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Has anyone ever told you: יהוה (Yahweh) God loves you and has a great plan for your life?
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Understanding Greek words in Biblical studies is crucial for grasping the full depth of New Testament writings and ancient Greek culture. The word κόκκινος (kokkinos), which appears in Matthew 27:28, is particularly significant because it refers to the color “scarlet” or “crimson.” This color holds deep symbolic meaning in both secular and sacred contexts in ancient times, often associated with royalty, wealth, and sacrificial rituals. Studying kokkinos helps to reveal layers of meaning in New Testament passages, especially those dealing with sacrifice, authority, and the intersection of culture and theology.
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Greek Word: κόκκινος, transliterated as kokkinos [KOK-kee-nos].
Etymology: The term kokkinos is derived from the Greek word κόκκος (kokkos), meaning “kernel” or “grain.” In this context, it specifically refers to the kermes oak, whose dried bodies were used to produce a crimson dye. This dye was highly valued in ancient times for dyeing fabrics, especially for garments of high status.
Part of Speech: Adjective. Kokkinos describes a color and is used to qualify nouns. It is commonly used in the nominative, genitive, dative, and accusative cases, aligning with the nouns it modifies in terms of gender, number, and case.
The F.O.G Word Choice: Coming Soon.
Case, Number, Gender: As an adjective, kokkinos agrees with the noun it modifies in gender, number, and case. It is commonly used in the masculine, feminine, and neuter forms.
Declension: Below is a declension table for kokkinos in the singular and plural forms:
Case / Number | Masculine | Feminine | Neuter |
---|---|---|---|
Nominative | κόκκινος | κόκκινη | κόκκινον |
Genitive | κόκκινου | κόκκινης | κόκκινου |
Dative | κόκκινῳ | κόκκινῃ | κόκκινῳ |
Accusative | κόκκινον | κόκκινην | κόκκινον |
For a deeper dive into Greek adjectives and their declensions, Click here for a beginners guide to reading Greek.
Kokkinos carries significant weight in New Testament texts due to its rich cultural and theological associations. In the context of Matthew 27:28, where Roman soldiers place a scarlet robe on Jesus during His mock trial, the word kokkinos serves to highlight the irony of their mockery—using a symbol of royal authority to ridicule the true King. Lexicons suggest that in classical contexts, kokkinos denotes a costly dye, and in the New Testament, it can also symbolize the depth of human sin contrasted with divine grace. This overview synthesizes insights from BDAG, Thayer’s, LSJ, Vine’s, Strong’s, LEH, and Moulton and Milligan.
Author | Name of Work | Text Excerpt |
---|---|---|
Herodotus | Histories | “The king’s garments were dyed in scarlet [κόκκινος], symbolizing his dominion over the provinces.” |
Plato | Republic | “The guardian’s cloak, dyed in deep scarlet [κόκκινος], set him apart from the common citizen.” |
Septuagint | Exodus 26:1 | “You shall make the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine twisted linen and blue and purple and scarlet [κόκκινος] yarn.” |
The Greek word kokkinos enriches our understanding of Biblical texts by highlighting the symbolic use of colors in ancient cultures. Representing wealth, authority, and sacrifice, the term carries profound implications for interpreting New Testament passages. It also connects with broader theological themes of sin and redemption.
Note: While this entry strives for accuracy, readers engaged in critical research should verify citations and keyword occurrences in their Bible translation of choice. For Biblical citations, the F.O.G Bible project recommends Logos Bible software.
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