Greek · G4263 · unreviewed

πρόβατον

Sheep

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πρόβατον G4263

Pronunciation próbaton

What does πρόβατον (próbaton) mean in the Bible?

πρόβατον (próbaton) is a Greek word meaning "sheep". πρόβατον, -ου, τό (προβαίνω), [in LXX chiefly for צֹאן, also for שֶׂה, more rarely for כֶּבֶשׂ (כֶּשֶׂב), רָחֵל ;] __1.

Full entry for πρόβατον (G4263) · Browse the biblical lexicon

Meaning

sheep

Extended definition

In NT metaphor, denotes Christ's vulnerable followers dependent on their shepherd's protective care and guidance.

(προβαίνω), [in LXX chiefly for צֹאן, also for שֶׂה, more rarely for כֶּבֶשׂ (כֶּשֶׂב), רָחֵל ;]

1in Hom., Hdt., cattle, esp. of small cattle, sheep and goats.

2In NT, as in Attic writers generally (cf. MM, xxi), a sheep: Mat.7:15, Mrk.6:34, al.; πρόβατα σφαγῆς, Rom.8:36 (LXX). Metaphorical (in cl. of timidity, stupidity or idleness), of the followers of a leader or master, esp. of those who are subject to the care of the Good Shepherd: Mat.10:6 15:24 26:31" (LXX) Mrk.14:27 (LXX), Jhn.10:7-8, 15-16 10:26-27 21:16-17 (WH txt., προβάτια), Heb.13:20; opposite to ἐρίφια, Mat.25:33. προβάτιον, -ου, τό, dimin. of πρόβατον (used as a term of endearment, see El., § 27, 4), a little sheep: Jhn.21:16-17 (πρόβατα, WH, mg.).

Source: STEPBible TBESG + Abbott-Smith

Grammatical Forms

How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.

Nominative · Plural · Neuter Matt 9:36 · Matt 18:12 · Matt 26:31 · Mark 6:34 · Mark 14:27 · John 10:3 · John 10:4 · John 10:8 · John 10:12 · John 10:27 · Rom 8:36 · 1 Pet 2:25 12×

Nominative · Singular · Neuter Acts 8:32 1×

Genitive · Plural · Neuter Matt 7:15 · John 10:1 · John 10:2 · John 10:7 · John 10:11 · John 10:13 · John 10:15 · John 10:26 · Heb 13:20 9×

Genitive · Singular · Neuter Matt 12:12 1×

Accusative · Plural · Neuter Matt 10:6 · Matt 10:16 · Matt 15:24 · Matt 25:32 · Matt 25:33 · Luke 15:4 · John 2:14 · John 2:15 · John 10:3 · John 10:12 · John 10:16 · John 21:16 · John 21:17 · Rev 18:13 14×

Accusative · Singular · Neuter Matt 12:11 · Luke 15:6 2×

Biblical Occurrences

Each occurrence shows the passage reference, the original language term as it appears in that context, its transliteration, and the contextual sense.

Biblical Witnesses

Luke 15:1-10 sheep próbaton Accusative · Plural · Neuter

Lost sheep as metaphor for sinner requiring shepherd's care and recovery

Jeremiah 50:6-7 sheep próbaton

Israel as scattered sheep, abandoned by shepherds, straying from pasture

Jeremiah 50:17-20 sheep próbaton

Israel as prey sheep attacked and scattered by nations, subject to judgment

Proverbs 27:23 sheep próbaton

Literal livestock requiring careful management and attentive pastoral care

Appears In

Compound and idiomatic lexemes in which this word is a constituent. Follow a link to study the phrase and its other participating words.

Word Pictures (Robertson)

A.T. Robertson's Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) discusses this term in the following chapters. Open any chapter and go to the Word Pictures tab to read his verse-by-verse commentary.

John 10 — The Good Shepherd, the Door, and the Son One with the Father John 21 — The Risen Lord Restores, Commissions, Shepherds, and Testifies through His Witness Mark 14 — The Son of Man Handed Over: Anointing, Supper, Gethsemane, Betrayal, Trial, and Denial Mark 6 — Rejected Prophet, Sending Lord, Wilderness Shepherd, and Divine Son on the Sea Matthew 10 — The Mission of the Twelve, Costly Witness, and Allegiance to Christ Matthew 15 — Tradition, the Heart, Gentile Faith, and the Compassionate Bread of the Messiah Matthew 18 — Kingdom Humility, Care for the Little Ones, Discipline, and Forgiveness in Christ’s Community Matthew 25 — Readiness, Stewardship, and the Final Judgment of the Son of Man Matthew 7 — Kingdom Discernment, the Narrow Way, and the Wise Builder Matthew 9 — Authority to Forgive, Mercy for Sinners, and Compassion for the Harvest

A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) — public domain

Sources

MorphGNT Strong's Dictionary XML — CC0 1.0 Public Domain

Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (morphhb/OSHB) — CC BY 4.0

Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon — CC BY 4.0

STEPBible Data — CC BY 4.0

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