σπέρμα (sperma, SPER-ma) – See G4690: Seed in general
• θερισμός (therismos, the-ris-MOS) – See G2326: Harvest

R – Reviewing the Word’s Morphology

• Case: Nominative, Accusative (σῖτον), Genitive (σίτου), Dative (σίτῳ)
• Number: Singular and Plural
• Gender: Masculine
• Declension: Second declension

The word follows standard second declension patterns for masculine nouns, changing endings to show its grammatical function in sentences.

S – Studying Lexicon Insights

BDAG emphasizes its prominence in agricultural contexts. Thayer’s notes its basic meaning as wheat or grain. LSJ documents its extensive use in commercial and agricultural texts. Vine’s highlights its metaphorical usage in biblical teachings. Moulton and Milligan cite numerous papyri showing its importance in ancient commerce.

T – Tracing the Scriptures

First appearance:
Matthew 3:12: “His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his [wheat] [σῖτος] into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”

Additional References:
Matthew 13:25, Mark 4:28, Luke 12:18, John 12:24, Acts 27:38, 1 Corinthians 15:37

A – Analyzing Classical Usage

N – Noteworthy Summary

Σῖτος powerfully illustrates God’s provision and the nature of His kingdom. Just as wheat must be planted and die to produce much fruit, Jesus died and rose again to bring abundant life. The imagery of gathering wheat into the barn reminds us that King Jesus will gather His people while separating them from what is worthless, calling us to bear fruit for His kingdom.

D – Did You Know?

• Wheat was the most important grain crop in biblical times
• The word appears in significant parables about kingdom growth and judgment
• Ancient Mediterranean economies often used σῖτος as a form of currency

Strong’s G4621: A masculine noun denoting wheat or grain, particularly in its harvested form. Essential staple in ancient Mediterranean life, frequently used metaphorically in biblical teachings about spiritual harvest, judgment, and God’s provision for His people’s needs.

Part of speech: Noun

Tags: agriculture, wheat, grain, harvest, provision, parables, judgment, food, farming, sustenance, kingdom-of-god, metaphors​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​